My friend, who was seigneur of the country, might have seduced her, or taken her by force, at his will--for he was master.

Who would have come to the assistance of two strangers, two unknown persons?
Unfortunately he was an honorable man; he married her.

The fool! The ass! The idiot!" "How so, if he love her ?" asked d'Artagnan.
"Wait," said Athos.

"He took her to his chateau, and made her the first lady in the province; and in justice it must be allowed that she supported her rank becomingly." "Well ?" asked d'Artagnan.
"Well, one day when she was hunting with her husband," continued Athos, in a low voice, and speaking very quickly, "she fell from her horse and fainted.

The count flew to her to help, and as she appeared to be oppressed by her clothes, he ripped them open with his ponaird, and in so doing laid bare her shoulder.