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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 6 at Prostate Health
noise of quick steps, an odor of wine andviands, a clinking of crystal and plates, warned them thatthey were coming to the end of their course.The pages, valets and officers, assembled in the officewhich led up to the refectory, welcomed the newcomer withthe proverbial politeness of the country; some of them wereacquainted with Raoul, and all knew that he came from Paris.It might be said that his arrival for a moment suspended theservice. In fact, a page, who was pouring out wine for hisroyal highness, on hearing the jingling of spurs in the nextchamber, turned round like a child, without perceiving thathe was continuing to pour out, not into the glass, but uponthe tablecloth.Madame, who was not so preoccupied as her glorious spousewas, remarked this distraction of the page."Well?" exclaimed she."Well!" repeated Monsieur; "what is going on then?"M. de Saint-Remy, who had just introduced his head throughthe doorway, took advantage of the moment."Why am I to be disturbed?" said Gaston, helping himself toa thick slice of one of the largest salmon that had everascended the Loire to be captured between Painboeuf andSaint-Nazaire."There is a messenger from Paris. Oh! but after monseigneurhas breakfasted will do; there is plenty of time.""From Paris!" cried the prince, letting his fork fall. "Amessenger from Paris, do you say? And on whose part doesthis messenger come?""On the part of M. le Prince," said the maitre dhotelpromptly.Every one knows that the Prince de Conde was so called."A messenger from M. le Prince!" said Gaston, with aninquietude that escaped none of the assistants, andconsequently redoubled the general curiosity.Monsieur, perhaps, fancied himself brought back again to thehappy times when the opening of a door gave him an emotion,in which every letter might contain a state secret, -- inwhich every message was connected with a dark andcomplicated intrigue. Perhaps, likewise, that great name ofM. le Prince expanded itself, beneath the roofs of Blois, tothe proportions of a phantom.Monsieur pushed away his plate."Shall I tell the envoy to wait?" asked M. de Saint-Remy.A glance from Madame emboldened Gaston, who replied: "No,no! let him come in at once, on the contrary. A propos, whois he?""A gentleman of this country, M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne.""Ah, very well! Introduce him, Saint-Remy -- introduce him."And when he had let fall these words, with his accustomedgravity, Monsieur turned his eyes, in a certain manner, uponthe people of his suite, so that all, pages, officers, andequerries, quitted the service, knives and goblets, and madetowards the second chamber a retreat as rapid as it wasdisorderly.This little army had dispersed in two files when Raoul deBragelonne, preceded by M. de Saint-Remy, entered therefectory.The short interval of solitude which this retreat had lefthim, permitted Monsieur the time to assume a diplomaticcountenance. He did not turn round, but waited till themaitre dhotel should bring the messenger face to face withhim.Raoul stopped even with the lower end of the table, so as tobe exactly between Monsieur and Madame. From this place hemade a profound bow to Monsieur and a very humble one toMadame; then, drawing himself up into military pose, hewaited for Monsieur to address him.On his part the Prince waited till the doors werehermetically closed; he would not turn round to ascertainthe fact, as that would have been derogatory to his dignity,but he listened with all his ears for the noise of the lock,which would promise him at least an appearance of secrecy.The doors being closed, Monsieur raised his eyes towards thevicomte, and said, "It appears that you come from Paris,monsieur?""This minute, monseigneur.""How is the king?""His majesty is in perfect health, monseigneur.""And my sister-in-law?""Her majesty the queen-mother still suffers from thecomplaint in her chest, but for the last month she has beenrather better.""Somebody told me you came on the part of M. le Prince. Theymust have been mistaken, surely?""No, monseigneur; M. le Prince has charged me to convey thisletter to your royal highness, and I am to wait for ananswer to it."Raoul had been a little annoyed by this cold and cautiousreception, and his voice insensibly sank to a low key.The prince forgot that he was the cause of this apparentmystery, and his fears returned.He received the letter from the Prince de Conde with ahaggard look, unsealed it as he would
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