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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 11 at Prostate Health
me? To quote some Latin
verses I have forgotten, or rather, never knew well, `the
thunderbolt never falls on the valleys, and I am a valley,
dear Rochefort, -- one of the lowliest of the low."
"Then Mazarin is still Mazarin?"
"The same as ever, my friend; it is said that he is married
to the queen."
"Married?"
"If not her husband, he is unquestionably her lover."
"You surprise me. Rebuff Buckingham and consent to Mazarin!"
"Just like the women," replied DArtagnan, coolly.
"Like women, not like queens."
"Egad! queens are the weakest of their sex, when it comes to
such things as these."
"And M. de Beaufort -- is he still in prison?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Oh, nothing, but that he might get me out of this, if he
were favorably inclined to me."
"You are probably nearer freedom than he is, so it will be
your business to get him out."
"And," said the prisoner, "what talk is there of war with
Spain?"
"With Spain, no," answered DArtagnan; "but Paris."
"What do you mean?" cried Rochefort.
"Do you hear the guns, pray? The citizens are amusing
themselves in the meantime."
"And you -- do you really think that anything could be done
with these bourgeois?"
"Yes, they might do well if they had any leader to unite
them in one body."
"How miserable not to be free!"
"Dont be downcast. Since Mazarin has sent for you, it is
because he wants you. I congratulate you! Many a long year
has passed since any one has wanted to employ me; so you see
in what a situation I am."
"Make your complaints known; thats my advice."
"Listen, Rochefort; let us make a compact. We are friends,
are we not?"
"Egad! I bear the traces of our friendship -- three slits or
slashes from your sword."
"Well, if you should be restored to favor, dont forget me."
"On the honor of a Rochefort; but you must do the like for
me."
"Theres my hand, -- I promise."
"Therefore, whenever you find any opportunity of saying
something in my behalf ---- "
"I shall say it, and you?"
"I shall do the same."
"Apropos, are we to speak of your friends also, Athos,
Porthos, and Aramis? or have you forgotten them?"
"Almost."
"What has become of them?"
"I dont know; we separated, as you know. They are alive,
thats all that I can say about them; from time to time I
hear of them indirectly, but in what part of the world they
are, devil take me if I know, No, on my honor, I have not a
friend in the world but you, Rochefort."
"And the illustrious -- whats the name of the lad whom I
made a sergeant in Piedmonts regiment?"
"Planchet!"
"The illustrious Planchet. What has become of him?"
"I shouldnt wonder if he were at the head of the mob at
this very moment. He married a woman who keeps a
confectioners shop in the Rue des Lombards, for hes a lad
who was always fond of sweetmeats; hes now a citizen of
Paris. Youll see that that queer fellow will be a sheriff
before I shall be a captain."
"Come, dear DArtagnan, look up a little! Courage! It is
when one is lowest on the wheel of fortune that the
merry-go-round wheels and rewards us. This evening your
destiny begins to change."
"Amen!" exclaimed DArtagnan, stopping the carriage.
"What are you doing?" asked Rochefort.
"We are almost there and I want no one to see me getting out
of your carriage; we are supposed not to know each other."
"You are right. Adieu."
"Au revoir. Remember your promise."
In five minutes the party entered the courtyard and
DArtagnan led the prisoner up the great staircase and
across the corridor and ante-chamber.
As they stopped at the door of the cardinals study,
DArtagnan was about to be announced when Rochefort slapped
him on his shoulder.
"DArtagnan, let me confess to you what Ive been thinking
about during the whole of my drive, as I looked out upon the
parties of citizens who perpetually crossed our path and
looked at you and your four men with fiery eyes."
"Speak out," answered DArtagnan.
"I had only to cry out `Help! for you and for your
companions to be cut to pieces, and then I should have been
free."
"Why didnt you do it?" asked the lieutenant.
"Come, come!" cried Rochefort. "Did we not swear friendship?
Ah! had any one but you been there, I dont say ---- "
DArtagnan bowed. "Is it possible that Rochefort has become
a better man than I am?" he said to himself. And he caused
himself to be announced to the minister.
"Let M. de Rochefort enter," said Mazarin, eagerly, on
hearing their
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