Prostate Health
Prostate Articles
Antioxidant levels key for prostate cancer risk
Obesity and prostate health
Tomatoes for prostate health
Green tea and prostate health
Screening tests for prostate
Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
|
|
Twenty Years Later 20 at Prostate Health
and your valor."
There was a sudden gleam of joy in the officers eyes, which
vanished immediately, for he knew nothing of Mazarins
purpose.
"Order, my lord," he said; "I am ready to obey your
eminence."
"Monsieur dArtagnan," continued the cardinal, "you
performed sundry superb exploits in the last reign."
"Your eminence is too good to remember such trifles in my
favor. It is true I fought with tolerable success."
"I dont speak of your warlike exploits, monsieur," said
Mazarin; "although they gained you much reputation, they
were surpassed by others."
DArtagnan pretended astonishment.
"Well, you do not reply?" resumed Mazarin.
"I am waiting, my lord, till you tell me of what exploits
you speak."
"I speak of the adventure -- Eh, you know well what I mean."
"Alas, no, my lord!" replied DArtagnan, surprised.
"You are discreet -- so much the better. I speak of that
adventure in behalf of the queen, of the ornaments, of the
journey you made with three of your friends."
"Aha!" thought the Gascon; "is this a snare or not? Let me
be on my guard."
And he assumed a look of stupidity which Mendori or
Bellerose, two of the first actors of the day, might have
envied.
"Bravo!" cried Mazarin; "they told me that you were the man
I wanted. Come, let us see what you will do for me."
"Everything that your eminence may please to command me,"
was the reply.
"You will do for me what you have done for the queen?"
"Certainly," DArtagnan said to himself, "he wishes to make
me speak out. Hes not more cunning than De Richelieu was!
Devil take him!" Then he said aloud:
"The queen, my lord? I dont comprehend."
"You dont comprehend that I want you and your three friends
to be of use to me?"
"Which of my friends, my lord?"
"Your three friends -- the friends of former days."
"Of former days, my lord! In former days I had not only
three friends, I had thirty; at two-and-twenty one calls
every man ones friend."
"Well, sir," returned Mazarin, "prudence is a fine thing,
but to-day you might regret having been too prudent."
"My lord, Pythagoras made his disciples keep silence for
five years that they might learn to hold their tongues."
"But you have been silent for twenty years, sir. Speak, now
the queen herself releases you from your promise."
"The queen!" said DArtagnan, with an astonishment which
this time was not pretended.
"Yes, the queen! And as a proof of what I say she commanded
me to show you this diamond, which she thinks you know."
And so saying, Mazarin extended his hand to the officer, who
sighed as he recognized the ring so gracefully given to him
by the queen on the night of the ball at the Hotel de Ville
and which she had repurchased from Monsieur des Essarts.
"Tis true. I remember well that diamond, which belonged to
the queen."
"You see, then, that I speak to you in the queens name.
Answer me without acting as if you were on the stage; your
interests are concerned in your so doing."
"Faith, my lord, it is very necessary for me to make my
fortune, your eminence has so long forgotten me."
"We need only a week to amend all that. Come, you are
accounted for, you are here, but where are your friends?"
"I do not know, my lord. We have parted company this long
time; all three have left the service."
"Where can you find them, then?"
"Wherever they are, thats my business."
"Well, now, what are your conditions, if I employ you?"
"Money, my lord, as much money as what you wish me to
undertake will require. I remember too well how sometimes we
were stopped for want of money, and but for that diamond,
which I was obliged to sell, we should have remained on the
road."
"The devil he does! Money! and a large sum!" said Mazarin.
"Pray, are you aware that the king has no money in his
treasury?"
"Do then as I did, my lord. Sell the crown diamonds. Trust
me, dont let us try to do things cheaply. Great
undertakings come poorly off with paltry means."
"Well," returned Mazarin, "we will satisfy you."
"Richelieu," thought DArtagnan, "would have given me five
hundred pistoles in advance."
"You will then be at my service?" asked Mazarin.
"Yes, if my friends agree."
"But if they refuse can I count on you?"
"I have never accomplished anything alone," said DArtagnan,
shaking his head.
"Go, then, and find them."
"What shall I say to them by way of inducement to serve your
eminence?"
"You know them better than I. Adapt your promises to their
respective characters."
"What shall I promise?"
"That if
Twenty Years Later page 19 Twenty Years Later page 21 |
