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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 26 at Prostate Health
has given me an appointment
for this evening in the Place Royale. As I am of the church,
and the affair might injure me if I should share it with any
other than a sure friend like you, I write to beg that you
will serve me as second.
"You will enter by the Rue Neuve Sainte Catherine; under the
second lamp on the right you will find your adversary. I
shall be with mine under the third.
"Wholly yours,
"Aramis."
DArtagnan tried to recall his remembrances. He had gone to
the rendezvous, had encountered there the adversary
indicated, whose name he had never known, had given him a
pretty sword-stroke on the arm, then had gone toward Aramis,
who at the same time came to meet him, having already
finished his affair. "It is over," Aramis had said. "I think
I have killed the insolent fellow. But, dear friend, if you
ever need me you know that I am entirely devoted to you."
Thereupon Aramis had given him a clasp of the hand and had
disappeared under the arcades.
So, then, he no more knew where Aramis was than where Athos
and Porthos were, and the affair was becoming a matter of
great perplexity, when he fancied he heard a pane of glass
break in his room window. He thought directly of his bag and
rushed from the inner room where he was sleeping. He was not
mistaken; as he entered his bedroom a man was getting in by
the window.
"Ah! you scoundrel!" cried DArtagnan, taking the man for a
thief and seizing his sword.
"Sir!" cried the man, "in the name of Heaven put your sword
back into the sheath and dont kill me unheard. Im no
thief, but an honest citizen, well off in the world, with a
house of my own. My name is -- ah! but surely you are
Monsieur dArtagnan?"
"And thou -- Planchet!" cried the lieutenant.
"At your service, sir," said Planchet, overwhelmed with joy;
"if I were still capable of serving you."
"Perhaps so," replied DArtagnan. "But why the devil dost
thou run about the tops of houses at seven oclock of the
morning in the month of January?"
"Sir," said Planchet, "you must know; but, perhaps you ought
not to know ---- "
"Tell us what," returned DArtagnan, "but first put a napkin
against the window and draw the curtains."
"Sir," said the prudent Planchet, "in the first place, are
you on good terms with Monsieur de Rochefort?"
"Perfectly; one of my dearest friends."
"Ah! so much the better!"
"But what has De Rochefort to do with this manner you have
of invading my room?"
"Ah, sir! I must first tell you that Monsieur de Rochefort
is ---- "
Planchet hesitated.
"Egad, I know where he is," said DArtagnan. "Hes in the
Bastile."
"That is to say, he was there," replied Planchet. "But in
returning thither last night, when fortunately you did not
accompany him, as his carriage was crossing the Rue de la
Ferronnerie his guards insulted the people, who began to
abuse them. The prisoner thought this a good opportunity for
escape; he called out his name and cried for help. I was
there. I heard the name of Rochefort. I remembered him well.
I said in a loud voice that he was a prisoner, a friend of
the Duc de Beaufort, who called for help. The people were
infuriated; they stopped the horses and cut the escort to
pieces, whilst I opened the doors of the carriage and
Monsieur de Rochefort jumped out and soon was lost amongst
the crowd. At this moment a patrol passed by. I was obliged
to sound a retreat toward the Rue Tiquetonne; I was pursued
and took refuge in the house next to this, where I have been
concealed between two mattresses. This morning I ventured to
run along the gutters and ---- "
"Well," interrupted DArtagnan, "I am delighted that De
Rochefort is free, but as for thee, if thou shouldst fall
into the hands of the kings servants they will hang thee
without mercy. Nevertheless, I promise thee thou shalt be
hidden here, though I risk by concealing thee neither more
nor less than my lieutenancy, if it was found out that I
gave one rebel an asylum."
"Ah! sir, you know well I would risk my life for you."
"Thou mayst add that thou hast risked it, Planchet. I have
not forgotten all I owe thee. Sit down there and eat in
security. I see thee cast expressive glances at the remains
of my supper."
"Yes, sir; for all Ive had since yesterday was a slice of
bread and butter, with preserves on
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