The road was long, but the horses upon which D'Artagnan andPlanchet rode had been refreshed in the well suppliedstables of the Lord of Bracieux; the master and servant rodeside by side, conversing as they went, for D'Artagnan had bydegrees thrown off the master and Planchet had entirelyceased to assume the manners of a servant. He had beenraised by circumstances to the rank of a confidant to hismaster. It was many years since D'Artagnan had opened hisheart to any one; it happened, however, that these two men,on meeting again, assimilated perfectly. Planchet was intruth no vulgar companion in these new adventures; he was aman of uncommonly sound sense. Without courting danger henever shrank from an encounter; in short, he had been asoldier and arms ennoble a man; it was, therefore, on thefooting of friends that D'Artagnan and Planchet arrived inthe neighborhood of Blois.

Going along, D'Artagnan, shaking his head, said:

"I know that my going to Athos is useless and absurd; butstill I owe this courtesy to my old friend, a man who had inhim material for the most noble and generous of characters."

"Oh, Monsieur Athos was a noble gentleman," said Planchet,"was he not? Scattering money round about him as Heavensprinkles rain. Do you remember, sir, that duel with theEnglishman in the inclosure des Carmes? Ah! how lofty, howmagnificent Monsieur Athos was that day, when he said to hisadversary: `You have insisted on knowing my name, sir; somuch the worse for you, since I shall be obliged to killyou.' I was near him, those were his exact words, when hestabbed his foe as he said he would, and his adversary fellwithout saying, `Oh!' 'Tis a noble gentleman - MonsieurAthos."

"Yes, true as Gospel," said D'Artagnan; "but one singlefault has swallowed up all these fine qualities."

"I remember well," said Planchet, "he was fond of drinking- in truth, he drank, but not as other men drink. Oneseemed, as he raised the wine to his lips, to hear him say,`Come, juice of the grape, and chase away my sorrows.' Andhow he used to break the stem of a glass or the neck of abottle! There was no one like him for that."

"And now," replied D'Artagnan, "behold the sad spectaclethat awaits us. This noble gentleman with his lofty glance,this handsome cavalier, so brilliant in feats of arms thatevery one was surprised that he held in his hand a swordonly instead of a baton of command! Alas! we shall find himchanged into a broken down old man, with garnet nose andeyes that slobber; we shall find him extended on some lawn,whence he will look at us with a languid eye andperadventure will not recognize us. God knows, Planchet,that I should fly from a sight so sad if I did not wish toshow my respect for the illustrious shadow of what was oncethe Comte de la Fere, whom we loved so much."

Planchet shook his head and said nothing. It was evidentthat he shared his master's apprehensions.

"And then," resumed D'Artagnan, "to this decrepitude isprobably added poverty, for he must have neglected thelittle that he had, and the dirty scoundrel, Grimaud, moretaciturn than ever and still more drunken than his master - stay, Planchet, it breaks my heart to merely think of it."

"I fancy myself there and that I see him staggering and hearhim stammering," said Planchet, in a piteous tone, "but atall events we shall soon know the real state of things, forI imagine that those lofty walls, now turning ruby in thesetting sun, are the walls of Blois."

"Probably; and those steeples, pointed and sculptured, thatwe catch a glimpse of yonder, are similar to those that Ihave heard described at Chambord."

At this moment one of those heavy wagons, drawn by bullocks,which carry the wood cut in the fine forests of the countryto the ports of the Loire, came out of a byroad full of rutsand turned on that which the two horsemen were following. Aman carrying a long switch with a nail at the end of it,with which he urged on his slow team, was walking with thecart.

"Ho! friend," cried Planchet.

"What's your pleasure, gentlemen?" replied the peasant, witha purity of accent peculiar to the people of that districtand which might have put to shame the cultured denizens ofthe Sorbonne and the Rue de l'Universite.

"We are looking for the house of Monsieur de la Fere," saidD'Artagnan.

The peasant took off his hat on hearing this revered name.

"Gentlemen," he said, "the wood that I am carting is his; Icut it in his copse and I am taking it to the chateau."

