Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

“Your majesty is correctly informed.”

“More than that, the young lady has lately become one of the

princess’s maids of honor.”

“Your majesty is better acquainted with her history than I

am.”

The king again reflected, and glancing at the comte’s

anxious countenance, said: “The young lady does not seem to

me to be very pretty, comte.”

“I am not quite sure,” replied Athos.

“I have seen her, but she hardly struck me as being so.”

“She seems to be a good and modest girl, but has little

beauty, sire.”

“Beautiful fair hair, however.”

“I think so.”

“And her blue eyes are tolerably good.”

“Yes, sire.”

“With regard to beauty, then, the match is but an ordinary

one. Now for the money side of the question.”

“Fifteen to twenty thousand francs dowry at the very

outside, sire; the lovers are disinterested enough; for

myself, I care little for money.”

“For superfluity, you mean; but a needful amount is of

importance. With fifteen thousand francs, without landed

property, a woman cannot live at court. We will make up the

deficiency; I will do it for De Bragelonne.” The king again

remarked the coldness with which Athos received the remark.

“Let us pass from the question of money to that of rank,”

said Louis XIV.; “the daughter of the Marquis de la

Valliere, that is well enough; but there is that excellent

Saint-Remy, who somewhat damages the credit of the family;

and you, comte, are rather particular, I believe, about your

own family.”

“Sire, I no longer hold to anything but my devotion to your

majesty.”

The king again paused. “A moment, comte. You have surprised

me in no little degree from the beginning of your

conversation. You came to ask me to authorize a marriage,

and you seem greatly disturbed in having to make the

request. Nay, pardon me, comte, but I am rarely deceived,

young as I am; for while with some persons I place my

friendship at the disposal of my understanding, with others

I call my distrust to my aid, by which my discernment is

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

increased. I repeat that you do not prefer your request as

though you wished it success.”

“Well, sire, that is true.”

“I do not understand you, then; refuse.”

“Nay, sire; I love De Bragelonne with my whole heart; he is

smitten with Mademoiselle de la Valliere, he weaves dreams

of bliss for the future; I am not one who is willing to

destroy the illusions of youth. This marriage is

objectionable to me, but I implore your majesty to consent

to it forthwith, and thus make Raoul happy.”

“Tell me, comte, is she in love with him?”

“If your majesty requires me to speak candidly, I do not

believe in Mademoiselle de la Valliere’s affection; the

delight at being at court, the honor of being in the service

of Madame, counteract in her head whatever affection she may

happen to have in her heart; it is a marriage similar to

many others which already exist at court; but De Bragelonne

wishes it, and so let it be.”

“And yet you do not resemble those easy-tempered fathers who

volunteer as stepping-stones for their children,” said the

king.

“I am determined enough against the viciously disposed, but

not so against men of upright character. Raoul is suffering;

he is in great distress of mind: his disposition, naturally

light and cheerful, has become gloomy and melancholy. I do

not wish to deprive your majesty of the services he may be

able to render.”

“I understand you,” said the king; “and what is more, I

understand your heart, too, comte.”

“There is no occasion, therefore,” replied the comte, “to

tell your majesty that my object is to make these children,

or rather Raoul, happy.”

“And I, too, as much as yourself, comte, wish to secure M.

de Bragelonne’s happiness.”

“I only await your majesty’s signature. Raoul will have the

honor of presenting himself before your majesty to receive

your consent.”

“You are mistaken, comte,” said the king, firmly; “I have

just said that I desire to secure M. de Bragelonne’s

happiness, and from the present moment, therefore, I oppose

his marriage.”

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