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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 41 at Prostate Health
wait?""You will wait for me.""Where, sire?""At the little park-gate."The lieutenant bowed, understanding that the king had toldhim all he had to say. In fact, the king dismissed him witha gracious wave of the hand. The officer left the chamber ofthe king, and returned to place himself philosophically inhis fauteuil, where, far from sleeping, as might have beenexpected, considering how late it was, he began to reflectmore deeply than he had ever reflected before. The result ofthese reflections was not so melancholy as the precedingones had been."Come, he has begun," said he. "Love urges him on, and hegoes forward -- he goes forward! The king is nobody in hisown palace; but the man perhaps may prove to be worthsomething. Well, we shall see to-morrow morning. Oh! oh!"cried he, all at once starting up, "that is a gigantic idea,mordioux! and perhaps my fortune depends, at least, uponthat idea!" After this exclamation, the officer arose andmarched, with his hands in the pockets of his justacorps,about the immense ante-chamber that served him as anapartment. The wax-light flamed furiously under the effectsof a fresh breeze which stole in through the chinks of thedoor and the window, and cut the salle diagonally. It threwout a reddish, unequal light, sometimes brilliant, sometimesdull, and the tall shadow of the lieutenant was seenmarching on the wall, in profile, like a figure by Callot,with his long sword and feathered hat."Certainly!" said he, "I am mistaken if Mazarin is notlaying a snare for this amorous boy. Mazarin, this evening,gave an address, and made an appointment as complacently asM. Dangeau himself could have done -- I heard him, and Iknow the meaning of his words. `To-morrow morning, said he,`they will pass opposite the bridge of Blois. Mordioux! thatis clear enough, and particularly for a lover. That is thecause of this embarrassment; that is the cause of thishesitation; that is the cause of this order -- `Monsieur thelieutenant of my musketeers, be on horseback to-morrow atfour oclock in the morning. Which is as clear as if he hadsaid, -- `Monsieur the lieutenant of my musketeers,to-morrow, at four, at the bridge of Blois -- do youunderstand? Here is a state secret, then, which I, humbleas I am, have in my possession, while it is in action. Andhow do I get it? Because I have good eyes, as his majestyjust now said. They say he loves this little Italian dollfuriously. They say he threw himself at his mothers feet,to beg her to allow him to marry her. They say the queenwent so far as to consult the court of Rome, whether such amarriage, contracted against her will, would be valid. Oh,if I were but twenty-five! If I had by my side those I nolonger have! If I did not despise the whole world mostprofoundly, I would embroil Mazarin with the queen-mother,France with Spain, and I would make a queen after my ownfashion. But let that pass." And the lieutenant snapped hisfingers in disdain."This miserable Italian -- this poor creature -- this sordidwretch -- who has just refused the king of England amillion, would not perhaps give me a thousand pistoles forthe news I could carry him. Mordioux! I am falling intosecond childhood -- I am becoming stupid indeed! The idea ofMazarin giving anything! ha! ha! ha!" and he laughed in asubdued voice."Well, let us go to sleep -- let us go to sleep; and thesooner the better. My mind is wearied with my eveningswork, and will see things to-morrow more clearly thanto-day."And upon this recommendation, made to himself, he folded hiscloak around him, looking with contempt upon his royalneighbor. Five minutes after this he was asleep, with hishands clenched and his lips apart, giving escape, not to hissecret, but to a sonorous sound, which rose and spreadfreely beneath the majestic roof of the ante-chamber.CHAPTER 13Mary de ManciniThe sun had scarcely shed its first beams on the majestictrees of the park and the lofty turrets of the castle, whenthe young king, who had been awake more than two hours,possessed by the sleeplessness of love, opened his shuttershimself, and cast an inquiring look into the courts of thesleeping palace. He saw that it was the hour agreed upon:the great court clock pointed to a quarter past four.
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