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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 84 at Prostate Health
the last king, who was not to be placed by the
side of his forefathers until his successor should take his
place there; and who appeared to abide on that spot, that he
might thus address human pride, so sure to be exalted by the
glories of a throne: "Dust of the earth! Here I await thee!"
There was profound silence.
Then Athos raised his hand and pointing to the coffin:
"This temporary sepulture is," he said, "that of a man who
was of feeble mind, yet one whose reign was full of great
events; because over this king watched the spirit of another
man, even as this lamp keeps vigil over this coffin and
illumines it. He whose intellect was thus supreme, Raoul,
was the actual sovereign; the other, nothing but a phantom
to whom he lent a soul; and yet, so powerful is majesty
amongst us, this man has not even the honor of a tomb at the
feet of him in whose service his life was worn away.
Remember, Raoul, this! If Richelieu made the king, by
comparison, seem small, he made royalty great. The Palace of
the Louvre contains two things -- the king, who must die,
and royalty, which never dies. The minister, so feared, so
hated by his master, has descended into the tomb, drawing
after him the king, whom he would not leave alone on earth,
lest his work should be destroyed. So blind were his
contemporaries that they regarded the cardinals death as a
deliverance; and I, even I, opposed the designs of the great
man who held the destinies of France within the hollow of
his hand. Raoul, learn how to distinguish the king from
royalty; the king is but a man; royalty is the gift of God.
Whenever you hesitate as to whom you ought to serve, abandon
the exterior, the material appearance for the invisible
principle, for the invisible principle is everything. Raoul,
I seem to read your future destiny as through a cloud. It
will be happier, I think, than ours has been. Different in
your fate from us, you will have a king without a minister,
whom you may serve, love, respect. Should the king prove a
tyrant, for power begets tyranny, serve, love, respect
royalty, that Divine right, that celestial spark which makes
this dust still powerful and holy, so that we -- gentlemen,
nevertheless, of rank and condition -- are as nothing in
comparison with the cold corpse there extended."
"I shall adore God, sir," said Raoul, "respect royalty and
ever serve the king. And if death be my lot, I hope to die
for the king, for royalty and for God. Have I, sir,
comprehended your instructions?"
Athos smiled.
"Yours is a noble nature." he said; "here is your sword."
Raoul bent his knee to the ground.
"It was worn by my father, a loyal gentleman. I have worn it
in my turn and it has sometimes not been disgraced when the
hilt was in my hand and the sheath at my side. Should your
hand still be too weak to use this sword, Raoul, so much the
better. You will have the more time to learn to draw it only
when it ought to be used."
"Sir," replied Raoul, putting the sword to his lips as he
received it from the count, "I owe you everything and yet
this sword is the most precious gift you have yet made me. I
will wear it, I swear to you, as a grateful man should do."
"Tis well; arise, vicomte, embrace me."
Raoul arose and threw himself with emotion into the counts
arms.
"Adieu," faltered the count, who felt his heart die away
within him; "adieu, and think of me."
"Oh! for ever and ever!" cried the youth; "oh! I swear to
you, sir, should any harm befall me, your name will be the
last name that I shall utter, the remembrance of you my last
thought."
Athos hastened upstairs to conceal his emotion, and regained
with hurried steps the porch where Olivain was waiting with
the horses.
"Olivain," said Athos, showing the servant Raouls
shoulder-belt, "tighten the buckle of the sword, it falls
too low. You will accompany monsieur le vicomte till Grimaud
rejoins you. You know, Raoul, Grimaud is an old and zealous
servant; he will follow you."
"Yes, sir," answered Raoul.
"Now to horse, that I may see you depart!"
Raoul obeyed.
"Adieu, Raoul," said the count; "adieu, my dearest boy!"
"Adieu, sir, adieu, my beloved protector."
Athos waved his hand -- he dared not trust himself to speak:
and Raoul went away, his head uncovered. Athos remained
motionless, looking after him until
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