A le xa n d re D um as

Th e Th re e Musketeers
Text adaptation and activities by J e n n ife r G a s c o ig n e
Illustrated by G io v a n n i M a n n a

Editor: Chiara Gabutti

Design and art direction: Nadia Maestri
Computer graphics: Gloriana Conte
Picture research: Alice Graziotin

2012 Black Cat, Genoa, London

First edition: January 2012

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Contents
ALEXANDRE DUMAS

The A uthor

c h a p te r one

c h a p te r te n

A Gascon in Paris
The Kings Musketeers
An Intrigue at Court
The Meeting
Mistress and Maid
At the Inn of the Red Dovecote
A Family Affair
The Escape
The Carmelite Convent
The Trial

d o s s ie r

France in the 17th century

32

Costum es in the 17th century

72

c h a p te r tw o
c h a p te r th r e e
c h a p te r fo u r
c h a p t e r f iv e
c h a p t e r s ix
c h a p te r seven
c h a p t e r e ig h t
c h a p t e r n in e

Dumas beyond the page

in t e r n e t

41
51
62

11
85

96

104
113

125
9, 18, 30, 39, 48, 49, 58, 69, 76, 83, 92, 102,109, 119, 125
126

AFTER READING

PET

24

122

PROJECTS

A C TIVITIES

11

C am bridge PET-style a ctivitie s

1 8 ,1 9 ,2 0 ,3 1 ,4 8 ,6 9 ,7 1 ,8 3 ,9 2

T: grades 4/5 T rin ity -s ty le a ctivitie s

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 ,1 0 are recorded on the accom panyng CD.
Chapter 6 is dow nloadable from our w ebsite: w w w .b la ck c a t-cid e b .co m .

These sym bols indicate the beginning and end of the passages
P

linked to the listening a ctivitie s.

( jfH

w w w .blackcat-cideb.com

21,61

Portrait of
A lexandre Dumas,
pere, 18th century,
by Charles A.P. Bellay.

Alexandre Dumas
(24 Ju ly 1802-5 December 1870)

Alexandre Dumas was born in Villers-Cotterets, a small town in the

north of France. Best known for his historical novels, he also wrote
many plays and travel diaries, and even a book about cooking - The
Great Dictionary o f Cuisine.

His grandfather Marquis Antoine-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie was

a noblem an.1 He served as a general in the army in Saint Domingue
(now Haiti), which belonged to France at that time. While he was there,
he had a son, Thomas-Alexandre, with a black woman, Marie Cessette
Dum as. He eventually m arried M arie, b u t she died in 1772. The
Marquis and his young mulatto 2 son returned to Norm andy in 1780.
W hen he was older, Thomas-Alexandre had a very successful and
adventurous career in Napoleon's army and at the age of thirtyone
he was already a general. However, he lost Napoleon's favour and
had to retire early. He w ent to live in Villers-Cotterets, where he met
1.

n o b le m a n : a m a n w i t h a t i t l e e.g. d u k e , c o u n t e tc .

2 . m u la tto : a p e r s o n w i t h o n e w h i t e p a r e n t a n d o n e b l a c k p a r e n t .

and m arried Marie-Louise Labouret, an innkeeper's daughter. They

had one son, A lexandre. U nfortunately T hom as-A lexandre died
when his son was only four years old.
As a young child, Alexandre d idn't have m uch formal education but
he loved reading and had a lot of imagination. His m other's stories
about his father's wild adventures in the army later inspired m any of
the plots in his own stories.
In 1822 he moved to Paris, where he got a job as a secretary at the royal
palace in the office of Duke of Orleans (later King Louis Philippe, 17731850), thanks to his father's reputation and connection to the nobility.
In Paris he became very interested in the theatre and w ent as often as
he could. H e w as g rea tly in flu e n ce d by the w o rk s of W illiam
Shakespeare, and in 1825 he started w riting his ow n plays. They
were very popular but his first real success as a dram atist came in
1829 w ith Henry III and His Court. Soon he was able to give up his
job at the royal palace and live by his writing.
However, after the revolution of 1830 life in France was unsettled 3
for several years and most people were too poor to go to the theatre.
D uring this period D um as spent a lot of tim e travelling around
Europe. He wrote several amusing books about his travels. W hen he
eventually returned to Paris, he began writing historical plays again.
On 1 February 1840 he m arried actress Ida Ferrier but continued his
m any love affairs with other women. He had at least four children
outside their m arriage. One of those children, a son, A lexandre,
nam ed after him, became a w riter too. Because they had the same
nam e and occupation, the father is often referred to as Alexandre
Dumas, p ere,4 and the son as Alexandre Dumas, fils.5
3.

u n s e ttle d : c o n s t a n t l y c h a n g i n g .

4.

p e re (F re n c h ) : f a t h e r .

5.

fils (F r e n c h ) : son .

?
1 |S
V BSSfefc i- f i

Dumas employed m any assistants to help him with the creation of

plots and to suggest ideas for events in his stories. The best known is
Auguste Maquet. Dumas started working w ith him in 1839. Together
they wrote m any historical novels. Their purpose was to reconstruct
the course of French history. Maquet was responsible for the plot of
The Count o f Monte Cristo (1845), and also m ade large contributions to
The Three Musketeers (1844) and its sequels 6 Twenty Years After and
The Vicomte de Bragelonne (1850), sometimes called Ten Years Later. The
Vicomte de Bragelonne is a large volume and is usually split into three

parts: The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, and The Man in

the Iron Mask. These three novels are know n as the D'Artagnan
Romances because they tell the story of the musketeer d'Artagnan.

Dumas made a lot of money from his writing but he was always in
debt. He had an extravagant lifestyle and was also a very generous
man. He asked a famous architect of the day, Hippolyte Durand, to
build a house for him because he needed somewhere to entertain his
many friends. The result was the Chateau of Monte-Cristo. Dumas
chose a hill near Port-Marly on the banks of the River Seine as the site
for his dream home. The plans included a Renaissance chateau and a
small Gothic castle. The gardens were designed in the English style
with grottos, ornamental rocks and waterfalls.
All the facades 7 of the Chateau of Monte-Cristo are sculpted. There are
flowers, angels, m usical instrum ents, coats of arm s 8 and strange
animals. The Dumas family coat of arms is above the entrance, together
with Dumas' personal motto: I love those who love me. His monogram (a
design using his initials A.D.) is carved on the pinnacles 9 on the
6 . seq u el : a b o o k, p l a y o r film t h a t c o n t i n u e s t h e s t o r y o f a n e a r l i e r o n e .
7. fa c a d e : f r o n t p a r t s o f a building.
c o a t o f a rm s :

9.

p in n a c le s :

chateau's two small towers. The small Gothic castle in the garden was
his study, where he used to write. He named it 'Chateau d'lf'.
The new house cost Dumas hundreds of thousands of gold francs to
build. He got into worse debt and couldn't pay his creditors. On the 22
March 1849, he sold his property but this w asn't enough to cover his
debts and in 1851 Dumas had to leave France to escape his creditors.
He w ent to Belgium and from there he travelled to Russia, w here
French was the second language and his books were very popular.
W hen he retu rn ed to Paris in 1853, he began a daily p a p e r The
Musketeer, w hich had articles about art and literature. The paper

survived until 1857, and D um as then published a w eekly paper

Monte-Cristo. This, too, failed after three years.

In 1860 he sailed to Sicily to support Garibaldi and Italy's fight for

independence.
In 1864 he was back in Paris. He was still spending extravagantly
and his debts continued to increase. A lthough he w orked hard to
pay his creditors, his last works were not very successful and he died
a poor m an on 5 December 1870.

C o m p re h e n s io n check
Answer the questions.

W here w as Alexandre D um as f a th e r born?

W h a t w a s Alexandre Dumas first job?

Why w as th e year 1829 im p o rta n t for Dumas?

Who w a s Auguste Maquet?

Why w as Dumas always in debt?

W h a t did Hippolyte Durand do?

Did Dumas make a large profit when he sold his house?

W here w as Dumas b e tw een 1860 and 1864?

1/

The Royal House of Bourbon (1 5 8 9 -1 7 9 2 )

The King of France in The Three Musketeers is Louis XIII. He was the
second of the Bourbon kings.

Portrait

Name

King from

King until

Title

H e n r y IV

A ugust 2
1589

M ay 14
1610

King of
F ra n c e
and N avarre

Louis XIII,
(Son o f
H e n r y IV)

May 14
1610

M ay 14
1643

King of
F ra n c e
and N avarre

Louis XIV

May 14
1643

S e p te m b e r 1
1715

King of
F ra n c e
and N avarre

S e p te m b e r 1
1715

M ay 10
1774

King o f
F ra n c e
and N avarre

t h e Sun
K in g

(Son o f
Louis XIII)
Louis XV
( G r e a tg r a n d s o n of
Louis XIV)

f
Louis. XVI
(G randson
o f Louis XV)

May 10
1774

S e p te m b e r 21 King of France
and of Navarre
1792
(1774-1789)
King of th e
French
(1789-1792)

C o m p re h e n s io n check
Q

Answer the questions.

1 Which Bourbon king had th e longest reign?

2

Which one had th e s h o rte s t reign?

B efore you read

Q

Q u iz
Test your knowledge of 17th century France. Mark the le tte r next to
the co rrect answ er A, B or C.

Louis XIII w as th e son of

A Q

Louis XII an d Mary Tudor.

B Q

Henry IV an d Marie de Medici.

C Q

Francis I and Claude of France.

Louis XIII w as m arried to

A [~| Elizabeth I of England.

B Q

Marie Antoinette.

C Q

Anne of Austria.

Louis XlIIs palace in Paris w a s called

A |3J Versailles.

B Q

th e Chateau de Chantilly.

C Q

th e Louvre.

Cardinal Richelieu was

A Q

th e chief m inister of Louis XIII.

B Q

th e c aptain of Louis XIIIs m usketeers.

c EH th e h e a d of th e Catholic Church.
5

The French to w n of La Rochelle is on

A Q

th e English Channel.

B [ J th e Atlantic ocean.
C Q

th e M editerranean sea.

In th e 17th century, La Rochelle w as a centre for

A Q

Catholics.

B Q

Buddhists.

C Q

P rotestan ts.

i'Q?

V o c a b u la ry
A Match the w ords (1-9) with the pictures (A-I). Use your dictionary
if necessary.

10

a cloak

a courtyard

lace

a coach

a doublet

a staircase

a convent

an inn

swordplay

Complete the sentences with some of the w ords in exercise 2A.

T h e ...........................of th e captain of th e m u s k e te e r s house was

very busy and th e r e w as a long procession of se rv a n ts on th e
...........................leading to th e first floor.

The young m a n pushed his w ay through som e m u sk e te e rs who

w ere practising t h e i r .......................... on th e stairs.

The tallest m u sk e te e r was wearing a long r e d ...........................and

a shoulder-belt d ecorated with g o l d ...........................

A G a s c o n in P aris
On th e first M onday of April 1 6 2 5 , a young m an w earin g an old blue
w oollen doublet arrived a t th e Jolly Miller inn in th e sm all Fren ch
tow n of Meung. His nam e w as dA rtag n an and he w as ju s t eighteen
y e a r s o ld . His l o n g , s u n t a n n e d f a c e , h ig h c h e e k b o n e s 1 a n d

intelligent e y e s all sh o w e d t h a t he w a s fro m G a sco ny , a region in

t h e s o u t h - w e s t o f t h e c o u n t r y . He w a s tra v e llin g t o P a ris t o se e
M o n s i e u r 2 de Treville, t h e c a p ta in o f t h e m u s k e te e r s . In his p o c k e t
t h e r e w a s a l e t t e r o f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w r i t t e n by his f a th e r , w h o
w a s a n old frie n d of t h e c a p ta in .
Give him th is l e t t e r , his f a t h e r h a d said. H es a v e ry i m p o r t a n t
m a n b u t he b e g a n life a s y o u a r e b e g in n in g y o u rs. Do w h a t he tells
y o u a n d o n e d a y y o u Jll b e a s rich a n d i m p o r t a n t a s h e is.
1.

high ch e e k b o n e s :

2.

M o n sieu r : t it l e f o r a m a n , like

M i s t e r , in F r e n c h - s p e a k i n g c o u n t r i e s .

11

ONE

So e a r ly t h e n e x t m o r n i n g d A r t a g n a n s e t o u t o n his old h o r s e
f o r Paris. He r e a c h e d M e u n g in t h e e v e n in g a n d d e c id e d t o s t o p
t h e r e b e c a u s e his h o r s e n e e d e d to r e s t.
He w a s g e t t i n g o f f his h o r s e w h e n h e n o t i c e d a c o a c h n o t f a r
f r o m t h e inn. A m a n o f a b o u t f o r t y w i th a n e a t , b la c k m o u s t a c h e
w a s ta lk in g t o a y o u n g la d y s t a n d i n g n e x t t o it. She w a s b e t w e e n
t w e n t y a n d t w e n t y - t w o y e a r s o ld a n d v e r y p r e t t y . S h e h a d
g o ld e n c u rls t h a t fell o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r s a n d a p a le skin. H e r e y e s
w e r e la rg e a n d blue, h e r lips w e r e r o s e - r e d a n d h e r h a n d s w e r e
a s w h i t e a s sn o w .
So, His E m in e n c e s o r d e r s a re ..., t h e lady w a s sa y in g.
To r e t u r n t o E n g l a n d i m m e d i a t e l y , M ilad y, a n d t o le t h im
k n o w t h e m o m e n t t h e d u k e le a v e s L o n d o n .
V ery w ell, t h e y o u n g lady replied. Ill le a v e n o w . T he s m a l l e s t
d e la y could be f a t a l . 3
G o o d b y e , M ilady!
T h e lad y c lim b e d in to t h e c o a c h , w h ic h s e t o f f a t g r e a t s p e e d
d o w n t h e s t r e e t in a clo u d o f d u s t.
A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e m a n w ith t h e m o u s t a c h e j u m p e d on his
h o r s e a n d g a llo p e d a w a y in t h e o p p o s i t e d ire c tio n .
D A r t a g n a n w a s c u rio u s . His E m in e n c e . T h a t m u s t b e C a rd in a l
Richelieu h im se lf. Could t h e m a n a n d t h e w o m a n be in v o lv e d in
o n e o f t h e c a r d i n a l s d a r k s e c r e t s ?
T he r e a d e r s h o u ld r e m e m b e r t h a t t h e w o r ld o f F r e n c h politics
in t h o s e t i m e s w a s n o t sim p le o r t r a n s p a r e n t . Politics w a s a v e r y
c o m p li c a te d b u s i n e s s . N o b o d y t r u s t e d a n y b o d y else. T he n o b le s
w e r e f i g h t i n g e a c h o t h e r . K ing L o u is XIII w a s s p y i n g o n t h e

3.

12

fa ta l : c a u s i n g s o m e o n e t o die.

ONE

c a r d in a l. T he c a r d i n a l w a s s p y in g on t h e q u e e n . F r a n c e w a s a t
w a r w it h S pain, a n d E n g la n d w a s t h r e a t e n i n g w a r ! 4
T h e n e x t d a y a t d a w n d A r t a g n a n l e f t t h e in n a n d s e t o f f
a lo n g t h e r o a d to Paris. A f t e r a long h a r d rid e h e finally a r r iv e d
a t t h e h o u s e o f M o n s ie u r de Treville in Rue d u V ieux C olom bier.
T h e c o u r t y a r d w a s b u s t l i n g w i t h a c t i v i t y . 5 S m a ll g r o u p s o f
m u s k e t e e r s , all a r m e d w i t h t h e i r m u s k e t s , w e r e c h a t t i n g a n d
laughing to g e th e r . T h e re w a s a c o n s t a n t p ro c e s s io n of y o u n g
g e n t l e m e n on t h e s t a i r c a s e w a n t i n g to a s k t h e c a p t a i n fa v o u rs .
S e r v a n t s in d i f f e r e n t c o lo u r e d u n i f o r m s r a n h e r e a n d t h e r e w ith
m e s s a g e s f r o m t h e i r m a s t e r s . D A r t a g n a n h a d n e v e r s e e n
a n y t h i n g like it b e f o r e a n d he b e g a n t o feel a little n e r v o u s . W ith
his h e a r t b e a t i n g h a r d in his c h e s t, h e c r o s s e d t h e c o u r t y a r d a n d
f o r c e d his w a y t h r o u g h s o m e m u s k e t e e r s , w h o w e r e p r a c tic in g
t h e i r s w o r d p la y on t h e s ta i r s .
T he a t m o s p h e r e in t h e w a i t i n g - r o o m w a s c a lm e r. DA r t a g n a n
g a v e his n a m e t o a s e r v a n t a n d a s k e d t o s p e a k t o t h e c a p t a i n .
W hile h e w a s w a i tin g t o be i n t r o d u c e d to M o n s ie u r d e Treville, he
w a s ab le to o b s e r v e t h e m u s k e t e e r s m o r e closely. M a ny o f t h e m
w e r e g o s s ip in g a b o u t t h e lad ie s a t c o u r t. A sm a ll g r o u p o f t h r e e
in p a r t i c u l a r c a u g h t his a t t e n t i o n . T h e t a l l e s t , w h o t h e o t h e r s
ca lle d P o r t h o s , w a s n t w e a r i n g t h e r e g u l a t i o n u n i f o r m . I n s t e a d
h e w o r e a blue d o u b le t a n d a m a g n i f ic e n t s h o u l d e r - b e l t d e c o r a t e d
w ith gold lace. A long r e d cloak h u n g o v e r o n e sh o u ld e r.
Yes, I k n o w i t s r a t h e r e x t r a v a g a n t , h e w a s sa y in g , e n jo y in g
t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e o t h e r s . But i t s v e r y f a s h io n a b le . D o n t y o u
agree, A ram is?

14

4.

th r e a te n in g w a r : v e r y p r o b a b l y g o in g t o s t a r t a w a r .

5.

b u stlin g w ith a c tiv ity : full o f p e o p le w h o w e r e v e r y b usy .

A Gascon in Paris

His c o m p a n i o n n o d d e d . He w a s c o m p le te l y t h e o p p o s i t e o f his
f r i e n d in lo o k s a n d in d r e s s . His m i n d w a s o b v io u s l y o c c u p ie d
w ith m o r e s e r i o u s t h i n g s t h a n f a s h io n .
Do y o u k n o w w h a t p e o p le a r e sa y in g , A t h o s ? P o r t h o s a s k e d
t h e t h i r d s u d d e n ly . He c o n t i n u e d w i t h o u t w a iti n g f o r a n a n s w e r .
T h e y re s a y i n g t h a t t h e c a r d i n a l s s p i e s a r e s p y i n g o n c e r t a i n
g e n t l e m e n a n d t h e q u e e n s l a d i e s - i n - w a i t i n g ! H is E m i n e n c e
o p e n s all t h e i r p r i v a t e l e t t e r s .
Ive h ea rd t h a t too , replied Athos. Its a very s a d th in g fo r France.
Athos w a s th e oldest of th e th re e , probably a b o u t thirty. He w a s a
quiet, a ristocratic ty p e a n d th e r e w a s a n air of sa d n e ss a b o u t him.
The queen ne e ds to p rod uce a n heir 6 to th e throne! he said and
sighed.
T alk in g o f t h e q u e e n , I h e a r d t h a t t h e D uke o f B u c k in g h a m is
in P a r i s , P o r t h o s said , g iving his c o m p a n i o n s a k n o w in g look.
P o r t h o s ! K e e p y o u r v o i c e d o w n !

A th o s sa id sh a rp ly .

If

s o m e o n e h e a r s you, you'll be in tr o u b le .
J u s t t h e n a s e r v a n t a r r i v e d a n d c a ll e d d A r t a g n a n s n a m e .
M o n s ie u r de Treville w a s r e a d y t o s p e a k to him .
T h e i n te r v ie w w e n t well. DA r t a g n a n t a l k e d a b o u t his f a t h e r
a n d t h e C a p ta in li s te n e d a n d s m ile d . He w a s h a p p y t o h e a r t h e
G a s c o n a c c e n t a g a in it r e m i n d e d h im o f h is o w n y o u t h a n d
n a t i v e la n d . He p r o m i s e d t o r e c o m m e n d t h e y o u n g m a n t o his
b r o t h e r - i n - l a w , M o n s ie u r Des E s s a r t s .
You c a n jo in his c o m p a n y o f g u a r d s , h e said . T h e r e a r e n o
p l a c e s in m y c o m p a n y a t t h e m o m e n t . A nd a n y w a y y o u m u s t
h a v e s o m e e x p e r ie n c e b e f o r e y o u c a n b e c o m e o n e o f t h e King s
G u a rd s.
6 . h e ir : s o m e o n e w h o will r e c e iv e m o n e y , p r o p e r t y o r t i t l e w h e n
a n o t h e r p e r s o n dies.

15

T h e n h e a d d e d , O n e d a y y o u m i g h t b e a b l e t o w e a r t h e
uniform of th e m u s k e te e rs !
DA r t a g n a n w a s in h ig h s p i r i t s 7 w h e n h e l e f t t h e w a i t i n g r o o m a n d i m p a t i e n t t o p r e s e n t h im s e lf t o M o n s ie u r d e s E s s a r ts .
He c r o s s e d t h e r o o m in t h r e e s t r i d e s s a n d s t a r t e d t o r u n d o w n
t h e s t a i r s , t a k i n g f o u r s t e p s a t a t im e . In his h u r r y , h e collided
w ith a m u s k e t e e r , w h o s h o u t e d in p a in a s d A r t a g n a n s h e a d h it
his s h o u ld e r .
S o rry ! t h e y o u n g m a n said. But Im in a h u r r y .
He h a d o nly g o n e o n e s t e p d o w n t h e s t a i r c a s e w h e n a s t r o n g
h a n d s t o p p e d him . DA r t a g n a n t u r n e d a n d r e c o g n i s e d A th o s.
Y o u re in a h u r r y ! t h e m u s k e t e e r s a id . Y ou p u s h m e a n d
t h i n k it s e n o u g h t o s a y S o r r y ! W h e r e a r e y o u r m a n n e r s , sir?
It s o b v io u s t h a t y o u ve j u s t a r r iv e d f r o m t h e c o u n t r y .
Look h e re , s ir , d A r t a g n a n re p lie d ang rily , it w a s a n a c c i d e n t
a n d I sa id I w a s s o r r y . I w a s r u n n i n g t o m e e t s o m e o n e .
A lrig h t, A th o s r e p lie d coldly. You c a n m e e t m e to o , w i t h o u t
r u n n in g ! ME! Do y o u u n d e r s t a n d ?
DA r t a g n a n u n d e r s t o o d . Tell m e w h e r e ! h e said.
N e a r t h e C a r m e s - D e s c h a u x c o n v e n t . A t m i d d a y .

VII be th e re .
D A r t a g n a n r a n a c r o s s t h e c o u r t y a r d t o t h e s t r e e t d o o r .
P o rth o s w as s ta n d in g th e re c h a ttin g to one of th e guards. T here
w a s on ly a sm a ll s p a c e b e t w e e n t h e m b u t it w a s big e n o u g h f o r
d A r t a g n a n t o p a s s t h r o u g h . H o w e v e r , t h e w in d s u d d e n l y lifte d
P o rth o s

l a r g e r e d c l o a k a n d b l e w it a r o u n d t h e b o d y o f t h e

y o u n g G a sc o n .

7.

in high s p ir its : in a g o o d m o o d .

8 . s tr id e s : long s t e p s .

16

A Gascon in Paris

G o o d h e a v e n s , m a n ! s h o u t e d t h e m u s k e t e e r . Are y o u m a d ?
R u n n in g in to p e o p le like t h a t !
Im s o r r y , d A r t a g n a n sa id , t h r o w i n g o f f t h e c loak. B ut Im in
a h u rry .
H u r ry ! P o r t h o s c rie d an grily. You h a v e in s u lt e d me! At o n e
o clock, b e h in d t h e L u x e m b o u r g p a l a c e !
A lright. Ill be t h e r e !
DA r t a g n a n c o n t i n u e d o n his w a y , b u t a little m o r e c a re fu lly .
W ell, he t h o u g h t . I d o n t k n o w if Ill be a m u s k e t e e r o n e d a y
b u t a t l e a s t if I h a v e to die, Ill be killed b y o n e .

17

G o back to the text

p e t

C o m p r e h e n s io n c h e c k
For each question, m ark the letter next to the co rre ct answ er A, B,
C or D.

Why w as d A rtagnan going to Paris?

A Q

To sta y w ith one of his f a th e r s friends.

B Q

To deliver a letter.

C Q

To look for a job.

To buy a new horse.

W here w as Milady going w hen she left th e inn?

A Q

To Paris.

B [ ] To England.

C Q

To Gascony.

DQ

Home.

Which ph ra se b e st describes French politics a t t h a t time?

A Q

Full of intrigue.

Open and tra n sp a re n t.

C Q

D ominated by th e king.

D Q

W eak an d inefficient.

