[The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas Pere]@TWC D-Link bookThe Vicomte de Bragelonne CHAPTER XXXV 4/8
"The good Parry wants to speak to me, I believe: please order them to row to the shore, my Lord Rochester." Rochester hastened to repeat the princess's command; and a moment later the boat touched the bank. "Let us land, gentlemen," said Henrietta, taking the arm which Rochester offered her, although Buckingham was nearer to her, and had presented his.
Then Rochester, with an ill-dissembled pride, which pierced the heart of the unhappy Buckingham through and through, led the princess across the little bridge which the rowers had cast from the royal boat to the shore. "Which way will your highness go ?" asked Rochester. "You see, my lord, towards that good Parry, who is wandering, as my lord of Buckingham says, and seeking me with eyes weakened by the tears he has shed over our misfortunes." "Good heavens!" said Rochester, "how sad your royal highness is to-day; in truth we seem ridiculous fools to you, madam." "Speak for yourself, my lord," interrupted Buckingham with vexation; "for my part, I displease her royal highness to such a degree, that I appear absolutely nothing to her." Neither Rochester nor the princess made any reply; Henrietta only urged her companion more quickly on.
Buckingham remained behind, and took advantage of this isolation to give himself up to his anger; he bit his handkerchief so furiously that it was soon in shreds. "Parry, my good Parry," said the princess, with her gentle voice, "come hither.
I see you are seeking me, and I am waiting for you." "Ah, madam," said Rochester, coming charitably to the help of his companion, who had remained, as we have said, behind, "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.
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