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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Three Musketeers 89 at Prostate Health
for her young protector decided her to speak.
"Listen," said she; "I yield to your protestations, I yield to
your assurances. But I swear to you, before God who hears us,
that if you betray me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill
myself, while accusing you of my death."
"And I--I swear to you before God, madame," said dArtagnan.
"that if I am taken while accomplishing the orders you give me, I
will die sooner than do anything that may compromise anyone."
Then the young woman confided in him the terrible secret of which
chance had already communicated to him a part in front of the
Samaritaine. This was their mutual declaration of love.
DArtagnan was radiant with joy and pride. This secret which he
possessed, this woman whom he loved! Confidence and love made him
a giant.
"I go," said he; "I go at once."
"How, you will go!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "and your regiment, your
captain?"
"By my soul, you had made me forget all that, dear Constance!
Yes, you are right; a furlough is needful."
"Still another obstacle," murmured Mme. Bonacieux, sorrowfully.
"As to that," cried dArtagnan, after a moment of reflection, "I
shall surmount it, be assured."
"How so?"
"I will go this very evening to Treville, whom I will request to
ask this favor for me of his brother-in-law, Monsieur
Dessessart."
"But another thing."
"What?" asked dArtagnan, seeing that Mme. Bonacieux hesitated to
continue.
"You have, perhaps, no money?"
"PERHAPS is too much," said dArtagnan, smiling.
"Then," replied Mme. Bonacieux, opening a cupboard and taking
from it the very bag which a half hour before her husband had
caressed so affectionately, "take this bag."
"The cardinals?" cried dArtagnan, breaking into a loud laugh,
he having heard, as may be remembered, thanks to the broken
boards, every syllable of the conversation between the mercer and
his wife.
"The cardinals," replied Mme. Bonacieux. "You see it makes a
very respectable appearance."
"PARDIEU," cried dArtagnan, "it will be a double amusing affair
to save the queen with the cardinals money!"
"You are an amiable and charming young man," said Mme. Bonacieux.
"Be assured you will not find her Majesty ungrateful."
"Oh, I am already grandly recompensed!" cried dArtagnan. "I
love you; you permit me to tell you that I do--that is already
more happiness than I dared to hope."
"Silence!" said Mme. Bonacieux, starting.
"What!"
"Someone is talking in the street."
"It is the voice of--"
"Of my husband! Yes, I recognize it!"
DArtagnan ran to the door and pushed the bolt.
"He shall not come in before I am gone," said he; "and when I am
gone, you can open to him."
"But I ought to be gone, too. And the disappearance of his
money; how am I to justify it if I am here?"
"You are right; we must go out."
"Go out? How? He will see us if we go out."
"Then you must come up into my room."
"Ah," said Mme. Bonacieux, "you speak that in a tone that
frightens me!"
Mme. Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes.
dArtagnan saw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he
threw himself at her feet.
"With me you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word
of a gentleman."
"Let us go," said she, "I place full confidence in you, my
friend!"
DArtagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light as
shadows, glided through the interior door into the passage,
ascended the stairs as quietly as possible, and entered
dArtagnans chambers.
Once there, for greater security, the young man barricaded the
door. They both approached the window, and through a slit in the
shutter they saw Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak.
At sight of this man, dArtagnan started, and half drawing his
sword, sprang toward the door.
It was the man of Meung.
"What are you going to do?" cried Mme. Bonacieux; "you will ruin
us all!"
"But I have sworn to kill that man!" said dArtagnan.
"Your life is devoted from this moment, and does not belong to
you. In the name of the queen I forbid you to throw yourself
into any peril which is foreign to that of your journey."
"And do you command nothing in your own name?"
"In my name," said Mme. Bonacieux, with great emotion, "in my
name I beg you! But listen; they appear to be speaking of me."
DArtagnan drew near the window, and lent his ear.
M. Bonacieux had opened his door, and seeing the apartment, had
returned to the man in the cloak, whom he had left alone for
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