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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 179 at Prostate Health
mistake."
"What is the meaning of that?"
"May I venture to repeat my prayer to your eminence?"
"Very well; I will go. Wait here for me." And looking
attentively around him, to see if he had left any of his
keys in his closets, Mazarin went out. Ten minutes elapsed,
during which DArtagnan made every effort to read through
the first envelope what was written on the second. But he
did not succeed.
Mazarin returned, pale, and evidently thoughtful. He seated
himself at his desk and DArtagnan proceeded to examine his
face, as he had just examined the letter he held, but the
envelope which covered his countenance appeared as
impenetrable as that which covered the letter.
"Ah!" thought the Gascon; "he looks displeased. Can it be
with me? He meditates. Is it about sending me to the
Bastile? All very fine, my lord, but at the very first hint
you give of such a thing I will strangle you and become
Frondist. I should be carried home in triumph like Monsieur
Broussel and Athos would proclaim me the French Brutus. It
would be exceedingly droll."
The Gascon, with his vivid imagination, had already seen the
advantage to be derived from his situation. Mazarin gave,
however, no order of the kind, but on the contrary began to
be insinuating.
"You were right," he said, "my dear Monsieur dArtagnan, and
you cannot set out yet. I beg you to return me that
dispatch."
DArtagnan obeyed, and Mazarin ascertained that the seal was
intact.
"I shall want you this evening," he said "Return in two
hours."
"My lord," said DArtagnan, "I have an appointment in two
hours which I cannot miss."
"Do not be uneasy," said Mazarin; "it is the same."
"Good!" thought DArtagnan; "I fancied it was so."
"Return, then, at five oclock and bring that worthy
Monsieur du Vallon with you. Only, leave him in the
ante-room, as I wish to speak to you alone."
DArtagnan bowed, and thought: "Both at the same hour; both
commands alike; both at the Palais Royal. Monsieur de Gondy
would pay a hundred thousand francs for such a secret!"
"You are thoughtful," said Mazarin, uneasily.
"Yes, I was thinking whether we ought to come armed or not."
"Armed to the teeth!" replied Mazarin.
"Very well, my lord; it shall be so."
DArtagnan saluted, went out and hastened to repeat to his
friend Mazarins flattering promises, which gave Porthos an
indescribable happiness.
51
The Flight.
When DArtagnan returned to the Palais Royal at five
oclock, it presented, in spite of the excitement which
reigned in the town, a spectacle of the greatest rejoicing.
Nor was that surprising. The queen had restored Broussel and
Blancmesnil to the people and had therefore nothing to fear,
since the people had nothing more just then to ask for. The
return, also, of the conqueror of Lens was the pretext for
giving a grand banquet. The princes and princesses were
invited and their carriages had crowded the court since
noon; then after dinner the queen was to have a play in her
apartment. Anne of Austria had never appeared more brilliant
than on that day -- radiant with grace and wit. Mazarin
disappeared as they rose from table. He found DArtagnan
waiting for him already at his post in the ante-room.
The cardinal advanced to him with a smile and taking him by
the hand led him into his study.
"My dear M. dArtagnan," said the minister, sitting down, "I
am about to give you the greatest proof of confidence that a
minister can give an officer."
"I hope," said DArtagnan, bowing, "that you give it, my
lord, without hesitation and with the conviction that I am
worthy of it."
"More worthy than any one in Paris my dear friend; therefore
I apply to you. We are about to leave this evening,"
continued Mazarin. "My dear M. dArtagnan, the welfare of
the state is deposited in your hands." He paused.
"Explain yourself, my lord, I am listening."
"The queen has resolved to make a little excursion with the
king to Saint Germain."
"Aha!" said DArtagnan, "that is to say, the queen wishes to
leave Paris."
"A womans caprice -- you understand."
"Yes, I understand perfectly," said DArtagnan.
"It was for this she summoned you this morning and that she
told you to return at five oclock."
"Was it worth while to wish me to swear this morning that I
would mention the appointment to no one?" muttered
DArtagnan. "Oh, women! women! whether queens or not, they
are always the same."
"Do you disapprove of this journey, my dear M. dArtagnan?"
asked Mazarin, anxiously.
"I, my lord?" said DArtagnan; "why should I?"
"Because you shrug your shoulders."
"It is a way I have of speaking
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