a devoted friend, I beseech you.”
And now, where are you going, viscount?” inquired De Guiche.
“To join the army, under the prince, count.”
“And I, too!” exclaimed the young man, in a transport of
joy. “Oh, so much the better, we will fire the first shot
together.”
“It is well; be friends,” said the tutor; “young as you both
are, you were perhaps born under the same star and were
destined to meet. And now,” continued he, “you must change
your clothes; your servants, to whom I gave directions the
moment they had left the ferryboat, ought to be already at
the inn. Linen and wine are both being warmed; come.”
The young men had no objection to this proposition; on the
contrary, they thought it very timely.
They mounted again at once, whilst looks of admiration
passed between them. They were indeed two elegant horsemen,
with figures slight and upright, noble faces, bright and
proud looks, loyal and intelligent smiles.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
De Guiche might have been about eighteen years of age, but
he was scarcely taller than Raoul, who was only fifteen.
30
Skirmishing.
The halt at Noyon was but brief, every one there being
wrapped in profound sleep. Raoul had desired to be awakened
should Grimaud arrive, but Grimaud did not arrive.
Doubtless, too, the horses on their part appreciated the
eight hours of repose and the abundant stabling which was
granted them. The Count de Guiche was awakened at five
o’clock in the morning by Raoul, who came to wish him
good-day. They breakfasted in haste, and at six o’clock had
already gone ten miles.
The young count’s conversation was most interesting to
Raoul, therefore he listened much, whilst the count talked
well and long. Brought up in Paris, where Raoul had been but
once; at the court, which Raoul had never seen; his follies
as page; two duels, which he had already found the means of
fighting, in spite of the edicts against them and, more
especially, in spite of his tutor’s vigilance — these
things excited the greatest curiosity in Raoul. Raoul had
only been at M. Scarron’s house; he named to Guiche the
people whom he had seen there. Guiche knew everybody —
Madame de Neuillan, Mademoiselle d’Aubigne, Mademoiselle de
Scudery, Mademoiselle Paulet, Madame de Chevreuse. He
criticised everybody humorously. Raoul trembled, lest he
should laugh among the rest at Madame de Chevreuse, for whom
he entertained deep and genuine sympathy, but either
instinctively, or from affection for the duchess, he said
everything in her favor. His praises increased Raoul’s
friendship twofold. Then came the question of gallantry and
love affairs. Under this head, also, Bragelonne had much
more to hear than to tell. He listened attentively and
fancied that he discovered through three or four rather
frivolous adventures, that the count, like himself, had a
secret to hide in the depths of his heart.
De Guiche, as we have said before, had been educated at the
court, and the intrigues of this court were not unknown to
him. It was the same court of which Raoul had so often heard
the Comte de la Fere speak, except that its aspect had much
changed since the period when Athos had himself been part of
it; therefore everything which the Count de Guiche related
was new to his traveling companion. The young count, witty
and caustic, passed all the world in review; the queen
herself was not spared, and Cardinal Mazarin came in for his
share of ridicule.
The day passed away as rapidly as an hour. The count’s
tutor, a man of the world and a bon vivant, up to his eyes
in learning, as his pupil described him, often recalled the
profound erudition, the witty and caustic satire of Athos to
Raoul; but as regarded grace, delicacy, and nobility of
external appearance, no one in these points was to be
compared to the Comte de la Fere.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
The horses, which were more kindly used than on the previous
day, stopped at Arras at four o’clock in the evening. They
were approaching the scene of war; and as bands of Spaniards