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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 53 at Prostate Health
in
a low tone. "I often think of that young man, DArtagnan."
"Strange! for I had forgotten him," said the lieutenant.
Athos smiled; the smile was melancholy.
"And Lord de Winter -- do you know anything about him?"
"I know that he is in high favor with Charles I."
"The fortunes of that monarch now are at low water. He shed
the blood of Strafford; that confirms what I said just now
-- blood will have blood. And the queen?"
"What queen?"
"Madame Henrietta of England, daughter of Henry IV."
"She is at the Louvre, as you know."
"Yes, and I hear in bitter poverty. Her daughter, during the
severest cold, was obliged for want of fire to remain in
bed. Do you grasp that?" said Athos, shrugging his
shoulders; "the daughter of Henry IV. shivering for want of
a fagot! Why did she not ask from any one of us a home
instead of from Mazarin? She should have wanted nothing."
"Have you ever seen the queen of England?" inquired
DArtagnan.
"No; but my mother, as a child, saw her. Did I ever tell you
that my mother was lady of honor to Marie de Medici?"
"Never. You know, Athos, you never spoke much of such
matters."
"Ah, mon Dieu, yes, you are right," Athos replied; "but then
there must be some occasion for speaking."
"Porthos wouldnt have waited for it so patiently," said
DArtagnan, with a smile.
"Every one according to his nature, my dear DArtagnan.
Porthos, in spite of a touch of vanity, has many excellent
qualities. Have you seen him?"
"I left him five days ago," said DArtagnan, and he
portrayed with Gascon wit and sprightliness the magnificence
of Porthos in his Chateau of Pierrefonds; nor did he neglect
to launch a few arrows of wit at the excellent Monsieur
Mouston.
"I sometimes wonder," replied Athos, smiling at that gayety
which recalled the good old days, "that we could form an
association of men who would be, after twenty years of
separation, still so closely bound together. Friendship
throws out deep roots in honest hearts, DArtagnan. Believe
me, it is only the evil-minded who deny friendship; they
cannot understand it. And Aramis?"
"I have seen him also," said DArtagnan; "but he seemed to
me cold."
"Ah, you have seen Aramis?" said Athos, turning on
DArtagnan a searching look. "Why, it is a veritable
pilgrimage, my dear friend, that you are making to the
Temple of Friendship, as the poets would say."
"Why, yes," replied DArtagnan, with embarrassment.
"Aramis, you know," continued Athos, "is naturally cold, and
then he is always involved in intrigues with women."
"I believe he is at this moment in a very complicated one,"
said DArtagnan.
Athos made no reply.
"He is not curious," thought DArtagnan.
Athos not only failed to reply, he even changed the subject
of conversation.
"You see," said he, calling DArtagnans attention to the
fact that they had come back to the chateau after an hours
walk, "we have made a tour of my domains."
"All is charming and everything savors of nobility," replied
DArtagnan.
At this instant they heard the sound of horses feet.
"Tis Raoul who has come back," said Athos; "and we can now
hear how the poor child is."
In fact, the young man appeared at the gate, covered with
dust, entered the courtyard, leaped from his horse, which he
consigned to the charge of a groom, and then went to greet
the count and DArtagnan.
"Monsieur," said Athos, placing his hand on DArtagnans
shoulder, "monsieur is the Chevalier DArtagnan of whom you
have often heard me speak, Raoul."
"Monsieur," said the young man, saluting again and more
profoundly, "monsieur le comte has pronounced your name
before me as an example whenever he wished to speak of an
intrepid and generous gentleman."
That little compliment could not fail to move DArtagnan. He
extended a hand to Raoul and said:
"My young friend, all the praises that are given me should
be passed on to the count here; for he has educated me in
everything and it is not his fault that his pupil profited
so little from his instructions. But he will make it up in
you I am sure. I like your manner, Raoul, and your
politeness has touched me."
Athos was more delighted than can be told. He looked at
DArtagnan with an expression of gratitude and then bestowed
on Raoul one of those strange smiles, of which children are
so proud when they receive them.
"Now," said DArtagnan to himself, noticing that silent play
of countenance, "I am sure of it."
"I hope the accident has been of no consequence?"
"They dont yet know, sir, on account of the swelling; but
the doctor is afraid
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