Why w as d A rtagnan feeling nervous a t th e house of Monsieur de

Treville?
A

He was worried about meeting the captain of th e musketeers.

B Q

He w a s n t dressed in th e right clothes.

C Q

He w as afraid of th e m usketeers.

D [ ] He w as in an unfamiliar situation.

Who seem ed m ore in terested in court gossip?

A Q

Athos.

B [ H Aramis.

C Q

Porthos.

DQ

DArtagnan.

Why did d A rtagnan a gree to m eet Porthos an d Athos later?

A Q

To ta lk a b o u t joining the com pany of m usketeers.

B Q

To fight them .

C Q

To apologize to th e m again.

D P ] To go on a sightseeing to u r of Paris.

18

Do what he tells you and one day y o u ll be a s rich and

important a s he is.
We use a s + adjective + a s to say t h a t tw o things or people have similar
characteristics.
Jo n is 1.4 m etres tall a n d so is Ja sm in e. = Jo n is a s tall a s Ja sm in e.

We use not a s + adjective + a s to say t h a t tw o things or people have

dissimilar characteristics.
The M ississippi is 2 ,348 k m s long. T he A m azon is 3,912 k m s long.
= T he M ississippi isn t a s lon g a s t h e A m azon.
= T he A m azon is lo n g er th an th e M ississippi.

Com parison
W rite sentences using as... as or not as... as and the adjective in brackets.
Compare

tw o films youve seen recently, (g o o d )

tw o of your friends. (sporty )

P E T S e n te n c e transformation
For each question, com plete the second sentence so th a t it m eans the
sam e as the first, using no m ore than three words.There is an example
a t th e beginning (0).

T he T hree M u sketeers is m ore exciting th a n T he Count o f M onte

Cristo.
T he C ount o f M onte Cristo isnt

SS.gwrHng.gs

T he T h ree

M u sketeers.

D um as books w ere popular in France and in Russia too.

D um as books w e r e ......................................Russia as th e y w ere in
France.

Dumas didnt earn as much as he spent.

Dumas s p e n t ......................................earned.

Shakespeare w ro te a b o u t 38 plays and Dumas w rote over 100.

Shakespeare didnt w r i t e ..................................... as Dumas did.

Alexandre Dumas and Charles Dickens both died in 1820. Dumas

w a s 68 a nd Dickens w as 58.
Dickens w a s n t ..................................... Dumas when he died.

19

p - r T h e reg io n of G a s c o n y
Complete the inform ation on Gascony. W rite ONE word for each
space.

Gascony is an a re a of so u th -w e st France th a t w a s once inhabited

(1)......................... people related to th e Basques.
Gascons in French popular literature become angry or excited quickly
and do things w ithout thinking, for example, the character of
dArtagnan in The T hree M usketeers, and Cyrano in Cyrano d e B ergerac.
Alexandre Dumas based his c h a ra cter on a real person called Charles
de Batz, Comte d A rtagnan, ( 2 ) .......................... w a s born in th e Chateau
de Castelmore in Lupiac. He joined th e m u s k e te e rs in 1642. In the
tow n of Auch, th e historical capital of Gascony, ( 3 ) ...........................is a
sta tu e of him.
The play Cyrano d e B erg era c w as w ritte n in 1897 by Edmond Rostand.
Cyrano is a p oet and a musician but he has a very large nose. He loves
Roxane but c a n t tell her because hes afraid t h a t she will find him
(4 ) ......................... ugly to re tu rn his love. Although th e re w a s a real
Cyrano, Rostand's c ha ra c ter has very little in com m on
(5) ......................... him.
One of Frances m o s t popular kings w a s a Gascon. Henry III of Navarre
w as born in Pau and later becam e king of France as Henry IV.
The Gascons have ( 6 ) .......................... repu tation for long life and the
local people say this is ( 7 ) .......................... th eir daily diet includes red
wine, foie gras (m ade from duck or goose liver) and garlic. As well
(8 ) .......................... its good food and wine, Gascony is fam ous for its
medieval to w n s and villages, called bastides, an d th e be a uty of its
landscape. One of th e least populated a re a s of w e ste rn Europe, it
(9 ) .......................... becom e a favourite holiday d estination for s tre sse d
city people in search ( 1 0 )......................... peace an d quiet.
P g r

Listening
Listen to the tou rist information about the tow n of Auch in Gascony.
Complete the sentences.

If you miss one train from Toulouse to Auch yo u ll have to w ait

.......................... for th e next one.

Llle San Martin c a m p s i t e .......................... open in th e w in ter for

people with ten ts.

20

A c am per van place c o s t s .............

place, plus the cost of electricity.

euros m ore th a n a te n t

The Pilgrims Residence is open ..

m o n th s a y ear but
you need a pilgrims
to stay there.

You can g et more inform ation abou th e Pilgrims Residence if you

p h o n e ...........................

T: GRADE 4

S p e a k in g : H o lid ays
W ork with a partner. Ask and answ er these questions.

W here did you spend your last holiday?

2
3
4

W here did you stay?

W h a t did you do every day?
W here would you like to spend your next holiday? Why?

W ritin g
Imagine you are dArtagnan. W rite a letter to your fath er telling him
about w hat has happened to you since you left Gascony. Divide your
letter into four paragraphs.

Paragraph one

Ask a b o u t your family. Tell him a b o u t your a d v e n tu res on th e way

to Paris.
Paragraph two

Tell your fa th e r ab o u t th e th re e m usketeers you m e t a t th e house

of Monsieur de Treville.

Paragraph three

Say w h a t you are going to do next

Paragraph four

Finish your letter.

Begin like this:

21

Q u iz
How much do you know about France? Choose the co rrect answ er, A,
B, C or D.

1 France i s

largest country in th e world.

A [

th e 2 0 th

B Q

th e 3 0 th

C [ j the 4 0 th
D Q

th e 50 th

2 France s hares its land borders w i t h

A

C l

3 Bastille Day is celebrated o n

A |

o th e r countries.

0 8

every year.

1 1 May

B Q

2 June

14 July
15 August

4 The city of Strasbo urg is found in th e region o f ....

A Q

Brittany.

Alsace.

C Q

Lorraine.

D Q

Provence.

5 Roquefort cheese is m ad e from .... milk.

A | ] sh e e p s
B Q

goat's

C Q

cow s

D Q

cam els

6 The Canal du Midi is Europes oldest functional canal. It w as built

betw een ....

22

A H

1566 and 1581.

B Q

1666 and 1681.

C Q

1766 and 1781.

A Q

1866 and 1881.

B e fo re your read
>fU V o c a b u la ry
Match the phrases connected to swordplay (1-4) with the pictures
(A-D). Use your dictionary if necessary.

to fight a duel

to draw your sword

to p arry your o p p o n e n ts sw ord th r u s ts

to sta n d en garde

R e a d in g p ictu re s
Look a t the picture on page 27. Answer the questions.

Which of th e four m en is d A rtagnan?

W h a t are th e m en doing?

Why?

W h a t is th e building you can see in th e background?

23

T h e Kings M u s k e te e rs
As th e clock w as striking midday, dA rtagnan arrived a t th e C an nes- IIK r
D eschaux convent w here A thos w as w aiting fo r him to fight th e duel.

Sir! he said , his h a t in his h a n d . Iv e a s k e d t w o o f m y f r i e n d s

t o a c t a s m y s e c o n d s 1 b u t t h e y re l a te ...
I d o n t h a v e a n y s e c o n d s , s ir , d A r t a g n a n re p lie d . I a r r i v e d in
P a ris y e s t e r d a y a n d t h e on ly p e r s o n I k n o w h e r e is M o n s ie u r de
Treville, w h o m y f a t h e r . . .
A th o s i n t e r r u p t e d him.
H e r e a r e m y s e c o n d s , h e s a i d p o i n t i n g t o P o r t h o s a n d
A ra m is, w h o w e r e c o m in g t o w a r d s t h e m .
Oh, no! Is M onsieur P o rth o s y o u r se c o n d ? d A rta g n a n exclaim ed.
Of c o u r s e . W ith M o n s ie u r A ra m is. D o n t y o u k n o w t h a t A th o s,
P o r t h o s a n d A r a m is a r e i n s e p a r a b l e ?
W h e n he s a w d A r t a g n a n , P o r t h o s c o u l d n t h id e his s u r p r is e .
1.

24

se co n d s : a s s i s t a n t s o f d u e llis ts .

The Kings Musketeers

But o u r a p p o in tm e n t is fo r o n e o clock! W h a t a re y ou doing h e r e ?

B e f o r e d A r t a g n a n c o u l d a n s w e r , A t h o s s a i d , Im g o in g t o
f ig h t a d uel w it h h im .
Me t o o ! sa id P o r th o s .
DA r t a g n a n t u r n e d to h im a n d said, M o n s ie u r P o r th o s , I m u s t
o f f e r y o u m y a p o lo g ie s .
W h a t ? Do y o u r e f u s e t o f i g h t? A re y o u a c o w a r d ? 2
Certainly not! But if M onsieur A thos kills m e, I w o n t be able to
fight you, will I ? replied d A rta g n a n , draw ing his sw o rd a n d sta n d in g
en garde. Athos did th e sam e , b u t ju s t as th e ir tw o s w o rd s c la s h e d ,3 a
c o m p a n y of th e cardinals g u a rd s c a m e r o u n d th e corner.
W h a t ! c r i e d t h e c a p t a i n . F i g h t i n g ? D o n t y o u k n o w t h a t
d u e ls a r e a g a i n s t t h e la w ? P u t y o u r s w o r d s a w a y a n d fo llo w us,
in t h e n a m e o f His E m in e n c e !
W e a r e t h e K ings G u a r d s , sir! A th o s re p lie d p ro u d ly . A nd w e
d o n t t a k e o r d e r s f r o m t h e c a r d in a l!
Sirs! T h e r e a r e f iv e o f u s a n d o n ly t h r e e o f y o u . P u t y o u r
s w o r d s a w a y a n d follow u s!
DA r t a g n a n , w h o h a d m o v e d a w a y f r o m t h e o t h e r s , n o w c a m e
f o r w a r d a n d s t o o d n e x t to t h e t h r e e m u s k e t e e r s .
Sir, he said to th e c a p ta in . You a r e w rong! T h ere a r e f o u r of us!
P o r t h o s lo o k e d a t him in s u r p r is e .
But y o u a r e o nly a child. You a r e n t a m u s k e t e e r .
T h a t s t r u e , re p lie d d 'A r t a g n a n . I d o n t h a v e t h e u n i f o r m b u t
m y h e a r t is t h e h e a r t o f a m u s k e t e e r !
C o m e o n , t h e n , P o r t h o s s a i d . L e t s s h o w t h e m w h a t t h e
k in g s m u s k e t e e r s c a n do! En g a r d e , sirs!
The m en d rew th e ir sw o rd s and ru sh ed a t each o th e r.
2 . c o w a rd : s o m e o n e w h o i s n t b r a v e e n o u g h t o fight.
3 . c la s h e d : h i t a n d m a d e a loud n oise .

25

TWO

DA r t a g n a n f o u g h t like a f u r io u s tig e r. M oving quickly a n d easily,

he a t t a c k e d a n d t h e n p a r r i e d his o p p o n e n t s s w o r d t h r u s t s . At
t h e e n d o f t h e fig h t, o n e g u a r d w a s lying d e a d o n t h e g r o u n d a n d
t h e o t h e r s , all w o u n d e d , w e r e w a lk in g a w a y .
The t h r e e m u s k e t e e r s c o n g r a t u l a t e d d A r ta g n a n .
I ts t r u e , s a id A r a m is . You h a v e t h e h e a r t o f a m u s k e t e e r .
You a r e o n e o f us!'
All for one, a n d on e fo r all! said d A rtagnan. T h a t will be our m o tto !
He stretched o u t his hand. The th re e m u sk e te e rs did th e sa m e and
repeated dA rtagn an s w ord s w ith one voice, All for one, and one for all!
F ro m t h a t m o m e n t t h e f o u r m e n w e r e in s e p a ra b le . T hey a lw a y s
k n e w w h e r e t h e o t h e r s w e r e a n d t h e y s p e n t all t h e i r f r e e t i m e
to g e t h e r . T h e y b e c a m e well k n o w n in all t h e n ig h tc lu b s in Paris,
a n d also in t h e in n s t h a t s e r v e d t h e b e s t w ine. If o n e o f t h e m d id n t
h a v e m u c h m o n e y a n d c o u ld n t a f f o rd to b u y a d in n e r, t h e o t h e r s
paid f o r him. W h a t b e lo n g e d t o o n e of t h e m b e lo n g e d t o t h e o t h e r s
t o o . N o - o n e m e n t i o n e d t h e n a m e o f d A r t a g n a n w i t h o u t
m e n tio n in g t h e n a m e s o f A thos, A ram is a n d P o r th o s .
S o m e w e e k s a f t e r t h e f i g h t w i t h t h e c a r d i n a l s g u a r d s ,
d A r t a g n a n w a s r e s t i n g on his b e d w h e n h e h e a r d loud cries f o r
help. T h ey w e r e c o m in g f r o m t h e a p a r t m e n t d o w n s t a i r s .
T h a t s a w o m a n s v o i c e , h e s a i d t o h i m s e l f . S o m e o n e is
h u rtin g her!
W it h his s w o r d in h is h a n d , h e r u s h e d d o w n t h e s t a i r s . T e n
m in u t e s la te r t h r e e m e n d r e s s e d in b lack flew, n o t w alked, o u t of
th e d o o r in to th e s t r e e t . The sm all c u ts m a d e by th e y o u n g
G a s c o n s sw o rd h a d te rrifie d th e m . D 'A rta g n a n w a s a n e a s y victor.
T h e w o m a n he h a d s a v e d lay in a n a r m c h a i r , h a lf - f a in t in g . 4

4.

26

h a lf -f a in tin g : h a l f - u n c o n s c i o u s .

TW O

G ra d u a lly t h e c o lo u r s t a r t e d t o r e t u r n t o h e r p r e t t y f a c e . W h e n
sh e saw h e r lib erato r, 5 sh e s tr e tc h e d o u t h e r h a n d s and gave
h im t h e s w e e t e s t s m ile in t h e w o rld .
T h a n k y o u. You s a v e d m e f r o m t h o s e a w fu l m e n , s h e said.
I o n l y d id m y d u t y a s a g e n t l e m a n , m a d a m , d A r t a g n a n
re p lie d . May I k n o w y o u r n a m e ?
C o n s ta n c e B o n a c ie u x , t h e lady sa id . But n o w I m u s t h u r r y to
t h e Louvre. I m u s t s e e t h e q u e e n !
See t h e q u e e n ? W h y ?
I a m h e r l a u n d r e s s 5 a n d a loyal s e r v a n t o f H e r M a je sty . T he
c a r d in a l... S h e s t o p p e d s u d d e n ly a n d lo w e r e d h e r ey es.
The c a r d in a l? I d o n t u n d e r s t a n d , m a d a m . Explain w h a t y o u
m e a n , p le a s e !
T h e q u e e n is a f r a i d , s h e s a i d . B u t I c a n t t e l l y o u . I t s a
s e c r e t! Please! Let m e go t o t h e L o uv re!
She lo o k e d up a t h im w ith h e r b e a u tif u l b lue ey e s.
You c a n t r u s t m e w ith y o u r s e c r e t, he said. You h a v e m y w o rd
as a g e n tle m a n t h a t I will n e v e r tell a n y o n e . I w a n t to help yo u .
DA r t a g n a n s w o r d s a n d o p e n , k in d f a c e r e a s s u r e d t h e lady.
She d e c id e d t o tell him e v e r y th in g .
T he q u e e n b e lie v e s t h a t s o m e o n e h a s w r i t t e n t o t h e D uke o f
B u c k in g h a m in h e r n a m e to g e t h e r in to t r o u b l e .
In h e r n a m e ?
Yes. You s e e , t h e d u k e is v e r y m u c h in love w ith t h e q u e e n .
O ne w o r d f r o m H e r M a je s ty a n d h e w o u ld risk his life to s e e h e r .
So w h o d o y o u t h i n k w r o t e t h e l e t t e r ?
T he c a rd in a l. H e s p lo t tin g a g a i n s t t h e q u e e n a n d he d o e s n t
like B u c k in g h a m . His p la n is t o m a k e t h e d u k e c o m e t o Paris. If
5.

lib e r a to r : p e r s o n w h o s e t s p e o p le f r e e .

6 . la u n d re s s : w o m a n w h o w a s h e s a n d i r o n s c lo t h e s .

28

The Kings Musketeers

h e d o e s , t h e q u e e n will b e in a n e m b a r r a s s i n g s i t u a t i o n . T h o s e
m en w ho w e re b e a tin g m e w e re s e n t by th e c a rd in a l. T hey
w a n t e d t o m a k e m e ta lk . T h a t s w h y I m u s t w a r n t h e q u e e n .
But t h o s e m e n a r e lo ok in g f o r y ou . You a r e n t s a f e . You m u s t
hid e. C o m e w ith m e ! d A r t a g n a n said.
He t o o k C o n s ta n c e to A r a m is ho u se . A ram is w a s n o t t h e r e b u t
d A r ta g n a n h a d t h e key. W h e n t h e y w e r e inside, h e in s tr u c te d h e r
n o t t o go o u t a n d n o t t o o p e n t h e d o o r to a n y o n e e x c e p t him.
T h e l a u n d r e s s c h a r m i n g f a c e a n d s w e e t s m il e h a d m a d e a
s t r o n g i m p r e s s i o n o n h is h e a r t . He c o u l d n t f o r g e t h e r . T h a t
e v e n i n g , t h e d e s i r e t o s e e h e r a g a i n t o o k h im b a c k t o A r a m i s
h o u s e . He s t o o d t h e r e lo s t in his t h o u g h t s f o r s e v e r a l m i n u t e s .
T h e n s u d d e n l y t h e s o u n d o f f o o t s t e p s b r o u g h t h im b a c k t o t h e
p r e s e n t . He quickly hid h im s e lf. A y o u n g w o m a n a n d a m a n in a
m u s k e t e e r s u n if o r m w e r e a p p r o a c h i n g .
He d i d n t r e c o g n is e t h e m a n b u t h e s a w im m e d i a t e l y t h a t t h e
w o m a n w a s C o n s t a n c e B o n a c i e u x ! H e j u m p e d o u t f r o m h is
hid in g p lac e .
G o o d h e a v e n s ! C o n s t a n c e c rie d in frig h t.
W h e r e a re you g o in g ? t h e y o u n g G asco n a sk e d . You p ro m is e d
n o t t o le a v e t h e ho u se ! And w h o is t h i s ?
Sir, t h i s is t h e D u ke o f B u c k in g h a m . Im t a k i n g h im t o t h e
Louvre. N o w y o u k no w , a r e y o u g o ing to ru in m e ? If y o u do, yo u
will ru in t h e q u e e n t o o .
DA r t a g n a n w a s c o n f u s e d .
My Lord! Please forgive m e. Tell m e h o w I can serve Your G race.7
I c a n se e t h a t y ou a re a b ra v e y o u n g m a n , t h e d u k e said. You
o f f e r m e y o u r services a n d w ith t h e s a m e g e n e r o s ity I a c c e p t th e m .
Follow u s a s f a r a s t h e Louvre, a n d if y o u s e e a spy, kill him !
7.

Y o u r G ra ce : u s e d f o r t a l k i n g t o a duk e .

29

G o back to the text

C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
Decide if each sen ten ce is co rrect or incorrect. If it is co rrect, m ark A.
If it is not co rrect, m ark B.
A

DA rtagnan w a s n t surprised t h a t Porthos w a s acting

as A thos second in th e duel.

Duelling w as a crime a t th a t time.

No-one w as killed in th e fight with th e cardinals guards.

DA rtag nan s skill w ith th e sw ord frightened th e men

who a tta ck e d Constance Bonacieux.

Constance w a s employed a t th e royal palace.

The queen had invited th e Duke of Buckingham to Paris.

DA rtagnan hid C onstance in his a p a rtm e n t.

The Duke of Buckingham didnt tr u s t d A rtagnan.

C h a ra c te rs
Complete the sentence with the name of one of the ch aracters.

......................... w as th e first to arrive a t C arm es-D eschaux convent.

...........................denied being a coward.

......................... had an a p p o in tm en t to fight a duel with d Artagnan.

......................... w as in a hurry to go to th e royal palace.

......................... w ote a le tte r in th e q u e e n s name.

......................... would risk his life for th e queen.

Ordering
Put the events in Chapter Two in the co rrect order (1-5).
A Q

DA rtagnan saved Constance Bonaciuex from som e of the

Cardinals men.

Constance hid in Aramis house for safety.

C Q

The m u sk e te e rs and d A rtagnan won a fight against the

Cardinals Guards.

D |__| DA rtagnan escorted the Duke of Buckingham and Constance

to th e Louvre.
E Q ] DA rtagnan and Athos m e t to fight their duel.
30

PET Q

The Louvre P a la ce
Read the information about th e Louvre Palace. Choose a word for each
space. Mark the co rrect letter A, B, C or D.

The Louvre Palace, a royal residence (0) ...Q... 1682, is one of th e

largest palaces in th e world. Its co nstruction (1)
six hundred and
sixty-six years.
Originally it w as a fortre ss built by King Philippe Auguste in the late
12th cen tu ry ( 2 )
pro te c t Paris. The medieval building becam e a
Renaissance palace u nder Francis I (1494-1597), ( 3 )
w a s a great
p a tro n of th e arts. During his reign several paintings by Leonardo da
Vinci, including th e Mona Lisa, ( 4 )
added to th e royal collections.
Under Henry IV (1553-1610), th e Grand Gallery, now th e main picture
gallery, w as completed. It linked the Tuileries Palace built by Catherine
de Medicis (1519-1589) to th e Louvre Palace.
Many m ore changes w ere m a de ( 5 )
th e palaces by Louis XIII and
Louis XIV. The a r t collection w a s also significantly enriched in this
period by acquisitions ( 6 )
for th e m onarchy by Cardinal Richelieu
and by Cardinal Mazarin.
The Louvre opened ( 7 )
a public m useu m in 1793 but th e v a st
complex w a s n t finally com pleted until th e middle of th e 19th century.
The ( 8 )
rec e n t addition to th e Louvre w as th e glass pyramid,
which functions as th e m u s e u m s main entrance. The pyramid was
built in 1989 and allows th e sunlight to com e in on th e underground
floor.
D on

A for

of

( C ) until

A m ade

B took

C w as

D used

A to

B for

C by

D why

A th e re

B he

th a t

D who

A are

B went

were

D had
D of

A to

on

with

A done

B tak en

consisted

D m ad e

A like

B similar

how

D as

A very

B m o st

more

D too

31

'JjeitLl ................... ........... ..

France

in the 17th century

The second half of the 16th century in France was dom inated by the
W ars of R eligion (1562-1598) b e tw e e n F rench P ro te s ta n ts , or
Huguenots, and Catholics. They ended w ith the War of the Three
Henrys, in which Henry III, King of France, assassinated Henry de
Guise, the leader of the Catholic League (1588), and the king was
m urdered in return (1589).
After Henry Ill's death, the heir to the throne, the Protestant Henry
III of Navarre, became King H enry IV.
Henry

of

Navarre

(1553-1610)

In 1589 the Protestants held the south and the west of France, and
the Catholics held the north, including the capital Paris, and the east
of the country.
The new king w anted peace and unity for all his people but first he
n e e d e d to w in th e s u p p o r t of th e C a th o lic s. H e d id th is by
converting to Catholicism in 1593. Five years later, he signed the
Edict of N antes, w hich guaranteed the H uguenots political and
religious freedom. This brought the Wars of Religion to an end.
Although H enry was a good and popular king, there were several
attempts on his life. The last one was in 1610 w hen a Catholic m o n k 1
finally succeeded in assassinating him. His son Louis XIII was only
nine years old at the time and too young to rule alone, so H enry's
widow Marie de Medici served as regent for him.

1.

m o n k : a m a n w h o lives in a re lig io u s c o m m u n i t y .

32

Marie de Medici

(1575-1642)

M arie, a m em ber of the w ealthy and pow erful Italian de Medici

family, was Henry IV's second wife. They m arried in 1600 and she
was crowned Queen of France on 13 May 1610, only a day before her
h u sb a n d 's death. The follow ing day she becam e regent for her
young son Louis.
Marie didn't know m uch about politics and was easily influenced by
people who were only interested in increasing their own wealth and
power. She began her period as regent by sending away her husband's
best minister and replacing him with Concino Concini, an Italian, who
soon became her 'favourite'. Concini was not a good first minister and
the French people didn't like him because he was a foreigner.
H e n ry IV h a d b e e n a g a in s t th e H a b s b u rg fa m ily b u t M arie
abandoned this policy. 2 The Habsburgs were the ruling dynasty in
Spain and they su p p o rte d the Catholic League in France. HalfH absburg herself, M arie arranged the m arriages of her children,
Elizabeth and Louis, to the children of King Philip III of Spain, Philip
IV and Anne of Austria.
The policies of Concini and Marie were not popular and in 1617 her
son decided to take control. Louis o rd ered the assassination of
Concini and sent the Q ueen M other aw ay from the court to the
Chateau de Blois, where she stayed for two years. He finally allowed
her back again in 1621.
A fter unsu ccessfu lly try in g to displace R ichelieu, L ouis' chief
minister, Marie was forced to leave France. She never returned and
died in Cologne in 1642.

