* * *

Twenty Years After

In this first-rate romance, which is a sequel to "The Three
Musketeers," and was published in 1845, we have D'Artagnan and
the three musketeers in the prime of middle life. Their
efforts on behalf of Charles I. are amazing, worthy of
anything done when they were twenty years younger. All the
characters introduced are for the most part historical, and
they are all drawn with spirit, so that our interest in them
never flags. A remarkable point in regard to these historical
romances of Dumas is that, in spite of their enormous length,
no superfluous dialogue or long descriptions prolong them.
Dumas took considerable liberties with the facts of history in
several places, as, for instance, in the introduction of
D'Artagnan and his friends to Charles I., and in making his
trial and execution follow as quickly on his surrender as we
are made to believe in "Twenty Years After." The story is
further continued in "The Vicomte de Bragelonne."

_I.--The Parsimony of Mazarin_

The great Richelieu was dead, and his successor, Cardinal Mazarin, a
cunning and parsimonious Italian, was chief minister of France. Paris,
torn and distracted by civil dissension, and impoverished by heavy
taxation, was seething with revolt, and Mazarin was the object of
popular hatred, Anne of Austria, the queen-mother (for Louis XIV. was
but a child), sharing his disfavour with the people.

It was under these circumstances that the queen recalled how faithfully
D'Artagnan had once served her, and reminded Mazarin of that gallant
officer, and of his three friends. Mazarin sent for D'Artagnan, who for
twenty years had remained a lieutenant of musketeers, and asked him what
had become of his friends.

"I want you and your three friends to be of use to me," said the
cardinal. "Where are your friends?"

"I do not know, my lord. We parted company long ago; all three have left
the service."

"Where can you find them, then?"

"I can find them wherever they are. It would be my business."

"And what are the conditions for finding them?"

"Money, my lord; as much money as the undertaking may require.
Travelling is dear, and I am only a poor lieutenant in the musketeers."

"You will be at my service when they are found?" asked Mazarin.

"What are we to do?"

"Don't trouble about that. When the time for action arrives y