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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 82 at Prostate Health
its perfumed leather
sheath; he examined it to see if its hilt was well guarded
and if the blade was firmly attached to the hilt. Then he
placed at the bottom of the valise belonging to the young
man a small bag of louis, called Olivain, the lackey who had
followed him from Blois, and made him pack the valise under
his own eyes, watchful to see that everything should be put
in which might be useful to a young man entering on his
first campaign.
At length, after occupying about an hour in these
preparations, he opened the door of the room in which the
vicomte slept, and entered.
The sun, already high, penetrated into the room through the
window, the curtains of which Raoul had neglected to close
on the previous evening. He was still sleeping, his head
gracefully reposing on his arm.
Athos approached and hung over the youth in an attitude full
of tender melancholy; he looked long on this young man,
whose smiling mouth and half closed eyes bespoke soft dreams
and lightest slumber, as if his guardian angel watched over
him with solicitude and affection. By degrees Athos gave
himself up to the charms of his reverie in the proximity of
youth, so pure, so fresh. His own youth seemed to reappear,
bringing with it all those savoury remembrances, which are
like perfumes more than thoughts. Between the past and the
present was an ineffable abyss. But imagination has the
wings of an angel of light and travels safely through or
over the seas where we have been almost shipwrecked, the
darkness in which our illusions are lost, the precipice
whence our happiness has been hurled and swallowed up. He
remembered that all the first part of his life had been
embittered by a woman and he thought with alarm of the
influence love might assume over so fine, and at the same
time so vigorous an organization as that of Raoul.
In recalling all he had been through, he foresaw all that
Raoul might suffer; and the expression of the deep and
tender compassion which throbbed in his heart was pictured
in the moist eye with which he gazed on the young man.
At this moment Raoul awoke, without a cloud on his face
without weariness or lassitude; his eyes were fixed on those
of Athos and perhaps he comprehended all that passed in the
heart of the man who was awaiting his awakening as a lover
awaits the awakening of his mistress, for his glance, in
return, had all the tenderness of love.
"You are there, sir?" he said, respectfully.
"Yes, Raoul," replied the count.
"And you did not awaken me?"
"I wished to leave you still to enjoy some moments of sleep,
my child; you must be fatigued from yesterday."
"Oh, sir, how good you are!"
Athos smiled.
"How do you feel this morning?" he inquired.
"Perfectly well; quite rested, sir."
"You are still growing," Athos continued, with that charming
and paternal interest felt by a grown man for a youth.
"Oh, sir, I beg your pardon!" exclaimed Raoul, ashamed of so
much attention; "in an instant I shall be dressed."
Athos then called Olivain.
"Everything," said Olivain to Athos, "has been done
according to your directions; the horses are waiting."
"And I was asleep," cried Raoul, "whilst you, sir, you had
the kindness to attend to all these details. Truly, sir, you
overwhelm me with benefits!"
"Therefore you love me a little, I hope," replied Athos, in
a tone of emotion.
"Oh, sir! God knows how much I love, revere you."
"See that you forget nothing," said Athos, appearing to look
about him, that he might hide his emotion.
"No, indeed, sir," answered Raoul.
The servant then approached Athos and said, hesitatingly:
"Monsieur le vicomte has no sword."
"Tis well," said Athos, "I will take care of that."
They went downstairs, Raoul looking every now and then at
the count to see if the moment of farewell was at hand, but
Athos was silent. When they reached the steps Raoul saw
three horses.
"Oh, sir! then you are going with me?"
"I will accompany you a portion of the way," said Athos.
Joy shone in Raouls eyes and he leaped lightly to his
saddle.
Athos mounted more slowly, after speaking in a low voice to
the lackey, who, instead of following them immediately,
returned to their rooms. Raoul, delighted at the counts
companionship, perceived, or affected to perceive nothing of
this byplay.
They set out, passing over the Pont Neuf; they pursued their
way along the quay then called LAbreuvoir Pepin, and went
along by the walls of the Grand Chatelet. They proceeded to
the Rue Saint Denis.
After
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