D'Artagnan determined not to question this man; he did notwish to hear from another what he had himself said toPlanchet.

"The chateau!" he said to himself, "what chateau? Ah, Iunderstand! Athos is not a man to be thwarted; he, likePorthos, has obliged his peasantry to call him `my lord,'and to dignify his pettifogging place by the name ofchateau. He had a heavy hand - dear old Athos - afterdrinking."

D'Artagnan, after asking the man the right way, continuedhis route, agitated in spite of himself at the idea ofseeing once more that singular man whom he had so trulyloved and who had contributed so much by advice and exampleto his education as a gentleman. He checked by degrees thespeed of his horse and went on, his head drooping as if indeep thought.

Soon, as the road turned, the Chateau de la Valliereappeared in view; then, a quarter of a mile beyond, a whitehouse, encircled in sycamores, was visible at the fartherend of a group of trees, which spring had powdered with asnow of flowers.

On beholding this house, D'Artagnan, calm as he was ingeneral, felt an unusual disturbance within his heart - sopowerful during the whole course of life are therecollections of youth. He proceeded, nevertheless, and cameopposite to an iron gate, ornamented in the taste of theperiod.

Through the gate was seen kitchen-gardens, carefullyattended to, a spacious courtyard, in which neighed severalhorses held by valets in various liveries, and a carriage,drawn by two horses of the country.

"We are mistaken," said D'Artagnan. "This cannot be theestablishment of Athos. Good heavens! suppose he is dead andthat this property now belongs to some one who bears hisname. Alight, Planchet, and inquire, for I confess that Ihave scarcely courage so to do."

Planchet alighted.

"Thou must add," said D'Artagnan, "that a gentleman who ispassing by wishes to have the honor of paying his respectsto the Comte de la Fere, and if thou art satisfied with whatthou hearest, then mention my name!"

Planchet, leading his horse by the bridle, drew near to thegate and rang the bell, and immediately a servant-man withwhite hair and of erect stature, notwithstanding his age,presented himself.

"Does Monsieur le Comte de la Fere live here?" askedPlanchet.

"Yes, monsieur, it is here he lives," the servant replied toPlanchet, who was not in livery.

"A nobleman retired from service, is he not?"

"Yes."

"And who had a lackey named Grimaud?" persisted Planchet,who had prudently considered that he couldn't have too muchinformation.

"Monsieur Grimaud is absent from the chateau for the timebeing," said the servitor, who, little used as he was tosuch inquiries, began to examine Planchet from head to foot.

"Then," cried Planchet joyously, "I see well that it is thesame Comte de la Fere whom we seek. Be good enough to opento me, for I wish to announce to monsieur le comte that mymaster, one of his friends, is here, and wishes to greethim."

"Why didn't you say so?" said the servitor, opening thegate. "But where is your master?"

"He is following me."

The servitor opened the gate and walked before Planchet, whomade a sign to D'Artagnan. The latter, his heart palpitatingmore than ever, entered the courtyard without dismounting.

Whilst Planchet was standing on the steps before the househe heard a voice say:

"Well, where is this gentleman and why do they not bring himhere?"

This voice, the sound of which reached D'Artagnan,reawakened in his heart a thousand sentiments, a thousandrecollections that he had forgotten. He vaulted hastily fromhis horse, whilst Planchet, with a smile on his lips,advanced toward the master of the house.

"But I know you, my lad," said Athos, appearing on thethreshold.

"Oh, yes, monsieur le comte, you know me and I know you. Iam Planchet - Planchet, whom you know well." But the honestservant could say no more, so much was he overcome by thisunexpected interview.

"What, Planchet, is Monsieur d'Artagnan here?"

"Here I am, my friend, dear Athos!" cried D'Artagnan, in afaltering voice and almost staggering from agitation.

At these words a visible emotion was expressed on thebeautiful countenance and calm features of Athos. He rushedtoward D'Artagnan with eyes fixed upon him and clasped himin his arms. D'Artagnan, equally moved, pressed him alsoclosely to him, whilst tears stood in his eyes. Athos thentook him by the hand and led him into the drawing-room,where there were several people. Every one arose.

