D'Artagnan retired to bed - not to sleep, but to think overall he had heard that evening. Being naturally goodhearted,and having had once a liking for Athos, which had grown intoa sincere friendship, he was delighted at thus meeting a manfull of intelligence and moral strength, instead of adrunkard. He admitted without annoyance the continuedsuperiority of Athos over himself, devoid as he was of thatjealousy which might have saddened a less generousdisposition; he was delighted also that the high qualitiesof Athos appeared to promise favorably for his mission.Nevertheless, it seemed to him that Athos was not in allrespects sincere and frank. Who was the youth he had adoptedand who bore so striking a resemblance to him? What couldexplain Athos's having re-entered the world and the extremesobriety he had observed at table? The absence of Grimaud,whose name had never once been uttered by Athos, gaveD'Artagnan uneasiness. It was evident either that he nolonger possessed the confidence of his friend, or that Athoswas bound by some invisible chain, or that he had beenforewarned of the lieutenant's visit.

He could not help thinking of M. Rochefort, whom he had seenin Notre Dame; could De Rochefort have forestalled him withAthos? Again, the moderate fortune which Athos possessed,concealed as it was, so skillfully, seemed to show a regardfor appearances and to betray a latent ambition which mightbe easily aroused. The clear and vigorous intellect of Athoswould render him more open to conviction than a less ableman would be. He would enter into the minister's schemeswith the more ardor, because his natural activity would bedoubled by necessity.

Resolved to seek an explanation on all these points on thefollowing day, D'Artagnan, in spite of his fatigue, preparedfor an attack and determined that it should take place afterbreakfast. He determined to cultivate the good-will of theyouth Raoul and, either whilst fencing with him or when outshooting, to extract from his simplicity some informationwhich would connect the Athos of old times with the Athos ofthe present. But D'Artagnan at the same time, being a man ofextreme caution, was quite aware what injury he should dohimself, if by any indiscretion or awkwardness he shouldbetray has manoeuvering to the experienced eye of Athos.Besides, to tell truth, whilst D'Artagnan was quite disposedto adopt a subtle course against the cunning of Aramis orthe vanity of Porthos, he was ashamed to equivocate withAthos, true-hearted, open Athos. It seemed to him that ifPorthos and Aramis deemed him superior to them in the artsof diplomacy, they would like him all the better for it; butthat Athos, on the contrary, would despise him.

"Ah! why is not Grimaud, the taciturn Grimaud, here?"thought D'Artagnan, "there are so many things his silencewould have told me; with Grimaud silence was another form ofeloquence!"

There reigned a perfect stillness in the house. D'Artagnanhad heard the door shut and the shutters barred; the dogsbecame in their turn silent. At last a nightingale, lost ina thicket of shrubs, in the midst of its most melodiouscadences had fluted low and lower into stillness and fallenasleep. Not a sound was heard in the castle, except of afootstep up and down, in the chamber above - as hesupposed, the bedroom of Athos.

"He is walking about and thinking," thought D'Artagnan; "butof what? It is impossible to know; everything else might beguessed, but not that."

At length Athos went to bed, apparently, for the noiseceased.

Silence and fatigue together overcame D'Artagnan and sleepovertook him also. He was not, however, a good sleeper.Scarcely had dawn gilded his window curtains when he sprangout of bed and opened the windows. Somebody, he perceived,was in the courtyard, moving stealthily. True to his customof never passing anything over that it was within his powerto know, D'Artagnan looked out of the window and perceivedthe close red coat and brown hair of Raoul.

The young man was opening the door of the stable. He then,with noiseless haste, took out the horse that he had riddenon the previous evening, saddled and bridled it himself andled the animal into the alley to the right of thekitchen-garden, opened a side door which conducted him to abridle road, shut it after him, and D'Artagnan saw him passby like a dart, bending, as he went, beneath the pendentflowery branches of maple and acacia. The road, asD'Artagnan had observed, was the way to Blois.

