"Alexandre Dumas. Twenty Years After." - читать интересную книгу автора

the reply.
"En route, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the cardinal; "all goes well in
this direction."
D'Artagnan, in the meantime, had taken the head of his detachment
without a word and with that ready and profound obedience which marks the
character of an old soldier.
He led the way toward the hill of Saint Roche. The Rue Richelieu and
the Rue Villedot were then, owing to their vicinity to the ramparts, less
frequented than any others in that direction, for the town was thinly
inhabited thereabout.
"Who is in command here?" asked the cardinal.
"Villequier," said Guitant.
"Diavolo! Speak to him yourself, for ever since you were deputed by me
to arrest the Duc de Beaufort, this officer and I have been on bad terms.
He laid claim to that honor as captain of the royal guards."
"I am aware of that, and I have told him a hundred times that he was
wrong. The king could not give that order, since at that time he was hardly
four years old."
"Yes, but I could give him the order-I, Guitant-and I preferred to
give it to you."
Guitant, without reply, rode forward and desired the sentinel to call
Monsieur de Villequier.
"Ah! so you are here!" cried the officer, in the tone of ill-humor
habitual to him; "what the devil are you doing here?"
"I wish to know-can you tell me, pray-is anything fresh occurring in
this part of the town?"
"What do you mean? People cry out, `Long live the king! down with
Mazarin!' That's nothing new; no, we've been used to those acclamations for
some time."
"And you sing chorus," replied Guitant, laughing.
"Faith, I've half a mind to do it. In my opinion the people are right;
and cheerfully would I give up five years of my pay-which I am never paid,
by the way-to make the king five years older."
"Really! And pray what would come to pass, supposing the king were
five years older than he is?"
"As soon as ever the king comes of age he will issue his commands
himself, and 'tis far pleasanter to obey the grandson of Henry IV. than the
son of Peter Mazarin. 'Sdeath! I would die willingly for the king, but
supposing I happened to be killed on account of Mazarin, as your nephew
came near being to-day, there could be nothing in Paradise, however well
placed I might be there, that could console me for it."
"Well, well, Monsieur de Villequier," Mazarin interposed, "I shall
make it my care the king hears of your loyalty. Come, gentlemen,"
addressing the troop, "let us return."
"Stop," exclaimed Villequier, "so Mazarin was here! so much the
better. I have been waiting for a long time to tell him what I think of
him. I am obliged to you Guitant, although your intention was perhaps not
very favorable to me, for such an opportunity."
He turned away and went off to his post, whistling a tune then popular
among the party called the "Fronde," whilst Mazarin returned, in a pensive