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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 299 at Prostate Health
down the staircase."Since I am here," said Athos, suddenly, "cannot I see M.dArtagnan?""Shall I show you his apartments?" said De Bragelonne."Do so.""They are on the opposite staircase."They altered their course, but on reaching the landing ofthe grand staircase, Raoul perceived a servant in the Comtede Guiches livery, who ran towards him as soon as he heardhis voice."What is it?" said Raoul."This note, monsieur. My master heard of your return andwrote to you without delay; I have been looking for you forthe last half-hour."Raoul approached Athos as he unsealed the letter. saying,"With your permission, monsieur.""Certainly.""Dear Raoul," wrote the Comte de Guiche, "I have an affairin hand which requires immediate attention; I know you havereturned, come to me as soon as possible."Hardly had he finished reading it, when a servant in thelivery of the Duke of Buckingham, turning out of thegallery, recognized Raoul, and approached him respectfully,saying, "From his Grace, monsieur.""Well, Raoul, as I see you are already as busy as a generalof an army, I shall leave you, and will find M. dArtagnanmyself.""You will excuse me, I trust," said Raoul."Yes, yes, I excuse you; adieu, Raoul; you will find me atmy apartments until to-morrow; during the day I may set outfor Blois, unless I have orders to the contrary.""I shall present my respects to you to-morrow, monsieur."As soon as Athos had left, Raoul opened Buckinghams letter."Monsieur de Bragelonne," it ran, "You are, of all theFrenchmen I have known, the one with whom I am most pleased;I am about to put your friendship to the proof. I havereceived a certain message, written in very good French. AsI am an Englishman, I am afraid of not comprehending it veryclearly. The letter has a good name attached to it, and thatis all I can tell you. Will you be good enough to come andsee me? for I am told you have arrived from Blois."Your devoted"Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.""I am going now to see your master," said Raoul to DeGuiches servant, as he dismissed him; "and I shall be withthe Duke of Buckingham in an hour," he added, dismissingwith these words the dukes messenger.CHAPTER 94Sword-thrusts in the WaterRaoul, on betaking himself to De Guiche, found himconversing with De Wardes and Manicamp. De Wardes, since theaffair of the barricade, had treated Raoul as a stranger;they behaved as if they were not acquainted. As Raoulentered, De Guiche walked up to him; and Raoul, as hegrasped his friends hand, glanced rapidly at his twocompanions, hoping to be able to read on their faces whatwas passing in their minds. De Wardes was cold andimpenetrable; Manicamp seemed absorbed in the contemplationof some trimming to his dress. De Guiche led Raoul to anadjoining cabinet, and made him sit down, saying, "How wellyou look!""That is singular," replied Raoul, "for I am far from beingin good spirits.""It is your case, then, Raoul, as it is my own, -- our loveaffairs do not progress.""So much the better, count, as far as you are concerned; theworst news would be good news.""In that case do not distress yourself, for, not only am Ivery unhappy, but, what is more, I see others about me whoare happy.""Really, I do not understand you," replied Raoul; "explainyourself.""You will soon learn. I have tried, but in vain, to overcomethe feeling you saw dawn in me, increase and take entirepossession of me. I have summoned all your advice and my ownstrength to my aid. I have well weighed the unfortunateaffair in which I have embarked; I have sounded its depths;that it is an abyss, I am aware, but it matters little, forI shall pursue my own course.""This is madness, De Guiche! you cannot advance another stepwithout risking your own ruin to-day, perhaps your lifeto-morrow.""Whatever may happen, I have done with reflections; listen.""And you hope to succeed; you believe that Madame will loveyou?""Raoul, I believe nothing; I hope, because hope exists inman, and never abandons him till death.""But, admitting that you obtain the happiness you covet,even then, you are more certainly lost than if you hadfailed in obtaining it.""I beseech you, Raoul, not to interrupt me any more; youcould never convince me, for I tell you beforehand, I do notwish to be convinced; I have gone so far I cannot recede; Ihave suffered
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