"So!" thought the Gascon "here's a young blade who hasalready his love affair, who doesn't at all agree with Athosin his hatred to the fair sex. He's not going to hunt, forhe has neither dogs nor arms; he's not going on a message,for he goes secretly. Why does he go in secret? Is he afraidof me or of his father? for I am sure the count is hisfather. By Jove! I shall know about that soon, for I shallsoon speak out to Athos."

Day was now advanced; all the noises that had ceased thenight before reawakened, one after the other. The bird onthe branch, the dog in his kennel, the sheep in the field,the boats moored in the Loire, even, became alive and vocal.The latter, leaving the shore, abandoned themselves gaily tothe current. The Gascon gave a last twirl to his mustache, alast turn to his hair, brushed, from habit, the brim of hishat with the sleeve of his doublet, and went downstairs.Scarcely had he descended the last step of the thresholdwhen he saw Athos bent down toward the ground, as if he werelooking for a crown-piece in the dust.

"Good-morning, my dear host," cried D'Artagnan.

"Good-day to you; have you slept well?"

"Excellently, Athos, but what are you looking for? You areperhaps a tulip fancier?"

"My dear friend, if I am, you must not laugh at me for beingso. In the country people alter; one gets to like, withoutknowing it, all those beautiful objects that God causes tospring from the earth, which are despised in cities. I waslooking anxiously for some iris roots I planted here, closeto this reservoir, and which some one has trampled upon thismorning. These gardeners are the most careless people in theworld; in bringing the horse out to the water they'veallowed him to walk over the border."

D'Artagnan began to smile.

"Ah! you think so, do you?"

And he took his friend along the alley, where a number oftracks like those which had trampled down the flowerbeds,were visible.

"Here are the horse's hoofs again, it seems, Athos," he saidcarelessly.

"Yes, indeed, the marks are recent."

"Quite so," replied the lieutenant.

"Who went out this morning?" Athos asked, uneasily. "Has anyhorse got loose?"

"Not likely," answered the Gascon; "these marks areregular."

"Where is Raoul?" asked Athos; "how is it that I have notseen him?"

"Hush!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, putting his finger on hislips; and he related what he had seen, watching Athos allthe while.

"Ah, he's gone to Blois; the poor boy - - "

"Wherefore?"

"Ah, to inquire after the little La Valliere; she hassprained her foot, you know."

"You think he has?"

"I am sure of it," said Athos; "don't you see that Raoul isin love?"

"Indeed! with whom - with a child seven years old?"

"Dear friend, at Raoul's age the heart is so expansive thatit must encircle one object or another, fancied or real.Well, his love is half real, half fanciful. She is theprettiest little creature in the world, with flaxen hair,blue eyes, - at once saucy and languishing."

"But what say you to Raoul's fancy?"

"Nothing - I laugh at Raoul; but this first desire of theheart is imperious. I remember, just at his age, how deep inlove I was with a Grecian statue which our good king, thenHenry IV., gave my father, insomuch that I was mad withgrief when they told me that the story of Pygmalion wasnothing but a fable."

"It is mere want of occupation. You do not make Raoul work,so he takes his own way of employing himself."

"Exactly; therefore I think of sending him away from here."

"You will be wise to do so."

"No doubt of it; but it will break his heart. So long asthree or four years ago he used to adorn and adore hislittle idol, whom he will some day fall in love with inright earnest if he remains here. The parents of little LaValliere have for a long time perceived and been amused atit; now they begin to look concerned."

"Nonsense! However, Raoul must be diverted from this fancy.Send him away or you will never make a man of him."

"I think I shall send him to Paris."

"So!" thought D'Artagnan, and it seemed to him that themoment for attack had arrived.

"Suppose," he said, "we roughly chalk out a career for thisyoung man. I wish to consult you about some thing."

"Do so."

"Do you think it is time for us to enter the service?"

"But are you not still in the service - you, D'Artagnan?"

"I mean active service. Our former life, has it still noattractions for you? would you not be happy to begin anew inmy society and in that of Porthos, the exploits of ouryouth?"

