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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 39 at Prostate Health
it the aid of powerful princes."
"With the enmity of the government."
"Counteracted by parliament and insurrections."
"That may be done if they can separate the king from his
mother."
"That may be done," said Aramis.
"Never!" cried DArtagnan. "You, Aramis, know Anne of
Austria better than I do. Do you think she will ever forget
that her son is her safeguard, her shield, the pledge for
her dignity, for her fortune and her life? Should she
forsake Mazarin she must join her son and go over to the
princes side; but you know better than I do that there are
certain reasons why she can never abandon Mazarin."
"Perhaps you are right," said Aramis, thoughtfully;
"therefore I shall not pledge myself."
"To them or to us, do you mean, Aramis?"
"To no one. I am a priest," resumed Aramis. "What have I to
do with politics? I am not obliged to read any breviary. I
have a jolly little circle of witty abbes and pretty women;
everything goes on smoothly, so certainly, dear friend, I
shall not meddle in politics."
"Well, listen, my dear Aramis," said DArtagnan; "your
philosophy convinces me, on my honor. I dont know what
devil of an insect stung me and made me ambitious. I have a
post by which I live; at the death of Monsieur de Treville,
who is old, I may be a captain, which is a very snug berth
for a once penniless Gascon. Instead of running after
adventures I shall accept an invitation from Porthos; I
shall go and shoot on his estate. You know he has estates --
Porthos?"
"I should think so, indeed. Ten leagues of wood, of marsh
land and valleys; he is lord of the hill and the plain and
is now carrying on a suit for his feudal rights against the
Bishop of Noyon!"
"Good," said DArtagnan to himself. "Thats what I wanted to
know. Porthos is in Picardy."
Then aloud:
"And he has taken his ancient name of Vallon?"
"To which he adds that of Bracieux, an estate which has been
a barony, by my troth."
"So that Porthos will be a baron."
"I dont doubt it. The Baroness Porthos will sound
particularly charming."
And the two friends began to laugh.
"So," DArtagnan resumed, "you will not become a partisan of
Mazarins?"
"Nor you of the Prince de Conde?"
"No, let us belong to no party, but remain friends; let us
be neither Cardinalists nor Frondists."
"Adieu, then." And DArtagnan poured out a glass of wine.
"To old times," he said.
"Yes," returned Aramis. "Unhappily, those times are past."
"Nonsense! They will return," said DArtagnan. "At all
events, if you want me, remember the Rue Tiquetonne, Hotel
de la Chevrette."
"And I shall be at the convent of Jesuits; from six in the
morning to eight at night come by the door. From eight in
the evening until six in the morning come in by the window."
"Adieu, dear friend."
"Oh, I cant let you go so! I will go with you." And he took
his sword and cloak.
"He wants to be sure that I go away," said DArtagnan to
himself.
Aramis whistled for Bazin, but Bazin was asleep in the
ante-chamber, and Aramis was obliged to shake him by the ear
to awake him.
Bazin stretched his arms, rubbed his eyes, and tried to go
to sleep again.
"Come, come, sleepy head; quick, the ladder!"
"But," said Bazin, yawning portentously, "the ladder is
still at the window."
"The other one, the gardeners. Didnt you see that Monsieur
dArtagnan mounted with difficulty? It will be even more
difficult to descend."
DArtagnan was about to assure Aramis that he could descend
easily, when an idea came into his head which silenced him.
Bazin uttered a profound sigh and went out to look for the
ladder. Presently a good, solid, wooden ladder was placed
against the window.
"Now then," said DArtagnan, "this is something like; this
is a means of communication. A woman could go up a ladder
like that."
Aramiss searching look seemed to seek his friends thought
even at the bottom of his heart, but DArtagnan sustained
the inquisition with an air of admirable simplicity.
Besides, at that moment he put his foot on the first step of
the ladder and began his descent. In a moment he was on the
ground. Bazin remained at the window.
"Stay there," said Aramis; "I shall return immediately."
The two friends went toward the shed. At their approach
Planchet came out leading the two horses.
"That is good to see," said Aramis. "There is a servant
active and vigilant, not like that lazy fellow Bazin, who is
no longer good for anything since he became connected with
the church. Follow
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