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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 43 at Prostate Health
Planchet was a great lord in
disguise, so highly did they estimate the position of
Mousqueton.
"And now, sir," resumed Mousqueton, when he had rid himself
of Planchet, who had in vain tried to clasp his hands behind
his friends fat back, "now, sir, allow me to leave you, for
I could not permit my master to hear of your arrival from
any but myself; he would never forgive me for not having
preceded you."
"This dear friend," said DArtagnan, carefully avoiding to
utter either the former name borne by Porthos or his new
one, "then he has not forgotten me?"
"Forgotten -- he!" cried Mousqueton; "theres not a day, sir,
that we dont expect to hear that you were made marshal
either instead of Monsieur de Gassion, or of Monsieur de
Bassompierre."
On DArtagnans lips there played one of those rare and
melancholy smiles which seemed to emanate from the depth of
his soul -- the last trace of youth and happiness that had
survived lifes disillusions.
"And you -- fellows," resumed Mousqueton, "stay near Monsieur
le Comte dArtagnan and pay him every attention in your
power whilst I go to prepare my lord for his visit."
And mounting his horse Mousqueton rode off down the avenue on
the grass at a hand gallop.
"Ah, there! theres something promising," said DArtagnan.
"No mysteries, no cloak to hide ones self in, no cunning
policy here; people laugh outright, they weep for joy here.
I see nothing but faces a yard broad; in short, it seems to
me that nature herself wears a holiday garb, and that the
trees, instead of leaves and flowers, are covered with red
and green ribbons as on gala days."
"As for me," said Planchet, "I seem to smell, from this
place, even, a most delectable perfume of fine roast meat,
and to see the scullions in a row by the hedge, hailing our
approach. Ah! sir, what a cook must Monsieur Pierrefonds
have, when he was so fond of eating and drinking, even
whilst he was only called Monsieur Porthos!"
"Say no more!" cried DArtagnan. "If the reality corresponds
with appearances I am lost; for a man so well off will never
change his happy condition, and I shall fail with him, as I
have already done with Aramis."
11
How DArtagnan, in discovering the Retreat of Porthos,
perceives that Wealth does not necessarily produce
Happiness.
DArtagnan passed through the iron gate and arrived in front
of the chateau. He alighted as he saw a species of giant on
the steps. Let us do justice to DArtagnan. Independently of
every selfish wish, his heart palpitated with joy when he
saw that tall form and martial demeanor, which recalled to
him a good and brave man.
He ran to Porthos and threw himself into his arms; the whole
body of servants, arranged in a semi-circle at a respectful
distance, looked on with humble curiosity. Mousqueton, at the
head of them, wiped his eyes. Porthos linked his arm in that
of his friend.
"Ah! how delightful to see you again, dear friend!" he
cried, in a voice which was now changed from a baritone into
a bass, "youve not then forgotten me?"
"Forget you! oh! dear Du Vallon, does one forget the
happiest days of flowery youth, ones dearest friends, the
dangers we have dared together? On the contrary, there is
not an hour we have passed together that is not present to
my memory."
"Yes, yes," said Porthos, trying to give to his mustache a
curl which it had lost whilst he had been alone. "Yes, we
did some fine things in our time and we gave that poor
cardinal a few threads to unravel."
And he heaved a sigh.
"Under any circumstances," he resumed, "you are welcome, my
dear friend; you will help me to recover my spirits;
to-morrow we will hunt the hare on my plain, which is a
superb tract of land, or pursue the deer in my woods, which
are magnificent. I have four harriers which are considered
the swiftest in the county, and a pack of hounds which are
unequalled for twenty leagues around."
And Porthos heaved another sigh.
"But, first," interposed DArtagnan, "you must present me to
Madame du Vallon."
A third sigh from Porthos.
"I lost Madame du Vallon two years ago," he said, "and you
find me still in affliction on that account. That was the
reason why I left my Chateau du Vallon near Corbeil, and
came to my estate, Bracieux. Poor Madame du Vallon! her
temper was uncertain, but she came at last to accustom
herself to my little ways and understand my little wishes."
"So you are free now, and rich?"
"Alas!" groaned
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