Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/254

Rh 242 THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE. weak voice, "come hither. I see you are seeking for me and I am waiting for you." "Ah, madame," said Rochester, coming charitably to the succor of his companion, remaining, as we have said, be hind, "if Parry cannot see your royal highness, the man who follows him is a sufficient guide, even for a blind man, for he has eyes of flame. That man is a double-lamped lantern." "Lighting a very handsome martial countenance," said the princess, determined to be as ill-natured as possible. Rochester bowed. "One of those vigorous soldier's heads seen nowhere but in France," added the princess, with ths perseverance of a woman sure of impunity. Rochester and Buckingham looked at each other, as much as to say, "What can be the matter with her?" "See, my Lord of Buckingham, what Parrv wants," said Henrietta— "go!" The young man, who considered this order as a favor, resumed his courage, and hastened to meet Parry, who, followed by D'Artagnan, advanced slowly on account of his age. D'Artagnan walked slowly but nobly, as D'Artagnan, doubled by the third of a million, ought to walk, that is to say, without conceit or swagger, but without timidity. When Buckingham, who had been very eager to comply with the desire of the princess, had stopped at a marble bench, as if fatigued with the few steps he had gone — when Buckingham, we say, was at a distance of only a few paces from Parry, the latter recognized him. "Ah, my lord!" cried he, quite out of breath, "will your grace obey the king?" "In what, Monsieur Parry?" said the young man, with a kind of coolness tempered by a desire of making himself agreeable to the princess. "Well, his majesty begs your grace to present this gentle- man to her Royal Highness the Princess Henrietta." "In the first place, what is the gentleman's name?" said the duke haughtily. D'Artagnan, as we know, was easily affronted; the tone of the Duke of Buckingham displeased him. He surveyed the courtier from head to foot, and two flashes beamed from heneath his bent brows. But after a struggle, "Monsieur lc Chevalier d'Artagnan, my lord," replied he quietly. "Pardon me, monsieur; that name teaches me your name, but nothing more." "That is'to say "