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 Vicomte De Bragelonne 129 at Prostate Health
my lambs," said DArtagnan; "if thereare profits, there are also charges.""Oh! oh!" murmured they."We are about to find ourselves, my friends, in a positionthat would not be tenable for people without brains. I speakplainly: we are between the gallows and the Bastile.""Oh! oh!" said the chorus."That is easily understood. It was necessary to explain toGeneral Monk the disappearance of his treasurer. I waited,for that purpose, till the very unhopedfor moment of therestoration of King Charles II., who is one of my friends."The army exchanged a glance of satisfaction in reply to thesufficiently proud look of DArtagnan. "The king beingrestored, I restored to Monk his man of business, a littleplucked, it is true, but, in short, I restored him. Now,General Monk, when he pardoned me, for he has pardoned me,could not help repeating these words to me, which I chargeevery one of you to engrave deeply there, between the eyes,under the vault of the cranium: -- `Monsieur, the joke hasbeen a good one, but I dont naturally like jokes; if ever aword of what you have done (you understand me, Menneville)`escapes from your lips, or the lips of your companions, Ihave, in my government of Scotland and Ireland, sevenhundred and forty-one wooden gibbets, of strong oak, clampedwith iron, and freshly greased every week. I will make apresent of one of these gibbets to each of you, and observewell, M. dArtagnan, added he (observe it also, M.Menneville), `I shall still have seven hundred and thirtyleft for my private pleasure. And still further ---- ""Ah! ah!" said the auxiliaries, "is there more still?""A mere trifle. `Monsieur dArtagnan, I send to the king ofFrance the treaty in question, with a request that he willcast into the Bastile provisionally, and then send to me,all who have taken part in this expedition; and that is aprayer with which the king will certainly comply."A cry of terror broke from all corners of the table."There! there! there," said DArtagnan, "this brave M. Monkhas forgotten one thing, and that is he does not know thename of any one of you, I alone know you, and it is not I,you may well believe, who will betray you. Why should I? Asfor you -- I cannot suppose you will be silly enough todenounce yourselves, for then the king, to spare himself theexpense of feeding and lodging you, will send you off toScotland, where the seven hundred and forty-one gibbets areto be found. That is all, messieurs; I have not another wordto add to what I have had the honor to tell you. I am sureyou have understood me perfectly well, have you not, M.Menneville?""Perfectly," replied the latter."Now the crowns!" said DArtagnan. "Shut the doors," hecried, and opened the bag upon the table, from which rolledseveral fine gold crowns. Every one made a movement towardsthe floor."Gently!" cried DArtagnan. "Let no one stoop, and then Ishall not be out in my reckoning." He found it all right,gave fifty of those splendid crowns to each man, andreceived as many benedictions as he bestowed pieces. "Now,"said he, "if it were possible for you to reform a little, ifyou could become good and honest citizens ---- ""That is rather difficult," said one of the troop."What then, captain?" said another."Because I might be able to find you again, and, who knowswhat other good fortune?" He made a sign to Menneville, wholistened to all he said with a composed air. "Menneville,"said he, "come with me. Adieu my brave fellows! I need notwarn you to be discreet."Menneville followed him, whilst the salutations of theauxiliaries were mingled with the sweet sound of the moneyclinking in their pockets."Menneville," said DArtagnan, when they were once in thestreet, "you were not my dupe; beware of being so. You didnot appear to me to have any fear of the gibbets of Monk, orthe Bastile of his majesty, King Louis XIV., but you will dome the favor of being afraid of me. Then listen at thesmallest word that shall escape you, I will kill you as Iwould a fowl. I have absolution from our holy father, thepope, in my pocket.""I assure you I know absolutely nothing, my dear M.dArtagnan, and that your words have all been to me so manyarticles of faith.""I was quite sure
The Vicomte De Bragelonne page 128 The Vicomte De Bragelonne page 130 |
