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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Three Musketeers 189 at Prostate Health
Guards, monseigneur, and I have no
reason to be dissatisfied."
"But it appears to me that my Guards--mine--are also his
Majestys Guards; and whoever serves in a French corps
serves the king."
"Monseigneur, your Eminence has ill understood my words."
"You want a pretext, do you not? I comprehend. Well, you
have this excuse: advancement, the opening campaign, the
opportunity which I offer you--so much for the world. As
regards yourself, the need of protection; for it is fit you
should know, Monsieur dArtagnan, that I have received heavy
and serious complaints against you. You do not consecrate
your days and nights wholly to the kings service."
DArtagnan colored.
"In fact," said the cardinal, placing his hand upon a bundle
of papers, "I have here a whole pile which concerns you. I
know you to be a man of resolution; and your services, well
directed, instead of leading you to ill, might be very
advantageous to you. Come; reflect, and decide."
"Your goodness confounds me, monseigneur," replied
dArtagnan, "and I am conscious of a greatness of soul in
your Eminence that makes me mean as an earthworm; but since
Monseigneur permits me to speak freely--"
DArtagnan paused.
"Yes; speak."
"Then, I will presume to say that all my friends are in the
kings Musketeers and Guards, and that by an inconceivable
fatality my enemies are in the service of your Eminence; I
should, therefore, be ill received here and ill regarded
there if I accepted what Monseigneur offers me."
"Do you happen to entertain the haughty idea that I have not
yet made you an offer equal to your value?" asked the
cardinal, with a smile of disdain.
"Monseigneur, your Eminence is a hundred times too kind to
me; and on the contrary, I think I have not proved myself
worthy of your goodness. The siege of La Rochelle is about
to be resumed, monseigneur. I shall serve under the eye of
your Eminence, and if I have the good fortune to conduct
myself at the siege in such a manner as merits your
attention, then I shall at least leave behind me some
brilliant action to justify the protection with which you
honor me. Everything is best in its time, monseigneur.
Hereafter, perhaps, I shall have the right of giving myself;
at present I shall appear to sell myself."
"That is to say, you refuse to serve me, monsieur," said the
cardinal, with a tone of vexation, through which, however,
might be seen a sort of esteem; "remain free, then, and
guard your hatreds and your sympathies."
"Monseigneur--"
"Well, well," said the cardinal, "I dont wish you any ill;
but you must be aware that it is quite trouble enough to
defend and recompense our friends. We owe nothing to our
enemies; and let me give you a piece of advice; take care of
yourself, Monsieur dArtagnan, for from the moment I
withdraw my hand from behind you, I would not give an obolus
for your life."
"I will try to do so, monseigneur," replied the Gascon, with
a noble confidence.
"Remember at a later period and at a certain moment, if any
mischance should happen to you," said Richelieu,
significantly, "that it was I who came to seek you, and that
I did all in my power to prevent this misfortune befalling
you."
"I shall entertain, whatever may happen," said dArtagnan,
placing his hand upon his breast and bowing, "an eternal
gratitude toward your Eminence for that which you now do for
me."
"Well, let it be, then, as you have said, Monsieur
dArtagnan; we shall see each other again after the
campaign. I will have my eye upon you, for I shall be
there," replied the cardinal, pointing with his finger to a
magnificent suit of armor he was to wear, "and on our
return, well--we will settle our account!"
"Young man," said Richelieu, "if I shall be able to say to
you at another time what I have said to you today, I promise
you to do so."
This last expression of Richelieus conveyed a terrible
doubt; it alarmed dArtagnan more than a menace would have
done, for it was a warning. The cardinal, then, was seeking
to preserve him from some misfortune which threatened him.
He opened his mouth to reply, but with a haughty gesture the
cardinal dismissed him.
DArtagnan went out, but at the door his heart almost failed
him, and he felt inclined to return. Then the noble and
severe countenance of Athos crossed his mind; if he made the
compact with the cardinal which he required, Athos would no
more give him his hand--Athos
The Three Musketeers page 188 The Three Musketeers page 190 |
