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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 67 at Prostate Health
how proceed?"
"It is now eleven," answered Grimaud. "Let my lord at two
oclock ask leave to make up a game at tennis with La Ramee
and let him send two or three balls over the ramparts."
"And then?"
"Your highness will approach the walls and call out to a man
who works in the moat to send them back again."
"I understand," said the duke.
Grimaud made a sign that he was going away.
"Ah!" cried the duke, "will you not accept any money from
me?"
"I wish my lord would make me one promise."
"What! speak!"
"Tis this: when we escape together, that I shall go
everywhere and be always first; for if my lord should be
overtaken and caught, theres every chance of his being
brought back to prison, whereas if I am caught the least
that can befall me is to be -- hung."
"True, on my honor as a gentleman it shall be as thou dost
suggest."
"Now," resumed Grimaud, "Ive only one thing more to ask --
that your highness will continue to detest me."
"Ill try," said the duke.
At this moment La Ramee, after the interview we have
described with the cardinal, entered the room. The duke had
thrown himself, as he was wont to do in moments of dullness
and vexation, on his bed. La Ramee cast an inquiring look
around him and observing the same signs of antipathy between
the prisoner and his guardian he smiled in token of his
inward satisfaction. Then turning to Grimaud:
"Very good, my friend, very good. You have been spoken of in
a promising quarter and you will soon, I hope, have news
that will be agreeable to you."
Grimaud saluted in his politest manner and withdrew, as was
his custom on the entrance of his superior.
"Well, my lord," said La Ramee, with his rude laugh, "you
still set yourself against this poor fellow?"
"So! tis you, La Ramee; in faith, tis time you came back
again. I threw myself on the bed and turned my nose to the
wall, that I mightnt break my promise and strangle
Grimaud."
"I doubt, however," said La Ramee, in sprightly allusion to
the silence of his subordinate, "if he has said anything
disagreeable to your highness."
"Pardieu! you are right -- a mute from the East! I swear it
was time for you to come back, La Ramee, and I was eager to
see you again."
"Monseigneur is too good," said La Ramee, flattered by the
compliment.
"Yes," continued the duke, "really, I feel bored today
beyond the power of description."
"Then let us have a match in the tennis court," exclaimed La
Ramee.
"If you wish it."
"I am at your service, my lord."
"I protest, my dear La Ramee," said the duke, "that you are
a charming fellow and that I would stay forever at Vincennes
to have the pleasure of your society."
"My lord," replied La Ramee, "I think if it depended on the
cardinal your wishes would be fulfilled."
"What do you mean? Have you seen him lately?"
"He sent for me to-day."
"Really! to speak to you about me?"
"Of what else do you imagine he would speak to me? Really,
my lord, you are his nightmare."
The duke smiled with bitterness.
"Ah, La Ramee! if you would but accept my offers! I would
make your fortune."
"How? you would no sooner have left prison than your goods
would be confiscated."
"I shall no sooner be out of prison than I shall be master
of Paris."
"Pshaw! pshaw! I cannot hear such things said as that; this
is a fine conversation with an officer of the king! I see,
my lord, I shall be obliged to fetch a second Grimaud!"
"Very well, let us say no more about it. So you and the
cardinal have been talking about me? La Ramee, some day when
he sends for you, you must let me put on your clothes; I
will go in your stead; I will strangle him, and upon my
honor, if that is made a condition I will return to prison."
"Monseigneur, I see well that I must call Grimaud."
"Well, I am wrong. And what did the cuistre [pettifogger]
say about me?"
"I admit the word, monseigneur, because it rhymes with
ministre [minister]. What did he say to me? He told me to
watch you."
"And why so? why watch me?" asked the duke uneasily.
"Because an astrologer had predicted that you would escape."
"Ah! an astrologer predicted that?" said the duke, starting
in spite of himself.
"Oh, mon Dieu! yes! those imbeciles of magicians can only
imagine things to torment honest people."
"And what did you reply to his most illustrious
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