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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 38 at Prostate Health
his enemies and would make himself feared, which in my
opinion is much more to be desired than to be loved ---- "
DArtagnan made a sign with his head which indicated that he
entirely approved that doubtful maxim.
"This, then," continued Aramis, "was my first opinion; but
as I am very ignorant in matters of this kind and as the
humility which I profess obliges me not to rest on my own
judgment, but to ask the opinion of others, I have inquired
-- Eh! -- my friend ---- "
Aramis paused.
"Well? what?" asked his friend.
"Well, I must mortify myself. I must confess that I was
mistaken. Monsieur de Mazarin is not a man of genius, as I
thought, he is a man of no origin -- once a servant of
Cardinal Bentivoglio, and he got on by intrigue. He is an
upstart, a man of no name, who will only be the tool of a
party in France. He will amass wealth, he will injure the
kings revenue and pay to himself the pensions which
Richelieu paid to others. He is neither a gentleman in
manner nor in feeling, but a sort of buffoon, a punchinello,
a pantaloon. Do you know him? I do not."
"Hem!" said DArtagnan, "there is some truth in what you
say."
"Ah! it fills me with pride to find that, thanks to a common
sort of penetration with which I am endowed, I am approved
by a man like you, fresh from the court."
"But you speak of him, not of his party, his resources."
"It is true -- the queen is for him."
"Something in his favor."
"But he will never have the king."
"A mere child."
"A child who will be of age in four years. Then he has
neither the parliament nor the people with him -- they
represent the wealth of the country; nor the nobles nor the
princes, who are the military power of France."
DArtagnan scratched his ear. He was forced to confess to
himself that this reasoning was not only comprehensive, but
just.
"You see, my poor friend, that I am sometimes bereft of my
ordinary thoughtfulness; perhaps I am wrong in speaking thus
to you, who have evidently a leaning to Mazarin."
"I!" cried DArtagnan, "not in the least."
"You spoke of a mission."
"Did I? I was wrong then, no, I said what you say -- there
is a crisis at hand. Well! lets fly the feather before the
wind; let us join with that side to which the wind will
carry it and resume our adventurous life. We were once four
valiant knights -- four hearts fondly united; let us unite
again, not our hearts, which have never been severed, but
our courage and our fortunes. Heres a good opportunity for
getting something better than a diamond."
"You are right, DArtagnan; I held a similar project, but as
I had not nor ever shall have your fruitful, vigorous
imagination, the idea was suggested to me. Every one
nowadays wants auxiliaries; propositions have been made to
me and I confess to you frankly that the coadjutor has made
me speak out."
"Monsieur de Gondy! the cardinals enemy?"
"No; the kings friend," said Aramis; "the kings friend,
you understand. Well, it is a question of serving the king,
the gentlemans duty."
"But the king is with Mazarin."
"He is, but not willingly; in appearance, not heart; and
that is exactly the snare the kings enemies are preparing
for the poor child."
"Ah! but this is, indeed, civil war which you propose to me,
dear Aramis."
"War for the king."
"Yet the king will be at the head of the army on Mazarins
side."
"But his heart will be in the army commanded by the Duc de
Beaufort."
"Monsieur de Beaufort? He is at Vincennes."
"Did I say Monsieur de Beaufort? Monsieur de Beaufort or
another. Monsieur de Beaufort or Monsieur le Prince."
"But Monsieur le Prince is to set out for the army; he is
entirely devoted to the cardinal."
"Oh oh!" said Aramis, "there are questions between them at
this very moment. And besides, if it is not the prince, then
Monsieur de Gondy ---- "
"But Monsieur de Gondy is to be made a cardinal; they are
soliciting the hat for him."
"And are there no cardinals that can fight? Come now, recall
the four cardinals that at the head of armies have equalled
Monsieur de Guebriant and Monsieur de Gassion."
"But a humpbacked general!
"Under the cuirass the hump will not be seen. Besides,
remember that Alexander was lame and Hannibal had but one
eye."
"Do you see any great advantage in adhering to this party?"
asked DArtagnan.
"I foresee in
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