Part 16 (1/2)
”And Lord de Winter--do you know anything about hih favor with Charles I”
”The fortunes of that monarch now are at loater He shed the blood of Strafford; that confirms what I said just now--blood will have blood And the queen?”
”What queen?”
”Madahter of Henry IV”
”She is at the Louvre, as you know”
”Yes, and I hear in bitter poverty Her daughter, during the severest cold, was obliged for want of fire to re his shoulders; ”the daughter of Henry IV shi+vering for want of a fagot! Why did she not ask from any one of us a ho”
”Have you ever seen the queen of England?” inquired D'Artagnan
”No; but my mother, as a child, saw her Did I ever tell you that my mother was lady of honor to Marie de Medici?”
”Never You know, Athos, you never spoke ht,” Athos replied; ”but then there ”
”Porthos wouldn't have waited for it so patiently,” said D'Artagnan, with a s to his nature, nan Porthos, in spite of a touch of vanity, has many excellent qualities Have you seen hinan, and he portrayed with Gascon wit and sprightliness the nificence of Porthos in his Chateau of Pierrefonds; nor did he neglect to launch a few arrows of wit at the excellent Monsieur Mouston
”I soayety which recalled the good old days, ”that we could form an association of men ould be, after twenty years of separation, still so closely bound together Friendshi+p throws out deep roots in honest hearts, D'Artagnan Believe me, it is only the evil-minded who deny friendshi+p; they cannot understand it And Aranan; ”but he seemed to me cold”
”Ah, you have seen Ara look ”Why, it is a veritable pilgri to the Temple of Friendshi+p, as the poets would say”
”Why, yes,” replied D'Artagnan, with embarrassment
”Aramis, you know,” continued Athos, ”is naturally cold, and then he is always involved in intrigues omen”
”I believe he is at this nan
Athos nan
Athos not only failed to reply, he even changed the subject of conversation
”You see,” said he, calling D'Artagnan's attention to the fact that they had come back to the chateau after an hour's walk, ”we haveand everything savors of nobility,” replied D'Artagnan
At this instant they heard the sound of horses' feet
”'Tis Raoul who has come back,” said Athos; ”and we can now hear how the poor child is”
In fact, the young ate, covered with dust, entered the courtyard, leaped froroonan
”Monsieur,” said Athos, placing his hand on D'Artagnan's shoulder, ”nan of whom you have often heardain and more profoundly, ”monsieur le comte has pronounced your name before me as an exaentleman”
That little conan He extended a hand to Raoul and said: ”My young friend, all the praises that are given me should be passed on to the count here; for he has educatedand it is not his fault that his pupil profited so little from his instructions But he will make it up in you I am sure I like your manner, Raoul, and your politeness has touched hted than can be told He looked at D'Artagnan with an expression of gratitude and then bestowed on Raoul one of those strange smiles, of which children are so proud when they receive the that silent play of countenance, ”I am sure of it”
”I hope the accident has been of no consequence?”
”They don't yet know, sir, on account of the swelling; but the doctor is afraid some tendon has been injured”
At this moment a little boy, half peasant, half foot-boy, ca-room of arden, on the other on a hot-house full of lanced at the dinner service The plate was nan stopped to look at a sideboard on which was a superb ewer of silver
”That workmanshi+p is divine!” he exclaireat Florentine sculptor, Benvenuto Cellini,” replied Athos
”What battle does it represent?”
”That of Marignan, just at the point where one ofhis sword to Francis I, who has broken his It was on that occasion that ht of the Order of St Michael; besides which, the king, fifteen years afterward, gave him also this ewer and a shich you may have seen formerly in my house, also a lovely speciiants in those timies in comparison Let us sit down to supper Call Charles,” he added, addressing the boy aited
”My good Charles, I particularly reconan He likes good wine; now you have the key of the cellar He has slept a long time on a hard bed, so he won't object to a soft one; take every care of hi of you” Charles bowed and retired
”You think of everything,” said D'Artagnan; ”and I thank you for Planchet,this name and looked at the count to be quite sure that it was he whom the lieutenant thus addressed
”That na; ”it was allant friends and e of La Rochelle, under the deceased cardinal and Monsieur de Bassompierre My friend is still so kind as to address me by that old and well beloved appellation, which lad when I hear it”
”'Tis an illustrious name,” said the lieutenant, ”and had one day triumphal honors paid to it”
”What do you otten St Gervais, Athos, and the napkin which was converted into a banner?” and he then related to Raoul the story of the bastion, and Raoul fancied he was listening to one of those deeds of arloriously recounted by Tasso and Ariosto
”D'Artagnan does not tell you, Raoul,” said Athos, in his turn, ”that he was reckoned one of the finest swordsmen of his tilance of fire; that's what his adversary hteen, only three years older than you are, Raoul, when I saw hiainst tried nan co eye
”I killed one nan, with a look of inquiry directed to Athos; ”another I disarmed or wounded, I don't remember which”