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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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Twenty Years Later 90 at Prostate Health
come from behind a door.
DArtagnan, who had just dismounted, then saw, outlined
against the wall, the enormous stomach of Mousqueton, whose
down-drawn mouth emitted sounds of distress.
"And you, too, my poor Monsieur Mouston, are out of place in
this poor hotel, are you not?" asked DArtagnan, in that
rallying tone which may indicate either compassion or
mockery.
"He finds the cooking detestable," replied Porthos.
"Why, then, doesnt he attend to it himself, as at
Chantilly?"
"Ah, monsieur, I have not here, as I had there, the ponds of
monsieur le prince, where I could catch those beautiful
carp, nor the forests of his highness to provide me with
partridges. As for the cellar, I have searched every part
and poor stuff I found."
"Monsieur Mouston," said DArtagnan, "I should indeed
condole with you had I not at this moment something very
pressing to attend to."
Then taking Porthos aside:
"My dear Du Vallon," he said, "here you are in full dress
most fortunately, for I am going to take you to the
cardinals."
"Gracious me! really!" exclaimed Porthos, opening his great
wondering eyes.
"Yes, my friend."
"A presentation? indeed!"
"Does that alarm you?"
"No, but it agitates me."
"Oh! dont be distressed; you have to deal with a cardinal
of another kind. This one will not oppress you by his
dignity."
"Tis the same thing -- you understand me, DArtagnan -- a
court."
"Theres no court now. Alas!"
"The queen!"
"I was going to say, theres no longer a queen. The queen!
Rest assured, we shall not see her."
"And you say that we are going from here to the Palais
Royal?"
"Immediately. Only, that there may be no delay, I shall
borrow one of your horses."
"Certainly; all the four are at your service."
"Oh, I need only one of them for the time being."
"Shall we take our valets?"
"Yes, you may as well take Mousqueton. As to Planchet, he has
certain reasons for not going to court."
"And what are they?"
"Oh, he doesnt stand well with his eminence."
"Mouston," said Porthos, "saddle Vulcan and Bayard."
"And for myself, monsieur, shall I saddle Rustaud?"
"No, take a more stylish horse, Phoebus or Superbe; we are
going with some ceremony."
"Ah," said Mousqueton, breathing more freely, "you are only
going, then, to make a visit?"
"Oh! yes, of course, Mouston; nothing else. But to avoid
risk, put the pistols in the holsters. You will find mine on
my saddle, already loaded."
Mouston breathed a sigh; he couldnt understand visits of
ceremony made under arms.
"Indeed," said Porthos, looking complacently at his old
lackey as he went away, "you are right, DArtagnan; Mouston
will do; Mouston has a very fine appearance."
DArtagnan smiled.
"But you, my friend -- are you not going to change your
dress?"
"No, I shall go as I am. This traveling dress will serve to
show the cardinal my haste to obey his commands."
They set out on Vulcan and Bayard, followed by Mousqueton on
Phoebus, and arrived at the Palais Royal at about a quarter
to seven. The streets were crowded, for it was the day of
Pentecost, and the crowd looked in wonder at these two
cavaliers; one as fresh as if he had come out of a bandbox,
the other so covered with dust that he looked as if he had
but just come off a field of battle.
Mousqueton also attracted attention; and as the romance of
Don Quixote was then the fashion, they said that he was
Sancho, who, after having lost one master, had found two.
On reaching the palace, DArtagnan sent to his eminence the
letter in which he had been ordered to return without delay.
He was soon ordered to the presence of the cardinal.
"Courage!" he whispered to Porthos, as they proceeded. "Do
not be intimidated. Believe me, the eye of the eagle is
closed forever. We have only the vulture to deal with. Hold
yourself as bolt upright as on the day of the bastion of St.
Gervais, and do not bow too low to this Italian; that might
give him a poor idea of you."
"Good!" answered Porthos. "Good!"
Mazarin was in his study, working at a list of pensions and
benefices, of which he was trying to reduce the number. He
saw DArtagnan and Porthos enter with internal pleasure, yet
showed no joy in his countenance.
"Ah! you, is it? Monsieur le lieutenant, you have been very
prompt. Tis well. Welcome to ye."
"Thanks, my lord. Here I am at your eminences service, as
well as Monsieur du Vallon, one of my old friends, who used
to conceal his nobility under the name of Porthos."
Porthos bowed to the cardinal.
"A magnificent cavalier," remarked Mazarin.
Porthos turned his head to
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