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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 119 at Prostate Health
common lot; even an
executioner is not exempted. I had a bad opinion of him the
moment I saw his wound, and since he asked for a monk you
know that it was his opinion, too, that death would follow."
At the mention of the monk, Grimaud became pale.
"Come, come," continued DArminges, "to dinner;" for like
most men of his age and generation he did not allow
sentiment or sensibility to interfere with a repast.
"You are right, sir," said Raoul. "Come, Grimaud, order
dinner for yourself and when you have rested a little we can
talk."
"No, sir, no," said Grimaud. "I cannot stop a moment; I must
start for Paris again immediately."
"What? You start for Paris? You are mistaken; it is Olivain
who leaves me; you are to remain."
"On the contrary, Olivain is to stay and I am to go. I have
come for nothing else but to tell you so."
"But what is the meaning of this change?"
"I cannot tell you."
"Explain yourself."
"I cannot explain myself."
"Come, tell me, what is the joke?"
"Monsieur le vicomte knows that I never joke."
"Yes, but I know also that Monsieur le Comte de la Fere
arranged that you were to remain with me and that Olivain
should return to Paris. I shall follow the counts
directions."
"Not under present circumstances, monsieur."
"Perhaps you mean to disobey me?"
"Yes, monsieur, I must."
"You persist, then?"
"Yes, I am going; may you be happy, monsieur," and Grimaud
saluted and turned toward the door to go out.
Raoul, angry and at the same time uneasy, ran after him and
seized him by the arm. "Grimaud!" he cried; "remain; I wish
it."
"Then," replied Grimaud, "you wish me to allow monsieur le
comte to be killed." He saluted and made a movement to
depart.
"Grimaud, my friend," said the viscount, "will you leave me
thus, in such anxiety? Speak, speak, in Heavens name!" And
Raoul fell back trembling upon his chair.
"I can tell you but one thing, sir, for the secret you wish
to know is not my own. You met a monk, did you not?"
"Yes."
The young men looked at each other with an expression of
fear.
"You conducted him to the wounded man and you had time to
observe him, and perhaps you would know him again were you
to meet him."
"Yes, yes!" cried both young men.
"Very well; if ever you meet him again, wherever it may be,
whether on the high road or in the street or in a church,
anywhere that he or you may be, put your foot on his neck
and crush him without pity, without mercy, as you would
crush a viper or a scorpion! destroy him utterly and quit
him not until he is dead; the lives of five men are not
safe, in my opinion, as long as he is on the earth."
And without adding another word, Grimaud, profiting by the
astonishment and terror into which he had thrown his
auditors, rushed from the room. Two minutes later the
thunder of a horses hoofs was heard upon the road; it was
Grimaud, on his way to Paris. When once in the saddle
Grimaud reflected on two things; first, that at the pace he
was going his horse would not carry him ten miles, and
secondly, that he had no money. But Grimauds ingenuity was
more prolific than his speech, and therefore at the first
halt he sold his steed and with the money obtained from the
purchase took post horses.
34
On the Eve of Battle.
Raoul was aroused from his sombre reflections by his host,
who rushed into the apartment crying out, "The Spaniards!
the Spaniards!"
That cry was of such importance as to overcome all
preoccupation. The young men made inquiries and ascertained
that the enemy was advancing by way of Houdin and Bethune.
While Monsieur dArminges gave orders for the horses to be
made ready for departure, the two young men ascended to the
upper windows of the house and saw in the direction of
Marsin and of Lens a large body of infantry and cavalry.
This time it was not a wandering troop of partisans; it was
an entire army. There was therefore nothing for them to do
but to follow the prudent advice of Monsieur dArminges and
beat a retreat. They quickly went downstairs. Monsieur
dArminges was already mounted. Olivain had ready the horses
of the young men, and the lackeys of the Count de Guiche
guarded carefully between them the Spanish prisoner, mounted
on a pony which had been bought for his use. As a further
precaution they had bound his hands.
The little company started off at
Twenty Years Later page 118 Twenty Years Later page 120 |
