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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 88 at Prostate Health
made itself a guardian of thesolitude, Athos arrived at the vaults situated beneath thegreat hall, but the entrance of which was from the chapel.There he stopped. "Here we are, general," said he."This, then, is the slab?""Yes.""Ay, and here is the ring -- but the ring is sealed into thestone.""We must have a lever.""Thats a thing very easy to find."Whilst looking round them, Athos and Monk perceived a littleash of about three inches in diameter, which had shot up inan angle of the wall, reaching a window, concealed by itsbranches."Have you a knife?" said Monk to the fisherman."Yes, monsieur.""Cut down this tree; then."The fisherman obeyed, but not without notching his cutlass.When the ash was cut and fashioned into the shape of alever, the three men penetrated into the vault."Stop where you are," said Monk to the fisherman. "We aregoing to dig up some powder; your light may be dangerous."The man drew back in a sort of terror, and faithfully keptto the post assigned him, whilst Monk and Athos turnedbehind a column at the foot of which, penetrating through acrack, was a moonbeam, reflected exactly on the stone whichthe Comte de la Fere had come so far in search."This is it," said Athos, pointing out to the general theLatin inscription."Yes," said Monk.Then, as if still willing to leave the Frenchman one meansof evasion, --"Do you not observe that this vault has already been brokeninto," continued he, "and that several statues have beenknocked down?""My lord, you have, without doubt, heard that the religiousrespect of your Scots loves to confide to the statues of thedead the valuable objects they have possessed during theirlives. Therefore, the soldiers had reason to think thatunder the pedestals of the statues which ornament most ofthese tombs, a treasure was hidden. They have consequentlybroken down pedestal and statue: but the tomb of thevenerable canon, with which we have to do, is notdistinguished by any monument. It is simple, therefore ithas been protected by the superstitious fear which yourPuritans have always had of sacrilege. Not a morsel of themasonry of this tomb has been chipped off.""That is true," said Monk.Athos seized the lever."Shall I help you?" said Monk."Thank you, my lord; but I am not willing that your honorshould lend your hand to a work of which, perhaps, you wouldnot take the responsibility if you knew the probableconsequences of it."Monk raised his head."What do you mean by that, monsieur?""I mean -- but that man ---- ""Stop," said Monk; "I perceive what you are afraid of. Ishall make a trial." Monk turned towards the fisherman, thewhole of whose profile was thrown upon the wall."Come here, friend!" said he in English, and in a tone ofcommand.The fisherman did not stir."That is well," continued he: "he does not know English.Speak to me, then, in English, if you please, monsieur.""My lord," replied Athos, "I have frequently seen men incertain circumstances have sufficient command overthemselves not to reply to a question put to them in alanguage they understood. The fisherman is perhaps morelearned than we believe him to be. Send him away, my lord, Ibeg you.""Decidedly," said Monk, "he wishes to have me alone in thisvault. Never mind, we shall go through with it; one man isas good as another man; and we are alone. My friend," saidMonk to the fisherman, "go back up the stairs we have justdescended, and watch that nobody comes to disturb us." Thefisherman made a sign of obedience. "Leave your torch," saidMonk; "it would betray your presence, and might procure youa musket-ball."The fisherman appeared to appreciate the counsel; he laiddown the light, and disappeared under the vault of thestairs. Monk took up the torch, and brought it to the footof the column."Ah, ah!" said he; "money, then, is concealed under thistomb?""Yes, my lord; and in five minutes you will no longer doubtit."At the same time Athos struck a violent blow upon theplaster, which split, presenting a chink for the point ofthe lever. Athos introduced the bar into this crack, andsoon large pieces of plaster yielded, rising up like roundedslabs. Then the Comte de la Fere seized the stones and threwthem away with a force that hands so delicate as his mightnot have been supposed capable of having."My lord," said Athos, "this
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