2 . p olicy : a n a g r e e d s e t o f p l a n s o r a c t i o n s . m e n t .

34

Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Due de Richelieu (1585-1642)

Richelieu first joined Louis' court in 1614. His intelligence and skill at
public speaking attracted the attention of the Q ueen Mother, who
m ade him Secretary of State in 1616. He soon became one of her
trusted advisors and served Concini, the first minister, faithfully.
H ow ever, after the d eath of the Italian, Richelieu lost his job as
Secretary of State. A few years later the king asked him to return and
Richelieu's rise to pow er began. He became a cardinal in 1622 and
eventually chief minister to Louis XIII in 1624. He was, in fact, the real
ruler of France until his death. He succeeded in breaking the political
power of the great families of France, making the king an absolute
ruler (one w ith total authority over the country and its people) and in
establishing France as the first military power of Europe.
One of the biggest problems that Richelieu had to deal with during this
period was the Huguenot rebellions and the Siege 3 of La Rochelle, the
Huguenot stronghold. In 1627, Richelieu ordered the army to besiege
La Rochelle and he personally commanded the besieging troops.
In May 1635 Richelieu took France into the Thirty Years' War (16181648). This w ar was one of the most destructive conflicts in European
history. It started as a religious conflict but gradually became a more
g e n e ra l co n flict th a t in v o lv e d m o st E u ro p e a n c o u n tries. The
Cardinal, however, died in 1642 and the next chief minister, Cardinal
Mazarin, had to continue the process of ending the war.
As well as being a brilliant statesman, Richelieu was also a famous
patro n of the arts. He w as the founder of the French Academ y,
which promotes French literature and is the official authority on the
French language.
3.

sieg e : a n a t t a c k in w h ic h a n a r m y s u r r o u n d s a c it y o r a c a s t l e t o s t o p

f o o d a n d w a t e r f r o m g o in g in.

36

Louis XIII

( 1601- 1643)

Louis was a man of contrasts. He was modest and reserved but he could
be very cruel. He was very religious, but he didn't mind killing people.
His health was not good, but he enjoyed leading his soldiers into battle.
At the age of fourteen, he married Anne of Austria, the daughter of the
Spanish Hapsburg King Philip III. She was also fourteen. It w asn't a
happy marriage and Louis spent a lot of time away from court fighting
the H uguenots. He d id n 't seem to care m uch for his wife. After
twenty-three years of m arriage, on 5 September 1638, she had her
first child, the future Louis XIV, the Sun King. She gave birth to
another son two years later.
In 1622 Louis created the M usketeers of the G uard, w ho w ere a
junior unit in the Royal Guard. Their job was to guard the king while
he was outside of the royal residences. Later, Louis' chief m inister
C ardinal Richelieu created a u nit of bodyguards for himself. He
called them Musketeers after the King's junior G uard and there was
always great rivalry between the two units.
The Huguenot rebellions and the Siege of La Rochelle

(1628)

La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of

Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. At the end of the 16th century, it
was the second or third largest city in France. From 1568 it became a
centre for the Huguenots, who wanted to establish an independent
republic there. This caused m any conflicts with the central Catholic
government. These were eventually brought to an end w hen Henry
IV signed the Edict of Nantes. After that the city enjoyed a short
period of freedom and prosperity.
Louis XIII was less tolerant of Protestants, however. In 1617 he began
re-establishing Catholic rights in Protestant cities in the south. The

Entrance to the old port of La Rochelle

Huguenots rebelled in protest and the king sent his troops to fight
them. Many people were killed and several cities were destroyed in
the conflict.
There were two more rebellions after that. The second of these was
in 1627 and started after the King of England, Charles I, sent his
'favourite' the Duke of Buckingham and a fleet of ships to help the
Huguenots. The expedition was a total disaster and the English left
in th e ir sh ip s. The Siege of La R ochelle fo llo w e d th is ev en t.
Richelieu, acting as the commander of the king's troops, besieged the
city for 14 months. The siege ended in complete victory for Louis
and the Catholics when the city surrendered.

38

Q Com prehension ch eck

Decide if each sentence is co rrect or incorrect. If it is co rrect, m ark
A. If it is not co rrect, m ark B.
A

Henry de Guise w as a P r o te s ta n t leader.

Henry III of Navarre b ecam e Henry IV of France.

Louis XIII w as nine ye a rs old w hen he b ecam e king.

Marie de Medicis family cam e from Spain.

Concino Concini was Henry Vis b e st minister.

Marie de Medici suppo rted t h e Spanish Habsburgs.

W hen Concini w as killed, Richelieu

becam e th e chief minister.

Richelieu led th e Kings tro op s a t th e Siege

of La Rochelle.

Most countries in Europe w ere involved in the

Thirty Y ears War.

10

Louis XIII did not enjoy his military duties.

11

Louis XIIIs wife w as from Spain.

12

The m u sk e te e rs w ere th e Kings guard in th e palace.

13

La Rochelle is a po rt on th e e a s t coast of France.

14

There w ere m an y P ro te s ta n ts in La Rochelle.

15

The P r o te sta n ts lost som e of their rights in 1617.

16

The Duke of Buckinghams a t t e m p t to help the

P ro te s ta n ts e nded in failure.

B efo re your read

f i l O

Listening
Listen to the beginning of Chapter Three. You will h ear a conversation
betw een Anne of A ustria and the Duke of Buckingham. Choose the
co rrrect answ er A, B, C or D.

Why can th e duke e n te r th e palace easily?

A

He is with Constance, one of th e q u e e n s servants.

B EH It is d ark and t h e r e s no-one on guard.

C Q

DA rtagnan ta k e s him inside th e palace.

D | | He is dre sse d as one of th e Kings Guards.

2

W hen did th e duke realise t h a t the letter w a s a tra p ?

A Q

After he left London.

B Q

Before he left London.

C Q

W hen he arrives a t th e Louvre.

D Q

W hen Constance m e e ts him.

W h at does th e queen give th e duke?

A Q

Some diam onds.

C Q

B Q

A ring.

DQ

A necklace.
A picture of herself.

How does th e cardinal find out ab ou t th e d u ke s visit?

A Q

From Constance.

B Q

From one of th e Kings Guards.

From one of th e q u ee n s ladies-in-waiting.

D Q

From th e king.

P r e d ic tio n

Which of the following do you think happens in Chapter Three? Put a

tick ( / ) in the boxes. You can tick more than one box.

Q ] The cardinal tells th e king ab ou t Buckinghams visit.

The king decides to give a ball for th e queen.

The th re e m u sk e te e rs go to England.

Q ] DA rtagnan sees Milady again.

40

An Intrigue at Court
DA rtag n an e s c o r te d 1 th e duke and C on stan ce to th e e n tr a n c e of
th e L ou vre. T h a n k s t o his m u s k e t e e r s u n ifo rm , t h e d u k e h a d no

p r o b le m s g e ttin g into th e royal palace. The y o u n g l a u n d re ss t o o k th e

d u k e s h a n d a n d led him a lo n g lon g d a r k c o r r id o r s a n d up sm all
s ta ir c a s e s until th e y r e a c h e d a door. She unlocked it a n d t h e y b o th
s t e p p e d into t h e d a r k a p a r t m e n t o n t h e o t h e r side.
S ta y h e r e , m y Lord. S o m e o n e will c o m e , s h e sa id . T h e n s h e
t u r n e d a n d w e n t o u t o f t h e r o o m , lea v in g t h e d u k e a lon e .
T h e D uke o f B u c k in g h a m k n e w t h a t h e w a s risk in g his life. But
he h a d a l r e a d y le ft L o n d o n f o r P a ris a n d he h a d l e a r n t t h a t t h e
m e s s a g e h e h a d r e c e iv e d , s ig n e d A n n e o f A u stria , w a s a t r a p . 2

1.

e s c o r te d : w e n t s o m e w h e r e w i t h s o m e o n e t o p r o t e c t t h e m .

2. tra p : a tric k to c a tc h so m e o n e .

41

TH R EE

Now he w a s d e te r m in e d to see th e q u e e n b e fo re tu rn in g
r o u n d a n d g o in g b a c k t o L on do n. W h e n s h e h e a r d th is , t h e q u e e n
h a d a s k e d h e r loyal l a u n d r e s s to b rin g t h e d u k e to her.
T h e d u k e w a s t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s old a n d t h e m o s t h a n d s o m e
a n d e l e g a n t g e n t l e m a n in b o t h F r a n c e a n d E ng la n d . W h e n he h a d
f i r s t m e t A n n e o f A u s tr ia , h e h a d fa lle n m a d ly in love w ith h er.
T he q u e e n w a s t w e n t y - s i x y e a r s old a n d v e r y b e a u tif u l.
W h e n s h e e n t e r e d t h e s m a ll ro o m , t h e d u k e t h o u g h t s h e h a d
n e v e r lo o k ed lovelier.
My lo rd , s h e said. You k n o w it w a s n t m e w h o a s k e d y o u to
com e. You a re risking y o u r life. E verything s e p a r a t e s us th e sea,
t h e e n m i t y 3 b e t w e e n F rance a n d England a n d m y m a r r ia g e v o w s .4
I w o u ld do a n y t h i n g j u s t t o s e e y o u , h e sa id . You k n o w t h a t .
But m y lo r d , s h e i n t e r r u p t e d . Ive n e v e r sa id t h a t I love y o u .
A nd y o u ve n e v e r s a id t h a t yo u d o n t love m e !
T h e d u k e s w o r d s s e e m e d to u p s e t t h e q u e e n .
P le a se leave n o w ! s h e b e g g e d him . Go!
ill go b u t f i r s t y o u m u s t give m e a t o k e n o f y o u r love a
ring, a n e c k la c e , s o m e t h i n g t h a t will r e m i n d m e o f y o u .
Anne re tu rn e d to h e r ro o m an d ca m e back holding a ro sew o od box.
H ere, m y lord. K eep th is in m e m o r y o f m e , s h e s a id h a n d in g
h im t h e box. It c o n t a i n s tw e lv e d ia m o n d s t u d s . 5
B u c k in g h a m t o o k it a n d p r e s s e d it t o his lips. T h e n he t u r n e d
a n d left.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , o n e o f t h e q u e e n s l a d i e s - i n - w a i t i n g w a s
l i s t e n i n g t o t h e m in t h e n e x t r o o m . S h e r a n s t r a i g h t t o t h e
c a rd in a l a n d to ld h im e v e r y t h i n g s h e h a d h e a r d .

42

3.

e n m ity : f e e l in g o f h a t e .

4.

vow s : p rom ises.

5.

s tu d s : sm a ll p i e c e s of
jew ellery.

An Intrigue at Court

T he c a rd in a l w a s v e r y p le a s e d . He w a n t e d t o d i s c r e d i t 6 A nn e
in t h e e y e s o f h e r h u s b a n d a n d w i t h t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n h e could
c a r r y o u t his plan.
F irst o f all he w r o t e a l e t t e r , w h ic h h e c lo s e d w ith his sp e c ia l
s e a l . 7 T h e n h e s e n t f o r his t r u s t e d s e r v a n t , V itray .
Go a s quick ly a s y o u c a n t o L o n d o n , h e to ld him . D o n t s to p
f o r a m o m e n t o n t h e w a y . D eliv er t h i s l e t t e r t o Milady. H e re is
s o m e m o n e y . You will r e c e iv e m o r e if y o u a r e b a c k in six d a y s
a n d h a v e c a r r ie d o u t y o u r t a s k w e ll.
T h e s e a r e t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e l e tte r .

T h e n t h e cardinal w e n t t o se e t h e king a n d w it h o u t m e n tio n in g

t h e n a m e o f Buckingham , Richelieu filled Louis m in d w ith d o u b ts
a b o u t h i s q u e e n . A t t h e e n d o f t h e m e e t i n g , L o u is n o t o n l y
s u s p e c t e d A nne o f being u n fa ith fu l to him, b u t also to France.
The cardinal w a s p le a se d w ith his success. But he h a d n t finished.
P e r h a p s t h e q u e e n is b o r e d , s i r e , 8 he sa id . W h y d o n t y o u
give a ball? You k n o w h o w m u c h s h e likes d a n c in g !
A ball! th e king rep eated , astonished. W hy should w e have a ball?

6 . d is c r e d it : h a r m s o m e o n e ' s r e p u t a t i o n .
7.

seal :

.
WOr d u s e d
w hen talking to a
king.

s jre

43

THREE

Well, t o d a y is t h e t w e n t i e t h o f S e p t e m b e r . The a l d e r m e n 9 o f
t h e c ity h a v e a h o lid a y o n t h e t h i r d o f O c t o b e r . T h a t s a g o o d
r e a s o n . A n d , a d d e d t h e c a r d in a l, sm iling, it will be a m a r v e l lo u s
o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e q u e e n t o w e a r t h o s e d i a m o n d s t u d s t h a t yo u
g a v e h e r f o r h e r b i r t h d a y . She h a s n t w o r n t h e m y e t, I b e lie v e .
Y es, a ball. W h y n o t ! A n d t h e k in g h u r r i e d t o t h e q u e e n s
a p a r t m e n t s t o tell h e r a b o u t his d ecision .
M a d a m , h e s a id in a s e r io u s voice. T h e r e will be a ball a t t h e
H otel de Ville s o o n . To h o n o u r o u r r e s p e c t e d a l d e r m e n , y o u m u s t
a p p e a r in c e r e m o n i a l c o s t u m e . Id p a r t i c u l a r l y like y o u t o w e a r
t h e d i a m o n d s t u d s t h a t I g a v e yo u f o r y o u r b i r t h d a y .
A n n e s f a c e w e n t w h i t e . S h e r e a l i s e d i m m e d i a t e l y t h a t t h e
c a r d in a l m u s t b e b e h in d th is.
Yes, s ir e .
As s o o n a s t h e k in g left, s h e c o v e r e d h e r f a c e w ith h e r h a n d s
a n d cried, Im r u i n e d !
S h e called C o n s t a n c e a n d to ld h e r w h a t t h e k in g h a d said.
Ill help y o u, Y o u r M a je s t y , s h e said. Y o u ll w e a r t h o s e s t u d s
a t t h e ball, I p r o m i s e .
C o n s t a n c e w e n t t o s e e d A r t a g n a n a n d t o l d h im a b o u t t h e
c a r d i n a l s t r i c k e r y 10 a n d t h e q u e e n s p r o b le m .
DA rta g n a n loved his q u e e n a n d w a s m o re t h a n h a p p y to help her.
He d ecided to go t o L ondon a n d g e t t h e s tu d s back. But b e fo re he
could go, he h a d to a s k M onsieur de Treville fo r pe rm issio n to ta k e a
s h o r t leave of a b s e n c e .11 The captain, w h o re g a r d e d th e g u a rd s as his
family, advised him to ta k e his friends th e m u s k e te e r s w ith him.
But w h y ? t h e y o u n g m a n a s k e d . I c a n lo ok a f t e r m y s e lf .
9.

a ld e rm e n : s e n i o r m e m b e r s o f a t o w n c ou ncil.

1 0 . tr i c k e r y : t h e u s e o f t r i c k s t o g e t w h a t y o u w a n t .
11 . le a v e o f a b s e n c e : p e r i o d o f t i m e a w a y f r o m y o u r jo b .

44

I k n o w t h a t y o u r e b r a v e b u t y o u r e f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t t h e
c a r d in a l, w h o h a s s p ie s o n e v e r y s t r e e t c o r n e r . A lone, y o u ll be
d e a d b e f o r e y o u c a n e v e n g e t o u t o f P a ris. If t h e r e a r e f o u r o f
y ou , t h e n a t l e a s t o n e m i g h t s u c c e e d in g e t t i n g t o L o n d o n .
M o n s ie u r d e T reville w a s rig h t.
The fo u r c o m p a n io n s left Paris th r o u g h t h e St. Denis d istric t a t
t w o o c lo c k t h e n e x t m o r n i n g . All w e n t w ell u n til t h e y r e a c h e d
C h a ntilly , w h e r e P o r t h o s g o t in to a f ig h t a n d w a s w o u n d e d . He
c o u ld n t tra v e l so t h e o t h e r t h r e e h a d t o leave w it h o u t him. In t h e
to w n o f C revecoeur, A ram is w a s w o u n d e d in a n a m b u s h . ^ And in
Am iens, A tho s w a s a r r e s t e d by s o m e g u a rd s , w h o a c c u s e d him o f
p o s se s sin g false b a n k n o te s . So w h e n d A r ta g n a n finally a rriv e d in
Calais, he w a s alone. He p la n n e d to t a k e t h e n e x t b o a t t o England
b u t j u s t b e fo re it s e t sail, a y o u n g m a n s t a r t e d a figh t w ith him. The
m a n s skill w ith a sw o rd , h o w e v e r, w a s n o t a s go od a s d A r ta g n a n s
a n d in th r e e se c o n d s he w a s lying h a lf-d e a d by t h e side of t h e road.
DA r ta g n a n looked t h r o u g h t h e E n g lish m a n s p o c k e ts a n d f o u n d a
le tte r. It w a s a d d r e s s e d to t h e C ou nt de W a rd e s.
W h e n h e a r r iv e d in L o ndo n, d A r t a g n a n w e n t s t r a i g h t t o t h e
p a l a c e o f t h e D uke o f B u c k in g h a m to e x p la in his m issio n .
C o m e ! t h e d u k e s a i d . F o llo w m e ! Ill g iv e y o u t h e s t u d s
im m e d i a te ly !
A f t e r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h s e v e r a l r o o m s , a ll m a g n i f i c e n t l y
fu rn is h e d , th e y fin a lly c a m e to a b e d ro o m d e c o r a te d w ith
p r e c i o u s t a p e s t r i e s . 13 B e h in d o n e o f t h e m , t h e r e w a s a s m a ll
d o o r, w h ic h t h e d u k e o p e n e d w ith a gold key. In sid e t h e r e w a s a
c h a p e l . An a l t a r , w i t h a l a r g e f u l l - l e n g t h p i c t u r e o f A n n e o f
A u s t r ia a b o v e it, s t o o d a t o n e e n d o f t h e r o o m .
12 . am b u sh : a t t a c k f r o m a h i d d e n p o s i t io n .
13. t a p e s t r i e s : t h i c k h e a v y c lo t h s w i t h p i c t u r e s w o v e n o n t o t h e m .

An Intrigue at Court

T he d u k e w a lk e d o v e r t o t h e a l t a r a n d p ic k e d u p t h e r o s e w o o d
box, w h ic h w a s u n d e r t h e p i c t u r e o f A n n e. He o p e n e d it a n d to o k
o u t t h e s t u d s o n e by o n e a n d k is s e d t h e m .
S u d d e n ly he g a v e a cry.
Oh, no! T h e r e a r e on ly t e n s t u d s in t h e b o x now ! T h e r e w e r e
t w e lv e b e f o r e !
But h o w is t h a t p o s sib le , m y L ord? H a v e y o u lo s t t h e o t h e r
t w o ? Or h a s s o m e o n e s t o l e n t h e m ?
S o m e o n e h a s s t o l e n t h e m , Im s u r e ! t h e d u k e r e p lie d . Ive
w o r n t h e m o n ly o n c e . I w o r e t h e m a t a ball g iv e n b y t h e king.
Yes, I r e m e m b e r n ow . Lady d e W i n t e r s t o o d v e r y n e a r m e w hile I
w a s w a t c h i n g t h e d a n c e r s . She m u s t b e t h e th ie f . Is s h e o n e of
t h e c a r d i n a l s sp ie s t o o ?
All is lo s t! sig h e d d A r ta g n a n .
No, it is n t , t h e d u k e re p lie d . T h e r e a r e still five d a y s b e f o r e
t h e b all.
He ca lle d a s e r v a n t .
Tell Mr O Reilly m y je w e lle r t o c o m e h e r e im m e d ia te ly ! he said.
T h ree d a y s later, th e r e w e re tw e lv e stu d s in t h e box. The tw o new
o n es m a tc h e d th e o th e rs perfectly. Mr OReilly had d o n e a good job.
D 'A r t a g n a n p u t t h e p r e c i o u s s t u d s i n s i d e h is d o u b l e t a n d
p r e p a r e d t o le a v e f o r F ra n c e . At t h e p o r t h e t h o u g h t h e s a w t h e
b e a u ti f u l lad y f r o m M e u n g o n o n e o f t h e b o a ts , b u t h e c o u l d n t
be s u r e it w a s her.
T h e n e x t d a y a t a b o u t n in e o clock he la n d e d a t S t V alery. As
h e g a llo p e d t o w a r d s Paris, h e r e m e m b e r e d his t h r e e c o m p a n io n s .
He h a d n t w a n t e d t o l e a v e t h e m b u t t h e q u e e n s h o n o u r h a d
been m o re im p o rtan t.

47

G o back to the text

P E T

C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
For each question, m ark the letter next to the co rre ct answ er A,
C or D.

How m any ye a rs older th a n Anne is th e Duke of Buckingham?

A

A Q

Dance with th e duke a t a ball.

B Q

Steal som ething from th e duke.

Give th e duke a letter.

D Q

Write to him immediately.

Which d ate did th e cardinal suggest for th e ball?

A Q

EH

B
4

W h at did th e cardinal w a n t Milady to do?

20 Septem ber.

C Q

The n ex t national holiday.

3 October.

D Q

The q u e e n s birthday.

How did Monsieur de Treville r eact to d A rta g n a n s re q u e st for a

leave of absence?
A Q J He refused it but th e n changed his mind.
B Q

He con se n te d b u t th e n changed his mind.

C Q

He refused it an d gave d A rtagnan som e advice.

D Q

He c o n se n te d a nd gave dA rtagnan som e advice.

W hat happened to th e th re e m u sk e te e rs on th e w ay to Calais?

A Q

Two of th e m w e re w ounded and th e o th e r w as a rrested.

B Q

All of th e m w ere w ounded in an am bush.

C Q

One of th e m w as a rre ste d and th e o th e rs w ere w ounded in

a duel.

D Q

One of th e m w as w ounded in an a m bu sh and th e o th ers

stay ed to look a fte r him.

How did th e duke solve the problem of th e missing studs?

A Q
B

48

He asked his se rv a n t to get th e m back from Lady de

Winter.
j

He asked his s e rv an t to buy tw o more.

C Q

He asked his jeweller to find tw o similar ones.

D Q

He asked his jeweller to make tw o similar ones.

H as som eone stolen the d ia m o n d s?

The p re s e n t perfect (h a v e /h a s + p a st participle) c onnects th e p a s t to the
present.
We can use it to:
talk a b o u t p a s t events t h a t have a result in th e present:
H as s o m e o n e stolen th e d ia m o n d s? (They a r e n t h ere now.)
give news: E ngland h a s d e c la r e d w ar on F rance!
talk a b o u t events t h a t h a pp e ne d in a non-specified tim e in th e past:
Ive n ev er sa id I love you .

S h e hasn 't w orn th em y et.

P re se n t sim p le , p re se n t co n tin u o u s o r p re se n t p erfe ct?

Complete the sentences. Use the verb in b rackets in th e present
simple, present continuous or the present p erfect. Som etim es more
than one form is possible.

The queen (w a n t) .............................to look especially lovely tonight

so she (put o n ) ............................. her p r e ttie st dress.

The queen (w a it) .............................anxiously for th e duke b u t he (not

a r r i v e ) ..............................yet.
The queen ( lo c k ) .............................her bedroom d oor because she
(not t r u s t ) ..............................anyone in th e palace.

3
4

5
6

The queen (occasio n a lly r e c e iv e ) ............................ th e duke in her

a p a r tm e n ts in the p a st b u t she (n ev er b e ) ..............................alone
w ith him.
Constance (not k n o w ) .............................. it yet b ut d A rtganan (fall)
..............................in love w ith her.
Lots of girls (try ) ............................. to win dA rtag nans h e a r t in the
p a s t but none of th e m ( s u c c e e d ) .............................until now.ce

Past and p ast participle form s. W rite the p ast and p ast participle
form s of the following verbs.

choose .................

..................

shake

fo rg e t

.................

..................

speak

hide

.................

..................

take

ride

.................

..................

write

49

B efore you read

Reading pictures
Look a t the picture on page 53 and answ er the questions.

Who are th e people in th e picture?

W h a t is the m a n holding?

Why is the w o m a n pointing to th e diam onds on her shoulder?

How do you think th e w om a n is feeling?

m o Listening
Listen to the beginning of Chapter Four. You will h ear a conversation
between Anne of Austria and her husband, Louis XIII, and Cardinal
Richelieu. If it is co rrect, m ark A. If it is not co rre ct, m ark B.
A

The ball is held in th e royal palace.

