Prostate Health
Prostate Articles
Antioxidant levels key for prostate cancer risk
Obesity and prostate health
Tomatoes for prostate health
Green tea and prostate health
Screening tests for prostate
Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
|
|
The Three Musketeers 26 at Prostate Health
saw a second smile on the lips of dArtagnan.
"Indeed?" said Athos.
"Yes; a passage of St. Augustine, upon which we could not agree,"
said the Gascon.
"Decidedly, this is a clever fellow," murmured Athos.
"And now you are assembled, gentlemen," said dArtagnan, "permit
me to offer you my apologies."
At this word APOLOGIES, a cloud passed over the brow of Athos, a
haughty smile curled the lip of Porthos, and a negative sign was
the reply of Aramis.
"You do not understand me, gentlemen," said dArtagnan, throwing
up his head, the sharp and bold lines of which were at the moment
gilded by a bright ray of the sun. "I asked to be excused in
case I should not be able to discharge my debt to all three; for
Monsieur Athos has the right to kill me first, which must much diminish
the face-value of your bill, Monsieur Porthos, and render
yours almost null, Monsieur Aramis. And now, gentlemen, I
repeat, excuse me, but on that account only, and--on guard!"
At these words, with the most gallant air possible, dArtagnan
drew his sword.
The blood had mounted to the head of dArtagnan, and at that
moment he would have drawn his sword against all the Musketeers
in the kingdom as willingly as he now did against Athos, Porthos,
and Aramis.
It was a quarter past midday. The sun was in its zenith, and the
spot chosen for the scene of the duel was exposed to its full
ardor.
"It is very hot," said Athos, drawing his sword in its turn, "and
yet I cannot take off my doublet; for I just now felt my wound
begin to bleed again, and I should not like to annoy Monsieur
with the sight of blood which he has not drawn from me himself."
"That is true, Monsieur," replied dArtagnan, "and whether drawn
by myself or another, I assure you I shall always view with
regret the blood of so brave a gentleman. I will therefore fight
in my doublet, like yourself."
"Come, come, enough of such compliments!" cried Porthos.
"Remember, we are waiting for our turns."
"Speak for yourself when you are inclined to utter such
incongruities," interrupted Aramis. "For my part, I think what
they say is very well said, and quite worthy of two gentlemen."
"When you please, monsieur," said Athos, putting himself on
guard.
"I waited your orders," said dArtagnan, crossing swords.
But scarcely had the two rapiers clashed, when a company of the
Guards of his Eminence, commanded by M. de Jussac, turned the
corner of the convent.
"The cardinals Guards!" cried Aramis and Porthos at the same
time. "Sheathe your swords, gentlemen, sheathe your swords!"
But it was too late. The two combatants had been seen in a
position which left no doubt of their intentions.
"Halloo!" cried Jussac, advancing toward them and making a sign
to his men to do so likewise, "halloo, Musketeers? Fighting
here, are you? And the edicts? What is become of them?"
"You are very generous, gentlemen of the Guards," said Athos,
full of rancor, for Jussac was one of the aggressors of the
preceding day. "If we were to see you fighting, I can assure you
that we would make no effort to prevent you. Leave us alone,
then, and you will enjoy a little amusement without cost to
yourselves."
"Gentlemen," said Jussac, "it is with great regret that I
pronounce the thing impossible. Duty before everything.
Sheathe, then, if you please, and follow us."
"Monsieur," said Aramis, parodying Jussac, "it would afford us
great pleasure to obey your polite invitation if it depended upon
ourselves; but unfortunately the thing is impossible--Monsieur de
Treville has forbidden it. Pass on your way, then; it is the
best thing to do."
This raillery exasperated Jussac. "We will charge upon you,
then," said he, "if you disobey."
"There are five of them," said Athos, half aloud, "and we are but
three; we shall be beaten again, and must die on the spot, for,
on my part, I declare I will never appear again before the
captain as a conquered man."
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis instantly drew near one another, while
Jussac drew up his soldiers.
This short interval was sufficient to determine dArtagnan on the
part he was to take. It was one of those events which decide the
life of a man; it was a choice between the king and the
cardinal--the choice made, it must be persisted in. To fight,
that was to disobey the law, that was to risk his head, that was
to
The Three Musketeers page 25 The Three Musketeers page 27 |
