said, “I entreat you to be silent about this affair; I am
ashamed to have gone so far, but my anger carried me away,
and I ask your forgiveness for it; — forget it, too.”
“Dear viscount,” said the duke, pressing within his own the
vigorous and valiant hand of his companion, “allow me, on
the contrary, to remember it, and to look after your safety;
that man is dangerous, — he will kill you.”
“My father,” replied Raoul, “lived for twenty years under
the menace of a much more formidable enemy, and he still
lives.”
“Your father had good friends, viscount.”
“Yes,” sighed Raoul, “such friends indeed, that none are now
left like them.”
“Do not say that, I beg, at the very moment I offer you my
friendship;” and Buckingham opened his arms to embrace
Raoul, who delightedly received the proffered alliance. “In
my family,” added Buckingham, “you are aware, M. de
Bragelonne, wee die to save our friends.”
“I know it well, duke,” replied Raoul.
CHAPTER 88
An Account of what the Chevalier de Lorraine thought of Madame
Nothing further interrupted the journey. Under a pretext
that was little remarked, M. de Wardes went forward in
advance of the others. He took Manicamp with him, for his
equable and dreamy disposition acted as a counterpoise to
his own. It is a subject of remark, that quarrelsome and
restless characters invariably seek the companionship of
gentle, timorous dispositions, as if the former sought, in
the contrast, a repose for their own ill-humor, and the
latter a protection for their weakness. Buckingham and
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
Bragelonne admitting De Guiche into their friendship, in
concert with him, sang the praises of the princess during
the whole of the journey. Bragelonne had, however, insisted
that their three voices should be in concert, instead of
singing in solo parts, as De Guiche and his rival seemed to
have acquired a dangerous habit of investigation. This style
of harmony pleased the queen-mother exceedingly, but it was
not perhaps so agreeable to the young princess, who was an
incarnation of coquetry, and who, without any fear as far as
her own voice was concerned, sought opportunities of so
perilously distinguishing herself. She possessed one of
those fearless and incautious dispositions that find
gratification in an excess of sensitiveness of feeling, and
for whom, also, danger has a certain fascination. And so her
glances, her smiles, her toilette, an inexhaustible armory
of weapons of offense. were showered on the three young men
with overwhelming force; and, from her well-stored arsenal
issued glances, kindly recognitions, and a thousand other
little charming attentions which were intended to strike at
long range the gentlemen who formed the escort, the
townspeople, the officers of the different cities she passed
through, pages, populace, and servants; it was wholesale
slaughter, a general devastation. By the time Madame arrived
at Paris, she had reduced to slavery about a hundred
thousand lovers: and brought in her train to Paris half a
dozen men who were almost mad about her, and two who were,
indeed, literally out of their minds. Raoul was the only
person who divined the power of this woman’s attraction, and
as his heart was already engaged, he arrived in the capital
full of indifference and distrust. Occasionally during the
journey he conversed with the queen of England respecting
the power of fascination which Madame possessed, and the
mother, whom so many misfortunes and deceptions had taught
experience, replied: “Henrietta was sure to be illustrious
in one way or another, whether born in a palace or born in
obscurity; for she is a woman of great imagination,
capricious and self-willed.” De Wardes and Manicamp, in
their self-assumed character of courtiers, had announced the
princess’s arrival. The procession was met at Nanterre by a
brilliant escort of cavaliers and carriages. It was Monsieur
himself, followed by the Chevalier de Lorraine and by his
favorites, the latter being themselves followed by a portion
of the king’s military household, who had arrived to meet
his affianced bride. At St. Germain, the princess and her
mother had changed their heavy traveling carriage, somewhat
impaired by the journey, for a light, richly decorated