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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 80 at Prostate Health
intention of landing on our coasts?""Never.""And what route were you steering?""We were returning from Ostend, where some mackerel hadalready been seen, when a sharp wind from the south drove usfrom our course; then, seeing that it was useless tostruggle against it, we let it drive us. It then becamenecessary, not to lose our fish, which were good, to go andsell them at the nearest English port, and that wasNewcastle. We were told the opportunity was good, as therewas an increase of population in the camp, an increase ofpopulation in the city; both, we were told, were full ofgentlemen, very rich and very hungry. So we steered ourcourse towards Newcastle.""And your companions, where are they?""Oh, my companions have remained on board; they are sailorswithout the least instruction.""Whilst you ---- " said Monk."Who, I?" said the patron, laughing; "I have sailed aboutwith my father, and I know what is called a sou, a crown, apistole, a louis, and a double louis, in all the languagesof Europe; my crew, therefore, listen to me as they would toan oracle, and obey me as if I were an admiral.""Then it was you who preferred M. Lambert as the bestcustomer?""Yes, certainly. And, to be frank, my lord, was I wrong?""You will see that by and by.""At all events, my lord, if there is a fault, the fault ismine; and my comrades should not be dealt hardly with onthat account.""This is decidedly an intelligent, sharp fellow," thoughtMonk. Then, after a few minutes, silence employed inscrutinizing the fisherman, -- "You come from Ostend, didyou not say?" asked the general."Yes, my lord, in a straight line.""You have then heard of the affairs of the day; for I haveno doubt that both in France and Holland they exciteinterest. What is he doing who calls himself king ofEngland?""Oh, my lord!" cried the fisherman, with loud and expansivefrankness, "that is a lucky question, and you could not putit to anybody better than to me, for in truth I can make youa famous reply. Imagine, my lord, that when putting intoOstend to sell the few mackerel we had caught, I saw theex-king walking on the downs waiting for his horses, whichwere to take him to the Hague. He is a rather tall, paleman, with black hair, and somewhat hard-featured. He looksill, and I dont think the air of Holland agrees with him."Monk followed with the greatest attention the rapid,heightened, and diffuse conversation of the fisherman, in alanguage which was not his own, but which, as we have said,he spoke with great facility. The fisherman on his part,employed sometimes a French word, sometimes an English word,and sometimes a word which appeared not to belong to anylanguage, but was, in truth, pure Gascon. Fortunately hiseyes spoke for him, and that so eloquently, that it waspossible to lose a word from his mouth, but not a singleintention from his eyes. The general appeared more and moresatisfied with his examination. "You must have heard thatthis ex-king, as you call him, was going to the Hague forsome purpose?""Oh, yes," said the fisherman, "I heard that.""And what was his purpose?""Always the same," said the fisherman. "Must he not alwaysentertain the fixed idea of returning to England?""That is true," said Monk, pensively."Without reckoning," added the fisherman, "that thestadtholder -- you know, my lord, William II.?""Well?""He will assist him with all his power.""Ah! did you hear that said?""No, but I think so.""You are quite a politician, apparently," said Monk."Why, we sailors, my lord, who are accustomed to study thewater and the air -- that is to say, the two most changeablethings in the world -- are seldom deceived as to the rest.""Now, then," said Monk, changing the conversation, "I amtold you are going to provision us.""I shall do my best, my lord.""How much do you ask for your fish in the first place?""Not such a fool as to name a price, my lord.""Why not?""Because my fish is yours.""By what right?""By that of the strongest.""But my intention is to pay you for it.""That is very generous of you, my lord.""And the worth of it ---- ""My lord, I fix no price.""What do you ask, then?""I only ask to be permitted to go away.""Where? -- to General Lamberts camp?""I!" cried the fisherman; "what
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