Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

companion.”

“Yes,” said the princess, at first with languor, but then,

— “What mean those words, `Nobody but Parry;’ say, my

lord?”

“Because, madam,” replied Buckingham, piqued, “because the

faithful Parry, the wandering Parry, the eternal Parry, is

not, I believe, of much consequence.”

“You are mistaken, duke. Parry — the wandering Parry, as

you call him — has always wandered in the service of my

family, and the sight of that old man always gives me

satisfaction.”

The Lady Henrietta followed the usual progress of pretty

women, particularly coquettish women; she passed from

caprice to contradiction; — the gallant had undergone the

caprice, the courtier must bend beneath the contradictory

humor. Buckingham bowed, but made no reply.

“It is true, madam,” said Rochester, bowing in his turn,

“that Parry is the model of servants; but, madam, he is no

longer young, and we laugh only when we see cheerful

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objects. Is an old man a gay object?”

“Enough, my lord,” said the princess, coolly; “the subject

of conversation is unpleasant to me.”

Then, as if speaking to herself, “It is really

unaccountable,” said she, “how little regard my brother’s

friends have for his servants.”

“Ah, madam,” cried Buckingham, “your royal highness pierces

my heart with a dagger forged by your own hands.”

“What is the meaning of that speech, which is turned so like

a French madrigal, duke? I do not understand it.”

“It means, madam, that you yourself, so good, so charming,

so sensible, you have laughed sometimes — smiled, I should

say — at the idle prattle of that good Parry, for whom your

royal highness to-day entertains such a marvelous

susceptibility.”

“Well, my lord, if I have forgotten myself so far,” said

Henrietta, “you do wrong to remind me of it.” And she made a

sign of impatience. “The good Parry wants to speak to me, I

believe: please order them to row to the shore, my Lord

Rochester.”

Rochester hastened to repeat the princess’s command; and a

moment later the boat touched the bank.

“Let us land, gentlemen,” said Henrietta, taking the arm

which Rochester offered her, although Buckingham was nearer

to her, and had presented his. Then Rochester, with an

ill-dissembled pride, which pierced the heart of the unhappy

Buckingham through and through, led the princess across the

little bridge which the rowers had cast from the royal boat

to the shore.

“Which way will your royal highness go?” asked Rochester.

“You see, my lord, towards that good Parry, who is

wandering, as my lord of Buckingham says, and seeking me

with eyes weakened by the tears he has shed over our

misfortunes.”

“Good heavens!” said Rochester, “how sad your royal highness

is to-day; in truth we seem ridiculous fools to you, madam.”

“Speak for yourself, my lord,” interrupted Buckingham with

vexation; “for my part, I displease her royal highness to

such a degree, that I appear absolutely nothing to her.”

Neither Rochester nor the princess made any reply; Henrietta

only urged her companion more quickly on. Buckingham

remained behind, and took advantage of this isolation to

give himself up to his anger; he bit his handkerchief so

furiously that it was soon in shreds.

“Parry my good Parry,” said the princess, with her gentle

voice, “come hither. I see you are seeking me, and I am

waiting for you.”

“Ah, madam,” said Rochester, coming charitably to the help

of his companion, who had remained, as we have said, behind,

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

“if Parry cannot see your royal highness, the man who

follows him is a sufficient guide, even for a blind man, for

he has eyes of flame. That man is a double-lamped lantern.”

“Lighting a very handsome martial countenance,” said the

princess, determined to be as ill-natured as possible.

Rochester bowed. “One of those vigorous soldiers’ heads seen

nowhere but in France,” added the princess, with the

perseverance of a woman sure of impunity.

Rochester and Buckingham looked at each other, as much as to

say, — “What can be the matter with her?”

“See, my lord of Buckingham, what Parry wants,” said

Henrietta. “Go!”

The young man, who considered this order as a favor, resumed

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