Anne is w earing th e diam ond stu d s w hen she arrives

a t th e ball.

The cardinal gives th e king th e tw o stolen studs.

The king speaks to his wife ab out th e s tu d s a t th e end

of th e ball.

The cardinal is angry with th e king.

Vocabulary
Match a verb (1-6) with its meaning (A-F). Use your dictionary if
necessary.
1

em brace

hang

heal

overturn

saddle

strike

50

(of a clock) m ake a sound to show w h a t it is

tu rn som ething so t h a t its b o tto m is upw ards
p u t a leather s e a t on a horse
p u t your arm s around som eone
(a wound) becom e h ealthy again
kill som eone by putting a rope around
their neck and letting th e m fall

T h e M eetin
The following morning the only topic of conversation in Paris w as th e B E '
royal ball. The whole day w a s ta k e n up with th e final p r e p a ra tio n s for

it. At m idnight loud cries a n d c h e e r s 1 could be he a rd as th e king rode

f r o m th e Louvre to th e Hotel de Ville. Half a n ho ur later, m o re cries
a n d c h e e r s a n n o u n c e d t h e a rriv a l o f t h e q u e e n . She w a s w e a r in g
cerem onial c o stu m e but she w a s n t w earing th e diam o nd studs.
M a d a m ! sa id t h e king, his v oice tr e m b l i n g w ith a n g e r . W h e r e
a r e t h e d i a m o n d s t u d s ? You k n e w t h a t I e sp e c ia lly w a n t e d to se e
y o u w it h t h e m .
Im s o r r y , s i r e , re p lie d t h e q u e e n , i w a s a f r a id t o w e a r t h e m .
It is d a n g e r o u s in t h i s l a r g e c r o w d o f p e o p le . S o m e o n e c o u ld
s te a l t h e m . But Ill s e n d m y m a id t o g e t t h e m if yo u w i s h .

1.

c h e e r s : lo ud s h o u t s o f h a p p i n e s s .

51

FOUR

A nd t h e q u e e n o r d e r e d h e r m a id t o r e t u r n t o t h e Louvre t o g e t
t h e s tu d s .
A f e w m o m e n t s l a t e r , t h e c a r d in a l w e n t u p t o t h e k in g a n d
h a n d e d him a s m a ll box. In it t h e r e w e r e t h e t w o d ia m o n d s t u d s .
T he o n e s t h a t Lady d e W i n t e r h a d s t o l e n f r o m t h e d u k e .
If t h e q u e e n h a s t h e s tu d s , s ir e , h e sa id , w h ic h I v e r y m u c h
d o u b t , c o u n t t h e m . If t h e r e a r e o n ly t e n , a s k h e r M a je s t y w h o
s to le t h e t w o s t u d s t h a t a r e in t h i s b o x .
T h e ball b e g a n . Louis XIII s a w t h a t t h e q u e e n w a s w e a r in g t h e
s t u d s n o w b u t h e c o u l d n t s e e h o w m a n y t h e r e w e r e . A f te r t h e
f i r s t d a n c e , h e w e n t up t o her.
M adam ! I b e lie v e t w o o f y o u r s t u d s a r e m is s in g , he sa id , a n d
o p e n e d t h e sm all box. Look! H e re t h e y are! Im giving t h e m b a c k
to y o u .
W h a t do y o u m e a n ? re p lie d t h e q u e e n , s u r p r is e d . If y o u give
m e a n o t h e r t w o , Ill h a v e f o u r t e e n !
T h e k in g c o u n t e d t h e s t u d s o n h e r s h o u l d e r . T h e r e w e r e
tw e lv e ! He called t h e c a rd in a l.
W h a t d o e s t h i s m e a n ? he d e m a n d e d an grily.
T h e c a r d in a l h a d t o t h i n k quickly.
Sire, it m e a n s t h a t I w a n t e d to give t h e s t u d s t o h e r M a je s ty
a s a p r e s e n t b u t I w a s to o a f r a id o f o f f e r i n g t h e m t o h e r m y s e l f .
T he q u e e n sm ile d s w e e tly a t him.
T h a n k y ou , Y o u r E m in e n c e , s h e sa id . Im s u r e t h a t t h e s e t w o
s t u d s c o s t a s m u c h a s all t h e o t h e r tw e lv e t o g e t h e r !
DA r t a g n a n w a s d o in g g u a r d d u t y o u t s i d e t h e L ou vre o n t h e
n ig h t o f t h e ball. W h e n h e r e t u r n e d h o m e e a r ly in t h e m o r n in g ,
he f o u n d a n o t e u n d e r t h e d o o r. He o p e n e d it a n d r e a d ,

52

FOUR

1 am i'try.gratefulfo r yous- help and would, like to thank you. in person.

'Be at S t. Cloud this evening a t about ten o'clock, (jo to the hou.se oj
Monsieur ctEstrees. you! II see a small summer house 2 on the corner.
W ait therejo r a. sign from me. C .3.

C.B. m u s t b e C o n s t a n c e B on a c ieu x . DA r t a g n a n s h e a r t b e g a n
t o b e a t f a s t e r . It w a s t h e f i r s t t i m e s h e h a d w r i t t e n t o him , t h e
f i r s t t i m e s h e h a d s u g g e s t e d a m e e tin g . He k is s e d t h e w o r d s on
t h e n o t e t w e n t y ti m e s . Finally, h o ld in g it n e x t t o his h e a r t , h e fell
a s le e p . T h a t n ig h t h e h a d v e r y s w e e t d r e a m s .
At n in e o clock in t h e ev e n in g , h e s a d d le d his h o r s e a n d r o d e
o u t o f P aris t o St. Cloud. He f o u n d t h e p la c e t h a t C o n s t a n c e h a d
c h o s e n f o r t h e r e n d e z v o u s a n d w a i t e d f o r h e r sign. T he c h u r c h
clock s t r u c k t e n . He lo o k e d a t t h e s u m m e r h o u s e o n t h e c o r n e r
o p p o s ite him . T h e r e w a s a light in a n u p s t a i r s w in d o w .
T h a t m u s t be h e r r o o m , he t h o u g h t .
He w a i t e d p a t i e n t l y f o r h a lf a n h o u r w ith his e y e s fix e d on t h e
w in d o w . But t h e r e w a s no sign f r o m C o n s t a n c e . T he clock s t r u c k
e le v e n . He b e g a n t o feel a little w o rr ie d . P e r h a p s s h e h a d fallen
a s le e p . He d e c i d e d t o go a n d se e . T h e r e w a s a t r e e o u t s i d e t h e
sm all w in d o w . He c lim b e d it e a sily a n d in a f e w m i n u t e s he w a s
lo oking t h r o u g h t h e w in d o w in to t h e r o o m . T he s c e n e in f r o n t o f
him f r i g h t e n e d him . T he r o o m w a s in a te r r i b l e m e s s . T he ta b le
w a s o n its side. T he p la te s , d is h e s a n d g la s s e s w e r e o n t h e floor,
a ll b r o k e n . T h e r e w a s b l o o d o n t h e t a b l e c l o t h a n d o n t h e
c u r ta in s . It w a s c le a r t h a t t h e r e h a d b e e n a fig h t. But w h e r e w a s
C o n s t a n c e B o n a c ie u x ?

2 . s u m m e r h o u se : a s m a ll b u ild in g in a p a r k o r g a r d e n f o r s i t t i n g in.

54

The Meeting

D A r t a g n a n r u s h e d b a c k t o P a r i s a n d w e n t s t r a i g h t t o
M o n s ie u r d e T re v ille s h o u s e t o tell him e v e r y th in g .
It loo ks like t h e c a r d i n a l s w o r k , t h e c a p t a i n sa id . Y ou m a d e
him look s t u p i d in f r o n t o f t h e q u e e n . He w a n t s his r e v e n g e . 3
W h a t shall w e d o ? a s k e d d A r ta g n a n .
N othing fo r t h e m o m e n t. Ill go a n d se e t h e q u e e n a n d a s k for
h e r help. As fo r you, you m u s t leave Paris a s so o n as y ou can. Its
to o d a n g e r o u s fo r y o u t o s t a y h ere. Go a n d find y o u r c o m p a n io n s !
DA r t a g n a n t o o k M o n s ie u r de T re v ille s a d v ic e . T h e n e x t d a y
he s e t o ff alo n g th e s a m e ro a d t h a t he h ad ta k e n a fe w d ay s
b e f o r e o n his w a y t o E ngland.
W h e n he a r r i v e d in C h a n tilly , h e w e n t t o t h e inn a n d f o u n d
P o r t h o s in b e d p la y in g a g a m e o f c a r d s w i t h his s e r v a n t . M e a t
w a s r o a s t i n g in f r o n t o f t h e fire a n d t h e t a b l e w a s c o v e r e d w ith
b o t t l e s , e m p t y a n d full.
G o o d m o r n in g ! he sa id , p l e a s e d t o s e e his c o m p a n io n . I se e
y o u re well a n d in g o o d spirits! Im on m y w a y to fin d A r a m is a n d
A th o s . Are y o u c o m i n g ?
Im so rry , m y f r ie n d , t h e m u s k e t e e r said. I c a n t leave t h e inn
a t t h e m o m e n t . Im w a itin g fo r s o m e o n e to bring m e s o m e m o n e y .
I lo st all o f m in e a t c a rd s a n d I c a n t leave until Ive p aid m y d e b t s .
So d A r t a g n a n r o d e t o C r e v e c o e u r w h e r e he f o u n d A r a m is .
D r e s s e d in b la c k a n d lo o k in g v e r y s e r i o u s , t h e m u s k e t e e r w a s
s i t t i n g a t a t a b l e b e h in d a pile o f la rg e b oo k s. T h e r e w e r e rolls o f
p a p e r in f r o n t o f him .
A ram is! H o w a r e y o u ? DA r t a g n a n g r e e t e d his f r ie n d . H ow is
y o u r w o u n d ? H a s it h e a l e d y e t ? A re y o u w ell e n o u g h t o c o m e
w ith m e a n d fin d A t h o s ?
3.

re v e n g e : s o m e t h i n g y o u d o t o p u n i s h s o m e o n e else b e c a u s e t h e y

h a v e h u r t you.

55

Im v e ry h a p p y to s e e y o u again, d e a r d A r t a g n a n , said A ramis.

My w o u n d h a s h e a l e d w ell b u t Im a f r a i d I c a n t jo in y o u y e t. I
m u s t finish w r itin g th is a rtic le b e f o re I c a n le av e C re v e c o e u r!
T h e n I will h a v e t o c o n t i n u e m y s e a r c h f o r A th o s a l o n e , sa id
d A r t a g n a n .
DA r t a g n a n s e t o f f in t h e d i r e c t i o n A m ie n s , w h e r e h e f o u n d
A thos a t th e sa m e h o tel th e y had s to p p e d a t. The m u s k e te e r
e m b r a c e d d A r t a g n a n w a r m ly w h e n he s a w him. T h e n t h e t w o m e n
s a t d o w n a t a ta b le a n d to ld t h e h o s t t o b rin g t h e m fo o d a n d w ine.
W hile t h e y w e r e e a tin g , DA r t a g n a n to ld his f r i e n d w h a t h a d
h a p p e n e d s in c e he l a s t s a w him . He c o n c lu d e d his s t o r y w ith t h e
d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f C o n s ta n c e .
'I a m t h e u n h a p p i e s t m a n in t h e w o r l d , h e said.
Trifles.4 Only trifles, he said. (Trifles w a s A tho s favourite word.)
Trifles! I ts o b v io u s t h a t y o u h a v e n e v e r b e e n in lo v e .
I ts t r u e , p e r h a p s . H o w e v e r, le t m e tell y o u a re a l love s t o r y .
Go o n !
DA rta g n a n n o tic e d t h a t A tho s t u r n e d pale a s he b e g a n his story.
O ne o f m y f r i e n d s n o t m e , he in s is t e d , a c o u n t, fell in love
w it h a y o u n g girl. He w a s t w e n t y - f i v e a n d s h e w a s s i x te e n . She
w a s a s b e a u tif u l a s a n an g e l. She lived w i t h h e r b r o t h e r , w h o w a s
a p r ie s t. N o -o n e k n e w w h e r e t h e y c a m e f r o m . My f r ie n d w a s a n
h o n e s t m a n . He lo v e d t h e girl a n d m a r r i e d h e r . O n e da y , w h ile
t h e y w e r e o u t h u n t i n g t o g e t h e r , s h e fell o f f h e r h o r s e .
A th o s p a u s e d f o r se v e r a l s e c o n d s b e f o r e c o n ti n u in g his s to ry .
She h a d f a in te d . My f rie n d im m e d ia te ly t o o k o u t his k nife a n d
c u t t h e n e c k o f h e r d r e s s so t h a t s h e cou ld b r e a t h e m o r e e a sily .

4.

56

t r if le s : t h i n g s t h a t a r e n o t v e r y i m p o r t a n t .

The Meeting

A th o s la u g h e d b itte rly .
As t h e d r e s s fell f r o m h e r b e a u ti f u l w h i t e s h o u ld e r s , h e s a w
s o m e t h i n g t h a t filled him w ith h o r r o r! W h a t do y o u t h i n k h e sa w ,
d A r t a g n a n ?
H ow d o I k n o w ?
A f l e u r - d e - l i s ! 5 It w a s b r a n d e d 6 o n h e r s h o u l d e r ! S h e h a d
s to le n c h u r c h p r o p e r ty ! She w a s n t a n a n g e l. She w a s a d e m o n !
A nd w h a t did y o u I m e a n y o u r f r i e n d d o ?
T he c o u n t w a s a n i m p o r t a n t p e r s o n in his t o w n a n d h a d t h e
r ig h t t o a c t a s a ju d g e . He c u t h e r c l o th e s in to little p ie c e s, tie d
h e r h a n d s b e h in d h e r b a c k a n d h a n g e d h e r o n a t r e e .
A t h o s p i c k e d u p t h e b o t t l e o f w i n e , p u t it t o h i s lip s a n d
e m p t i e d it d o w n his t h r o a t .
So d o n t be s a d a b o u t y o u r little l a u n d r e s s , d A r t a g n a n . N e v e r
e x p e c t a n y t h i n g f r o m a w o m a n ! E specially love!
A nd h e p u t his f a c e in his h a n d s a n d sa id n o m o re .
T h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , d A r t a g n a n a n d A t h o s s e t o u t o n t h e i r
jo u r n e y b a c k t o Paris. P o rth o s a n d A ram is jo in ed t h e m on t h e way.
W h e n t h e y a r r iv e d , t h e f i r s t t h i n g t h e y did w a s t o go a n d se e
M o n s i e u r d e T re v ille . He t h a n k e d d A r t a g n a n f o r b r i n g i n g his
th re e m u s k e te e rs hom e safe an d sound and th e n he a n n o u n c e d
t h a t t h e y h a d t o g e t r e a d y t o le a v e f o r La Rochelle. T h e c a rd in a l
h a d b e s ie g e d t h e c ity t o b rin g a n e n d t o t h e P r o t e s t a n t r e v o l t . 7

5.

f le u r -d e -lis :

6.

b ra n d e d : w hen a m ark is
b u rn t on s o m e o n e s skin.

7.

P r o te s ta n t r e v o lt : th e
P r o te s ta n ts re fu sa l to a c c e p t
th e a u th o rity o f th e C ath o lic
king.

57

G o back to the text

Q

C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
Match the beginnings of the sentences (1-12) to th e endings (A-L).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

n The people cheered

The queen explained to the king
D The king felt very stupid
The cardinal quickly invented a sto ry
Constance s e n t d A rtagnan a note saying
DA rtagnan w as worried
Monsieur de Treville advised d A rtagnan to find his friends;
Porthos w a s a t an inn in Chantilly,
Aramis didnt tell d Artagnan
Finally d A rtagnan w e n t to Amiens
Athos told d A rtagnan a sto ry ab o u t a m an
DA rtagnan and his th re e com panions w e n t to see
Monsieur de Treville,

A who had hanged his wife.

B w hen th e king asked him to explain.
C w h a t he w as writing about.
D why she w a s n t w earing th e studs.

E who told th e m ab o u t th e siege a t La Rochelle.

F

w hen th e king and th e queen arrived a t th e ball.

G w here to m e e t her.
H w here he found Athos.

w hen he looked th rough the w indow in th e s u m m e r house.

w hen he sa w th e twelve stu d s on his wifes dress.

K who he had left on th e road to London.

L

58

w here he had lost all his m oney a t cards.

Q Describing character
Match the adjectives (A-G) to the descriptions (1-8). Are they good,
bad or neutral ch aracteristics? W rite G (good), B (bad), or N (neutral)
in the spaces.
A Q

am bitious C Q

B Q

honest

h o t-h e a d e d E Q
F Q

loyal

protective G j J unsatisfied
reliable

vain

........DA rtagnan gets angry easily an d so m etim es acts w itho ut

thinking.

........Porthos spend a lot of tim e admiring himself in f ro n t of th e

mirror.

........As th e oldest m u sk eteer, Athos feels like a fa th e r to

d A rtagnan and looks a fte r him.

W hen Aramis is a m u sk eteer, he w a n ts to be a priest. When

h e s a priest, he w a n ts to be a m usketeer.

5
6

The count in Athos sto ry believes in tru th n o t lies.

People tr u s t Monsieur de Treville because he always keeps his
promises.

The Duke of Buckingham is rich b u t he w a n ts to be powerful

too.

Constance Bonacieux loves th e queen and never w a n ts to

w ork for anyone else.

G o o d, neutral or bad characteristics?

W rite G (good), B (bad), or N (neutral) in the spaces. Then com pare
your ideas with a p artn ers.

... awful

... bossy

... calm

...g e ne rous

...jealous

...p le a sa n t

...punctual

... cheerful

...lazy
...ru d e

... confident

...m ysterious
...serious

... cruel

...n ervo us
...sociable

...p a tie n t
...w a rm

W riting
Think of three people you know well. W rite som e sen ten ces about
each one to describe their ch aracter. Example:
Ive n ev er seen m y cousin M aria w ithou t a sm ile on h e r fa c e . S h e s alw ays
so ch eerfu l. T h a ts w hy s h e s m y fa v o u r ite cousin.

59

I
(0 > T h e M an in th e Iron M a s k
Underline the co rrect w ord in the TV Guide e x tra c t for the film The
Man in the Iron Mask.
TV Guide

BBC 2 0 8 :00 The Man in the Iron Mask starring Jerem y Irons, Gerard
Depardieu, John Malkovich, Gabriel Byrne and Leonardo di Caprio.

All for one and one for all! The M usketeers reunite in this film for
one last great fight (1) over/against injustice.
Aramis is now a priest. Porthos is not as fit (2) as/than he was but
h e s still re a d y to fight. A thos h as r e tir e d a n d h a s a son w ho is
serving the king. And d A rtagnan? W hat (3) has/is happened to the
y o u n g e s t m u s k e t e e r ? Well, h e s b e e n p r o m o t e d a n d is now th e
Captain of the Musketeers. Hes responsible (4) o f/fo r guarding his
King, Louis XiV, from a tte m p ts on his life.
This coldhearted young m an lives a life of luxury (5) while/since his
people are dying of hunger. He seem s completely insensitive to their
suffering. (6) Too/Even his m o th e r Queen Anne is a s h a m e d of him
b u t s h e still loves him. H o w e v e r, Louis h a s a d a r k s e c r e t - th e
m ysterious Man In The Iron Mask, who he has hidden in a prison...
Aramis reunites his old companions Athos and Porthos in the hope
of (7) fin d /fin d in g a way to rem ove th e cruel young king from the
throne. They put on th eir old uniform s and we see th e m in action
once again. Will d A rta g n a n (8) jo in /u n it e th e m or will he rem ain
loyal to the king? And the m an in the iron m ask? Who is he? Why is
Louis (9) m u c h / s o a f r a i d o f h im ? W a t c h t h e film t o n i g h t a n d
(10) know/find out'.

60

T : G ra d e 5

S p e a k in g ; E n te rta in m e n t
W ork with a p artner. Ask and answ er these questions.
1

How m uch telev isio n do you and you r fam ily w a tc h ?

W h a t kind o f p ro g ra m m es do you like w a tch in g ?

W h en did you la st go to th e c in em a ?

Have you ev e r see n The M an in the Iro n M ask'?

Do you ev er go to th e th e a tr e to se e a play or a m u sical?

B efo re you read

mo

Listen to the beginning of Chapter Five. You will hear a conversation

betw een dArtagnan, Milady and her brother-in-law Lord de W inter.
Decide if each sentence is co rrect or incorrect.
If it is co rrect, m ark A. If it is not co rrect, m ark B.
A

Milady is going in to h er h ou se w hen dA rtag n an s e e s h er.

f| EH

Sh e is p leased to s e e d 'A rtagnan.

EH EH

Lord de W in te r a sk s dA rta g n a n fo r help.

EH EH

DA rtag n an and Lord de W in te r have a fig h t la te r th a t day. Q

DA rtag n an find s Milady v ery a ttr a c tiv e .

EH

EH EH

R e a d in g p ictu re s
Look a t the picture on page 6 7 and answ er the questions.
1

Is th e re a lot o f light in th e ro om ?

W h a t is Milady holding in h er le ft h and ?

W h a t is she planning to do?

W h a t is dA rtag n an doing?

W h a t can you se e on M iladys le ft shou ld er?

61

M istress a n d Maid
T h e f o u r c o m p a n io n s s p e n t t h e fo llo w in g d a y s g e tt in g t h e i r
e q u ip m e n t r e a d y f o r t h e s ie g e a t La R o c h e lle . T h is in v o lv e d
going to se v e ra l p la ce s in and aro u n d P aris.

O n e d a y a s d A r t a g n a n w a s p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h e d i s t r i c t o f
S a i n t - G e r m a i n , h e s a w t h e b e a u t i f u l w o m a n f r o m M e u n g in a
co a c h . She w a s ta l k i n g t o a g e n t l e m a n o n h o r s e b a c k . T h e y w e r e
s p e a k i n g in E nglish b u t f r o m t h e t o n e o f h e r v o ic e d A r t a g n a n
u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e w o m a n w a s a n g r y w ith t h e m a n . He d e c id e d
to go t o h e r aid.
M a d a m , h e s a i d . C a n I b e o f s e r v i c e t o y o u ? is t h i s m a n
a n n o y in g y o u ? J u s t s a y t h e w o r d a n d Ill t e a c h h im a l e s s o n .
Milady t u r n e d t o him , a s t o n i s h e d .
W h e n I w a n t y o u r p r o t e c t i o n , s ir , Ill a s k f o r it. B u t t h i s
p e r s o n is m y b r o t h e r - i n - l a w , Lord d e W i n t e r .
62

HE'

Mistress and Maid

DA r t a g n a n o p e n e d his m o u t h t o a p o lo g iz e b u t t h e g e n t l e m a n
i n t e r r u p t e d him.
W h a t d o e s t h i s s t u p id m a n w a n t ? W h y d o e s n t h e g e t o u t o f
t h e w a y a n d le t u s p a s s ?
S tu p id y o u r s e lf , sir! re p lie d d A r t a g n a n . I h a v e a s m u c h r ig h t
to b e h e r e a s y o u do !
T h e t w o m e n s v o i c e s r o s e in a n g e r a s t h e y c o n t i n u e d
in s u ltin g e a c h o t h e r . In t h e e n d t h e y d e c id e d t o s e t t l e m a t t e r s
w it h a d uel t h a t e v e n in g . Each o n e a g r e e d to b rin g t h r e e f r ie n d s .
A t six o clock, t h e e ig h t m e n a r r iv e d a t t h e c h o s e n p la c e a n d
t h e f i g h t s t a r t e d . It w a s v e r y f i e r c e . A t h o s k ill e d o n e m a n .
P o r t h o s a n d A ra m is w o u n d e d t w o m o r e . DA r t a g n a n m a n a g e d to
d i s a r m 1 Lord d e W i n t e r , w h o fell b a c k w a r d s o n t o t h e g r o u n d .
T h e n e x t s e c o n d , d A r t a g n a n w a s s t a n d i n g o v e r h im w i t h his
s w o r d p o in tin g a t his t h r o a t .
I co uld kill y o u, s ir, he sa id . B ut Ill s p a r e y o u r l i f e 2 b e c a u s e I
d o n t w a n t to h u r t y o u r s i s t e r - i n - l a w .
T h e E n g lis h m a n re a lis e d t h e n t h a t t h e G a s c o n w a s a m a n of
h o n o u r . He e m b r a c e d him a n d t h a n k e d him a t h o u s a n d ti m e s .
Id like t o in tr o d u c e y o u t o m y s i s t e r - i n - l a w , h e sa id . C o m e
a n d v is it us t h i s e v e n in g . H e r h o u s e is in t h e Place R oy ale. H e r
n a m e s M ilady De W i n t e r .
DA r t a g n a n s f a c e t u r n e d r e d w ith p le a s u r e . This w o m a n w a s
b e g i n n i n g t o r e p l a c e t h e l i t t l e l a u n d r e s s in h i s h e a r t . H e r
m y s t e r i o u s b e a u t y f a s c i n a t e d h im a n d t h e i r lives s e e m e d to be
c o n n e c t e d in a s t r a n g e w a y .
M ila d y De W i n t e r r e c e i v e d d A r t a g n a n g r a c io u s ly . 3 L ord de
1.

d is a rm : ( h e re ) t a k e his s w o r d a w a y .

