Chapter3
very early the next morning d Artagnan went to the palace to find Madame Bonacieux. He gave her the small wooden box, and she hurried happily away to give it to the Queen That evening everybody in Paris was talking about the dinner at the palace. Hundreds of important people waited in the great dining room for the King and Queen to arrive. First came the King, richly dressed, but looking very angry Next was the Cardinal looking proud but worried. And last, the Queen looking beautiful. but tired. The King and Cardinal were some way away from the Queen, so they couldn't see her very well. Both of them kept the eyes on her dress. She was wearing the diamonds. but it wasn't easy to count them. Are there ten or twelve?' the Cardinal asked himself. He was playing a dangerous game. and he knew it. I've told the King that two are missing. Milady's given me the uwo diamonds stolen from Buckingham So how can there be twelve on the Queen's dress? Suddenly the King called across the long table to the Queen. am sorry that you're not wearing all my diamonds. Madame. The Queen lifted her beautiful head proudly. T don't know what you mean, sir," she said. And she turned to him. The King and the Cardinal counted twelve diamonds on her dress 'Well, Cardinal." shouted the King angrily, "what's all this about? Are you laughing at me? Explain yourself at once "I'm sorry, sir, replied the Cardinal. 'I I made a mistake. The Queen smiled secretly to herself And so did d'Artagnan. He was the anly one in the crowd who knew what was happening st then he felt a woman's hand on his arm. He looked letter the ground. The woman was and moving away, but he knew that it was Madame Bonacieux He took up the letter opened it and read it. It said: for what you've done I'd like Conte to the little ore art the end of Ave tote Saint Cloud itt ten o clock tomorrow and wait te for me. Co tance Bonacieux The next evening he rode escitedly through the dark streets to the Avenue Saint Cloud. It was a quiet and lonely part of Paris. and even brave d 1rtagnan started to feel afraid. But he saw no one. and waited until eleven o'clock outside the little house. He began to feel worried. "Why isn't she here?" he thought. Wh s happened? Then he saw an old man walking slowly past. Excuse me!" said d'Artagnan. 'Have you seen a young woman go into this house? the The old man looked afraid. "If I tell you. perhaps Cardinal's men will ind out, and kill me Oh, so his men were here, were they? That's right, sir with a dark. well-dressed man. They took the young woman from the house and drove away in a carriage man from "This is terrible! thought d'Artagnan. 'The Meung has kidnapped the poor wonian again! Is she hurt? Is she dead? How can get her back this time? 1 know! I'll ask Athos what to do friend. He rode last to Athos s house and woke up his Athos listened carefully to d'Artagnan's story.