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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 139 at Prostate Health
easily, my lord cardinal, from having seen theevents.""You have?""Yes, monseigneur."The king had involuntarily drawn close to the count, the DucdAnjou had turned sharply round, and pressed Athos on theother side."What next? monsieur, what next?" cried they both at thesame time."Sire, M. Monk, being taken by the Frenchman, was brought toKing Charles II., at the Hague. The king gave back hisfreedom to Monk, and the grateful general, in return, gaveCharles II. the throne of Great Britain, for which so manyvaliant men had fought in vain."Philip clapped his hands with enthusiasm; Louis XIV., morereflective, turned towards the Comte de la Fere."Is this true," said he, "in all its details?""Absolutely true, sire.""That one of my gentlemen knew the secret of the million,and kept it?""Yes, sire.""The name of that gentleman?""It was your humble servant," said Athos, simply, andbowing.A murmur of admiration made the heart of Athos swell withpleasure. He had reason to be proud, at least. Mazarin,himself, had raised his arms towards heaven."Monsieur," said the king, "I shall seek, and find means toreward you." Athos made a movement. "Oh, not for yourhonesty, to be paid for that would humiliate you, but I oweyou a reward for having participated in the restoration ofmy brother, King Charles II.""Certainly," said Mazarin."It is the triumph of a good cause which fills the wholehouse of France with joy," said Anne of Austria."I continue," said Louis XIV. "Is it also true that a singleman penetrated to Monk, in his camp, and carried him off?""That man had ten auxiliaries, taken from a very inferiorrank.""And nothing but them?""Nothing more.""And he is named?""Monsieur dArtagnan, formerly lieutenant of the musketeersof your majesty."Anne of Austria colored; Mazarin became yellow with shame;Louis XIV. was deeply thoughtful, and a drop of moisturefell from his pale brow. "What men!" murmured he. And,involuntarily, he darted a glance at the minister whichwould have terrified him, if Mazarin, at the moment, had notconcealed his head under his pillow."Monsieur," said the young Duc dAnjou, placing his hand,delicate and white as that of a woman, upon the arm ofAthos, "tell that brave man, I beg you, that Monsieur,brother of the king, will to-morrow drink his health beforefive hundred of the best gentlemen of France." And, onfinishing these words, the young man, perceiving that hisenthusiasm had deranged one of his ruffles, set to work toput it to rights with the greatest care imaginable."Let us resume business, sire," interrupted Mazarin whonever was enthusiastic, and who wore no ruffles."Yes, monsieur," replied Louis XIV. "Pursue yourcommunication, monsieur le comte," added he, turning towardsAthos.Athos immediately began and offered in due form the hand ofthe Princess Henrietta Stuart to the young prince, thekings brother. The conference lasted an hour; after whichthe doors of the chamber were thrown open to the courtiers,who resumed their places as if nothing had been kept fromthem in the occupations of that evening. Athos then foundhimself again with Raoul, and the father and son were ableto clasp each others hands.CHAPTER 42In which Mazarin becomes ProdigalWhilst Mazarin was endeavoring to recover from the seriousalarm he had just experienced, Athos and Raoul wereexchanging a few words in a corner of the apartment. "Well,here you are at Paris, then, Raoul?" said the comte."Yes, monsieur, since the return of M. le Prince.""I cannot converse freely with you here, because we areobserved; but I shall return home presently, and shallexpect you as soon as your duty permits."Raoul bowed, and, at that moment, M. le Prince came up tothem. The prince had that clear and keen look whichdistinguishes birds of prey of the noble species; hisphysiognomy itself presented several distinct traits of thisresemblance. It is known that in the Prince de Conde, theaquiline nose rose out sharply and incisively from a browslightly retreating, rather low than high, and according tothe railers of the court, -- a pitiless race even forgenius, -- constituted rather an eagles beak than a humannose, in the heir of the illustrious princes of the house ofConde. This penetrating look, this imperious expression ofthe whole countenance generally disturbed those to whom theprince spoke, more than either majesty or regular beautycould have done in the conqueror of Rocroy. Besides this,the fire mounted so suddenly to his projecting eyes, thatwith the prince every sort of animation resembled passion.Now, on account
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