2 . s p a r e y o u r life : n o t kill you.

3.

g ra c io u s ly : in a kind a n d p o l it e w a y .

63

FIVE

W i n t e r to ld h e r h o w t h e y o u n g m a n h a d s p a r e d his life. As s h e
l i s t e n e d , s h e f r o w n e d 4 t h e s m a l l e s t o f f r o w n s a n d h e r lip s
f o r m e d a s t r a n g e s m i l e . D A r t a g n a n n o t i c e d a n d f e l t v e r y
u n co m fo rtab le.
Milady p u z z le d 5 him . She sa id s h e w a s English b u t d A r t a g n a n
d o u b t e d it b e c a u s e h e r F r e n c h w a s so p e r f e c t.
He s p e n t s e v e r a l m o r e e v e n i n g s a t L ad y d e W i n t e r s h o u s e
a n d e a c h t i m e h e f e l t m o r e a t t r a c t e d t o h e r . M ila d y s e e m e d
h a p p y to s e e h im a n d a s k e d h im a lo t o f q u e s t i o n s b u t
d A r t a g n a n w a s c a r e f u l n o t t o tell h e r t o o m u c h .
One evening, a s he w a s w aiting to se e Milady, a y o u n g girl to o k
his h and . DA r ta g n a n reco g n ise d her. She w a s o n e o f Miladys m aids.
My n a m e s K e tty , sir. I m u s t s p e a k t o y o u. But n o t h e re . C om e
w it h m e , s h e sa id . S h e led him up a little d a r k s t a i r c a s e a n d in to
her bedroom .
W h a t do y o u w a n t ? W h y h a v e y o u b r o u g h t m e h e r e ? a s k e d
d A r ta g n a n .
You love m y m i s t r e s s , d o n t you, s i r ?
Im m a d a b o u t h e r ! re p lie d d A r t a g n a n , a n d s ig h e d d eeply.
T h a t is a p ity , sir, b e c a u s e s h e d o e s n t love y o u a t all. R e a d
th is n o te . Its f r o m m y m i s t r e s s t o t h e C o u n t d e W a r d e s .
T he E n g lis h m a n he h a d le ft h a l f - d e a d in Calais!

If

I'm writing to tell you that I love you.. I'm sure you know what a
gentleman must do toplease me.

64

4.

fro w n e d : m a d e a n e x p r e s s i o n t o s h o w s h e w a s a n n o y e d .

5.

p uzzled : m a d e h im t h i n k b e c a u s e he d i d n ' t u n d e r s t a n d .

Mistress and Maid

DA r t a g n a n w a s filled w i t h j e a l o u s y a f t e r he r e a d t h e w o r d s in
t h e n o t e . J u s t t h e n M ila d y c a l l e d K e t t y f r o m t h e n e x t r o o m .
K etty hurried to th e door t h a t c o n n e c te d th e tw o ro o m s, o p en ed
it a n d w e n t in. DA r t a g n a n hid b e h in d t h e d o o r a n d lis te n e d .
I h a v e n t s e e n o u r G a s c o n t h i s e v e n in g , K e t t y , M ilady said.
P e r h a p s M o n sie u r de Treville o r M o n s ie u r Des E s s a r t s h a s k e p t
him b u s y .
Do y o u m is s him , m a d a m ? a s k e d K e tty . Are y o u p e r h a p s a
little in love w ith h i m ? s h e sa id a s s h e b r u s h e d M iladys hair.
In love w i th h im ? I h a t e h im ! Milady re p lie d ang rily. H e s a n
idiot! He he ld a s w o r d to Lord d e W i n t e r s t h r o a t b u t he d i d n t kill
him! B e c a u s e o f t h a t , i lo s t a y e a r l y i n c o m e 6 o f t h r e e h u n d r e d
t h o u s a n d liv r e s .7
T h a t s t r u e , s a id K e tty . As Lord d e W i n t e r s o n ly h e ir, y o u
w ill

And t h e r e is so m eth in g b e tw e e n t h a t m a n a n d m e t h a t he d o e s n t
kno w , in te rru p te d Milady. He nearly m a d e m e lose th e good opinion
t h a t His Eminence h a s of m e. For t h a t I will have m y rev eng e on him!
DA r t a g n a n w a s a f r a id w h e n h e h e a r d t h o s e w o r d s . H o w e v e r,
w h e n K e tty c a m e b a c k in t h e r o o m , he h a d a lr e a d y t h o u g h t o f a
p lan t o g e t his re v e n g e on h e r b e f o r e s h e could do a n y th i n g to him.
He a s k e d K e tty f o r p a p e r a n d a p e n a n d w r o t e t h e follow ing n o te ,

M adam , 1 was a jra id I wasn't (vod enough jo r you.. 3 u t you r

letter has convinced me that you. really love me. 1 w ill come at
eleven o'clock tomorrow evening and you w ill see that I know what
to do toplease you. yours. Count de Mardes.

6.

in co m e : a m o u n t o f m o n e y r e c e i v e d f r o m a n i n v e s t m e n t .

7.

liv re s : F r e n c h c u r r e n c y u n til 1795.

65

V a H r jg
iMlli i^.?,-

^ iistlilt

gvK *

FIVE

T h e n he g a v e it t o K e tt y t o d e liv e r t o h e r m i s t r e s s .
T h e fo llo w in g e v e n i n g Milady i n s t r u c t e d h e r m a id t o p u t o u t
all t h e lig h ts in h e r r o o m . S h e w a n t e d t o r e c e i v e t h e c o u n t in
c o m p l e t e d a r k n e s s . A t e l e v e n o c lo c k K e t t y t o o k d A r t a g n a n t o
h e r m i s t r e s s ro o m .
Ple a se , c o m e in, c o u n t , Milady s a id in h e r s w e e t e s t voice.
She t o o k hold o f his h a n d s a n d to ld him h o w m u c h s h e loved
him. H e r w o r d s h u r t d A r t a g n a n b e c a u s e he k n e w t h a t t h e y w e r e
m e a n t f o r a n o t h e r m a n , n o t him.
T h e n s h e p u t a s a p p h i r e 8 rin g o n his fin g e r.
K eep th is a s a sign o f m y lo v e , s h e said.
She w a s so b e a u t i f u l a n d s p o k e to h im so p a s s i o n a t e l y t h a t
d A r t a g n a n c o m p le t e ly f o r g o t t h a t h e w a s in d a n g e r .
You h a v e m a d e m e t h e h a p p i e s t m a n on th is e a r t h , he said .
But, tell m e, if I w e r e s o m e o n e else, w ould y o u still feel t h e s a m e ?
W h a t do y o u m e a n ? Its y o u t h a t I love a n d y o u love m e .
Yes, b u t if Im n o t th e m a n you th in k I am , would you still love m e ?
DA r t a g n a n s q u e s t i o n m a d e Milady c u rio u s. She lit a c a n d le so
t h a t s h e could s e e t h e fa c e o f t h e m a n in f r o n t o f her. She m o v e d
b a c k in h o r r o r w h e n s h e d is c o v e r e d it w a s h e r e n e m y a n d n o t t h e
c o u n t. She r e a c h e d f o r a d a g g e r 9 t h a t w a s lying on t h e ta b le a n d
r a is e d it a b o v e h e r h e a d in te n d in g to kill d A r ta g n a n . He quickly
p u t o u t his h a n d a n d s t o p p e d her. But a s he did th is, t h e lace on
h e r d r e s s fell o f f h e r s h o u ld e r s . T he G a s c o n s e y e s o p e n e d w id e in
s u r p r is e . He c o u l d n t believe w h a t he s a w o n h e r w h i t e skin. He
quickly let go o f h e r a r m . Milady t r ie d to a t t a c k h im a g a in b u t he
m a n a g e d to e s c a p e t h r o u g h K e tt y s r o o m a n d o u t o f t h e p ala c e .

66

8.

sa p p h ire : a blu e s t o n e u s e d in je w e l l e r y .

9.

d a g g e r : a s h o r t k n if e w i t h a p o i n t e d b lad e .

*
*-

m .

<1i-

FIVE

He w a s still in s h o c k t h e n e x t m o r n i n g w h e n he h u r r i e d t o t h e
h o u s e w h e r e A th o s lived.
T h e f i r s t t h i n g A t h o s n o t i c e d w a s t h e r i n g o n h is f r i e n d s
fin ger.
W h y a r e y o u lo o k in g a t m y rin g like t h a t ? a s k e d d A r ta g n a n .
It r e m i n d s m e o f m y m o t h e r s ring. I d i d n t r e a lis e t h e r e w a s
a n o t h e r s a p p h i r e like t h e o n e s h e h ad .
S h o w it t o m e !
He e x a m i n e d t h e rin g a n d p u t it on.
H o w is it p o s s i b l e ? h e m u r m u r e d . W h e r e did yo u g e t it ?
D A r t a g n a n s t a r t e d t o t e l l h i m w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d t h e
p r e v io u s e v e n in g .
A nd , m y f r i e n d , h e s a i d w h e n h e h a d f i n i s h e d . S h e h a s a
fle u r - d e -lis o n h e r le ft s h o u l d e r !
A th o s t u r n e d a s p a le a s a g h o s t.
She h a d t h e m a r k a n d t h e ring. But I killed h e r. I h a n g e d h e r !
he sa id in a low voice.
T h e n he a d d e d , DA r ta g n a n ! T he s t o r y I to ld y o u h a p p e n e d to
m e . I w a s t h a t c o u n t. My w i f e s n a m e w a s A n n e d e Breuil. Milady
a n d A n n e d e Breuil m u s t be t h e s a m e w o m a n !

68

G o back to the text

P E T ^ Com prehension ch eck
For each question, m ark the letter n ext to the co rre ct answ er A, B,
C or D.

DA rtagnan decided to s p e a k to Milady because

A Q
B Q

he found her attractive.

he w a n te d to ask h e r a question.

C [ ] he w a n te d to help her.
D Q she smiled a t him.
2

During th e fight
A
B Q

DA rtagnan knocked his o p p o n e n ts sw ord o u t of his hands.

Lord de W inter w ou nd ed Porthos.

C Q ] th e m usk e tee rs killed th e ir opponents.

D Q Athos killed tw o of Lord de W inters friends.
3

Lord de W inter invited d A rtagnan to Miladys house

A Q

to th a n k him for sparing his life.

to introduce him to Milady.

C [ ] to show him th e house.
D
to find out m o re a b o u t him.
4

Why did Ketty show d A rtag nan th e n ote t h a t Milady had w ritten?
A Q

She w a s jealous and w a n te d to h u rt him.

B Q

Because he knew th e Count de Wardes.

She w as intere ste d in gossip.

C Q
D Q

She liked him an d w a n te d to pro te c t him.

Milady h a te d d A rtagnan because

A Q

he w as a Gascon.

B Q

he h ad helped th e queen.
he h a d n t killed Lord de Winter.
he had tried to kill th e m a n she loved.

C Q
D Q

W hy did Athos notice d A rta g n a n s ring?

A Q
B Q

Because it w as a very expensive one.

Because dA rtagnan didnt usually w ear a ring.

C Q

Because he liked rings.

Because he had seen one like it before.

69

E ach one agreed to bring three friends.

Many verbs and adjectives are followed by infinitive constructions,
either with to (to do) or w ithou t (do).
w ith to
He d ecided to go to h e r aid.
E ach o n e a greed to brin g th r e e frien d s.
DA rtagn an m a n a ged to disarm Lord d e W inter.
Id like to introduce y ou to m y sister-in -law .
This w om an w as begin n in g to replace th e little lau n d ress in h is h ea rt.
th eir lives seem ed to b e c o n n e c te d in a s tr a n g e way.
M ilady instructed h e r m aid to put ou t all th e lights.
S h e wanted to receive th e co u n t in c o m p le te d arkn ess.
intending to kill d A rtagn an .
M ilady tried to attack h im .......

w ith ou t to
He n early m ade m e lose th e g o o d opinion t h a t His E m in en ce h a s o f m e.
let us pass.

Some verbs are followed by verb+ing.

T he fo u r c o m p a n io n s sp en t the following days g ettin g th eir eq u ip m en t
ready.
This involved go in g to sev era l p la c e s in a n d arou n d Paris.
T hey continued insulting e a c h other.

Infinitive or - i n g form.
Underline the co rrect form.

The Duke of Buckinghams jeweller m an aged to m a k e / m a k e /

m a k in g tw o new studs for th e queen but it w a s n t an e asy job.

2
3

Milady spent a long time to g et/g e t/g e ttin g ready for the counts visit.
DA rtagnan m ade K etty to d eliv er/d eliv er/d eliv erin g a n ote to her
mistress.

4
5

Ketty instructed dArtagnan to follow /follow /follow ing her up the stairs.
Athos intended to fin d o u t/fin d o u t/fin d in g ou t who Milady de
W inter really was.

DArtagnan tried n o t to love / n o t lo v e/n o t loving Milady but she

fascinated him.

70

P E T Q ueen IVSargot
M argaret, or Margot, of Valois was a queen of France in the 16th
century. She is the central ch a ra cte r in Alexandre Dum as novel Queen
Margot, w ritten in 1845. Read about her life. Choose a word for each
space. Mark the co rrect letter A, B, C or D.

M argaret of Valois (1553-1615) w a s th e d a u g h te r of Henry II of France

and Catherine d e Medici.
W hen she ( 0 ) nineteen, her m o th e r arrang ed her m arriage to
Henry III of Navarre in an (1)
to e stablish peace b etw een
Catholics and P r o te s ta n ts (Henry w as a Huguenot).
Ju st days a f te r th e wedding cerem ony, th e St. Bartholom ew s Massacre
(2)...............place in Paris and th o u sa n d s of P r o te s ta n ts were
a ssassinated . Henry of Navarre m anaged to escape, th a n k s to the
su p p o rt of his wife and his conversion to Catholicism.
Margaret, (3)................ didnt love her husband, s ta r te d an affair with a
P r o te s ta n t noblem an called Joseph Boniface de La Mole. He w a s the
first of h e r (4).................. lovers. In 1575 th e king, her b ro th e r Henry III,
banished her from Court (5)
of her increasingly bad reputation.
She w a s imprisoned in a castle in th e Auvergne for 18 years.
Her hu sband Henry succeeded Henry III in 1589. He w a n te d to divorce
M argaret a nd m a rry his m istress Marie de Medici. M argaret refused
(6)...............1599 when, it w as reported, th e king paid her a lot of
m oney for th e divorce.
She m a n a g e d to rem ain (7)
good te rm s with her ex-husband,
however, and w as invited to live a t th e Court, (8)
she b ecam e a
p a tro n of th e a rts a nd literature.
0

A is

(B ) w as

C has

D had

A try

B move

C a tta c k

D a tt e m p t

A brought

B had

C took

D set

A who

B which

C she

D w hose

A plenty

C m any

D all
D reason

more

A for

B because

C caused

A in

B a fte r

C for

D at

C also

D w h ere

A on

B in

A which

because

since

D until

71

At the beginning of the 17th century fashions were similar to those of

the previous century. Both m en's and w om en's clothes were stiff 1
and uncom fortable to w ear. In the 1620s styles began to change
dram atically, and m ore frequently. Clothes becam e softer, m ore
comfortable and more elegant.
The co stu m es p e o p le w ore w ere stro n g ly in flu e n ce d by th eir
religion, n a tio n a lity a n d social class. P ro te stan ts, for exam ple,
dressed very simply in dark clothes, while the clothes of Catholics
were brightly coloured, rich and extravagant. W ealthy people wore
silk, velvet, lace and satin but poorer people, w ho couldn't afford
these luxurious fabrics, wore clothes of wool or cotton.
The middle classes were getting richer in this period and they began
to spend m oney on beautiful clothes. The u p p e r classes w eren 't
h a p p y ab o u t this because they w a n te d to keep clear d ivisions
between the social classes. In order to do this, laws were passed to
regulate w hat people could wear. In France in 1629 and 1633, for
example, Louis XIII passed laws that allowed only princes and the
nobility to w ear gold em broidery 2 or lace. However, no-one took
m uch notice of the laws and the middle classes continued to copy the
clothes of the w ealthy. As a result, as soon as a fashion became
popular w ith the m iddle classes, the nobility changed their style of
dressing.

1.

s t if f : rigid, n o t s o f t .

2.

e m b ro id e ry : d e s i g n o f c o lo u r e d s t i t c h e s o n c lo th .

72

French gentlemen, 1615-30, from Les costumes de Paris a travers les siecles,
unknown artist.

Costumes f o r men
A round 1620 m en's breeches (trousers) became longer and more
close-fitting. They were fastened at the knee and worn with long hose
(stockings). Doublets (jackets) had higher waists, which m ade them
more comfortable to wear. The ruff (stiff pleated collar) disappeared
and was replaced by a collar that lay flat over the shoulders.
Both the collar and cuffs 3 of m en's shirts were edged w ith beautiful
fine lace. Stockings, too, often had a wide lace trim ,4 which fell over
the tops of boots.
W hen they w ent out, gentlem en w ore circular capes 5 over one
shoulder and hats with wide brim s6 and large feathers.
After 1680, large shirts and lace collars disappeared. Men w ore a
knee-length coat called a justacorps, and close-fitting breeches with
3.

cu ffs : p a r t s o f a s l e e v e t h a t f it a r o u n d t h e w rist.

4.

t r i m : de co ra tio n .

5.

c a p e s : a k in d o f c o a t w i t h o u t s le e v e s.

6.

b rim s : p a r t s of a h a t t h a t s t i c k o u t.

73

m atching hose. Charles II brought the waistcoat to England from

France in 1666 and it soon became an essential part of correct dress.
It was worn under the justacorps.
Boots w ith heels became popular for indoor as well as outdoor wear
around 1629. The boots were usually turned dow n below the knee.
Boot tops quickly becam e w ider and w ider and in the 1630s the
'bucket-top' boot, w hich is often associated w ith the look of the
musketeers, appeared.
In the first p art of the century fashionable gentlem en had small,
pointed beards, w ide m oustaches, and long, curly hair. Some of
them had one thin plait 7 of hair, longer than the rest, tied w ith a
small ribbon. This was called a lovelock. In the second half of the
century w igs and false hair w ere com m on and m en d id n 't have
beards.

Costumes f o r Women
Like m en's clothes, wom en's clothes became softer in the 1620s. The
hoop 8 and ruff disappeared and were replaced by petticoats 9 and
collars with lace. For the first time since the Roman period, women
showed their wrists and lower arms.
While m en's shoes had square toes, wom en preferred pointed toes
on their shoes. They were fastened with ribbons until the invention
of the buckle10 in 1660.
Perhaps the m ost im portant accessory for w ealthy w om en in the
17th century was the folding fan. Introduced into Europe from East
Asia, fans were first used by Italian ladies. The handles and sticks
7.

p la it :

8.

h oop : a l a rg e ring.

9.

p e tt ic o a t s : u n d e r w e a r like t h i n s k i r t s .

10.

buck le : m e t a l f a s t e n e r , e.g. o n a b e lt o r s h o e .

74

Women at the court of

Louis III, 1614,
from Histoire de la mode
en France, Marie Preval.

were m ade of ivory, carved wood, or tortoiseshell, and the leaves

were m ade of expensive materials such as silk or decorated paper.
Some fans w ere decorated w ith silver, gold and precious stones.
They were often status symbols to show how rich and im portant the
user was. Women carried their fans hanging from their waist or held
them in the hand.
Ladies' hairstyles in the first part of the century were simple. The
hair was pulled back into a bun 11 at the back of the head and short
curls fell around the face. After 1650 shoulder-length curls were
fashionable. In 1680 a headdress i2 called a fontange became popular.
The style was created by the Duchesse de Fontanges, the mistress of
the French King Louis XIV (1638-1715).
11.

bun : h a i r t i e d in a t i g h t , r o u n d ball.

12

h e a d d re s s : a d e c o r a t e d p i e c e o f c l o t h i n g w o r n o n t h e h e a d .

75

Q Com prehension

c h e c k

Decide if each statem en t is co rrect or incorrect. If it is co rrect, m ark A.

If it is incorrect, m ark B.

A
1

Clothes w ere stiff and u ncom fortable a t th e beginning

of th e 17th century.

P ro te sta n ts dressed extravangantly.

No-one w as allowed to w e a r lace and gold e m broidery

in th e 1630s.

A ruff w as a kind of s h o rt jacket.

A ju sta co rp s w a s a kind of coat.

The b u c k e t-to p boot had a wide top.

Fashionable m e n had beards a f te r 1650.

W omen always wore long sleeves before th e 1620s.

W o m en s shoes had sq uare toes and buckles.

10

Fans originally cam e from Italy.

B e f o r e you read
Q

V o c a b u l a r y

Match a verb in A with its meaning in B. Use your dictionary if

necessary.
A

1 Q

authorize

Signal to s om eon e to com e to w ard s you.

beckon

Make a secret plan with o th e r people to do

som ething bad.

bow

Give special permission for som eth in g to

happen.

imprison

d Illegally ta k e som eo ne aw a y and make

th e m a prisoner.
5

kidnap

Bend your body fo rw a rd s from th e waist

especially to show resp e ct to som eone,

plot

Put som eone in prison.

76

At th e Inn of th e
R ed D ov ecote
A fe w d ay s a f t e r his m e e tin g w ith A th os, dA rta g n a n le ft f o r La
R o c h e lle w ith h is c o m p a n y o f g u a r d s led b y M o n s ie u r D es
E s s a r ts . Life in th e cam p w a s b orin g an d he w a ite d im p a tie n tly
f o r th e l e t t e r s his co m p a n io n s s e n t him fro m P a ris w ith n ew s
a b o u t w h a t w a s h ap p en in g a t c o u rt. T he c o m p a n y o f m u s k e t e e r s

h a d t o s t a y in t h e c a p it a l u n til t h e king a n d his E m in e n c e w e r e

r e a d y t o leave.
In o n e l e t t e r , h e r e a d t h a t A r a m i s h a d m a n a g e d t o f i n d
C o n s t a n c e B o na c ie u x , t h a n k s t o t h e m a n y f r i e n d s he h a d a m o n g
t h e q u e e n s la d ie s - in - w a itin g . Love f o r t h e p r e t t y l a u n d r e s s o n c e

1.

d o v e c o te :

77

a g a in filled t h e t h o u g h t s a n d h e a r t o f t h e y o u n g G a sc o n .
T h e c a r d i n a l s m e n h a d k i d n a p p e d 2 a n d i m p r i s o n e d h e r in
M il a d y s h o u s e . T h e q u e e n h a d f o u n d o u t a n d d e m a n d e d h e r
i m m e d i a t e r e l e a s e . 3 N o -o n e k n e w w h e r e C o n s t a n c e w a s h id in g
now .
DA r ta g n a n w a s full o f h o p e o f se e in g h e r a g a in o n e day, b u t he
w a s also v e r y a fr a id o f Milady. He k n e w t h a t s h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d
to h a v e h e r re v e n g e .
W h e n t h e k in g , t h e c a r d i n a l a n d t h e m u s k e t e e r s f in a lly
a r r i v e d , life in t h e c a m p i m p r o v e d f o r d A r t a g n a n . T h e f o u r
c o m p a n i o n s w e r e s o o n fa m ilia r f a c e s in all t h e b e s t p la c e s to e a t
a n d d rin k in t h e a r e a .
O n e e v e n in g , w h ile d A r t a g n a n w a s b u s y w i t h h is c o m p a n y
a t t a c k i n g a f o r t , his t h r e e f r i e n d s w e n t t o a n inn called T he Red
D o v e c o t e f o r a c o u p le o f h o u r s . T h e y w e r e r id in g b a c k t o t h e
c a m p a r o u n d m i d n i g h t w h e n a h o r s e m a n s t o p p e d t h e m . His f a c e
w a s c o v e r e d by his c lo ak so t h e y c o u l d n t s e e it.
W h o a r e y o u ? t h e h o r s e m a n a s k e d .
W e a r e t h e K ings M u s k e t e e r s , re p lie d A th o s.
W h a t is y o u r n a m e ?
T he m a n s c lo a k fell f r o m his face. It w a s t h e c a r d in a l him self!
A th o s, Y o u r E m i n e n c e , re p lie d t h e s u r p r i s e d m u s k e t e e r .
Ah, y e s ! I k n o w y o u a n d y o u r f r i e n d s , t h e c a r d i n a l s a i d .
'P le a se , c o m e w ith m e !
T he t h r e e m u s k e t e e r s b o w e d low a n d f o llo w e d him . He r o d e
b a c k t o t h e Red D o v e c o te a n d t h e y all w e n t inside.
W ait h e re fo r m e , th e c a rd in a l said , a n d w e n t u p s ta irs .

