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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 729 at Prostate Health
I want to
see at Belle-Isle, Monsieur Fouquet; it is the pretty peasants and women
of the lands on the sea-shore, who dance so well, and are so seducing
with their scarlet petticoats! I have heard great boast of your pretty
tenants, Monsieur le Surintendant; well, let me have a sight of them."
"Whenever your majesty pleases."
"Have you any means of transport? It should be to-morrow, if you like."
The surintendant felt this stroke, which was not adroit, and replied,
"No, sire; I was ignorant of your majestys wish; above all, I was
ignorant of your haste to see Belle-Isle, and I am prepared with
nothing."
"You have a boat of your own, nevertheless?
"I have five; but they are all in the port, or at Paimboeuf; and to
join them, or bring them hither, we should require at least twenty-four
hours. Have I any occasion to send a courier? Must I do so?"
"Wait a little; put an end to the fever--wait till to-morrow."
"That is true; who knows but that by to-morrow we may not have a hundred
other ideas?" replied Fouquet, now perfectly convinced, and very pale.
The king started, and stretched his hand out toward his little bell, but
Fouquet prevented his ringing.
"Sire," said he, "I have an ague--I am trembling with cold. If I remain
a moment longer, I shall most likely faint. I request your majestys
permission to go and conceal myself beneath the bedclothes."
"Indeed, you are all in a shiver; it is painful to behold! Come, M.
Fouquet, begone! I will send to inquire after you."
"Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness. In an hour I shall be
better."
"I will call some one to reconduct you," said the king.
"As you please, sire; I would gladly take the arm of any one."
"M. dArtagnan!" cried the king, ringing his little bell.
"Oh! sire," interrupted Fouquet, laughing in such a manner as made the
prince feel cold, "would you give me the captain of your musketeers to
take me to my lodgings? A very equivocal kind of honor that, sire! A
simple footman, I beg."
"And why, M. Fouquet? M. dArtagnan conducts me often, and well!"
"Yes, but when he conducts you, sire, it is to obey you; while me--"
"Go on!"
"If I am obliged to return home supported by the leader of the
musketeers, it would be everywhere said you had had me arrested."
"Arrested!" replied the king, who became paler than Fouquet
himself--"arrested! oh!"
"And why would they not say so?" continued Fouquet, still laughing, "and
I would lay a wager there would be people found wicked enough to laugh
at it." This sally disconcerted the monarch. Fouquet was skillful
enough, or fortunate enough, to make Louis XIV. recoil before the
appearance of the fact he meditated. M. dArtagnan, when he appeared,
received an order to desire a musketeer to accompany the surintendant.
"Quite unnecessary," said the latter: "sword for sword; I prefer
Gourville, who is waiting for me below. But that will not prevent me
enjoying the society of M. dArtagnan. I am glad he will see
Belle-Isle, he who is so good a judge of fortifications."
DArtagnan bowed, without at all comprehending what was going on.
Fouquet bowed again and left the apartment, affecting all the slowness
of a man who walks with difficulty. When once out of the castle, "I am
saved!" said he. "Oh! yes, disloyal king! you shall see Belle-Isle, but
it shall be when I am no longer there!"
He disappeared, leaving DArtagnan with the king.
"Captain," said the king, "you will follow M. Fouquet at the distance of
a hundred paces."
"Yes, sire."
"He is going to his lodgings again. You will go with him."
"Yes, sire."
"You will arrest him in my name, and will shut him up in a carriage."
"In a carriage. Well! sire?"
"In such a fashion that he may not, on the road, either converse with
any one, or throw notes to people he may meet."
"That will be rather difficult, sire."
"Not at all."
"Pardon me, sire, I cannot stifle M. Fouquet, and if he asks for liberty
to breathe, I cannot prevent him by shutting up glasses and blinds. He
will throw out at the doors all the cries and notes possible."
"The case is provided for, M. dArtagnan; a carriage with a trellis will
obviate both the difficulties you point out."
"A carriage with an iron trellis!" cried DArtagnan; "but a carriage
with an iron trellis is not made in half an hour; and your majesty
commands me to go immediately to M. Fouquets lodgings."
"Therefore the carriage
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