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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 83 at Prostate Health
the first place, are we alone?""Perfectly so, monsieur, except, of course, the post whichguards us." So saying, Monk pulled open the canvas with hishand, and pointed to the soldier placed at ten paces fromthe tent, and who, at the first call could have renderedassistance in a second."In that case my lord," said the gentleman, in as calm atone as if he had been for a length of time in habits ofintimacy with his interlocutor, I have made up my mind toaddress myself to you, because I believe you to be an honestman. Indeed, the communication I am about to make to youwill prove to you the esteem in which I hold you."Monk, astonished at this language, which established betweenhim and the French gentleman equality at least, raised hispiercing eye to the strangers face, and with a sensibleirony conveyed by the inflection of his voice alone, for nota muscle of his face moved, -- "I thank you, monsieur," saidhe; "but, in the first place, to whom have I the honor ofspeaking?""I sent you my name by your sergeant, my lord.""Excuse him, monsieur, he is a Scotchman, -- he could notretain it.""I am called the Comte de la Fere, monsieur," said Athos,bowing."The Comte de la Fere?" said Monk, endeavoring to recollectthe name. "Pardon me, monsieur, but this appears to be thefirst time I have ever heard that name. Do you fill any postat the court of France?""None; I am a simple gentleman.""What dignity?""King Charles I. made me a knight of the Garter, and QueenAnne of Austria has given me the cordon of the Holy Ghost.These are my only dignities.""The Garter! the Holy Ghost! Are you a knight of those twoorders, monsieur?""Yes.""And on what occasions have such favors been bestowed uponyou?""For services rendered to their majesties."Monk looked with astonishment at this man, who appeared tohim so simple and so great at the same time. Then, as if hehad renounced endeavoring to penetrate this mystery of asimplicity and grandeur upon which the stranger did not seemdisposed to give him any other information than that whichhe had already received, -- "Did you present yourselfyesterday at our advanced posts?""And was sent back? Yes, my lord.""Many officers, monsieur, would permit no one to enter theircamp, particularly on the eve of a probable battle. But Idiffer from my colleagues, and like to leave nothing behindme. Every advice is good to me; all danger is sent to me byGod, and I weigh it in my hand with the energy He has givenme. So, yesterday, you were only sent back on account of thecouncil I was holding. To-day I am at liberty, -- speak.""My lord, you have done much better in receiving me, forwhat I have to say has nothing to do with the battle you areabout to fight with General Lambert, or with your camp; andthe proof is, that I turned away my head that I might notsee your men, and closed my eyes that I might not count yourtents. No, I come to speak to you, my lord, on my ownaccount.""Speak, then, monsieur," said Monk."Just now " continued Athos, "I had the honor of tellingyour lordship that for a long time I lived in Newcastle; itwas in the time of Charles I., and when the king was givenup to Cromwell by the Scots.""I know," said Monk, coldly."I had at that time a large sum in gold, and on the eve ofthe battle, from a presentiment perhaps of the turn whichthings would take on the morrow, I concealed it in theprincipal vault of the convent of Newcastle, in the towerwhose summit you now see silvered by the moonbeams. Mytreasure has then remained interred there, and I have cometo entreat your honor to permit me to withdraw it before,perhaps, the battle turning that way, a mine or some otherwar engine has destroyed the building and scattered my gold,or rendered it so apparent that the soldiers will takepossession of it."Monk was well acquainted with mankind, he saw in thephysiognomy of this gentleman all the energy, all thereason, all the circumspection possible, he could thereforeonly attribute to a magnanimous confidence the revelationthe Frenchman had made him, and he showed himself profoundlytouched by it."Monsieur," said he, "you have augured well of me. But
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