Prostate Health
Prostate Articles
Antioxidant levels key for prostate cancer risk
Obesity and prostate health
Tomatoes for prostate health
Green tea and prostate health
Screening tests for prostate
Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
|
|
Twenty Years Later 99 at Prostate Health
Porthos.
"Stop, I want to remember his exact words. He said, `As to
your friend, tell him he may sleep in peace."
"Good, very good," said Porthos; "that signified as clear as
daylight that he still intends to make me a baron."
At this moment nine oclock struck. DArtagnan started.
"Ah, yes," said Porthos, "there is nine oclock. We have a
rendezvous, you remember, at the Place Royale."
"Ah! stop! hold your peace, Porthos, dont remind me of it;
tis that which has made me so cross since yesterday. I
shall not go."
"Why?" asked Porthos.
"Because it is a grievous thing for me to meet again those
two men who caused the failure of our enterprise."
"And yet," said Porthos, "neither of them had any advantage
over us. I still had a loaded pistol and you were in full
fight, sword in hand."
"Yes," said DArtagnan; "but what if this rendezvous had
some hidden purpose?"
"Oh!" said Porthos, "you cant think that, DArtagnan!"
DArtagnan did not believe Athos to be capable of a
deception, but he sought an excuse for not going to the
rendezvous.
"We must go," said the superb lord of Bracieux, "lest they
should say we were afraid. We who have faced fifty foes on
the high road can well meet two in the Place Royale."
"Yes, yes, but they took part with the princes without
apprising us of it. Athos and Aramis have played a game with
me which alarms me. We discovered yesterday the truth; what
is the use of going to-day to learn something else?"
"You really have some distrust, then?" said Porthos.
"Of Aramis, yes, since he has become an abbe. You cant
imagine, my dear fellow, the sort of man he is. He sees us
on the road which leads him to a bishopric, and perhaps will
not be sorry to get us out of his way."
"Ah, as regards Aramis, that is another thing," said
Porthos, "and it wouldnt surprise me at all."
"Perhaps Monsieur de Beaufort will try, in his turn, to lay
hands on us."
"Nonsense! He had us in his power and he let us go. Besides
we can be on our guard; let us take arms, let Planchet post
himself behind us with his carbine."
"Planchet is a Frondeur," answered DArtagnan.
"Devil take these civil wars! one can no more now reckon on
ones friends than on ones footmen," said Porthos. "Ah! if
Mousqueton were here! theres a fellow who will never desert
me!"
"So long as you are rich! Ah! my friend! tis not civil war
that disunites us. It is that we are each of us twenty years
older; it is that the honest emotions of youth have given
place to suggestions of interest, whispers of ambition,
counsels of selfishness. Yes, you are right; let us go,
Porthos, but let us go well armed; were we not to keep the
rendezvous, they would declare we were afraid. Halloo!
Planchet! here! saddle our horses, take your carbine."
"Whom are we going to attack, sir?"
"No one; a mere matter of precaution," answered the Gascon.
"You know, sir, that they wished to murder that good
councillor, Broussel, the father of the people?"
"Really, did they?" said DArtagnan.
"Yes, but he has been avenged. He was carried home in the
arms of the people. His house has been full ever since. He
has received visits from the coadjutor, from Madame de
Longueville, and the Prince de Conti; Madame de Chevreuse
and Madame de Vendome have left their names at his door. And
now, whenever he wishes ---- "
"Well, whenever he wishes?"
Planchet began to sing:
"Un vent de fronde
Sest leve ce matin;
Je crois quil gronde
Contre le Mazarin.
Un vent de fronde
Sest leve ce matin."
"It doesnt surprise me," said DArtagnan, in a low tone to
Porthos, "that Mazarin would have been much better satisfied
had I crushed the life out of his councillor."
"You understand, then, monsieur," resumed Planchet, "that if
it were for some enterprise like that undertaken against
Monsieur Broussel that you should ask me to take my carbine
---- "
"No, dont be alarmed; but where did you get all these
details?"
"From a good source, sir; I heard it from Friquet."
"From Friquet? I know that name ---- "
"A son of Monsieur de Broussels servant, and a lad that, I
promise you, in a revolt will not give away his share to the
dogs."
"Is he not a singing boy at Notre Dame?" asked DArtagnan.
"Yes, that is the very boy; hes
Twenty Years Later page 98 Twenty Years Later page 100 |
