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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 45 at Prostate Health
I have to say
relates to most important matters."
"Devil take them; let us walk in the park," answered
Porthos, "for the sake of digestion."
"Egad," said DArtagnan, "the park is like everything else
and there are as many fish in your pond as rabbits in your
warren; you are a happy man, my friend since you have not
only retained your love of the chase, but acquired that of
fishing."
"My friend," replied Porthos, "I leave fishing to Mousqueton,
-- it is a vulgar pleasure, -- but I shoot sometimes; that
is to say, when I am dull, and I sit on one of those marble
seats, have my gun brought to me, my favorite dog, and I
shoot rabbits."
"Really, how very amusing!"
"Yes," replied Porthos, with a sigh, "it is amusing."
DArtagnan now no longer counted the sighs. They were
innumerable.
"However, what had you to say to me?" he resumed; "let us
return to that subject."
"With pleasure," replied DArtagnan; "I must, however, first
frankly tell you that you must change your mode of life."
"How?"
"Go into harness again, gird on your sword, run after
adventures, and leave as in old times a little of your fat
on the roadside."
"Ah! hang it!" said Porthos.
"I see you are spoiled, dear friend; you are corpulent, your
arm has no longer that movement of which the late cardinals
guards have so many proofs."
"Ah! my fist is strong enough I swear," cried Porthos,
extending a hand like a shoulder of mutton.
"So much the better."
"Are we then to go to war?"
"By my troth, yes."
"Against whom?"
"Are you a politician, friend?"
"Not in the least."
"Are you for Mazarin or for the princes?"
"I am for no one."
"That is to say, you are for us. Well, I tell you that I
come to you from the cardinal."
This speech was heard by Porthos in the same sense as if it
had still been in the year 1640 and related to the true
cardinal.
"Ho! ho! What are the wishes of his eminence?"
"He wishes to have you in his service."
"And who spoke to him of me?"
"Rochefort -- you remember him?"
"Yes, pardieu! It was he who gave us so much trouble and
kept us on the road so much; you gave him three sword-wounds
in three separate engagements."
"But you know he is now our friend?"
"No, I didnt know that. So he cherishes no resentment?"
"You are mistaken, Porthos," said DArtagnan. "It is I who
cherish no resentment."
Porthos didnt understand any too clearly; but then we know
that understanding was not his strong point. "You say,
then," he continued, "that the Count de Rochefort spoke of
me to the cardinal?"
"Yes, and the queen, too."
"The queen, do you say?"
"To inspire us with confidence she has even placed in
Mazarins hands that famous diamond -- you remember all
about it -- that I once sold to Monsieur des Essarts and of
which, I dont know how, she has regained possession."
"But it seems to me," said Porthos, "that she would have
done much better if she had given it back to you."
"So I think," replied DArtagnan; "but kings and queens are
strange beings and have odd fancies; nevertheless, since
they are the ones who have riches and honors, we are devoted
to them."
"Yes, we are devoted to them," repeated Porthos; "and you --
to whom are you devoted now?"
"To the king, the queen, and to the cardinal; moreover, I
have answered for your devotion also."
"And you say that you have made certain conditions on my
behalf?"
"Magnificent, my dear fellow, magnificent! In the first
place you have plenty of money, havent you? forty thousand
francs income, I think you said."
Porthos began to be suspicious. "Eh! my friend," said he,
"one never has too much money. Madame du Vallon left things
in much disorder; I am not much of a hand at figures, so
that I live almost from hand to mouth."
"He is afraid I have come to borrow money," thought
DArtagnan. "Ah, my friend," said he, "it is all the better
if you are in difficulties."
"How is it all the better?"
"Yes, for his eminence will give you all that you want --
land, money, and titles."
"Ah! ah! ah!" said Porthos, opening his eyes at that last
word.
"Under the other cardinal," continued DArtagnan, "we didnt
know enough to make our profits; this, however, doesnt
concern you, with your forty thousand francs income, the
happiest man in the world, it seems to me."
Porthos sighed.
"At the same time," continued DArtagnan, "notwithstanding
your forty thousand francs a year, and perhaps even for the
very reason that you have forty thousand
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