"I present to you," he said, "Monsieur le ChevalierD'Artagnan, lieutenant of his majesty's musketeers, adevoted friend and one of the most excellent, bravegentlemen that I have ever known."

D'Artagnan received the compliments of those who werepresent in his own way, and whilst the conversation becamegeneral he looked earnestly at Athos.

Strange! Athos was scarcely aged at all! His fine eyes, nolonger surrounded by that dark line which nights ofdissipation pencil too infallibly, seemed larger, moreliquid than ever. His face, a little elongated, had gainedin calm dignity what it had lost in feverish excitement. Hishand, always wonderfully beautiful and strong, was set offby a ruffle of lace, like certain hands by Titian andVandyck. He was less stiff than formerly. His long, darkhair, softly powdered here and there with silver tendrils,fell elegantly over his shoulders in wavy curls; his voicewas still youthful, as if belonging to a Hercules oftwenty-five, and his magnificent teeth, which he hadpreserved white and sound, gave an indescribable charm tohis smile.

Meanwhile the guests, seeing that the two friends werelonging to be alone, prepared to depart, when a noise ofdogs barking resounded through the courtyard and manypersons said at the same moment:

"Ah! 'tis Raoul, who is come home."

Athos, as the name of Raoul was pronounced, lookedinquisitively at D'Artagnan, in order to see if anycuriosity was painted on his face. But D'Artagnan was stillin confusion and turned around almost mechanically when afine young man of fifteen years of age, dressed simply, butin perfect taste, entered the room, raising, as he came, hishat, adorned with a long plume of scarlet feathers.

Nevertheless, D'Artagnan was struck by the appearance ofthis new personage. It seemed to explain to him the changein Athos; a resemblance between the boy and the manexplained the mystery of this regenerated existence. Heremained listening and gazing.

"Here you are, home again, Raoul," said the comte.

"Yes, sir," replied the youth, with deep respect, "and Ihave performed the commission that you gave me."

"But what's the matter, Raoul?" said Athos, very anxiously."You are pale and agitated."

"Sir," replied the young man, "it is on account of anaccident which has happened to our little neighbor."

"To Mademoiselle de la Valliere?" asked Athos, quickly.

"What is it?" cried many persons present.

"She was walking with her nurse Marceline, in the placewhere the woodmen cut the wood, when, passing on horseback,I stopped. She saw me also and in trying to jump from theend of a pile of wood on which she had mounted, the poorchild fell and was not able to rise again. I fear that shehas badly sprained her ankle."

"Oh, heavens!" cried Athos. "And her mother, Madame deSaint-Remy, have they yet told her of it?"

"No, sir, Madame de Saint-Remy is at Blois with the Duchessof Orleans. I am afraid that what was first done wasunskillful, if not worse than useless. I am come, sir, toask your advice."

"Send directly to Blois, Raoul; or, rather, take horse andride immediately yourself."

Raoul bowed.

"But where is Louise?" asked the comte.

"I have brought her here, sir, and I have deposited her incharge of Charlotte, who, till better advice comes, hasbathed the foot in cold well-water."

The guests now all took leave of Athos, excepting the oldDuc de Barbe, who, as an old friend of the family of LaValliere, went to see little Louise and offered to take herto Blois in his carriage.

"You are right, sir," said Athos. "She will be the soonerwith her mother. As for you, Raoul, I am sure it is yourfault, some giddiness or folly."

"No, sir, I assure you," muttered Raoul, "it is not."

"Oh, no, no, I declare it is not!" cried the young girl,while Raoul turned pale at the idea of his being perhaps thecause of her disaster.

"Nevertheless, Raoul, you must go to Blois and you must makeyour excuses and mine to Madame de Saint-Remy."

The youth looked pleased. He again took in his strong armsthe little girl, whose pretty golden head and smiling facerested on his shoulder, and placed her gently in thecarriage; then jumping on his horse with the elegance of afirst-rate esquire, after bowing to Athos and D'Artagnan, hewent off close by the door of the carriage, on somebodyinside of which his eyes were riveted.