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 48 at Prostate Health
the
person; but the face--"
"I had a large hat," said Aramis.
"Oh, good lord," cried Porthos, "what precautions for the study
of theology!"
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," said dArtagnan, "do not let us lose our
time in jesting. Let us separate, and let us seek the mercers
wife--that is the key of the intrigue."
"A woman of such inferior condition! Can you believe so?" said
Porthos, protruding his lips with contempt.
"She is goddaughter to Laporte, the confidential valet of the
queen. Have I not told you so, gentlemen? Besides, it has
perhaps been her Majestys calculation to seek on this occasion
for support so lowly. High heads expose themselves from afar,
and the cardinal is longsighted."
"Well," said Porthos, "in the first place make a bargain with the
mercer, and a good bargain."
"Thats useless," said dArtagnan; "for I believe if he does not
pay us, we shall be well enough paid by another party."
At this moment a sudden noise of footsteps was heard upon the
stairs; the door was thrown violently open, and the unfortunate
mercer rushed into the chamber in which the council was held.
"Save me, gentlemen, for the love of heaven, save me!" cried he.
"There are four men come to arrest me. Save me! Save me!"
Porthos and Aramis arose.
"A moment," cried dArtagnan, making them a sign to replace in
the scabbard their half-drawn swords. "It is not courage that is
needed; it is prudence."
"And yet," cried Porthos, "we will not leave--"
"You will leave dArtagnan to act as he thinks proper," said
Athos. "He has, I repeat, the longest head of the four, and for
my part I declare that I will obey him. Do as you think best,
dArtagnan."
At this moment the four Guards appeared at the door of the
antechamber, but seeing four Musketeers standing, and their
swords by their sides, they hesitated about going farther.
"Come in, gentlemen, come in," called dArtagnan; "you are here
in my apartment, and we are all faithful servants of the king and
cardinal."
"Then, gentlemen, you will not oppose our executing the orders we
have received?" asked one who appeared to be the leader of the
party.
"On the contrary, gentlemen, we would assist you if it were
necessary."
"What does he say?" grumbled Porthos.
"You are a simpleton," said Athos. "Silence!"
"But you promised me--" whispered the poor mercer.
"We can only save you by being free ourselves," replied
dArtagnan, in a rapid, low tone; "and if we appear inclined to
defend you, they will arrest us with you."
"It seems, nevertheless--"
"Come, gentlemen, come!" said dArtagnan, aloud; "I have no
motive for defending Monsieur. I saw him today for the first
time, and he can tell you on what occasion; he came to demand the
rent of my lodging. Is that not true, Monsieur Bonacieux?
Answer!"
"That is the very truth," cried the mercer; "but Monsieur does
not tell you--"
"Silence, with respect to me, silence, with respect to my
friends; silence about the queen, above all, or you will ruin
everybody without saving yourself! Come, come, gentlemen, remove
the fellow." And dArtagnan pushed the half-stupefied mercer
among the Guards, saying to him, "You are a shabby old fellow, my
dear. You come to demand money of me--of a Musketeer! To prison
with him! Gentlemen, once more, take him to prison, and keep him
under key as long as possible; that will give me time to pay
him."
The officers were full of thanks, and took away their prey. As
they were going down dArtagnan laid his hand on the shoulder of
their leader.
"May I not drink to your health, and you to mine?" said
dArtagnan, filling two glasses with the Beaugency wine which he
had obtained from the liberality of M. Bonacieux.
"That will do me great honor," said the leader of the posse, "and
I accept thankfully."
"Then to yours, monsieur--what is your name?"
"Boisrenard."
"Monsieur Boisrenard."
"To yours, my gentlemen! What is your name, in your turn, if you
please?"
"dArtagnan."
"To yours, monsieur."
"And above all others," cried dArtagnan, as if carried away by
his enthusiasm, "to that of the king and the cardinal."
The leader of the posse would perhaps have doubted the sincerity
of dArtagnan if the wine had been bad; but the wine was good,
and he was convinced.
"What diabolical villainy you have performed here," said Porthos,
when the officer had rejoined his companions and the four friends
found themselves alone. "Shame, shame, for four Musketeers to
allow an unfortunate fellow who cried for help to be arrested in
their
The Three Musketeers page 47 The Three Musketeers page 49 |
