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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 23 at Prostate Health
some ofwhom he named, which enchanted those worthy countrygentlemen, and confirmed them in the idea that he alone istruly king who knows his subjects, from the same reason thatthe sun has no rival, because the sun alone warms andlightens.The study of the young king, which had begun a long timebefore, without anybody suspecting it, was continued then,and he looked around him attentively to endeavor to make outsomething in the physiognomies which had at first appearedthe most insignificant and trivial.A collation was served. The king, without daring to callupon the hospitality of his uncle, had waited for itimpatiently. This time, therefore, he had all the honorsdue, if not to his rank, at least to his appetiteAs to the cardinal, he contented himself with touching withhis withered lips a bouillon, served in a gold cup. Theall-powerful minister, who had taken her regency from thequeen, and his royalty from the king, had not been able totake a good stomach from nature.Anne of Austria, already suffering from the cancer which sixor eight years after caused her death, ate very little morethan the cardinal.For Monsieur, already puffed up with the great event whichhad taken place in his provincial life, he ate nothingwhatever.Madame alone, like a true Lorrainer, kept pace with hismajesty; so that Louis XIV., who, without this partner,might have eaten nearly alone, was at first much pleasedwith his aunt, and afterwards with M. de Saint-Remy, hermaitre dhotel, who had really distinguished himself.The collation over, at a sign of approbation from M. deMazarin, the king arose, and, at the invitation of his aunt,walked about among the ranks of the assembly.The ladies then observed -- there are certain things forwhich women are as good observers at Blois as at Paris --the ladies then observed that Louis XIV. had a prompt andbold look, which premised a distinguished appreciator ofbeauty. The men, on their part, observed that the prince wasproud and haughty, that he loved to look down those whofixed their eyes upon him too long or too earnestly, whichgave presage of a master.Louis XIV. had accomplished about a third of his review whenhis ears were struck with a word which his eminencepronounced whilst conversing with Monsieur.This word was the name of a woman.Scarcely had Louis XIV. heard this word than he heard, orrather listened to nothing else; and neglecting the arc ofthe circle which awaited his visit, his object seemed to beto come as quickly as possible to the extremity of thecurve.Monsieur, like a good courtier, was inquiring of monsieur lecardinal after the health of his nieces; he regretted, hesaid, not having the pleasure of receiving them at the sametime with their uncle; they must certainly have grown instature, beauty and grace, as they had promised to do thelast time Monsieur had seen them.What had first struck the king was a certain contrast in thevoices of the two interlocutors. The voice of Monsieur wascalm and natural while he spoke thus; while that of M. deMazarin jumped by a note and a half to reply above thediapason of his usual voice. It might have been said that hewished that voice to strike, at the end of the salon, anyear that was too distant."Monseigneur," replied he, "Mesdemoiselles de Mazarin havestill to finish their education: they have duties tofulfill, and a position to make. An abode in a young andbrilliant court would dissipate them a little."Louis, at this last sentence, smiled sadly. The court wasyoung, it was true, but the avarice of the cardinal hadtaken good care that it should not be brilliant."You have nevertheless no intention," replied Monsieur, "tocloister them or make them bourgeoises?""Not at all," replied the cardinal, forcing his Italianpronunciation in such a manner that, from soft and velvetyas it was, it became sharp and vibrating, "not at all: Ihave a full and fixed intention to marry them, and that aswell as I shall be able.""Parties will not be wanting, monsieur le cardinal," repliedMonsieur, with a bonhomie worthy of one tradesmancongratulating another."I hope not, monseigneur, and with reason, as God has beenpleased to give them grace, intelligence, and beauty."During this conversation, Louis XIV., conducted by Madame,accomplished, as we have described, the circle ofpresentations."Mademoiselle Auricule," said the princess, presenting tohis majesty a fat, fair girl of two-and-twenty, who
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