Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas (free e books to read online .TXT) ๐
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- Author: Alexandre Dumas
Read book online ยซTen Years Later by Alexandre Dumas (free e books to read online .TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Alexandre Dumas
โWhy so?โ
โFor the simple reason that he makes you a present of anything. Did you not say that he intended to make you a present of some appointment in the kingโs household?โ
โI beg your pardon, count; but, if I succeed in obtaining the appointment, you, and not he, will have bestowed it on me.โ
โBesides he will not have given it to you for nothing, I suppose. Stay, I have it;โthere is a Malicorne at Orleans who lends money to the prince.โ
โI think that must be my father, monsieur.โ
โAh! the prince has the father, and that terrible dragon of a Manicamp has the son. Take care, monsieur, I know him. He will fleece you completely.โ
โThe only difference is, that I lend without interest,โ said Malicorne, smiling.
โI was correct in saying you were either a saint or very much resembled one. M. Malicorne, you shall have the post you want, or I will forfeit my name.โ
โAh! monsieur le comte, what a debt of gratitude shall I not owe you?โ said Malicorne, transported.
โLet us go to the prince, my dear M. Malicorne.โ And De Guiche proceeded toward the door, desiring Malicorne to follow him. At the very moment they were about to cross the threshold, a young man appeared on the other side. He was from twenty-four to twenty-five years of age, of pale complexion, bright eyes and brown hair and eyebrows. โGood-day,โ said he, suddenly, almost pushing De Guiche back into the courtyard again.
โIs that you, De Wardes?โWhat! and booted, spurred and whip in hand, too?โ
โThe most befitting costume for a man about to set off for Le Havre. There will be no one left in Paris to-morrow.โ And hereupon he saluted Malicorne with great ceremony, whose handsome dress gave him the appearance of a prince.
โM. Malicorne,โ said De Guiche to his friend. De Wardes bowed.
โM. de Wardes,โ said Guiche to Malicorne, who bowed in return. โBy the by, De Wardes,โ continued De Guiche, โyou who are so well acquainted with these matters, can you tell us, probably, what appointments are still vacant at the court; or rather in the princeโs household?โ
โIn the princeโs household,โ said De Wardes looking up with an air of consideration, โlet me seeโthe appointment of the master of the horse is vacant, I believe.โ
โOh,โ said Malicorne, โthere is no question of such a post as that, monsieur; my ambition is not nearly so exalted.โ
De Wardes had a more penetrating observation than De Guiche, and fathomed Malicorne immediately. โThe fact is,โ he said, looking at him from head to foot, โa man must be either a duke or a peer to fill that post.โ
โAll I solicit,โ said Malicorne, โis a very humble appointment; I am of little importance, and I do not rank myself above my position.โ
โM. Malicorne, whom you see here,โ said De Guiche to De Wardes, โis a very excellent fellow, whose only misfortune is that of not being of gentle birth. As far as I am concerned, you know, I attach little value to those who have but gentle birth to boast of.โ
โAssuredly,โ said De Wardes; โbut will you allow me to remark, my dear count, that, without rank of some sort, one can hardly hope to belong to his royal highnessโs household?โ
โYou are right,โ said the count, โcourt etiquette is absolute. The devil!โwe never so much as gave it a thought.โ
โAlas! a sad misfortune for me, monsieur le comte,โ said Malicorne, changing color.
โYet not without remedy, I hope,โ returned De Guiche.
โThe remedy is found easily enough,โ exclaimed De Wardes; โyou can be created a gentleman. His Eminence, the Cardinal Mazarin, did nothing else from morning till night.โ
โHush, hush, De Wardes,โ said the count; โno jests of that kind; it ill becomes us to turn such matters into ridicule. Letters of nobility, it is true, are purchasable; but that is a sufficient misfortune without the nobles themselves laughing at it.โ
โUpon my word, De Guiche, youโre quite a Puritan, as the English say.โ
At this moment the Vicomte de Bragelonne was announced by one of the servants in the courtyard, in precisely the same manner as he would have done in a room.
โCome here, my dear Raoul. What! you, too, booted and spurred? You are setting off, then?โ
Bragelonne approached the group of young men, and saluted them with that quiet and serious manner peculiar to him. His salutation was principally addressed to De Wardes, with whom he was unacquainted, and whose features, on his perceiving Raoul, had assumed a strange sternness of expression. โI have come, De Guiche,โ he said, โto ask your companionship. We set off for Le Havre, I presume.โ
โThis is admirableโdelightful. We shall have a most enjoyable journey. M. Malicorne, M. Bragelonneโah! M. de Wardes, let me present you.โ The young men saluted each other in a restrained manner. Their very natures seemed, from the beginning, disposed to take exception to each other. De Wardes was pliant, subtle, full of dissimulation; Raoul was calm, grave, and upright. โDecide between usโbetween De Wardes and myself, Raoul.โ
โUpon what subject?โ
โUpon the subject of noble birth.โ
โWho can be better informed on that subject than a De Gramont?โ
โNo compliments; it is your opinion I ask.โ
โAt least, inform me of the subject under discussion.โ
โDe Wardes asserts that the distribution of titles is abused; I, on the contrary, maintain that a title is useless to the man on whom it is bestowed.โ
โAnd you are correct,โ said Bragelonne, quietly.
โBut, monsieur le vicomte,โ interrupted De Wardes, with a kind of obstinacy, โI affirm that it is I who am correct.โ
โWhat was your opinion, monsieur?โ
โI was saying that everything is done in France at the present moment, to humiliate men of family.โ
โAnd by whom?โ
โBy the king himself. He surrounds himself with people who cannot show four quarterings.โ
โNonsense,โ said De Guiche, โwhere could you possibly have seen that, De Wardes?โ
โOne example will suffice,โ he returned, directing his look fully upon Raoul.
โState it then.โ
โDo you know who has just been nominated captain-general of the musketeers?โan appointment more
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