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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 21 at Prostate Health
lord, but in the name ofHeaven do not tremble so.""It is impatience, Parry. Come, what did the general say toyou?""At first the general would not receive me.""He took you for a spy?""Yes, my lord, but I wrote him a letter.""Well?""He read it, and received me, my lord.""Did that letter thoroughly explain my position and myviews?""Oh, yes!" said Parry, with a sad smile; "it painted yourvery thoughts faithfully.""Well -- then, Parry?""Then the general sent me back the letter by anaide-de-camp, informing me that if I were found the next daywithin the circumscription of his command, he would have mearrested.""Arrested!" murmured the young man. "What! arrest you, mymost faithful servant?""Yes, my lord.""And notwithstanding you had signed the name Parry?""To all my letters, my lord; and the aide-de-camp had knownme at St. Jamess and at Whitehall, too," added the old manwith a sigh.The young man leaned forward, thoughtful and sad."Ay, thats what he did before his people," said he,endeavoring to cheat himself with hopes. "But, privately --between you and him -- what did he do? Answer!""Alas! my lord, he sent to me four cavaliers, who gave methe horse with which you just now saw me come back. Thesecavaliers conducted me, in great haste, to the little portof Tenby, threw me, rather than embarked me, into afishing-boat, about to sail for Brittany, and here I am.""Oh!" sighed the young man, clasping his neck convulsivelywith his hand, and with a sob. "Parry, is that all? -- isthat all?""Yes, my lord; that is all."After this brief reply ensued a long interval of silence,broken only by the convulsive beating of the heel of theyoung man on the floor.The old man endeavored to change the conversation; it wasleading to thoughts much too sinister."My lord," said he, "what is the meaning of all the noisewhich preceded me? What are these people crying `Vive leRoi! for? What king do they mean? and what are all theselights for?""Ah! Parry," replied the young man ironically, "dont youknow that this is the King of France visiting his good cityof Blois? All those trumpets are his, all those gildedhousings are his, all those gentlemen wear swords that arehis. His mother precedes him in a carriage magnificentlyencrusted with silver and gold. Happy mother! His ministerheaps up millions, and conducts him to a rich bride. Thenall these people rejoice, they love their king, they hailhim with their acclamations, and they cry, `Vive le Roi!Vive le Roi!""Well, well, my lord," said Parry, more uneasy at the turnthe conversation had taken than at the other."You know," resumed the unknown, "that my mother and mysister, whilst all this is going on in honor of the King ofFrance, have neither money nor bread; you know that I myselfshall be poor and degraded within a fortnight, when allEurope will become acquainted with what you have told me.Parry, are there not examples in which a man of my conditionshould himself ---- ""My lord, in the name of Heaven ---- ""You are right, Parry, I am a coward, and if I do nothingfor myself, what will God do? No, no, I have two arms,Parry, and I have a sword." And he struck his arm violentlywith his hand and took down his sword, which hung againstthe wall."What are you going to do, my lord?""What am I going to do, Parry? What every one in my familydoes. My mother lives on public charity, my sister begs formy mother; I have, somewhere or other, brothers who equallybeg for themselves; and I, the eldest, will go and do as allthe rest do -- I will go and ask charity!"And at these words, which he finished sharply with a nervousand terrible laugh, the young man girded on his sword, tookhis hat from the trunk, fastened to his shoulder a blackcloak, which he had worn during all his journey, andpressing the two hands of the old man, who watched hisproceedings with a look of anxiety, --"My good Parry," said he, "order a fire, drink, eat, sleep,and be happy; let us both be happy, my faithful friend, myonly friend. We are rich, as rich as kings!"He struck the bag of pistoles with his clenched hand as hespoke, and it fell heavily to the ground. He resumed thatdismal laugh that had
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