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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 47 at Prostate Health
a sterncompanion; she bristles all over with steel; she woundsthose whom she attacks, and sometimes him who speaks her.""No, monsieur," replied the king; "I bade you speak -- speakthen.""After the service of the king and the cardinal came theservice of the regency, sire; I fought pretty well in theFronde -- much less, though, than the first time. The menbegan to diminish in stature. I have, nevertheless, led yourmajestys musketeers on some perilous occasions, which standupon the orders of the day of the company. Mine was abeautiful luck at that time. I was the favorite of M. deMazarin. Lieutenant here! lieutenant there! lieutenant tothe right! lieutenant to the left! There was not a buffetdealt in France, of which your humble servant did not havethe dealing; but soon France was not enough. The cardinalsent me to England on Cromwells account; another gentlemanwho was not over gentle, I assure you, sire. I had the honorof knowing him, and I was well able to appreciate him. Agreat deal was promised me on account of that mission. So,as I did much more than I had been bidden to do, I wasgenerously paid, for I was at length appointed captain ofthe musketeers, that is to say, the most envied position incourt, which takes precedence over the marshals of France,and justly, for who says captain of the musketeers says theflower of chivalry and king of the brave.""Captain, monsieur!" interrupted the king, "you make amistake. Lieutenant, you mean.""Not at all, sire -- I make no mistake; your majesty mayrely upon me in that respect. Monsieur le cardinal gave methe commission himself.""Well!""But M. de Mazarin, as you know better than anybody, doesnot often give, and sometimes takes back what he has given;he took it back again as soon as peace was made and he wasno longer in want of me. Certainly I was not worthy toreplace M. de Treville, of illustrious memory; but they hadpromised me, and they had given me; they ought to havestopped there.""Is that what dissatisfies you, monsieur? Well I shall makeinquiries. I love justice; and your claim, though made inmilitary fashion, does not displease me.""Oh, sire!" said the officer, "your majesty has illunderstood me; I no longer claim anything now.""Excess of delicacy, monsieur; but I will keep my eye uponyour affairs, and later ---- ""Oh, sire! what a word! -- later! Thirty years have I livedupon that promising word, which has been pronounced by somany great personages, and which your mouth has, in itsturn, just pronounced. Later -- that is how I have receiveda score of wounds, and how I have reached fifty-four yearsof age without ever having had a louis in my purse, andwithout ever having met with a protector on my way, -- I whohave protected so many people! So I change my formula, sire;and when any one says to me `Later, I reply `Now. It isrest that I solicit, sire. That may be easily granted me.That will cost nobody anything.""I did not look for this language, monsieur, particularlyfrom a man who has always lived among the great. You forgetyou are speaking to the king, to a gentleman who is, Isuppose, of as good a house as yourself; and when I saylater, I mean a certainty.""I do not at all doubt it, sire, but this is the end of theterrible truth I had to tell you. If I were to see upon thattable a marshals stick, the sword of constable, the crownof Poland, instead of later, I swear to you, sire, that Ishould still say Now! Oh, excuse me, sire! I am from thecountry of your grandfather, Henry IV. I do not speak often;but when I do speak, I speak all.""The future of my reign has little temptation for you,monsieur, it appears," said Louis, haughtily."Forgetfulness, forgetfulness everywhere!" cried theofficer, with a noble air; "the master has forgotten theservant, so that the servant is reduced to forget hismaster. I live in unfortunate times, sire. I see youth fullof discouragement and fear, I see it timid and despoiled,when it ought to be rich and powerful. I yesterday evening,for example, open the door to a king of England, whosefather, humble as I am, I was near saving, if God had notbeen against me -- God, who
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