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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 67 at Prostate Health
dearPlanchet," said the Gascon, laughing. "We have very fineexamples in antiquity of skillful retreats and marches,which consisted in avoiding the enemy instead of attackingthem. You should know that, Planchet, you who commanded theParisians the day on which they ought to have fought againstthe musketeers, and who so well calculated marches andcountermarches, that you never left the Palais Royal."Planchet could not help laughing. "It is plain," replied he,"that if your forty men conceal themselves, and are notunskillful, they may hope not to be beaten: but you proposeobtaining some result, do you not?""No doubt. This, then, in my opinion, is the plan to beproceeded upon in order quickly to replace his majestyCharles II. on his throne.""Good!" said Planchet, increasing his attention; "let us seeyour plan. But in the first place it seems to me we areforgetting something.""What is that?""We have set aside the nation, which prefers singing merrysongs to psalms, and the army, which we will not fight: butthe parliament remains, and that seldom sings.""Nor does it fight. How is it, Planchet, that an intelligentman like you should take any heed of a set of brawlers whocall themselves Rumps and Barebones. The parliament does nottrouble me at all, Planchet.""As soon as it ceases to trouble you, monsieur, let us passon.""Yes, and arrive at the result. You remember Cromwell,Planchet?""I have heard a great deal of talk about him.""He was a rough soldier.""And a terrible eater, moreover.""What do you mean by that?""Why, at one gulp he swallowed all England.""Well, Planchet, the evening before the day on which heswallowed England, if any one had swallowed M. Cromwell?""Oh, monsieur, it is one of the axioms of mathematics thatthe container must be greater than the contained.""Very well! That is our affair, Planchet.""But M. Cromwell is dead, and his container is now thetomb.""My dear Planchet, I see with pleasure that you have notonly become a mathematician, but a philosopher.""Monsieur, in my grocery business I use much printed paper,and that instructs me.""Bravo! You know then, in that case -- for you have notlearnt mathematics and philosophy without a little history-- that after this Cromwell so great, there came one who wasvery little.""Yes; he was named Richard, and he has done as you have, M.dArtagnan -- he has tendered his resignation.""Very well said -- very well! After the great man who isdead, after the little one who tendered his resignation,there came a third. This one is named Monk; he is an ablegeneral, considering he has never fought a battle; he is askillful diplomatist, considering that he never speaks inpublic, and that having to say `good-day to a man, hemeditates twelve hours, and ends by saying `good-night;which makes people exclaim `miracle! seeing that it fallsout correctly.""That is rather strong," said Planchet; "but I know anotherpolitical man who resembles him very much.""M. Mazarin you mean?""Himself.""You are right, Planchet; only M. Mazarin does not aspire tothe throne of France; and that changes everything. Do yousee? Well, this M. Monk, who has England ready-roasted inhis plate, and who is already opening his mouth to swallowit -- this M. Monk, who says to the people of Charles II.,and to Charles II. himself, `Nescio vos ---- ""I dont understand English," said Planchet."Yes, but I understand it," said DArtagnan. "`Nescio vosmeans `I do not know you. This M. Monk, the most importantman in England, when he shall have swallowed it ---- ""Well?" asked Planchet."Well, my friend, I shall go over yonder, and with my fortymen, I shall carry him off, pack him up, and bring him intoFrance, where two modes of proceeding present themselves tomy dazzled eyes.""Oh! and to mine too," cried Planchet, transported withenthusiasm. "We will put him in a cage and show him formoney.""Well, Planchet, that is a third plan, of which I had notthought.""Do you think it a good one?""Yes, certainly, but I think mine better.""Let us see yours, then.""In the first place, I shall set a ransom on him.""Of how much?""Peste! a fellow like that must be well worth a hundredthousand crowns.""Yes, yes!""You see, then -- in the first place, a ransom of a hundredthousand crowns.""Or else ---- ""Or else, what is much better, I deliver him up to KingCharles, who, having no longer either a general or an armyto fear, nor a
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