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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 71 at Prostate Health
Their three graves were there,
rising above the ground, and a fourth was also there,
yawning for its ghastly tenant.
The duke was obliged to make as many efforts to awake as he
had done to go to sleep; and La Ramee found him so pale and
fatigued that he inquired whether he was ill.
"In fact," said one of the guards who had remained in the
chamber and had been kept awake by a toothache, brought on
by the dampness of the atmosphere, "my lord has had a very
restless night and two or three times, while dreaming, he
called for help."
"What is the matter with your highness?" asked La Ramee.
"Tis your fault, you simpleton," answered the duke. "With
your idle nonsense yesterday about escaping, you worried me
so that I dreamed that I was trying to escape and broke my
neck in doing so."
La Ramee laughed.
"Come," he said, "tis a warning from Heaven. Never commit
such an imprudence as to try to escape, except in your
dreams."
"And you are right, my dear La Ramee," said the duke, wiping
away the sweat that stood on his brow, wide awake though he
was; "after this I will think of nothing but eating and
drinking."
"Hush!" said La Ramee; and one by one he sent away the
guards, on various pretexts.
"Well?" asked the duke when they were alone.
"Well!" replied La Ramee, "your supper is ordered."
"Ah! and what is it to be? Monsieur, my majordomo, will
there be a pie?"
"I should think so, indeed -- almost as high as a tower."
"You told him it was for me?"
"Yes, and he said he would do his best to please your
highness."
"Good!" exclaimed the duke, rubbing his hands.
"Devil take it, my lord! what a gourmand you are growing; I
havent seen you with so cheerful a face these five years."
The duke saw that he had not controlled himself as he ought,
but at that moment, as if he had listened at the door and
comprehended the urgent need of diverting La Ramees ideas,
Grimaud entered and made a sign to La Ramee that he had
something to say to him.
La Ramee drew near to Grimaud, who spoke to him in a low
voice.
The duke meanwhile recovered his self-control.
"I have already forbidden that man," he said, "to come in
here without my permission."
"You must pardon him, my lord," said La Ramee, "for I
directed him to come."
"And why did you so direct when you know that he displeases
me?"
"My lord will remember that it was agreed between us that he
should wait upon us at that famous supper. My lord has
forgotten the supper."
"No, but I have forgotten Monsieur Grimaud."
"My lord understands that there can be no supper unless he
is allowed to be present."
"Go on, then; have it your own way."
"Come here, my lad," said La Ramee, "and hear what I have to
say."
Grimaud approached, with a very sullen expression on his
face.
La Ramee continued: "My lord has done me the honor to invite
me to a supper to-morrow en tete-a-tete."
Grimaud made a sign which meant that he didnt see what that
had to do with him.
"Yes, yes," said La Ramee, "the matter concerns you, for you
will have the honor to serve us; and besides, however good
an appetite we may have and however great our thirst, there
will be something left on the plates and in the bottles, and
that something will be yours."
Grimaud bowed in thanks.
"And now," said La Ramee, "I must ask your highnesss
pardon, but it seems that Monsieur de Chavigny is to be away
for a few days and he has sent me word that he has certain
directions to give me before his departure."
The duke tried to exchange a glance with Grimaud, but there
was no glance in Grimauds eyes.
"Go, then," said the duke, "and return as soon as possible."
"Does your highness wish to take revenge for the game of
tennis yesterday?"
Grimaud intimated by a scarcely perceptible nod that he
should consent.
"Yes," said the duke, "but take care, my dear La Ramee, for
I propose to beat you badly."
La Ramee went out. Grimaud looked after him, and when the
door was closed he drew out of his pocket a pencil and a
sheet of paper.
"Write, my lord," he said.
"And what?"
Grimaud dictated.
"All is ready for to-morrow evening. Keep watch from seven
to nine. Have two riding horses ready. We shall descend by
the first window in the gallery."
"What next?"
"Sign your name, my lord."
The duke signed.
"Now, my lord, give me, if you have
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