“You have been without money, then?”
“Monsieur, I had thirty pistoles left from the sale of the
horses I took in my last campaign, and M. le Prince had the
kindness to allow me to win two hundred pistoles at his
play-table three months ago.”
“Do you play? I don’t like that, Raoul.”
“I never play, monsieur; it was M. le Prince who ordered me
to hold his cards at Chantilly — one night when a courier
came to him from the king. I won, and M. le Prince commanded
me to take the stakes.”
“Is that a practice in the household, Raoul?” asked Athos
with a frown.
“Yes, monsieur; every week M. le Prince affords, upon one
occasion or another, a similar advantage to one of his
gentlemen. There are fifty gentlemen in his highness’s
household; it was my turn.”
“Very well! You went into Spain, then?”
“Yes, monsieur, I made a very delightful and interesting
journey.”
“You have been back a month, have you not?”
“Yes, monsieur.”
“And in the course of that month?”
“In that month —- ”
“What have you done?”
“My duty, monsieur.”
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“Have you not been home, to La Fere?”
Raoul colored. Athos looked at him with a fixed but tranquil
expression.
“You would be wrong not to believe me,” said Raoul. “I feel
that I colored, and in spite of myself. The question you did
me the honor to ask me is of a nature to raise in me much
emotion. I color, then, because I am agitated, not because I
meditate a falsehood.”
“I know, Raoul, you never lie.”
“No, monsieur.”
“Besides, my young friend, you would be wrong; what I wanted
to say —- ”
“I know quite well, monsieur. You would ask me if I have not
been to Blois?”
“Exactly so.”
“I have not been there; I have not even seen the person to
whom you allude.”
Raoul’s voice trembled as he pronounced these words. Athos,
a sovereign judge in all matters of delicacy, immediately
added, “Raoul, you answer with a painful feeling; you are
unhappy.”
“Very, monsieur; you have forbidden me to go to Blois, or to
see Mademoiselle de la Valliere again.” Here the young man
stopped. That dear name, so delightful to pronounce, made
his heart bleed, although so sweet upon his lips.
“And I have acted rightly, Raoul,” Athos hastened to reply.
“I am neither an unjust nor a barbarous father; I respect
true love; but I look forward for you to a future — an
immense future. A new reign is about to break upon us like a
fresh dawn. War calls upon a young king full of chivalric
spirit. What is wanting to assist this heroic ardor is a
battalion of young and free lieutenants who would rush to
the fight with enthusiasm and fall, crying: `Vive le Roi!’
instead of `Adieu, my dear wife.’ You understand that,
Raoul. However brutal my reasoning may appear, I conjure
you, then, to believe me, and to turn away your thoughts
from those early days of youth in which you took up this
habit of love — days of effeminate carelessness, which
soften the heart and render it incapable of consuming those
strong, bitter draughts called glory and adversity.
Therefore, Raoul, I repeat to you, you should see in my
counsel only the desire of being useful to you, only the
ambition of seeing you prosper. I believe you capable of
becoming a remarkable man. March alone, and you will march
better, and more quickly.”
“You have commanded, monsieur,” replied Raoul, “and I obey.”
“Commanded!” cried Athos. “Is it thus you reply to me? I
have commanded you! Oh! you distort my words as you
misconceive my intentions. I do not command you; I request
you.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“No, monsieur, you have commanded,” said Raoul,
persistently; “had you only requested me, your request is
even more effective than your order. I have not seen
Mademoiselle de la Valliere again.”
“But you are unhappy! you are unhappy!” insisted Athos.
Raoul made no reply.
“I find you pale; I find you dull. The sentiment is strong,