Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

should ever stand in need of the life you restore me, demand

it.”

“Silence, my brother, — silence!” said Louis, in a

suppressed voice. “Take care that no one hears you! We have

not obtained our end yet. To ask money of Mazarin — that is

worse than traversing the enchanted forest, each tree of

which inclosed a demon. It is more than setting out to

conquer a world.”

“But yet, sire, when you ask it —- ”

“I have already told you that I never asked,” replied Louis

with a haughtiness that made the king of England turn pale.

And as the latter, like a wounded man, made a retreating

movement — “Pardon me, my brother,” replied he. “I have

neither a mother nor a sister who are suffering. My throne

is hard and naked, but I am firmly seated on my throne.

Pardon me that expression, my brother; it was that of an

egotist. I will retract it, therefore, by a sacrifice, — I

will go to monsieur le cardinal. Wait for me, if you please

— I will return.”

CHAPTER 10

The Arithmetic of M. de Mazarin

Whilst the king was directing his course rapidly towards the

wing of the castle occupied by the cardinal, taking nobody

with him but his valet de chambre, the officer of musketeers

came out, breathing like a man who has for a long time been

forced to hold his breath, from the little cabinet of which

we have already spoken, and which the king believed to be

quite solitary. This little cabinet had formerly been part

of the chamber, from which it was only separated by a thin

partition. It resulted that this partition, which was only

for the eye, permitted the ear the least indiscreet to hear

every word spoken in the chamber.

There was no doubt, then, that this lieutenant of musketeers

had heard all that passed in his majesty’s apartment.

Warned by the last words of the young king, he came out just

in time to salute him on his passage, and to follow him with

his eyes till he had disappeared in the corridor.

Then as soon as he had disappeared, he shook his head after

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

a fashion peculiarly his own, and in a voice which forty

years’ absence from Gascony had not deprived of its Gascon

accent, “A melancholy service,” said he, “and a melancholy

master!”

These words pronounced, the lieutenant resumed his place in

his fauteuil, stretched his legs and closed his eyes, like a

man who either sleeps or meditates.

During this short monologue and the mise en scene that had

accompanied it, whilst the king, through the long corridors

of the old castle, proceeded to the apartment of M. de

Mazarin, a scene of another sort was being enacted in those

apartments.

Mazarin was in bed, suffering a little from the gout. But as

he was a man of order, who utilized even pain, he forced his

wakefulness to be the humble servant of his labor. He had

consequently ordered Bernouin, his valet de chambre, to

bring him a little traveling-desk, so that he might write in

bed. But the gout is not an adversary that allows itself to

be conquered so easily; therefore, at each movement he made,

the pain from dull became sharp.

“Is Brienne there?” asked he of Bernouin.

“No, monseigneur,” replied the valet de chambre; “M. de

Brienne, with your permission, is gone to bed. But, if it is

the wish of your eminence, he can speedily be called.”

“No, it is not worth while. Let us see, however. Cursed

ciphers!”

And the cardinal began to think, counting on his fingers the

while.

“Oh, ciphers is it?” said Bernouin. “Very well! if your

eminence attempts calculations, I will promise you a pretty

headache to-morrow! And with that please to remember M.

Guenaud is not here.”

“You are right, Bernouin. You must take Brienne’s place, my

friend. Indeed, I ought to have brought M. Colbert with me.

That young man goes on very well, Bernouin, very well; a

very orderly youth.”

“I do not know,” said the valet de chambre, “but I don’t

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