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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 31 at Prostate Health
with which my poorest gentlemen areunacquainted. If my poor Laporte were here, he would tellyou that I have slept in ragged sheets, through the holes ofwhich my legs have passed; he would tell you thatafterwards, when I asked for carriages, they brought meconveyances half-destroyed by the rats of the coach-houses;he would tell you that when I asked for my dinner, theservants went to the cardinals kitchen to inquire if therewere any dinner for the king. And look! to-day, this veryday even, when I am twenty-two years of age, -- to-day, whenI have attained the grade of the majority of kings, --to-day, when I ought to have the key of the treasury, thedirection of the policy, the supremacy in peace and war, --cast your eyes around me, see how I am left! Look at thisabandonment -- this disdain -- this silence! -- Whilstyonder -- look yonder! View the bustle, the lights, thehomage! There! -- there you see the real king of France, mybrother!"In the cardinals apartments?""Yes, in the cardinals apartments.""Then I am condemned, sire?"Louis XIV. made no reply."Condemned is the word; for I will never solicit him wholeft my mother and sister to die with cold and hunger -- thedaughter and grand-daughter of Henry IV. -- if M. de Retzand the parliament had not sent them wood and bread.""To die?" murmured Louis XIV."Well!" continued the king of England, "poor Charles II.,grandson of Henry IV. as you are, sire, having neitherparliament nor Cardinal de Retz to apply to, will die ofhunger, as his mother and sister had nearly done."Louis knitted his brow, and twisted violently the lace ofhis ruffles.This prostration, this immobility, serving as a mark to anemotion so visible, struck Charles II., and he took theyoung mans hand."Thanks!" said he, "my brother. You pity me, and that is allI can require of you in your present situation.""Sire," said Louis XIV., with a sudden impulse, and raisinghis head, "it is a million you require, or two hundredgentlemen, I think you say?""Sire, a million would be quite sufficient.""That is very little.""Offered to a single man it is a great deal. Convictionshave been purchased at a much lower price; and I should havenothing to do but with venalities.""Two hundred gentlemen! Reflect! -- that is little more thana single company.""Sire, there is in our family a tradition, and that is, thatfour men, four French gentlemen, devoted to my father, werenear saving my father, though condemned by a parliament,guarded by an army and surrounded by a nation.""Then if I can procure you a million, or two hundredgentlemen, you will be satisfied; and you will consider meyour well-affectioned brother?""I shall consider you as my saviour; and if I recover thethrone of my father, England will be, as long as I reign atleast, a sister to France, as you will have been a brotherto me.""Well, my brother," said Louis, rising, "what you hesitateto ask for, I will myself demand; that which I have neverdone on my own account, I will do on yours. I will go andfind the king of France -- the other -- the rich, thepowerful one, I mean. I will myself solicit this million, orthese two hundred gentlemen; and -- we will see.""Oh!" cried Charles, "you are a noble friend, sire -- aheart created by God! You save me, my brother; and if youshould ever stand in need of the life you restore me, demandit.""Silence, my brother, -- silence!" said Louis, in asuppressed voice. "Take care that no one hears you! We havenot obtained our end yet. To ask money of Mazarin -- that isworse than traversing the enchanted forest, each tree ofwhich inclosed a demon. It is more than setting out toconquer a world.""But yet, sire, when you ask it ---- ""I have already told you that I never asked," replied Louiswith a haughtiness that made the king of England turn pale.And as the latter, like a wounded man, made a retreatingmovement -- "Pardon me, my brother," replied he. "I haveneither a mother nor a sister who are suffering. My throneis hard and naked, but I am firmly seated on my throne.Pardon me that expression, my brother; it was that of anegotist. I will retract it, therefore, by a sacrifice, -- Iwill go to
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