78

2.

k id n ap p ed : t o o k a w a y a n d m a d e a p r i s o n e r .

3.

re le a s e : t h e a c t o f l e t t i n g s o m e o n e go f r e e .

At the Inn of the Red Dovecote

W h e n I h a v e fin ish e d , y o u c a n e s c o r t m e b a c k to t h e c a m p .
A t h o s w a l k e d u p a n d d o w n t h e r o o m i m p a t i e n t l y w h ile t h e
o t h e r s p la y e d c a r d s . T h e r e w a s a s t o v e 4 in t h e r o o m b u t t h e pipe
w a s b r o k e n . O n e e n d o f t h e p ip e w e n t t h r o u g h t h e ceiling in to
t h e r o o m a b o v e a n d e v e r y t i m e he p a s s e d it, A t h o s c o u ld h e a r
v o ic e s. S u d d e n ly h e s t o p p e d a n d p r e s s e d his e a r t o t h e pipe. He
m a d e a sign to t h e o t h e r s t o be q u ie t.
L i s t e n , M i l a d y , t h e c a r d i n a l w a s s a y i n g . T h i s is a v e r y
im p o rtan t m a tte r.
M ilady! m u r m u r e d A th o s, a n d b e c k o n e d his f r i e n d s t o c o m e
a n d lis te n to o .
Im lis te n in g to Y o u r E m in e n c e v e r y c a r e fu lly , M ilady rep lied .
An English m e r c h a n t sh ip is w a i tin g f o r y o u a t t h e f o r t o f t h e
P o in t. T h e c a p t a i n is o n m y s id e so y o u will be s a f e . Y ou m u s t
le a v e im m e d ia te ly . Tw o o f m y m e n will t a k e y o u to t h e ship. It
will sail t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g .
V e ry well, Y o u r E m inence! N ow e x p la in w h a t I m u s t d o .
You m u s t go t o L on do n a n d i n t r o d u c e y o u r s e lf t o t h e D uke o f
B u c k in g h a m . Tell him t h a t I k n o w h e is p l o t tin g a g a i n s t m e a n d
t h a t if h e d o e s n t s to p it, Ill ru in t h e q u e e n .
A nd if I c a n t p e r s u a d e him t o s t o p his p l o t t i n g ?
T h e n y o u m u s t kill h im . T h e r e s n o o t h e r w a y .
Ill d o m y b e s t , Y o u r E m i n e n c e , t o h e l p y o u f i g h t y o u r
e n e m i e s . M ay I n o w s p e a k t o y o u a b o u t m i n e ?
Do y o u h a v e a n e n e m y ?
Of c o u rs e I d o , she replied in a loud a n g ry voice. The m a n w h o
d e f e a t e d y o u r g u a r d s in a fight! T he m a n w h o ru in e d o u r p la n t o

4.

s to v e : a p p a r a t u s t h a t p r o v i d e s h e a t .

79

SIX

d i s c r e d i t t h e q u e e n ! T h e m a n w h o lo v e s C o n s t a n c e B o n a c ieu x !
DA rtagn an ! H es a s c o u n d r e l , 5 a duellist a n d a tr a i t o r ! 5
W h a t w o u ld y o u like m e to do, M ila d y ?
Id like a l e t t e r f r o m Y o u r E m in e n c e t h a t a u t h o r i s e s m e to do
w h a t I w a n t t o d o .
Give m e s o m e p a p e r a n d a p e n .
T h e r e w a s s ile n c e w h ile t h e c a r d in a l w a s w ritin g .
A t h o s t u r n e d t o t h e o t h e r s a n d s a i d , Y o u c a n c o n t i n u e
lis te n in g if y o u like. Im g o ing o u t. Tell t h e c a r d in a l t h a t I w e n t to
check th e ro ad .
T h e n he le f t t h e in n in a g r e a t h u rr y . He t o o k his h o r s e a n d hid
h im s e lf a s h o r t d i s t a n c e a w a y .
He w a i t e d f o r t h e c a r d in a l a n d t h e m u s k e t e e r s t o leav e. T h e n
he w e n t b a c k in sid e a n d r a n u p s t a i r s t o t h e r o o m w h e r e Milady
w a s . He p ulled his c lo a k o v e r his f a c e a n d w e n t in. M ilady w a s
g e t t i n g r e a d y t o leave.
W h o a r e y o u ? s h e a s k e d . W h a t do y o u w a n t ?
D o n t y o u r e c o g n i s e m e, m a d a m ? sa id A th o s , u n c o v e r i n g his
f a c e a n d m o v in g c lo s e r t o h er.
Milady s t e p p e d b a c k a n d h e r fa c e w e n t v e r y pale.
C o u n t de La F e re !
Y es, Milady! B u t w h a t m u s t I call y o u ? L a d y De W i n t e r o r
A nn e d e B reu il?
Milady s a t d o w n w it h o u t a w ord. A tho s looked a t h e r w ith h a te .
You a r e a d e m o n on e a r t h ! he said. Y o u r p o w e r t o do evil is
g reat, b u t m en can co n q u er even th e m o s t terrib le d e m o n s.
W h y a r e y o u h e r e ? I t h o u g h t y o u w e r e d e a d .

80

5.

sco u n d re l : m a n w h o b e h a v e s in a n u n f a i r o r d i s h o n e s t w a y .

6.

t r a i t o r : s o m e o n e w h o is n o t loyal t o his c o u n t r y .

SIX

No, Milady. Im n o t d e a d a n d I k n o w all a b o u t y o u .

W h a t d o y o u w a n t ?
I w a n t t o g ive y o u a w a r n i n g . If y o u t o u c h j u s t o n e h a ir on
d A r t a g n a n s h e a d , I p r o m i s e it will be y o u r l a s t c r i m e .
DA r t a g n a n h a s i n s u lte d m e . He m u s t die!
He will n o t d ie .
A th o s w e n t up t o Milady. He t o o k o u t his p is to l a n d held it t o
h er head.
M a d a m , h e sa id . Give m e t h a t l e t t e r s i g n e d b y t h e c a rd in a l.
If y o u d o n t, Ill s h o o t y o u .
As M ilady c o n t i n u e d t o s it t h e r e w i t h o u t m o v in g , he a d d e d ,
You h a v e o n e s e c o n d t o d e c id e .
Sh e c o u ld s e e f r o m his f a c e t h a t h e m e a n t it so s h e q uic k ly
h a n d e d him t h e l e t t e r saying ,
T a k e it a n d le a v e m e in p e a c e !
A th o s o p e n e d it a n d r e a d it. T h e n h e p u t it in to his p o c k e t.
And n o w , h e said , p u t t i n g on his c lo a k a n d h a t, n o w t h a t I
h a v e t a k e n o u t y o u r t e e t h , v i p e r , 7 b ite if y o u c a n !
A nd h e le f t t h e r o o m w i t h o u t lo oking b e h in d him . He j u m p e d
o n his h o r s e a n d s e t o f f a t full g a llo p a c r o s s t h e f ie l d s t o t h e
c a m p , w h e r e t h e c a r d in a l a n d his f r i e n d s w e r e w a it in g f o r him .
Milady left w ith t h e c a r d in a ls m e n f o r t h e f o r t o f t h e Point. She
w a s furio us a n d m o r e d e te r m in e d t h a n e v e r to h a v e h e r re ve ng e .

7.

82

v ip e r : t y p e o f p o i s o n o u s s n a k e .

G o back to the text

C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
Decide if each sentence is co rrect or incorrect. If it is co rre ct, m ark A.
If it is incorrect, m ark B.
A B

1
2
3
4

P E T

D A rtagn an left for La Rochelle before th e m u sk etee rs did. Q ;

j
Aramis knew w here Constance Bonacieux w a s hiding.
j
The cardinal m e t th e m u sk e te e rs while he w as riding
back to th e camp.
Milady w as in an upstairs room a t th e inn w hen
th e cardinal and th e m u sk e te e rs arrived.
j _

5
6

The cardinal wanted Milady to leave for Englandimmediately. [ |

Athos told his friends t h a t he had a plan.
:

7
8

Milady gave Athos th e le tte r t h a t th e cardinal w rote.

Milady w e n t to th e fo rt of th e Point to see th e cardinal.

j
1

S e n te n c e tra n sfo rm a tio n

For each question, com plete the second sentence so th a t it m eans the
sam e as the first, using no m ore than th ree words. There is an example
a t the beginning (0).
0

Life in th e c am p w as boring for d Artagnan.

DA rtag n an ...vyfls.bored with.. |jfe in th e cam p.

The queen asked th e cardinal to release Constance Bonacieux.

P l e a s e ...............................Constance Bonacieux! th e q ueen said to
th e Cardinal.
Athos p ressed his e a r to th e pipe because he w a n te d th e h ear the
conversation better.
Athos pressed his e a r to th e pipe so t h a t ............................. the
conversation better.

Milady asked for permission to sp eak about her enemies.

Milady said, ............................. ab ou t my enemies n o w ?

Athos w aited for th e cardinal to leave and th en he w e n t back into

th e inn.
Athos w e n t back into th e i n n ............................. had left.

Milady didnt recognise th e m an in th e cloak a t first.

Milady didnt ............................. th e m an in the cloak w a s a t first.

83

Before you read

V o c a b u la ry
Match the phrases (1-4) with the pictures (A-D).

climb down a ladder

drop a nchor

cross sw ords with

say your prayers

B B S ' Listening
Listen to the beginning of Chapter Seven. You will hear a conversation
between dA rtagnan and the m usketeers. Decide if each sentence is
co rrect or incorrect. If it is co rrect, m ark A. If it is incorrect, m ark B.
A

The m u sk e te e rs are asleep w hen d A rtagnan arrives.

DA rtagnan know s t h a t Milady has gone to England.

Athos suggests asking Miladys brother-in-law to help.

Lord de W in ters life is in danger.

DArtagnan is going to ta k e a letter to Lord de Winter.

P re d ictio n
W hat is going to happen to Milady when she arrives in England?
Discuss your ideas with a partner.

84

A Fam ily Affair

DA rta g n a n a rriv e d a t th e h o u se w h e re his th r e e frie n d s w e re
s ta y in g an d fo u n d th e m all t o g e th e r in th e sa m e ro o m . A th o s
w a s q u ie t an d th o u g h tfu l. P o r t h o s w a s t w i s t i n g his m o u s t a c h e

a n d A r a m is w a s s a y in g his p r a y e r s .
Phew ! W h a t a n ig h t! t h e y o u n g m a n e x c la im e d . It w a s h a r d
w o r k b u t w e t o o k t h e f o r t. Im lo o king f o r w a r d to a r e s t n o w .
J u s t a m i n u t e , s a i d A t h o s in a v e r y s e r i o u s v o i c e . I h a v e
s o m e t h i n g t o tell you. Ive s e e n M ilady!
W h a t! W h e r e ? d A r t a g n a n a s k e d anx io u sly .
N e a r h e r e . At t h e inn o f t h e Red D o v e c o te .
S h e s a t t h e inn o f t h e Red D o v e c o te !
No, n o t a n y m o r e . S h e h a s le f t F r a n c e a n d is on h e r w a y t o
E ng la n d . S h e s g o ing t h e r e t o kill t h e D uke o f B u c k in g h a m !

85

-HU

S EV EN

A t h o s t o l d h is f r i e n d a b o u t t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n h e h a d h e a r d
b e t w e e n t h e c a r d in a l a n d Milady.
She m u s t n t kill t h e d u k e , s a id d A r t a g n a n . H e s a frie n d . Ill
go to E n g la n d a n d s t o p h e r .
T h e d u k e is English a n d w e a r e a t w a r w i t h E n g la n d n ow . If
y o u go t h e r e , y o u ll b e a t r a i t o r t o y o u r c o u n t r y . You a r e a F re n c h
soldier, r e m e m b e r . But p e r h a p s I h a v e a n id e a .
Tell us A th o s ! t h e o t h e r s sa id w ith o n e voice.
M ila d y s b r o t h e r - i n - l a w , L ord d e W i n t e r , liv e s in L o n d o n ,
d o e s n t h e ? W e c o u ld s e n d h im a m e s s a g e s a y in g t h a t his s i s t e r in -la w is g o in g to kill s o m e o n e a n d a s k h im t o w a t c h h e r. Or k e e p
her p riso n er.
I ts a g o o d i d e a , d A r t a g n a n said. But w e s h o u ld tell Lord de
W i n t e r e v e r y th in g . H e s in d a n g e r to o . M ilady is his on ly h e ir a n d
s h e w a n t s his f o r t u n e .
A r a m is p ic k e d up his p e n a n d b e g a n t o w r i t e . W h e n h e h a d
f in is h e d he r e a d t h e l e t t e r t o his f r ie n d s .

86

A family Affair

T h a t s p e r f e c t ! A t h o s e x c l a i m e d . All w e h a v e t o d o n o w is
d e c id e w h o s h o u ld de liv e r it.
A f te r a long d is c u s s io n , t h e f o u r f r ie n d s c h o s e P la n c h e t,
d A r t a g n a n s s e r v a n t , f o r t h e d e l ic a te m issio n . T h e y g a v e him six
d a y s t o g e t t o L o ndo n a n d r e t u r n t o t h e c a m p a t La R o chelle.

In t h e m e a n t i m e Milady w a s sailin g t o w a r d s E ng lan d . She w a s

fe e lin g v e r y a n g r y . She h a t e d le a v in g F r a n c e w i t h o u t h a v i n g h e r
r e v e n g e o n d A r t a g n a n a n d t h e j o u r n e y w a s t a k i n g m u c h lo n g e r
t h a n u su a l. The w a t e r w a s r o u g h , 1 t h e w in d s w e r e b a d a n d t h e
c a p ta in h ad decid ed to ta k e a d if fe re n t ro u te b e c a u s e he w a s
w o r r i e d a b o u t a t t a c k s b y F r e n c h s a i l o r s . In t h e e n d , t e n d a y s
p a s s e d b e f o r e s h e fin ally s a w t h e English c o a s t . S h e a r r i v e d in
P l y m o u th on t h e s a m e d a y t h a t P l a n c h e t w a s le a v in g t h a t c ity t o
r e t u r n t o F r an c e .
T he m e r c h a n t sh ip h a d j u s t e n t e r e d th e p o r t a n d w a s
d r o p p in g its a n c h o r w h e n a sm a ll b o a t a p p r o a c h e d it. An o ff ic e r
g o t o u t, c lim b e d on b o a r d a n d o r d e r e d t h e c a p t a i n t o t u r n r o u n d
a n d le a v e im m e d ia te l y . T he o f f ic e r w a s on ly a y o u n g m a n , a b o u t
t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o ld . T h e c a p t a i n o b e y e d h is o r d e r s a n d a t
m i d n i g h t t h a t n ig h t, t h e y d r o p p e d a n c h o r in a n o t h e r p o r t f u r t h e r
a lo n g t h e c o a s t . T h e n t h e y o u n g o f f ic e r w e n t u p to M ilady a n d
a s k e d h e r t o fo llow him.
W h o a r e y o u, s i r ? s h e sa id . A nd w h y a r e y o u so i n t e r e s t e d in
m y sa fe ty ?
As y o u c a n s e e by m y u n if o r m , m a d a m , I a m a n o f f ic e r in t h e
English N a v y , 2 he re p lie d c a lm ly a n d politely.
Yes, y e s , Milady said im p a tie n tly . But w h y m u s t I follow y o u ?

1.

ro u g h : n o t s m o o t h .

2.

N avy : p a r t o f a c o u n t r y ' s a r m e d f o r c e s t h a t f i g h t a t se a .

87

SEVEN

It is a q u e s t i o n o f s e c u rity , m a d a m . E n g la n d a n d F ra n c e a r e
a t w a r.
He o f f e r e d h e r his h a n d a n d a n d s h e b e g a n t o clim b d o w n t h e
la d d e r. T h e r e w a s a c o a c h w a i tin g on lan d, a n d t h e y o u n g o ff ic e r
h e lp e d h e r to c lim b insid e.
Im ta k in g y o u t o a h o te l on t h e o t h e r sid e o f t h e t o w n , t h e
o ffic e r said, s ittin g d o w n n e x t to her.
L e ts go, t h e n .
A fter a b o u t a q u a r t e r of a n hour, sh e looked o u t of th e window.
She c o u l d n t s e e a n y h o u s e s , only tall t r e e s in t h e d a r k n e s s . She
began to feel a little w orried.
W e ve le f t t h e t o w n , s h e s a id t o t h e y o u n g o f f ic e r . W h e r e
are w e g o ing?
T he y o u n g m a n d i d n t a n s w e r b u t to ld h e r t h a t s h e w a s s a f e
w it h him.
An h o u r l a te r th e y s to p p e d in th e c o u r ty a r d o f a large h o use. The
officer help ed Milady o u t o f t h e c o ach a n d to ld h e r to follow him.
He t o o k h e r t o a r o o m t h a t w a s c o m f o r t a b l e b u t n o t ric h ly
d e c o r a te d . H o w ever, w h e n s h e s a w t h e iron b a r s 3 on t h e w ind ow s,
sh e k n e w t h a t s h e w a s a p r is o n e r t h e r e .
W h a t d o e s t h i s m e a n , s i r ? sh e cried. W h e r e a m I? W h y a m I
h e r e ? W h a t c r im e h a v e I c o m m i t t e d ?
M a d a m , I a m o n ly c a r r y i n g o u t o r d e r s , h e s a id in his c a lm
voice. Now, p le a s e s it d o w n . You h a v e a v i s i t o r .
A v is ito r ? W h o ?
J u s t a t t h a t m o m e n t s h e h e a r d f o o t s t e p s o u t s i d e in t h e
c o rrid o r.

3. ir o n b a r s :

H r

[MSSEVEN

T he d o o r o p e n e d a n d a m a n c a m e in. He w e n t up to t h e o ffic e r
a n d said, T h a n k y ou , Felto n. T h a t s all. You m a y le a v e us n o w .
W h a t ! Y o u ? M ila d y c r i e d , r e c o g n i s i n g t h e m a n . E x p l a i n
w h a t s g o ing on, p l e a s e !
C e r ta in ly ! t h e m a n re p lie d . L e ts s it d o w n a n d h a v e a c h a t.
F irst o f all, tell m e w h y y o u h a v e c o m e b a c k t o E n g la n d .
To se e y ou , o f c o u rs e ! W h a t s so s u r p r is in g a b o u t t h a t ?
To se e m e ? H o w k in d o f y o u !
B u t a m I n o t y o u r n e a r e s t r e l a t i v e ? a s k e d M ila d y in a n
i n n o c e n t t o n e o f voice. I t s n o r m a l, i s n t i t ?
A nd y o u a r e m y o n ly h eir, t o o , s a id Lord d e W i n t e r looking
s t r a i g h t in to h e r ey e s.
Milady w a s suddenly afraid. How m uch did he kno w a b o u t h e r p a s t?
Lord de W inter p r e te n d e d n o t to notice th e look of fe a r on h e r face.
Do yo u like t h i s r o o m ? Do y o u n e e d a n y t h i n g e l s e ? h e a s k e d .
His v oice w a s lig h t a n d fr ie n d ly now .
W h o s g o in g to loo k a f t e r m e ? I d o n t h a v e m y m a id s o r m y
se rv a n ts.
You will h a v e t h e m . J u s t tell m e h o w y o u r f i r s t h u s b a n d c h o s e
his s e r v a n t s a n d ...
My f ir s t h u s b a n d ! M ilady r e p e a t e d in h o r r o r .
Yes. Y ou r F r e n c h h u s b a n d . He is still alive. I s u p p o s e I cou ld
w r i t e to him a n d a s k .
You a r e i n s u ltin g m e ! s h e s h o u te d .
No, m a d a m . Im n o t insulting you. I k n o w e v e ry th in g a b o u t you.
In a f e w days a b o a t will c o m e a n d t a k e you to a penal c o lo n y .4 D ont
tr y to escape! The w in d o w s o p e n directly on to t h e sea. My m e n a re
u n d e r ord e rs to s h o o t you, m a d a m , if you m a k e a w ro n g m o v e .

4.

90

p e n a l c o lo n y : p la c e e.g. a n isla n d w h e r e c r i m i n a l s a r e k e p t.

A Family Affair

T h e n h e g o t up a n d called t h e o ffic e r.
F e lto n !
T h e y o u n g m a n c a m e b a c k in to t h e ro o m .
C o m e in, m y d e a r Jo h n , a n d lo ok a t t h i s w o m a n . S h e is y o u n g
a n d b e a u tif u l. She k n o w s v e r y well h o w to t e m p t 5 m e n . But sh e
is a d e m o n ! P r o m is e m e , Fe lto n , t h a t y o u will g u a r d h e r well u ntil
i t s t i m e f o r h e r t o go t o t h e p e n a l colon y. P r o m is e m e t h a t sh e
will n o t le a v e th is r o o m , t h a t s h e will n o t w r i t e t o a n y o n e .
I p r o m is e , m y Lord.
T h e n Lord d e W i n t e r le f t t h e r o o m , fo llo w e d b y F e lto n , w h o
d i d n t e v e n loo k a t Milady.

5.

t e m p t : p e r s u a d e s o m e o n e t o d o s o m e t h i n g by o f f e r i n g a r e w a r d .

G o back to the text

P E T C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
For each question, m ark the letter next to the co rre ct answ er A, B,
C or D.

Why couldnt d A rtag nan go to England?

A 12 ] He w a s a French soldier.
B Q

He had to s ta y in La Rochelle.

C Q

There w a s n t a boat.
The w e a th e r w as to o bad.

D Q
2

Why might Milady try to kill Lord de W inter?

A Q

She didnt like him.

B Q

He w as d A rta g n a n s friend.

C Q

She w a n te d his money.

He knew ab o u t her past.

D Q
3

W hat annoyed Milady ab o u t her journey to England?

A

She w as travelling on a French ship.

B Q

The c aptain w as not very polite.

C j j The ship broke down several times.
D Q
4

The ship to ok a longer route th a n usual.

W h a t w as Feltons job?
A Q

He was th e captain of a ship.

B [ j He w as an officer in th e navy.

C Q

He w as a coachm an.

D Q

He w a s Lord de W inters servant.

Milady told Lord de W inter she had come England

| to see him.

A |

B Q

because it w as her home.

C Q

because of th e w a r with France.

D [__| to visit a friend.
6

W hat w as Lord de W inter planning to do with Milady?

A | j Put her in a convent.
B ij

92

C Q

Keep her prisoner in his house.

Throw her out of th e window.

D Q

Send her to a n o th e r country.

Madam, I am only carrying out ord ers,

The verb ca rry o u t in this se n te n c e is an exam ple of a phrasal verb.
Phrasal verbs can be com posed of tw o words (verb + preposition /adv erb
particle) or th re e words (verb + a dverb particle + preposition).
We can divide phrasal verbs into four groups:
1 verb + preposition (no object): Explain w h ats going on, p lease! Milady said.
2 verb + preposition (with object)
'W hos g o in g to look a fter m e ? a s k e d Milady.

With this type of phrasal verb, we c a n t p u t th e object b e tw e e n th e

verb and th e preposition: lo o k m e a fte r
3 verb + adverb particle (with object)
M adam , I a m on ly carrying ou t o r d ers, th e o ffic e r said.

With this type of phrasal verb, w e can p u t th e object b e tw ee n th e verb

and th e adverb particle: carrying orders out.
If th e object is a pronoun, it MUST go b e tw een th e tw o p a rts of
th e phrasal verb: carrying th em ou t not carryin g ou t th em
4 verb + adverb particle + preposition (with object)
Im looking forw ard to s o m e r e s t, s a id d A rtagn an .

The object always goes a f te r th e preposition.

Some phrasal verbs are difficult to u n d e rsta n d because we c a n t always
guess th e m eaning from th e com bination of words.

0 P hrasal v e rb s
Put the words in brackets in the correct order to complete the sentences.

DA rtagn ans boots w ere uncom fortable so he (to o k /o ff/t h e m )

Milady w as evil so Lord de W inter decided to (sen d /a w a y /h er)

A thos m arriage finished in tra g e d y and it took him a long tim e to

(g e t /o v e r /it ) .........................
The cardinal planned a trip to La Rochelle but he had to (p u t/o ff/it)
...........................for a w eek because he w as ill.
There w as a problem with th e bill a t th e inn but Porthos
( s o r t e d /o u t /it ) .........................
Here are th e d ocum ents for Miladys d ep ortation , said th e duke.
Lets ( g o /t h r o u g h /t h e m ) .......................... and check th e y are all here.

