"I hope so, monsieur."
"But, take care, Raoul! suppose she did not wait? Ah, you are young, so confiding, so loyal! Women are changeable."
"You have never spoken ill to me of women, monsieur; you have never had to complain of them; why should you doubt of Mademoiselle de la Valliere?"
"That is true," said Athos, casting down his eyes; "I have never spoken ill to you of women; I have never had to complain of them; Mademoiselle de la Valliere never gave birth to a suspicion; but when we are looking forward, we must go even to exceptions, even to improbabilities! If, I say, Mademoiselle de la Valliere should not wait for you?"
"How, monsieur?"
"If she turned her eyes another way."
"If she looked favorably upon another, do you mean, monsieur?" said Raoul, pale with agony.
"Exactly."
"Well, monsieur, I would kill him," said Raoul, simply, "and all the men whom Mademoiselle de la Valliere should choose, until one of them had killed me, or Mademoiselle de la Valliere had restored me her heart."
Athos started. "I thought," resumed he, in an agitated voice, "that you called my just now your G.o.d, your law in this world."
"Oh!" said Raoul, trembling, "you would forbid me the duel?"
"Suppose I did forbid it, Raoul?"
"You would not forbid me to hope, monsieur; consequently you would not forbid me to die."
Athos raised his eyes toward the vicomte. He had p.r.o.nounced these words with the most melancholy look. "Enough," said Athos, after a long silence, "enough of this subject, upon which we both go too far. Live as well as you are able, Raoul, perform your duties, love Mademoiselle de la Valliere; in a word, act like a man, since you have attained the age of a man; only do not forget that I love you tenderly, and that you profess to love me."
"Ah! monsieur le comte!" cried Raoul, pressing the hand of Athos to his heart.
"Enough, dear boy, leave me; I want rest. A propos, M. d"Artagnan has returned from England with me; you owe him a visit."
"I will pay it, monsieur, with great pleasure. I love Monsieur d"Artagnan exceedingly."
"You are right in doing so; he is a worthy man and a brave cavalier."
"Who loves you dearly."
"I am sure of that. Do you know his address?"
"At the Louvre, I suppose, or wherever the king is. Does he not command the musketeers?"
"No; at present M. d"Artagnan is absent on leave; he is resting for awhile. Do not, therefore, seek him at the posts of his service. You will hear of him at the house of a certain Planchet."
"His former lackey?"
"Exactly; turned grocer."
"I know; Rue des Lombards?"
"Somewhere thereabouts, or Rue des Arcis."
"I will find it, monsieur--I will find it."
"You will say a thousand kind things to him, on my part, and ask him to come and dine with me before I set out for La Fere."
"Yes, monsieur."
"Good-might, Raoul!"
"Monsieur, I see you wear an order I never saw you wear before; accept my compliments."
"The Fleece!--that is true. A bauble, my boy, which no longer amuses an old child like myself. Good-night, Raoul!"
Chapter LII. D"Artagnan"s Lesson.
Raoul did not meet with D"Artagnan the next day, as he had hoped. He only met with Planchet, whose joy was great at seeing the young man again, and who contrived to pay him two or three little soldierly compliments, savoring very little of the grocer"s shop. But as Raoul was returning the next day from Vincennes at the head of fifty dragoons confided to him by Monsieur le Prince, he perceived, in La Place Baudoyer, a man with his nose in the air, examining a house as we examine a horse we have a fancy to buy. This man, dressed in a citizen costume b.u.t.toned up like a military pourpoint, a very small hat on his head, but a long s.h.a.green-mounted sword by his side, turned his head as soon as he heard the steps of the horses, and left off looking at the house to look at the dragoons. It was simply M. d"Artagnan; D"Artagnan on foot; D"Artagnan with his hands behind him, pa.s.sing a little review upon the dragoons, after having reviewed the buildings. Not a man, not a tag, not a horse"s hoof escaped his inspection. Raoul rode at the side of his troop; D"Artagnan perceived him the last. "Eh!" said he, "Eh!
Mordioux!"
"I was not mistaken!" cried Raoul, turning his horse towards him.
"Mistaken--no! Good-day to you," replied the ex-musketeer; whilst Raoul eagerly pressed the hand of his old friend. "Take care, Raoul," said D"Artagnan, "the second horse of the fifth rank will lose a shoe before he gets to the Pont Marie; he has only two nails left in his off fore-foot."
"Wait a minute, I will come back," said Raoul.
"Can you quit your detachment?"
"The cornet is there to take my place."
"Then you will come and dine with me?"
"Most willingly, Monsieur d"Artagnan."
"Be quick, then; leave your horse, or make them give me one."
"I prefer coming back on foot with you."
Raoul hastened to give notice to the cornet, who took his post; he then dismounted, gave his horse to one of the dragoons, and with great delight seized the arm of M. d"Artagnan, who had watched him during all these little evolutions with the satisfaction of a connoisseur.
"What, do you come from Vincennes?" said he.
"Yes, monsieur le chevalier."
"And the cardinal?"