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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 34 at Prostate Health
something else."Charles II.?" exclaimed Mazarin, with a hoarse voice and adisdainful movement of his lips. "You have received a visitfrom Charles II.?""From King Charles II.," replied Louis, according in amarked manner to the grandson of Henry IV. the title whichMazarin had forgotten to give him. "Yes, monsieur lecardinal, that unhappy prince has touched my heart with therelation of his misfortunes. His distress is great, monsieurle cardinal, and it has appeared painful to me, who haveseen my own throne disputed, who have been forced in timesof commotion to quit my capital, -- to me, in short, who amacquainted with misfortune, -- to leave a deposed andfugitive brother without assistance.""Eh!" said the cardinal, sharply; "why had he not, as youhave, a Jules Mazarin by his side? His crown would then haveremained intact.""I know all that my house owes to your eminence," repliedthe king, haughtily, "and you may believe well that I, on mypart, shall never forget it. It is precisely because mybrother the king of England has not about him the powerfulgenius who has saved me, it is for that, I say, that I wishto conciliate the aid of that same genius, and beg you toextend your arm over his head, well assured, monsieur lecardinal, that your hand, by touching him only, would knowhow to replace upon his brow the crown which fell at thefoot of his fathers scaffold.""Sire," replied Mazarin, "I thank you for your good opinionwith regard to myself, but we have nothing to do yonder:they are a set of madmen who deny God, and cut off the headsof their kings. They are dangerous, observe, sire, andfilthy to the touch after having wallowed in royal blood andcovenantal murder. That policy has never suited me, -- Iscorn it and reject it.""Therefore you ought to assist in establishing a better.""What is that?""The restoration of Charles II., for example.""Good heavens!" cried Mazarin, "does the poor prince flatterhimself with that chimera?""Yes, he does," replied the young king, terrified at thedifficulties opposed to this project, which he fancied hecould perceive in the infallible eye of his minister; "heonly asks for a million to carry out his purpose.""Is that all -- a little million, if you please!" said thecardinal, ironically, with an effort to conquer his Italianaccent. "A little million, if you please, brother! Bah! afamily of mendicants!""Cardinal," said Louis, raising his head, "that family ofmendicants is a branch of my family.""Are you rich enough to give millions to other people, sire?Have you millions to throw away?""Oh!" replied Louis XIV., with great pain, which he,however, by a strong effort, prevented from appearing on hiscountenance; -- "oh! yes, monsieur le cardinal, I am wellaware I am poor, and yet the crown of France is worth amillion, and to perform a good action I would pledge mycrown if it were necessary. I could find Jews who would bewilling to lend me a million.""So, sire, you say you want a million?" said Mazarin."Yes, monsieur, I say so.""You are mistaken, greatly mistaken, sire; you want muchmore than that, -- Bernouin! -- you shall see, sire, howmuch you really want.""What, cardinal!" said the king, "are you going to consult alackey about my affairs?""Bernouin!" cried the cardinal again, without appearing toremark the humiliation of the young prince. "Come here,Bernouin, and tell me the figures I gave you just now.""Cardinal, cardinal! did you not hear me?" said Louis,turning pale with anger."Do not be angry, sire; I deal openly with the affairs ofyour majesty. Every one in France knows that; my books areas open as day. What did I tell you to do just now,Bernouin?""Your eminence commanded me to cast up an account.""You did it, did you not?""Yes, my lord.""To verify the amount of which his majesty, at this moment,stands in need. Did I not tell you so? Be frank, my friend.""Your eminence said so.""Well, what sum did I say I wanted?""Forty-five millions, I think.""And what sum could we find, after collecting all ourresources?""Thirty-nine millions two hundred and sixty thousand.""That is correct, Bernouin; that is all I wanted to know.Leave us now," said the cardinal, fixing his brilliant eyeupon the young king, who sat mute with stupefaction."However ---- " stammered the king."What, do you still doubt, sire?" said the cardinal. "Well,here is a proof
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