require half a lifetime thoroughly to acquire, and which
some persons, notwithstanding all their study, never attain.
“Of Belle-Isle-en-Mer! Ah!” said D’Artagnan. “It belongs to
you, I believe, M. Fouquet?”
“M. Fouquet has just told me that he had presented it to the
king,” said Buckingham.
“Do you know Belle-Isle, chevalier?” inquired Fouquet.
“I have only been there once,” replied D’Artagnan, with
readiness and good-humor.
“Did you remain there long?”
“Scarcely a day.”
“Did you see much of it while you were there?”
“All that could be seen in a day.”
“A great deal can be seen with observation as keen as
yours,” said Fouquet; at which D’Artagnan bowed.
During this Raoul made a sign to Buckingham. “M. Fouquet,”
said Buckingham, “I leave the captain with you, he is more
learned than I am in bastions, scarps, and counter-scarps,
and I will join one of my friends, who has just beckoned
me.” Saying this, Buckingham disengaged himself from the
group, and advanced towards Raoul, stopping for a moment at
the table where the queen-mother, the young queen, and the
king were playing together.
“Now, Raoul,” said De Guiche, “there he is; be firm and
quick.”
Buckingham, having made some complimentary remark to Madame,
continued his way towards Raoul, who advanced to meet him,
while De Guiche remained in his place, though he followed
him with his eyes. The maneuver was so arranged that the
young men met in an open space which was left vacant,
between the group of players and the gallery, where they
walked, stopping now and then for the purpose of saying a
few words to some of the graver courtiers who were walking
there. At the moment when the two lines were about to unite,
they were broken by a third. It was Monsieur who advanced
toward the Duke of Buckingham. Monsieur had his most
engaging smile on his red and perfumed lips.
“My dear duke,” said he, with the most affectionate
politeness; “is it really true what I have just been told?”
Buckingham turned round, he had not noticed Monsieur
approach; but had merely heard his voice. He started in
spite of his command over himself, and a slight pallor
overspread his face. “Monseigneur,” he asked, “what has been
told you that surprises you so much?”
“That which throws me into despair, and will, in truth, be a
real cause of mourning for the whole court.”
Page 565
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Your highness is very kind, for I perceive that you allude
to my departure.”
“Precisely.”
Guiche had overheard the conversation from where he was
standing, and started in his turn. “His departure,” he
murmured. “What does he say?”
Philip continued with the same gracious air, “I can easily
conceive, monsieur, why the king of Great Britain recalls
you; we all know that King Charles II.; who appreciates true
gentlemen, cannot dispense with you. But it cannot be
supposed we can let you go without great regret; and I beg
you to receive the expression of my own.”
“Believe me, monseigneur,” said the duke, “that if I quit
the court of France —- ”
“Because you are recalled; but, if you suppose the
expression of my own wish on the subject might possibly have
any influence with the king, I will gladly volunteer to
entreat his majesty Charles II. to leave you with us a
little while longer.”
“I am overwhelmed, monseigneur, by so much kindness,”
replied Buckingham, “but I have received positive commands.
My residence in France was limited; I have prolonged it at
the risk of displeasing my gracious sovereign. It is only
this very day that I recollected I ought to have set off
four days ago.”
“Indeed,” said Monsieur.
“Yes, but,” added Buckingham, raising his voice in such a
manner that the princess could hear him, — “but I resemble
that dweller in the East, who turned mad, and remained so
for several days, owing to a delightful dream that he had
had, but who one day awoke, if not completely cured, in some
respects rational at least. The court of France has its
intoxicating properties, which are not unlike this dream, my
lord; but at last I wake and leave it. I shall be unable,