4
5
6

93

A penal c o lo n y
Complete the te x t about the British penal colony Van Diemens Land
with the prepositions in the list.
about

at

by

for

from

of

to

with

Van Diemens Land w a s th e original na m e used (1 )...................... the

British for th e island o f Tasm ania, now pa r t of Australia.
It w as th e m o s t im p o rta n t penal colony in Australia ( 2 ) ...................... th e
1830s to 1853, w hen penal tr a n s p o r ta tio n w as abolished. In total,
som e 7 5,000 convicts w ere tra n sp o rte d there, or ab out 4 0 percent
(3)
all th e convicts se n t to Australia.
Convicts who had com pleted their se n te n ce s ofte n left Van Diemens
Land ( 4 ) ...................... settle in th e new free colony of Victoria.
However, th e local people w e r e n t very happy ( 5 ) ...................... th e
arrival of th e se new settlers. Complaints from Victorians abo ut the
crimes com m itte d by ex-convicts from Van Diem ens Land was one of
th e reaso ns ( 6 ) .....................th e eventual abolition of tr a n sp o rta tio n to
t h a t penal colony in 1853.
Three years later, in order to rem ove th e un p le asa n t associations
(7 )
its nam e, Van Diemens Land w as re n a m ed Tasm ania
in honour of Abel Tasm an, th e Dutch explorer w ho discovered th e
island in 1642. The last penal s e ttle m e n t in Tasm ania ( 8 ) .....................
Port Arthur finally closed in 1877.

W ritin g

This is part of a letter Felton received from his sister Mary.

1 haven't heard from y o u jo r a Ion time, John. Have you. )ta>-ted the
newjob you. tola me a&out yet? k/ho are you working jo r? kjhat do
uou have to do? Tlea$e w rite toon. I'm
y o u r lov'm g filte r,

Imagine you are John Felton. W rite a letter to your sister, answering
her questions. W rite your letter in about 1 0 0 words.

94

Be fo re you read
Listen ing
Listen to the beginning of Chapter Eight. You will hear about how
Milady plans to escape from her prison. Choose the co rre ct picture
A, B or C.

How does Milady arra n g e h er hair for Feltons first visit?

W hat is the subject of the book th a t Felton brings on his second visit?

W h a t does Milady do w he n Felton visits her again?

W h a t does Milady see w hen she looks a t the window?

95

The Escape
M ilady w as filled w ith d eep d e s p a i r .1 She d id n t k now w h a t to H E l
do. W h o co uld h elp h e r ? She h a d no f r i e n d s in E n g la n d . H o w e v e r,

soon h er courage re tu rn e d .
All is n o t l o s t , s h e t h o u g h t . I h a v e e s c a p e d f r o m w o r s e
s i t u a t i o n s t h a n th is . Ill f ig h t w ith m y b e a u t y a n d c h a r m .
She k n ew t h a t try in g to t e m p t he r b ro th e r-in -la w w a s impossible.
But F e lto n m u s t h a v e a w e a k n e s s . 2 S h e s m ile d t o h e r s e lf . Ill
s o o n d is c o v e r it. It s h o u l d n t be to o d iff ic u lt.
W h e n s h e h e a r d h is f o o t s t e p s o u t s i d e h e r d o o r , s h e t h r e w
h e r s e l f q u ic k ly in to a n a r m c h a i r . S h e w a n t e d h im t o t h i n k s h e
w a s ill. She t h r e w h e r h e a d b a c k a n d le t h e r b e a u tif u l h a ir h a n g
o v e r t h e b a c k o f t h e ch a ir. She p ulled d o w n t h e lace t h a t c o v e r e d

96

1.

d e s p a i r : f e e l in g t h a t a s i t u a t i o n is so b a d t h a t y o u c a n t c h a n g e it.

2.

w e a k n e s s : w e a k p o i n t.

The Escape

h e r n eck an d sh o u ld ers. T hen sh e p u t one h a n d on h e r h e a rt,

t h r e w t h e o t h e r o v e r t h e a r m o f t h e c h a ir a n d c lo s e d h e r ey e s.
F e lto n u n lo c k e d t h e d o o r a n d e n t e r e d t h e r o o m fo llo w e d by a
serv an t.
P u t t h e ta b le o v e r h e r e ! t h e o f f ic e r s a id to t h e s e r v a n t , w h o
h a d b r o u g h t M iladys s u p p e r .
T h e n h e s a w h e r in t h e a r m c h a i r .
Ah! Shes asleep. Well, she can e a t h e r su p p e r w h e n she w a k e s up.
A nd h e w e n t o u t. Milady w a s fu r io u s .
T he fo llo w in g e v e n in g F e lto n r e t u r n e d , h o ld in g a b o o k in his
h a n d . He w e n t up to Milady a n d sa id , Lord de W in te r , w h o is also
a C a th o lic like y ou , h a s s e n t y o u t h i s b o o k o f p r a y e r s . It c o n t a i n s
e v ery th in g you need for your m a s s .3
F r o m t h e t o n e o f h is v o i c e w h e n h e s a i d t h e w o r d s y o u r
m a s s , Milady g u e s s e d t h a t h e w a s a P r o t e s t a n t , a P u r ita n . She
p re te n d e d to be offended.
My m a s s ! W h a t a r e y o u s a y in g , s ir? Lord de W i n t e r k n o w s
v e r y well t h a t I a m n o t o f his re lig io n .
W h a t religion a r e y o u t h e n , m a d a m ?
I will tell y o u o n t h e d a y I h a v e t o s u f f e r f o r it.
M ilady s a w a f la s h o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g p a s s a c r o s s F e l t o n s fac e .
She re a lised t h a t she had fo u n d th e w e a k n e ss of th is m a n of
s t o n e . F r o m t h e n on, w h e n s h e h e a r d his f o o t s t e p s , s h e g o t d o w n
o n h e r k n e e s d o w n a n d p r e t e n d e d to p ra y . S o m e t i m e s s h e s a n g
r e lig io u s s o n g s . H e r vo ice w a s s t r o n g a n d s h e s a n g b e a u tif u lly .
F e lto n w a t c h e d h e r a n d l is te n e d t o h e r. E very d a y he lo v e d h e r a
little m o re . Soon he b eliev ed she w as a sa in t, th e v ic tim of
u n b e l i e v e r s like Lord de W i n t e r o r t h e Duke o f B u c k in g h a m .

3.

m a s s : r e lig io u s c e r e m o n y .

97

EIGHT

On t h e la s t n ig h t o f h e r i m p r i s o n m e n t , Lord d e W i n t e r c a m e
to s e e her.
I h a v e s e n t F e lto n t o t h e D uke o f B u c k in g h a m t o a s k him f o r
his s i g n a t u r e on y o u r d e p o r t a t i o n o r d e r , 4 he sa id . You will leav e
us t o m o r r o w .
T h e n he le ft t h e r o o m a n d lock ed t h e d o o r a g a in . Milady w a s
a g a in filled w ith d e s p a ir .
I ts to o late! All is lo s t! s h e t h o u g h t .
S u d d e n ly t h e r e w a s a clap o f t h u n d e r 5 a n d a fla sh o f lightning 6
o u ts id e . A s to r m h a d b ro k e n . T hen sh e h e a r d a n o ise a t th e
w in do w . She t u r n e d . In a n o t h e r fla sh o f lightning sh e s a w a fa c e
b e h in d th e b a rs. It w a s F e lto n s.
He loves me! I a m s a v e d ! s h e c rie d o u t in joy.
The officer w a s h a n g in g on a ro p e la d d e r high a b o v e t h e s to r m y
s e a below . He slo w ly c u t t h r o u g h t w o o f t h e iro n b a r s a n d t h e n
m a d e a sign to Milady to o p e n t h e w indo w . He o r d e r e d h e r t o p u t
h e r a r m s a r o u n d his n e c k a n d n o t to be a fra id . T h e n t h e y slowly
s t a r t e d to climb d o w n th e ro p e ladder. O nce on t h e g rou nd , he led
Milady to a small b o a t t h a t w a s w a itin g f o r th e m . He picked up t h e
o a rs 7 a n d r o w e d 8 t o w a r d s a ship t h a t w a s a n c h o r e d o u t a t sea.
G e t on t h e s h i p ! h e s a id t o h e r . I m u s t go t o P o r t s m o u t h
w h e r e t h e D u k e o f B u c k i n g h a m is p r e p a r i n g t o l e a v e f o r La
Rochelle w ith his f o llo w e r s .
He m u s t n o t leave! Milady cried, rem em bering th e cardinals orders.

4.

98

d e p o rta tio n o rd e r : d o c u m e n t t h a t au th o rizes sending so m eo n e ou t

o f a co u n try .

5.

c la p o f t h u n d e r : lou d n o i s e in t h e sk y in a s t o r m .

6.

f l a s h o f l i g h t n i n g : lig h t in t h e s k y in a s t o r m .

7.

oars :

8.

ro w e d : m o v ed a b o a t using oars.

: EIGHT

He will n o t le a v e . Y ou c a n b e s u r e o f t h a t !
Milady sm ile d w i t h joy . She u n d e r s t o o d t h a t F e lto n i n t e n d e d
to kill him . H e r t r ip t o E n g la n d w o u ld b e a s u c c e s s a f t e r all. She
co uld r e t u r n v i c to r io u s t o F r a n c e a n d t h e c a rd in a l.
W a it u n til t e n o c lo c k f o r m e , s a id Fe lto n . If Im n o t b ack, s e t
sail w i t h o u t m e . T h e c a p t a i n will o b e y y o u r o r d e r s .
W h e n h e a r r i v e d in P o r t s m o u t h , h e w e n t s t r a i g h t t o s e e t h e
D uke o f B u c k in g h a m .
Sir, he sa id . Iv e c o m e to a s k yo u f o r M ilad ys f r e e d o m .
B ut s h e s a c r im in a l, a d e m o n ! L ord d e W i n t e r h a s t o ld m e
e v e r y th in g . I h a v e n o t h i n g a g a i n s t sig n in g t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o r d e r
for h er.
No, sir. M ilad y i s n t a d e m o n . S h e s a n a n g e l. Y ou will n o t
p u n is h h e r , F e lto n r e p lie d a n g rily . T h e n he p u lle d o u t a d a g g e r
a n d t h r u s t it in to t h e d u k e s h e a r t .
T h e r e w a s no t i m e f o r F e lto n t o m a k e h is e s c a p e . A s e r v a n t
h a d s e e n e v e r y t h i n g a n d h a d given t h e a la r m . T he d u k e s g u a r d s
a r r e s t e d him im m e d i a t e l y a n d t o o k him t o a t e r r a c e f r o m w h e r e
t h e r e w a s a v ie w o f t h e s e a . In t h e d i s t a n c e he s a w a w h i te sail
sa iling t o w a r d s F r a n c e . It w a s t h e sh ip w ith Milady.
O n e la s t f a v o u r , h e a s k e d t h e g u a r d w h o w a s s t a n d i n g n e x t
t o him .
W h a t s t h a t ?
Can y o u tell m e t h e tim e , p l e a s e ?
T e n t o n in e , sa id t h e g u a rd .
Milady h a d n t w a i t e d f o r him.
T h e n e w s o f B u c k i n g h a m s d e a t h r e a c h e d F r a n c e q u ic k ly .
Richelieu w a s s a tis f i e d . W i t h o u t t h e h e lp o f t h e d u k e , t h e p e o p le
o f La Rochelle w e r e p r i s o n e r s in t h e i r t o w n . He h a d w o n .

100

The Escape

M e a n w h ile t h e king a n d t h e m u s k e t e e r s w e r e g e t t i n g ti r e d o f
w a i t i n g f o r La R o c h e l l e t o f a l l . T h e k i n g w a s m i s s i n g t h e
e n t e r t a i n m e n t s a t c o u r t. T he m u s k e t e e r s w e r e d r e a m i n g a b o u t
rid in g in to b a t t l e a n d g lo rio u s v ic to r ie s .
O n e d a y , h o w e v e r , a l e t t e r f r o m A r a m i s c o u s in M arie a r r iv e d
a n d f o r a f e w m o m e n t s t h e y f o r g o t to be b o re d .
A r a m is r e a d it t o his c o m p a n i o n s ,

M y dear cousin.
I'v e decided to leave T ori) and ^o to the Carm elite convent in
3 ethane, where the queen sent our loyal servant, Constance
B onadeijx. Ske's (^dte haj3^

there - she has everything she needs,

(paejit a letterjrom her lover.

(goodbye, dear cousin. Send mey o u r news.
M ane

C o n s ta n c e ! S h e s alive! e x c la i m e d d A r ta g n a n . S h e s s a f e a n d
s h e lo ve s m e !
T h a t s g o o d n e w s ! s a id A ra m is . W h e n t h e sie g e is o v e r, w e ll
go t o t h e c o n v e n t t o g e t h e r .
T h e m u s k e t e e r s d i d n t k n o w t h a t Milady w a s a lso on h e r w a y
t o B e th u n e . T h e c a r d i n a l h a d o r d e r e d h e r t o go t h e r e a n d w a i t
f o r his o r d e r s .

101

G o back to the text

Q

C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
Match the beginnings of the sentences (1-12) to the endings (A-L).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Milady planned to escape from her prison

She discovered
With her pray ers an d religious songs,
On th e last night of her im prisonm ent
However, during a bad storm
He took her to a ship,
Then he w e n t to Po rtsm ou th
The Duke of Buckingham knew Miladys story
Felton, w ho w as m ad with love for Milady,
Meanwhile Milady
At La Rochelle th e king and th e m u sk e te e rs
When Aramis received a n ote from his cousin

A she th o u g h t all w a s lost.

B she m ade him love her.
C

Felton app eared a t th e window of her room.

D had ordered th e captain of th e ship to sail to France.

E

th a t w as waiting o ut a t sea.

th e m u sk e te e rs knew w here to go to rescue Constance.

G to dem and Miladys freedom.

H killed the duke, but w as a rre s te d immediately.

th e officers weakness.

w ere getting bored while they w aited for th e city to fall.

K and had decided to sign her dep ortatio n order.

L

with Feltons help.

102

H I V o c a b u la ry
Think of ONE word only th a t can be used to com plete all three
sentences in each group. The w ords are all in Chapter Eight.

I h a te you!' she said with a ...........................of anger.

We usually h ear a clap of th u n d e r before we see a ..........................
of lightning.
As soon as Rose heard Jack w a s in hospital, she w as a t his side in
a ............................

We live in t h e ............................of th e old city.

Dennis has a w e a k ............................so he c a n t play football.
My G ran dm a had to learn p oem s b y ............................w hen she w as
a t school.

Katie hung her bag on t h e ...........................of th e chair.

T h eres a m ap on t h e ............................page of th e guide book.
Youve put your pullover o n ........................... to front!

Selina is a w om an of g r e a t ...........................so she usually gets w h a t

she wants.
My dad gave me a g o l d ............................bracelet for m y birthday.
Some people c a n ............................snak es by playing music.

B e fo re you read
Q

V o c a b u la ry
Match a verb in A with its meaning in B. Use your dictionary if
necessary.

A
1
2
3
4

bu rst

bre a th e

weep

avenge

cry
punish som eone for doing so m ething bad
to you
tak e air into your body th rough your nose
or m outh
break because of the pressure inside

103

T h e C arm elite C o n v e n t
Louis XIII w as so bored in th e cam p a t La Rochelle th a t he decided to 0 = T
go b ack to P aris to ce le b ra te th e festiv a l o f S a in t-L o u is. He to ld

Monsieur de Treville to give him a n e sc o rt a n d naturally th e captain

ch o se his b e s t m e n d A rta g n an , Athos, P o rth o s a n d A ram is to
f o r m p a r t o f it. O n c e in Paris, t h e y a s k e d f o r five d a y s le a v e o f
a b s e n c e a n d i m m e d i a te ly s e t o u t fo r B e th u n e to find C o n s ta n c e .
A ram is had a lre a d y o b ta in e d a le tt e r fr o m th e q u e e n in which she
a u th orise d th e girls d e p a rtu r e fro m th e convent.
They sto p p e d to re s t in th e to w n o f Arras. While th e y w e re th e re , a
h o r s e m a n w ith a n e a t black m o u sta c h e galloped p ast. It w a s th e m a n
f ro m Meung! DA rta g n an w a n te d to sto p him b u t he w a s already to o
f a r a w a y . T h e n h e s a w a p ie c e o f p a p e r on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e
h o r s e m a n h a d d ro p p e d . He picked it up. T h e re w a s only o n e w o rd
w r i t t e n o n it: A r m e n t i e r e s . T he G a s c o n f r o w n e d . It w a s M iladys
writing.
104

The Carmelite Convent

I d o n t like t h i s , he said.
A th o s a g r e e d w ith him.
C o m e on! L e ts fin d y o u r little l a u n d r e s s q uickly! he said.
T h e y j u m p e d on th e i r h o r s e s a n d s e t o ff a t a gallop t o B e th u n e .
At t h a t v e r y s a m e m o m e n t , Milady w a s e n te r i n g t h e C a rm elite
convent. The Mother Superior1w elcom ed her and to ok h er to her room.
W o n t y o u be b o r e d h e r e , m a d a m ? s h e a s k e d , it i s n t like t h e
c o u r t. Life is v e r y q u ie t in t h e c o n v e n t .
His E m in e n c e h a s o r d e r e d m e t o s t a y h e r e , re p lie d Milady. 1
d o n t k n o w f o r h o w lo n g .
Ill s e n d y o u a y o u n g girl, s a id t h e M o th e r S u p e r io r . She w a s
a lso a t c o u r t. She c a n k e e p y o u c o m p a n y . S h e s h id in g w i t h us,
b u t s o m e o n e is c o m in g t o t a k e h e r a w a y v e r y s o o n .
O h, y e s ? ' M ilad y s a id , i n t r i g u e d . A lr ig h t. Tell h e r t o c o m e
h e r e . It will be g o o d t o h a v e s o m e o n e t o ta l k t o .
A f e w m i n u t e s l a te r C o n s t a n c e k n o c k e d on h e r d o o r. She h a d
n e v e r s e e n M ila d y a n d s h e d i d n t k n o w t h a t t h i s w o m a n w a s
p lo t t i n g t o kill h e r lover.
So, sa id Milady in a s w e e t voice. 'The M o th e r S u p e rio r to ld m e
t h a t y o u a r e h iding h e re . W h y ? Is s o m e o n e tr y in g to h a r m y o u ?
C o n s ta n c e t r u s t e d h e r a n d to ld h e r e v e ry th in g t h a t h ad
h a p p e n e d t o h er.
But I b eliev e t h a t y o u will s o o n be f r e e , said Milady.
Yes, m a d a m . A m u s k e t e e r is c o m in g to g e t m e .
A m u s k e t e e r ? A m u s k e t e e r of M on sieu r de Trevilles c o m p a n y ?
Do y o u k n o w M o n s ie u r d e T r e v ille ?
O f c o u rse ! Ive o f t e n b e e n a t his h o u s e .
So y o u k n o w his m u s k e t e e r s ! Do y o u k n o w M o n s ie u r A t h o s ?

1.

M o th e r S u p e rio r : w o m a n in c h a r g e o f a c o n v e n t .

105

NINE

W h e n s h e h e a r d t h i s n a m e , Milady h a d t o m a k e a g r e a t e f f o r t
to s p e a k calm ly.
Yes, of cou rse. And M o nsieu r A ram is a n d M o nsieu r P o rth o s t o o .
So y o u m u s t a lso k n o w M o n s ie u r d A r t a g n a n .
W h e n M ilady h e a r d t h e n a m e o f h e r w o r s t e n e m y , h e r f a c e
t u r n e d v e r y pale.
Oh, yes. I k n o w h im , sh e said. All Paris k n o w s b ra v e d A r ta g n a n .
C o n s ta n c e w a s v e r y h a p p y t o t a l k a b o u t t h e m a n s h e loved.
H e s t h e o n e t h a t s c o m in g t o g e t m e , s h e c o n tin u e d .
She d id n t no tic e t h e look of h a t e t h a t c a m e into Miladys e yes
b e c a u s e j u s t t h e n t h e r e w a s a s o u n d o f h o r s e s h o o v e s 2 in t h e
c o u rty a rd . C o n s ta n c e ra n to t h e w in d o w a n d reco g n ise d d A rta g n a n .
Its him, she cried. Oh, Im so happy. My h e a r t is b ursting w ith joy!
D rin k s o m e o f t h i s w i n e ! M ilady s a i d s w e e t l y . Y o u r e v e r y
pale. It will p u t c o lo u r in y o u r c h e e k s .
Milady quickly d r o p p e d a re d p o w d e r t h a t w a s h id d e n in h e r
rin g in to t h e g la ss a n d h a n d e d it to C o n s ta n c e .
D rink it! s h e r e p e a t e d b e f o r e d i s a p p e a r i n g t h r o u g h a sm a ll
d o o r t h a t led t o t h e g a r d e n .
A t t h a t s a m e m o m e n t d A r t a g n a n t h r e w t h e d o o r o p e n .
C o n s ta n c e r a n up t o h im a n d e m b r a c e d him .
My love! Y ouve c o m e a t last! Oh, m y head! I c a n t s e e a n y th in g.
DA rta...
A nd s h e fell t o t h e floor.
C o n s t a n c e ! c r ie d t h e y o u n g m a n . A th o s ! P o r th o s ! A ra m is!
C o m e a n d help m e !
His c o m p a n io n s ru s h e d into t h e ro o m . As s o o n a s A th o s s a w t h e
glass on t h e tab le, he u n d e r s t o o d im m e d ia te ly w h a t h ad h a p p e n e d .

2.

106

h o o v e s : (sing, h o o f) h a r d p a r t s o f h o r s e s f e e t .

NINE

Oh, no ! he c rie d . H o w c o u ld s h e do s u c h a t h in g !
C o n s t a n c e r e - o p e n e d h e r e y e s.
A th o s k n e l t d o w n n e x t to h er.
T h a t w i n e , he a s k e d . W h o g a v e y o u t h a t w i n e ?
S h e did. T he w o m a n w h o w a s h e r e . Lady de W in te r . A h h h h h !
T h e f o u r m e n c r ie d o u t in o n e v o ic e a s C o n s t a n c e b r e a t h e d
h e r l a s t b r e a t h in t h e a r m s o f d A r ta g n a n .
He held t h e girl s d e a d b o d y close t o him . T e a r s w e r e r u n n in g
d o w n his f a c e . T h e m u s k e t e e r s w a t c h e d h elp lessly .
S u d d e n ly t h e d o o r o p e n e d a n d a m a n c a m e in. It w a s Lord de
W in te r .
Sirs! I h a v e j u s t c o m e f r o m P o r t s m o u t h . Im lo o k in g f o r m y
s is t e r - i n - la w ...
DA r t a g n a n lo o k e d up.
A t h o s p u t h i s h a n d o n h i s f r i e n d s s h o u l d e r a n d s a i d :
DA rta g n a n ! Be a m a n ! Only w o m e n c ry o v e r t h e d e a d . Men t a k e
t h e i r r e v e n g e . This is t h e l a s t c r im e s h e will c o m m i t , I p r o m i s e
y ou . Will y o u fo llo w u s ?
Ill follow y o u , r e p lie d d A r t a g n a n .
III follow y o u to o , s a id Lord de W in t e r . I m u s t a v e n g e 3 t h e
h o n o u r o f m y f a m ily .
B e f o r e t h e y l e f t , A t h o s t o l d t h e M o t h e r S u p e r i o r t o g iv e
C o n stan ce a good b u ria l.4
She w a s a n a n g e l on e a r t h , he said. W e ll c o m e b a c k o n e d a y
an d say a p ray er for h e r.
T h e n t h e y le f t f o r A r m e n t i e r e s .

3.

a v e n g e : r e a c t t o s o m e t h i n g w r o n g t h a t h a s b e e n d o n e t o you.

4.

b u rial : p r o c e s s o f p u t t i n g a d e a d b o d y in a g r a v e .

108

G o back to the text

Q Com prehension ch eck
For each question, m ark th e lette r n ext to the co rre ct answ er A, B,
C or D.

The m u sk e te e rs and d A rtagnan asked for five d a y s leave because

th e y w a n te d to
A

enjoy them selves a t a local festival.

relax and r e st their horses.

m ake a special trip.

D [ 3 look for Milady.

W h a t h appened to th e com panions in Arras?

A r | DArtagnan found som eth in g interesting.
B Q ] Athos saw a m a n he knew.

A m a n gave th e m new s of Milady.

D Q

A m an told th e m to go to Armentieres.

Milady w e n t to th e convent
A Q

to visit th e Mother Superior.

B |_ | for som e peace an d quiet.

C [ ] to find Constance.
D r^] because som eone had told h er to go there.
4

Constance
A ! ~] w as afraid of Milady.
B J

didnt like Milady.

Constance died
A

1 from drinking poison.

B | _ j from a h e a rt attack.
6

C
D
C
D

Lord de W inter
A [ 3) had followed d A rtagnan and the m usk eteers to the

convent.
had followed Milady to th e convent.
C |

J had gone to th e c onvent on th e cardinals orders.

D | ] had gone to th e c onvent to see Constance.

