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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 86 at Prostate Health
Beaufort was
playing; and even then the precaution seemed superfluous,
the wall was so high.
There were three gates to open before reaching the
inclosure, each by a different key. When they arrived
Grimaud went carelessly and sat down by a loophole in the
wall, letting his legs dangle outside. It was evident that
there the rope ladder was to be attached.
This manoeuvre, transparent to the Duc de Beaufort, was
quite unintelligible to La Ramee.
The game at tennis, which, upon a sign from Grimaud,
Monsieur de Beaufort had consented to play, began in the
afternoon. The duke was in full strength and beat La Ramee
completely.
Four of the guards, who were constantly near the prisoner,
assisted in picking up the tennis balls. When the game was
over, the duke, laughing at La Ramee for his bad play,
offered these men two louis dor to go and drink his health,
with their four other comrades.
The guards asked permission of La Ramee, who gave it to
them, but not till the evening, however; until then he had
business and the prisoner was not to be left alone.
Six oclock came and, although they were not to sit down to
table until seven oclock, dinner was ready and served up.
Upon a sideboard appeared the colossal pie with the dukes
arms on it, and seemingly cooked to a turn, as far as one
could judge by the golden color which illuminated the crust.
The rest of the dinner was to come.
Every one was impatient, La Ramee to sit down to table, the
guards to go and drink, the duke to escape.
Grimaud alone was calm as ever. One might have fancied that
Athos had educated him with the express forethought of such
a great event.
There were moments when, looking at Grimaud, the duke asked
himself if he was not dreaming and if that marble figure was
really at his service and would grow animated when the
moment came for action.
La Ramee sent away the guards, desiring them to drink to the
dukes health, and as soon as they were gone shut all the
doors, put the keys in his pocket and showed the table to
the prince with an air that signified:
"Whenever my lord pleases."
The prince looked at Grimaud, Grimaud looked at the clock;
it was hardly a quarter-past six. The escape was fixed to
take place at seven oclock; there was therefore
three-quarters of an hour to wait.
The duke, in order to pass away another quarter of an hour,
pretended to be reading something that interested him and
muttered that he wished they would allow him to finish his
chapter. La Ramee went up to him and looked over his
shoulder to see what sort of a book it was that had so
singular an influence over the prisoner as to make him put
off taking his dinner.
It was "Caesars Commentaries," which La Ramee had lent him,
contrary to the orders of the governor; and La Ramee
resolved never again to disobey these injunctions.
Meantime he uncorked the bottles and went to smell if the
pie was good.
At half-past six the duke arose and said very gravely:
"Certainly, Caesar was the greatest man of ancient times."
"You think so, my lord?" answered La Ramee.
"Yes."
"Well, as for me, I prefer Hannibal."
"And why, pray, Master La Ramee?" asked the duke.
"Because he left no Commentaries," replied La Ramee, with
his coarse laugh.
The duke vouchsafed no reply, but sitting down at the table
made a sign that La Ramee should seat himself opposite.
There is nothing so expressive as the face of an epicure who
finds himself before a well spread table, so La Ramee, when
receiving his plate of soup from Grimaud, presented a type
of perfect bliss.
The duke smiled.
"Zounds!" he said; "I dont suppose there is a more
contented man at this moment in all the kingdom than
yourself!"
"You are right, my lord duke," answered the officer; "I
dont know any pleasanter sight on earth than a well covered
table; and when, added to that, he who does the honors is
the grandson of Henry IV., you will, my lord duke, easily
comprehend that the honor fairly doubles the pleasure one
enjoys."
The duke, in his turn, bowed, and an imperceptible smile
appeared on the face of Grimaud, who kept behind La Ramee.
"My dear La Ramee," said the duke, "you are the only man to
turn such faultless compliments."
"No, my lord duke," replied La Ramee, in the fullness of his
heart; "I say what I think; there is no compliment in what I
say to you ---- "
"Then you are
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