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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 489 at Prostate Health
me: you
think of those who are absent, you forgive those who have done wrong, in
fact, you are, as nearly as possible, perfect. How does it happen--"
"It is because you allow yourself to be loved," he said, beginning to
laugh.
"Oh! there must be some other reason."
"Well, I am doing all I can to oblige my brother Louis XIV."
"Nay, I must have another reason."
"Well, then, the true motive is that Buckingham strongly recommended the
young man to me, saying: Sire, I begin by yielding up all claim to Miss
Grafton, I pray you follow my example."
"The duke is, indeed, a true gentleman."
"Oh! of course, of course; it is Buckinghams turn now, I suppose, to
turn your head. You seem determined to cross me in everything to-day."
At this moment some one scratched at the door.
"Who is it who presumes to interrupt us?" exclaimed Charles,
impatiently.
"Really, sire, you are extremely vain with your who is it who
presumes? and in order to punish you for it--"
She went to the door and opened it.
"It is a courier from France," said Miss Stewart.
"A courier from France!" exclaimed Charles; "from my sister, perhaps?"
"Yes, sire," said the usher, "a special messenger."
"Let him come in at once," said Charles.
"You have a letter for me," said the king to the courier as he entered,
"from the Duchess of Orleans?"
"Yes, sire," replied the courier, "and so urgent is its nature that I
have only been twenty-six hours bringing it to your majesty, and yet I
lost three-quarters of an hour at Calais."
"Your zeal shall not be forgotten," said the king, as he opened the
letter. When he had read it, he burst out laughing, and exclaimed--"Upon
my word, I am at a loss to understand anything about it." He then
read the letter a second time. Miss Stewart assuming a manner marked by
the greatest reserve, and doing her utmost to restrain her ardent
curiosity.
"Francis," said the king to his valet, "see that this excellent fellow
is well taken care of and sleeps soundly, and that on waking to-morrow
morning he finds a purse of fifty sovereigns by his bedside."
"Sire!" said the courier, amazed.
"Begone, begone; my sister was perfectly right in desiring you to use
the utmost diligence: the affair was most pressing;" and he again began
to laugh louder than ever. The courier, the valet, and Miss Stewart
hardly knew what sort of countenance to assume. "Ah!" said the king,
throwing himself back in his armchair; "when I think that you have
knocked up--how many horses?"
"Two!"
"Two horses to bring this intelligence to me! That will do, you can
leave us now."
The courier retired with the valet. Charles went to the window, which he
opened, and, leaning forward, called out, "Duke! Buckingham! come here,
theres a good fellow."
The duke hurried to him in obedience to the summons; but when he reached
the door, and perceived Miss Stewart, he hesitated to enter.
"Come in, and shut the door," said the king. The duke obeyed; and,
perceiving in what an excellent humor the king was, he advanced
smilingly toward him. "Well, my dear duke, how do you get on with your
Frenchman?"
"Sire, I am in the most perfect state of utter despair about him."
"Why so?"
"Because charming Miss Grafton is willing to marry him, but he is
unwilling."
"Why, he is a perfect Boeotian!" cried
Miss Stewart. "Let him say either Yes or No, and let the affair
end."
"But," said Buckingham, seriously, "you know, or you ought to know,
madame, that M. de Bragelonne is in love in another direction."
"In that case," said the king, coming to Miss Stewarts help, "nothing
is easier; let him say No, then."
"Very true; and I have proved to him he was wrong not to say Yes."
"You told him candidly, I suppose, that La Valliere was deceiving him?"
"Yes, without the slightest reserve; and, as soon as I had done so, he
gave a start, as if he were going to clear the Channel at a bound."
"At all events," said Miss Stewart, "he has done something, and a very
good thing too, upon my word."
"But," said Buckingham, "I stopped him; I have left him and Miss Mary in
conversation together, and I sincerely trust that now he will not leave,
as he seemed to have an idea of doing."
"An idea of leaving England?" inquired the king.
"I, at one moment, hardly thought that any human power could have
prevented him; but Miss Marys eyes are now bent fully on him, and
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