Chapter 56: Captivity: The Fifth Day

Summary

     That evening, Lord de Winter pays his customary visit. He hardly speaks; just checks the doors and windows to make sure Milady cannot escape, and then leaves. At midnight, Mr. Felton shows up, making an excuse to the sentinel, claiming that he has received orders to be on suicide watch for Milady. The sentinel believes him, and Felton enters Milady’s chamber. Milady cannot help but feel gleeful that this clean Puritan man just lied for her. Once inside, he reluctantly hands her a knife, as he had promised to do. She examines it, thanks him, and sets it on her table. Then, she begins a remarkably well-crafted tale of woe. 

Since Milady speaks as if the story is true, I will recap it in the same manner, despite its obvious falseness:

Milady’s Fake Tale of Woe

      As a young woman, Milady was kidnapped by a man who had been pursuing her. He drugged her by putting a narcotic in her water glass, and raped her in her stupor. Then, the next day, she found herself in a small chamber, imprisoned. He wanted her to stay until she submitted to be his mistress. The next day, a tray of food was served to Milady. She ate little, trying to avoid liquids that could be drugged. Instead of drinking the water on the tray, she drank water out of a little fountain in the chamber. Her tormentor must have been watching her, because for the next meal he drugged the entire fountain. She only drank a bit of water, since she noticed its odd taste, but it was enough to put her into a swoon and have the man rape her again. Felton is horrified by this recital, and highly indignant on her behalf. The next day, Milady used a breadknife to try and stab her capturer. However, he was wearing a suit of chainmail, and was saved. The man said that he would return the next evening. He said that he would not release her until she promised not to tell anyone what he had done.

Reaction

     Milady’s story is remarkably well-thought-out. I suppose she spent all evening thinking it up? It is very manipulative, and it is actually offensive how she uses a fake rape story as a way to get sympathy. I feel sorry for Mr. Felton. He seems like a gallant man. My usual admiration for Milady’s intelligence isn’t as strong in this chapter since she uses it for such awfully scheming tricks, but I do understand that she wants to be free and is doing all she can to escape. My favorite line was Milady’s hysterics in her story – at least her odd way of expressing rage is true to life! In her story, she narrates: “‘Till tomorrow evening, then!’ replied I, allowing myself to fall, and biting the carpet with rage.” Okay Milady, you do that.