Part 70 (2/2)
”How a wedding present?”
”Eh! yes, I am going to be married,” replied the Duc d'Anjou, without perceiving, at the moment, he was pa.s.sing the prince and Athos, who both bowed respectfully.
The chevalier darted at the young duke a glance so strange, and so malicious, that the Comte de la Fere quite started on beholding it.
”You! you to be married!” repeated he; ”oh! that's impossible. You would not commit such a folly!”
”Bah! I don't do it myself; I am made to do it,” replied the Duc d'Anjou. ”But come, quick! let us get rid of our money.” Thereupon he disappeared with his companion, laughing and talking, whilst all heads were bowed on his pa.s.sage.
”Then,” whispered the prince to Athos, ”that is the secret.”
”It was not I who told you so, my lord.”
”He is to marry the sister of Charles II.?”
”I believe so.”
The prince reflected for a moment, and his eye shot forth one of its not infrequent flashes. ”Humph!” said he slowly, as if speaking to himself; ”our swords are once more to be hung on the wall--for a long time!” and he sighed.
All that sigh contained of ambition silently stifled, of extinguished illusions and disappointed hopes, Athos alone divined, for he alone heard that sigh. Immediately after, the prince took leave and the king left the apartment. Athos, by a sign made to Bragelonne, renewed the desire he had expressed at the beginning of the scene. By degrees the chamber was deserted, and Mazarin was left alone, a prey to suffering which he could no longer dissemble. ”Bernouin! Bernouin!” cried he in a broken voice.
”What does monseigneur want?”
”Guenaud--let Guenaud be sent for,” said his eminence. ”I think I'm dying.”
Bernouin, in great terror, rushed into the cabinet to give the order, and the piqueur, who hastened to fetch the physician, pa.s.sed the king's carriage in the Rue Saint Honore.
Chapter XLIII. Guenaud.
The cardinal's order was pressing; Guenaud quickly obeyed it. He found his patient stretched on his bed, his legs swelled, his face livid, and his stomach collapsed. Mazarin had a severe attack of gout. He suffered tortures with the impatience of a man who has not been accustomed to resistances. On seeing Guenaud: ”Ah!” said he; ”now I am saved!”
Guenaud was a very learned and circ.u.mspect man, who stood in no need of the critiques of Boileau to obtain a reputation. When facing a disease, if it were personified in a king, he treated the patient as a Turk treats a Moor. He did not, therefore, reply to Mazarin as the minister expected: ”Here is the doctor; good-bye disease!” On the contrary, on examining his patient, with a very serious air:
”Oh! oh!” said he.
”Eh! what! Guenaud! How you look at me!”
”I look as I should on seeing your complaint, my lord; it is a very dangerous one.”
”The gout--oh! yes, the gout.”
”With complications, my lord.”
Mazarin raised himself upon his elbow, and, questioning by look and gesture: ”What do you mean by that? Am I worse than I believe myself to be?”
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