109

T h e n he sa w a p ie c e of p a p e r on the g ro u n d that the

horsem an had dropped.
In this sentence th e verb h a d d ro p p ed is in th e p a st perfect.
We use th e p a st p erfect
w hen we are already talking ab o u t th e past, and we w a n t to refer to
an earlier p a s t time.
A ram is h a d a lr e a d y o b ta in e d a le tte r fr o m th e q u een b e fo r e th ey s e t ou t
f o r B ethune.

with reporting verbs like say, tell and ask, and verbs like u n derstan d,
fo r g e t, r e m e m b e r a n d realize.
C on stan ce told M ilady everythin g th a t h a d h a p p e n e d to her.
A th os u n d ersto o d w h a t h a d h a p p e n ed .

a fte r w hen or a f te r to show th a t an action is completely finished.

W h en /A fter th e q u een h a d fin is h e d w riting th e le tte r f o r A ram is, s h e
g a v e it to o n e o f h e r la d ies-in -w aitin g to deliver.

Past perfe ct
Complete the sentences with the past p erfect of the verbs in the list.
decide

drink

give

go

lie

not be

re st

ride

The king didnt tell th e queen t h a t he

Paris.

Milady was tired because she

W hen th e m u s k e t e e r s ............
Arras.

The Mother Superior realized th a t Milady

convent before.

Athos hated Milady because s h e ............

D Artagnan arrived too late. Constance

wine and w as dying.

th e poisoned

Constance told d A rtagnan th a t M ilady................

her th e wine.

Lord de W inter didnt know th a t the m u sk e te e rs

the convent.

..................to

110

to re tu rn to
a long w ay t h a t day.
enough, th e y left th e tow n of
in a
to him.

Q Sentence completion
Complete the sentences in a suitable way.

Milady said th e Cardinal h a d ...........................

2
3

Athos asked Constance who h a d ...........................

Athos told the Mother Superior t h a t Constance had

C ro s s w o rd

Complete the crossw ord.

1
2

Aramis w as w ounded in a n
on his w ay to England with
dA rtagnan and th e o th e r m usk eteers.
DA rtagnan a nd Lord de W inter c r o s s e d ............. once in Paris.

3
4

The queen s e n t Constance to a

in Bethune for safety.
Anne gave th e Duke of Buckingham twelve d i a m o n d
as a
tok en of her love.

Milady w as d eterm ined to get h e r ............ on Athos for taking her

lette r from th e Cardinal.

The captain of th e m e rc h a n t ship d r o p p e d .............. in a p o rt on the

Engish coast.

Milady w as Lord de W in ters o n l y

and she w a n te d his
fortune.
8 Athos recognised t h e
ring th a t Milady had given d Artagnan.
9 Constance d ra n k th e wine with t h e ............ in it.
10 Milady called d A rtagnan a
12
because he had helped th e Duke
j
jj.. ." | .... J f ..
of Buckingham w hen France w as

a t w a r with England.
3
11 Athos asked Porthos and
Aramis to be h i s
in
4

nnnnnnn

12

his duel against d Artagnan.

Alexandre Dumas built a
house t h a t he called the
C hateau of

7

9

10

nnnnnnn
u

Before you read

Q

V o c a b u la ry
The words (1-10) are all associated with law and punishment. Match
them with the definitions (A-J). Use your dictionary if necessary.

to accuse

to m u rder

to condem n

to prove

an executioner

a sen ten ce

to judge

a trial

justice

10

a w itness

A Q

To com m it th e crime of killing som eone intentionally.

To say t h a t so m eo ne has done som ething w rong or co m m itted

a crime.

The process of deciding w h e th e r a person is guilty or not in a

court of law.

D Q

Someone who sees a crime.

E Q

To find evidence to show t h a t som ething is true.

To decide w h e th e r som eone is guilty or no t of a crime in a

court of law.

G HU To give a p u n ish m e n t to som eone w ho has c o m m itte d a crime.

H Q

A p u n ish m en t given by a judge in a court of law.

A person w hose job is to kill som eone w ho h as com m itted

a crime.

A fair result or p un ishm en t from a court of law.

R e a d in g p icture s
Look at the picture on page 117. Answer the questions.

W ha t can you see in th e picture?

W h at is th e m a n holding?

Why is the w a te r red?

W hat has th e m an ju st done?

112

T h e Trial
In A r m e n t i e r e s A th o s s e n t P l a n c h e t to t h e o n ly in n in t h e S O
v illa g e . The s e r v a n t b o u g h t w in e fo r e v e ry o n e an d c h a t t e d to
t h e in n k e e p e r. T e n m i n u t e s l a t e r h e k n e w t h a t a w o m a n h a d

a r r i v e d d u r in g t h e nigh t.
I ts h e r , Im s u r e , s a id A th o s w h e n P la n c h e t to ld him.
S h e s in h e r r o o m , s a id P o r th o s . C om e on! L e ts go a n d g e t
h e r a n d kill h e r !
No, s i r s , r e p lie d A th o s. W e a r e n t a s s a s s i n s . P la n c h e t! S ta y
h e r e a n d w a t c h h e r. If s h e g o e s o u t, follow h e r!
T h e n h e t u r n e d t o his f o u r c o m p a n i o n s . C o m e w i t h m e ! he
sa id . A nd d o n t a s k a n y q u e s t i o n s y e t !
T h e y r o d e in sile n c e to a sm a ll village, w h e r e A th o s s t o p p e d .
W a i t f o r m e h e r e ! h e said. Ill b e b a c k s o o n .

113

SI T E N

He g a llo p e d a w a y a n d r e t u r n e d a q u a r t e r o f a n h o u r l a t e r w ith
a t a ll m a n w e a r i n g a l o n g r e d c l o a k a n d a m a s k o n h is f a c e .
P o r t h o s , A ra m is , d A r t a g n a n a n d Lord d e W i n t e r lo o k e d a t e a c h
o t h e r w i t h p u z z le d e x p r e s s i o n s b u t n o n e o f t h e m a s k e d A th o s
a b o u t th e m ysterio u s m an.
N ow w e c a n go a n d s e e M ilady, sa id A th o s.
The n ig h t w a s d a r k a n d s t o r m y , a n d t h e s k y w a s filled w ith big
b la c k cloud s. As t h e six m e n w e r e rid in g t h r o u g h a f o r e s t b a c k to
A r m e n t i e r e s , s o m e o n e s u d d e n l y j u m p e d o u t f r o m b e h in d a t r e e .
P l a n c h e t ! c r i e d A t h o s . W h a t h a s h a p p e n e d ? H a s s h e
escaped?
N o, re p lie d P la n c h e t. But s h e le ft t h e inn a n d c a m e h e r e so I
fo llo w e d h e r .
A nd h e t o o k t h e m t o a s m a ll is o l a te d h o u s e o n t h e b a n k s o f
t h e riv e r Lys.
A th o s q u ie tly w a lk e d o v e r t o t h e w in d o w . By t h e w e a k light of
t h e fire he s a w h e r. S h e w a s w r a p p e d 1 in a d a r k cloak. A h o r s e
s u d d e n ly m a d e a n o ise . M ilady lo o k e d up a n d g a v e a cry. A th o s
p u s h e d his k n e e t h r o u g h t h e w in d o w a n d j u m p e d in to t h e r o o m .
Milady r a n to t h e d o o r b u t d A r t a g n a n w a s a l r e a d y t h e r e .
W h a t do y o u w a n t ? s h e cried, te r r if i e d .
W e w a n t to j u d g e A n n e d e Breuil, t h e C o u n t e s s o f F e re a n d
Lady d e W i n t e r , A th o s said. He w a s v e r y s e r io u s .
DA r t a g n a n s t e p p e d f o r w a r d .
I a c c u s e t h i s w o m a n o f m u r d e r i n g C o n s t a n c e B o n a c i e u x .
T h e s e m e n a r e m y w i t n e s s e s , he said.
T h e n Lord d e W i n t e r s t e p p e d f o r w a r d .

1.

114

w r a p p e d : covered.

The Trial

I a c c u s e t h i s w o m a n o f c a u s i n g t h e m u r d e r o f t h e D uke o f
B uckingham an d of p o iso n in g m y b ro th e r, h e r h u s b a n d . I w as
w ith him w h e n h e died, his b o d y c o v e r e d in blue m a r k s .
T h e n it w a s A t h o s t u r n .
I a c c u s e t h i s w o m a n o f t r i c k i n g m e a n d o f m a r r y i n g m e
a l t h o u g h s h e w a s a c rim in a l a n d b r a n d e d w ith a f le u r - d e - lis on
h e r le ft s h o u l d e r .
Oh! Milady exclaimed. Find t h e c o u r t t h a t gave m e t h a t s e n te n c e
if y ou can! You c a n t prove a n y th in g a g a in st m e , sh e sh o u te d .
T h e n t h e m a n in t h e r e d c lo a k a n d m a s k c a m e f o r w a r d .
Be quiet! I c a n p ro v e e v e r y t h i n g .
W h o is t h a t m a n ? s h o u t e d Milady, m a d w ith frig h t.
T he s t r a n g e r w e n t up t o h e r a n d t o o k o f f his m a s k .
No! s c r e a m e d Milady. It c a n t be him! Its a ghost! An evil g h o st!
But w h o a r e y o u ? a s k e d P o r t h o s a n d A ram is.
T he e x e c u t i o n e r o f Lille! H e s t h e e x e c u t i o n e r o f Lille! Milady
s c r e a m e d . H e s t h e o n e w h o j u d g e d m e a n d b r a n d e d m e !
K n o w i n g t h a t all w a s lo s t, s h e fell t o h e r k n e e s , h e r h a n d s
to g e th e r.
D o n t kill m e ! s h e cried. H a v e p ity on m e ! 2
A th o s t u r n e d t o his c o m p a n io n s .
I d e m a n d th e p u n is h m e n t o f d e a th for this w o m a n for th e crimes
she ha s co m m itte d . Sirs! W h a t is th e p u n ish m e n t t h a t you d e m a n d ?
D e a t h , r e p l i e d P o r t h o s , A r a m i s , d A r t a g n a n a n d L o rd d e
W in ter to g e th e r.
The e x e c u tio n e r w e n t up to Milady a n d tied h e r h a n d s. T hen he
t o o k h e r o u t of th e h o use a n d d o w n to th e river, w h e re a small b o a t
w a s w aiting. He told h e r to g e t in it. She b e g a n t o s h o u t a n d s c re a m .

2.

H a v e p i t y o n m e! : Be s o r r y f o r m e a n d l e t m e live!

115

TEN

You a r e all c o w a r d s ! A ss a ss in s ! Five m e n t o kill o n e w o m a n !

You a r e n t a w o m a n , sa id A th o s. Y o u r e a d e m o n ! A nd y o u
m u s t die f o r y o u r c r im e s !
T h e e x e c u t i o n e r g o t in t h e b o a t a n d r o w e d a c r o s s t h e riv e r t o
t h e o t h e r side. Milady quick ly j u m p e d o u t a n d r a n in to t h e t r e e s .
The e x e c u tio n e r ra n a f t e r her. A few s e c o n d s la te r th e fo u r
c o m p a n io n s h e a r d t h e s o u n d o f h is s w o r d p a s s in g q u ic k ly
t h r o u g h t h e a ir a n d t h e n a cry. S o m e m i n u t e s p a s s e d b e f o r e he
c a m e o u t o f t h e t r e e s . He w a s c a r r y in g a la rg e b u n d le . 3 His re d
c lo a k w a s w r a p p e d a r o u n d it. He g o t in to t h e b o a t a n d r o w e d t o
t h e m id d le o f t h e r iv e r , w h e r e he d r o p p e d t h e b u n d l e in to t h e
w a t e r crying, j u s t i c e h a s b e e n d o n e !
Several days later in Paris th e cardinal o rd e re d d A rtagn an to com e
a n d see him. He w a s puzzled a b o u t th e d is a p p e a ra n ce of Milady.
S i r , h e s a i d . I k n o w t h a t y o u s a w L a d y d e W i n t e r a t t h e
C a rm e lite c o n v e n t in B e th u n e . I w o u ld like t o s p e a k t o h er. You
k n o w i t s a c r im e t o r e f u s e t o help t h e c a r d i n a l .
L a d y d e W i n t e r w a s a c r i m i n a l , Y o u r E m i n e n c e , s a i d
d A r ta g n a n . A nd he to l d t h e c a rd in a l w h o s h e re a lly w a s .
But if Lady de W i n t e r h a s c o m m i t t e d all t h e s e c rim e s , s h e will
be p u n i s h e d , th e c a r d in a l s a id . He lo o k e d v e r y s e r io u s .
DA r t a g n a n s w o r d s w o r r i e d him.
She h a s a l r e a d y b e e n p u n is h e d , Y o u r E m i n e n c e .
W h o p u n is h e d h e r ? W h e r e is s h e ?
W e ju d g e d h e r a n d c o n d e m n e d h e r. S h e s d e a d .
D e a d ! e x c la im e d t h e c a rd in a l. But d o n t y o u k n o w t h a t on ly
ju d g e s c a n c o n d e m n c r im in a ls .

3.

116

b u n d l e : s o m e t h i n g t h a t is w r a p p e d in a c lo th .

.
.. j

TEN

I k n ow , Y o u r E m in e n c e . B u t w h a t I did, I did o n y o u r o r d e r s .
W h a t do y o u m e a n , o n m y o r d e r s ? You a r e m a k in g f u n o f
m e ! e x c la im e d t h e c a r d in a l.
No, Y ou r E m in e n c e . H e r e is t h e p ro o f.'
A nd d A r t a g n a n s h o w e d t h e c a r d in a l t h e n o t e t h a t A th o s h a d
t a k e n f r o m M ilady a n d g iv e n t o him.
T he c a r d in a l r e a d it a loud.
It if on my order) a n d jo r thefvod o j the State that the bearer o j
thij letter d id i^kat he did.
3

December l(>27

Richelieu

The ca rdina l s a t qu ie tly a n d d id n t s a y a n y th in g f o r a long tim e .

H e s th in k i n g a b o u t h o w t o p u n is h m e , t h o u g h t d A r ta g n a n .
The b e s t w a y t o kill m e .
Finally t h e c a rd in a l lo o k e d in to t h e e y e s o f t h e y o u n g m a n in
f r o n t o f him.
He h a s r u in e d all m y p l a n s , h e t h o u g h t . But h e s in te llig e n t,
h o n e s t an d brave. H ell be m uch m o re useful t o m e t h a n Milady w a s .
He slow ly p ic k e d u p his p e n a n d w r o t e s o m e t h i n g o n a pie c e
o f p a p e r t h a t w a s on t h e ta b le .
H e s w r itin g m y d e a t h s e n t e n c e , t h o u g h t d A r ta g n a n .
T he c a r d in a l h a n d e d h im t h e p ie c e o f p a p e r a n d sa id , T a k e
th is , y o u n g m a n ! And do w h a t y o u w a n t w ith it!
It w a s a co m m issio n 4 in th e c o m p a n y of th e kings m u sk e te e rs!

4.

c o m m i s s i o n : p o s i t i o n o f b e in g a n o f f i c e r in t h e a r m y .

G o back to the text

Q

C o m p re h e n s io n c h e c k
Decide if each sentence is co rrect or incorrect. If it is co rre ct, m ark A.
If it is not co rrect, m ark B.
A

Planchet saw Milady in an inn in Armentieres.

The four com panions and Lord de W inter w e n t to th e inn

to speak to Milady

They all followed h er to an isolated house n e a r th e river.

Milady w a s n t expecting to see them .

DArtagnan, Lord de W inter an d Athos all accused Milady

of murder.

The m a n in th e red cloak w as responsible for branding

Milady.

The o th e rs w a tch ed while th e executioner cut off

Miladys head.

The executioner used his cloak to w rap Miladys body.

The le tte r th e cardinal had given to Milady saved

d A rta g n a n s life.

10 The cardinal admired d Artagnan.

C haracters
Can you rem em ber which ch aracter said the following?

Lets go and get her and kill h er.

We w a n t to judge Anne de Breuil, th e Countess of Fere and

Lady de W inter.

You cant prove anything against m e.

W h a t is th e p u n ish m en t t h a t you d e m a n d ?

We judged h er and c ondem n ed her.

He has ruined all my plans.

119

C a rd in a l R ichelieu
The sentences in this te x t about Cardinal Richelieu are in the wrong
order. Put them in the co rrect order. Number them 1-10. The first one
has been done.
A Q

He liked th e idea of a career in th e church an d w as a good

stud ent. At th e age of 22, he w as m a de a Bishop.

The na m e Richelieu w as th e nam e of his familys e s ta te near

La Rochelle in th e region of Poitou.

C Q
D

He s ta r te d studying for a military career w hen he w as nine

but changed to theology in his late teens.
He died on 4 December 1642 in th e Palais Royal.
He e n te re d political life in 1614 and soon becam e a tru ste d
advisor of th e Queen Mother, Marie de Medici, regent for
Louis XIII.
Armand Jean du Plessis, the future Cardinal Richelieu, was born
in Paris on 5 S ep tem b er 1585.

G Q

He achieved both
during th e eighteen
years he w as th e
kings Prime Minister.

H Q

He w as a very
intelligent child but
his health w as
delicate and he was
often ill.

In 1622 he becam e a
cardinal, and tw o years
later Louis XIII m ade
him his Prime Minister.

Richelieu had two

aims: to cre a te a strong
and powerful France,
and to m ake th e king
an absolute ruler.

120

D A rta g n a n s travels
Look a t the map of France and the southern co ast of England with the
nam es of the tow ns and cities m entioned in the story. W rite some
sentences about dA rtagnans adventures in these places.

For example:
DA rtagnan left his hom e to w n of Tarbes in Gascony to go to Paris and
becom e a musketeer.

LONDON
. Portstm outh

Arriaentieres

Arras

C hantilly
S aint-C lo ud ^

PARIS

M eung

'

I
i La Rochelle

Tarbes

121

Dumas beyond the page

D um as is the m ost w idely read of all French authors across the
w orld. His w orks have been translated into nearly one h u n d red
languages and have been adapted for plays, m usicals, films, TV
shows, cartoons and even computer games!

On the big screen

The Three Musketeers is one of the m ost film ed stories in cinema

history. The character of the hot-headed and im pulsive Gascon,

d'A rtagnan, is perfect for the big screen and a popular hero w ith
both sexes. W omen like him because he is handsom e and honest,
men like him because he is fearless and beyond reproach.1 There is
not only plen ty of action and adventure, b u t also rom ance and
political intrigue.
In 1921 both France and the United States produced silent films of
The Three Musketeers. They w ere not the first versions of D um as'

story - there had been four before them! Twelve years later, in 1933,
the 1921 F rench v e rsio n w as rem ad e w ith so u n d by the sam e
director, who used m any actors of the original cast.
A famous Hollywood version appeared in 1948 with Lana Turner as
the beautiful and dangerous Milady de Winter, and the dancer/actor
Gene Kelly as d'Artagnan. Kelly was able to use his skill as an athlete
in the film in graceful and sometimes comic swordfights.
The W alt Disney Pictures version w ith Charlie Sheen and Kiefer
Sutherland was a big box office hit in 1993. The Canadian singersongwriter Bryan Adams co-wrote the award-winning song All for Love
1.

b e y o n d r e p r o a c h : im p o s s i b il e t o c ritic iz e b e c a u s e o f b e in g so good.

122

A scene from The M an in the Iron M ask directed by R andall W allace, 1997

for the film's soundtrack and performed it with Rod Stewart and Sting.
The latest version of The Three Musketeers, a 3D film w ith the 19-year
old American Logan Lerman as the hero d'A rtagnan and Orlando
Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham, came out in 2011.
There have been several versions of The Man in the Iron Mask, which
is based on the final section of Dum as' three-part novel The Vicomte
de B rag elon n e. The p lo t o fte n in v o lv e s d 'A r ta g n a n a n d the

m usketeers and an identical tw in b ro th er of King Louis XIV of

France. It is considered a sequel to The Three Musketeers. The first
version was a silent film m ade in 1909 in Italy. In 1998 Leonardo
D iCaprio starred in a B ritish/A m erican version w ith the French
actor Gerard Depardieu, who played Porthos. The director, Randall
Wallace, m ade m any changes to the original Dumas story.
A nother well know n Dum as story, The Count of Monte Cristo, was
first filmed in 1908. A 1934 version directed by Rowland V. Lee had
two sequels: The Return o f Monte Cristo (1936) and The Son o f Monte
Cristo (1940), both directed by Lee.

French cinema has been particularly active in bringing the stories of

Dumas to the big screen. Queen Margot (1994) was a big box office
success and won many awards.

123

At least ten films have been inspired by the characters of the musketeers.
One of the most recent ones is the French film D'Artagnan's Daughter
(1998). The main character Eloise, played by Sophie Marceau, leaves a
convent to encourage her retired father d'Artagnan, played by Philippe
Noiret, to help protect the king from a plot.

O ther adaptations
The Three Musketeers has been anim ated m any tim es for younger

audiences with animals taking the part of the characters. For example,
in the Tom and jerry cartoons from the 1950s, Jerry is a mouse and
Tom is a cat. This short film called The Two Mouseketeers won the 1951
Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons.
In the 1980s, a S panish/Japanese cartoon Dogtanian and the Three
Muskehounds showed Dumas' heroes as dogs. However Milady appears

as a cat, perhaps because this animal describes her personality better.

W alt Disney also represented Mickey M ouse, D onald Duck, and
Goofy as the musketeers in 2004.
Taking anim ation one step further, several com puter games have
appeared based on the w ork of Dumas. One example is The Three
Musketeers: One fo r All! (2009). The central character in this game,

h o w e v e r, is P o rth o s n o t d 'A rta g n a n . H is job is to resc u e h is

kidnapped friends. The players m ust cross various obstacles, such as
'ladder-jum ps' and 'pits 2 of death', while defending themselves with
the sword against enemies. They can earn extra lives by collecting
hats along the way. The game has a beautiful visual art style that
takes its inspiration from previous films and animation.
W hat w ould Alexandre Dumas think of this latest developm ent of
his books?
2.

p i t s : la r g e h o l e s in t h e g r o u n d .

124

U Com prehension check

Answer the questions.

W h at w as interesting ab o u t th e 1933 French film version of The

Three M usketeers ?

W as th e 1993 version of th e film successful?

W h a t is th e third p a rt of The Vicom te de Bragelonne called?

Who is Eloi'se?

4
5

Which m u sk e te e r is th e main c h a ra c ter in th e c o m p u te r g am e The

Three M usketeers: One for All!?

INTERNET P R O J E C T

Find o ut m ore a bo ut the film s and a da pta tio ns based on T h e Th re e

M u s k e te e rs .
T h e T h re e M u s k e te e rs (1921)

Look at the entry from the Internet M ovie Database fo r th is film.

1 W hat w as the nam e o f the a c to r w ho played d A rta g n a n ?
T h e T h re e M u s k e te e rs (1948)
W atch the trailer fo r the film .
2 W hat is Richelieu holding?
T h e T h re e M u s k e te e rs (1993)

Look at the entry from th e Internet

M ovie D atabase fo r this film.
3 W ho w as the d ire cto r o f this film ?

125

H I P ictu re S u m m a ry
The pictures from The Three M usketeers on this page are not in the
right order. Put them in the order in which they occur in the book.

126

A W

A g ra p h ic novel
Photocopy these pages, cut out the pictures and stick them on paper
in the right order. W hat might the ch aracters be saying or thinking in
each picture? Invent phrases and sentences to put in speech an d /or
thought balloons, and w rite captions under the pictures to n arrate
w hat is happening.

Q A Poster
Make a p oster to advertise The Three M usketeers. Use copies of
pictures from this book, sh ort e x tra cts from the story, w ords and
pictures of your own and from oth er sources.

127

This reader uses the EXPANSIVE READING approach, where the text
becomes a springboard to improve language skills and to explore historical
background, cultural connections and other topics suggested by the text.
The new structures introduced in this step of our R E A D IN G & T R A IN IN G
series are listed below. Naturally, structures from lower steps are included
too. For a complete list of structures used over all the six steps, see The
Black Cat Guide to G raded Readers, which is also downloadable at no cost
from our website, www.blackcat-cideb.com.
The vocabulary used at each step is carefully checked against vocabulary
lists used for internationally recognised examinations.

Step Th re e B1.2
All the structures used in the previous levels, plus the following:
Verb tenses
Present Perfect Simple: unfinished past with fo r or since (duration form)
Past Perfect Simple: narrative
Verb forms and patterns
Regular verbs and all irregular verbs in current English
Causative: have / get + object + past participle
Reported questions and orders with ask and tell
M odal verbs
Would: hypothesis
Would rather, preference
Should (present and future reference): moral obligation
Ought to (present and future reference): moral obligation
Used w . past habits and states
Types of clause
2nd Conditional: if+ past, w ould(nt)
Zero, 1st and 2nd conditionals with unless
Non-defining relative clauses with who and where
Clauses of result: so; so ... that', such ... that
Clauses of concession: although, though
Other
Comparison: (not) as /so ... as; (not) ... enough to; too ... to

rsBN 978-88-530-1 208-1 -E

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