"Do you propose to me to do so, D'Artagnan?"

"Decidedly and honestly."

"On whose side?" asked Athos, fixing his clear, benevolentglance on the countenance of the Gascon.

"Ah, devil take it, you speak in earnest - - "

"And must have a definite answer. Listen, D'Artagnan. Thereis but one person, or rather, one cause, to whom a man likeme can be useful - that of the king."

"Exactly," answered the musketeer.

"Yes, but let us understand each other," returned Athos,seriously. "If by the cause of the king you mean that ofMonsieur de Mazarin, we do not understand each other."

"I don't say exactly," answered the Gascon, confused.

"Come, D'Artagnan, don't let us play a sidelong game; yourhesitation, your evasion, tells me at once on whose side youare; for that party no one dares openly to recruit, and whenpeople recruit for it, it is with averted eyes and humblevoice."

"Ah! my dear Athos!"

"You know that I am not alluding to you; you are the pearlof brave, bold men. I speak of that spiteful and intriguingItalian - of the pedant who has tried to put on his ownhead a crown which he stole from under a pillow - of thescoundrel who calls his party the party of the king - whowants to send the princes of the blood to prison, not daringto kill them, as our great cardinal - our cardinal did - of the miser, who weighs his gold pieces and keeps theclipped ones for fear, though he is rich, of losing them atplay next morning - of the impudent fellow who insults thequeen, as they say - so much the worse for her - and whois going in three months to make war upon us, in order thathe may retain his pensions; is that the master whom youpropose to me? I thank you, D'Artagnan."

"You are more impetuous than you were," returned D'Artagnan."Age has warmed, not chilled your blood. Who informed youthis was the master I propose to you? Devil take it," hemuttered to himself, "don't let me betray my secrets to aman not inclined to entertain them."

"Well, then," said Athos, "what are your schemes? what doyou propose?"

"Zounds! nothing more than natural. You live on your estate,happy in golden mediocrity. Porthos has, perhaps, sixtythousand francs income. Aramis has always fifty duchessesquarreling over the priest, as they quarreled formerly overthe musketeer; but I - what have I in the world? I haveworn my cuirass these twenty years, kept down in thisinferior rank, without going forward or backward, hardlyhalf living. In fact, I am dead. Well! when there is someidea of being resuscitated, you say he's a scoundrel, animpudent fellow, a miser, a bad master! By Jove! I am ofyour opinion, but find me a better one or give me the meansof living."

Athos was for a few moments thoughtful.

"Good! D'Artagnan is for Mazarin," he said to himself.

From that moment he grew very guarded.

On his side D'Artagnan became more cautious also.

"You spoke to me," Athos resumed, "of Porthos; have youpersuaded him to seek his fortune? But he has wealth, Ibelieve, already."

"Doubtless he has. But such is man, we always want somethingmore than we already have."

"What does Porthos wish for?"

"To be a baron."

"Ah, true! I forgot," said Athos, laughing.

"'Tis true!" thought the Gascon, "where has he heard it?Does he correspond with Aramis? Ah! if I knew that he did Ishould know all."

The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Raoul.

"Is our little neighbor worse?" asked D'Artagnan, seeing alook of vexation on the face of the youth.

"Ah, sir!" replied Raoul, "her fall is a very serious one,and without any ostensible injury, the physician fears shewill be lame for life."

"This is terrible," said Athos.

"And what makes me all the more wretched, sir, is, that Iwas the cause of this misfortune."

"How so?" asked Athos.

"It was to run to meet me that she leaped from that pile ofwood."

"There's only one remedy, dear Raoul - that is, to marryher as a compensation " remarked D'Artagnan.

"Ah, sir!" answered Raoul, "you joke about a realmisfortune; that is cruel, indeed."

The good understanding between the two friends was not inthe least altered by the morning's skirmish. Theybreakfasted with a good appetite, looking now and then atpoor Raoul, who with moist eyes and a full heart, scarcelyate at all.

After breakfast two letters arrived for Athos, who read themwith profound attention, whilst D'Artagnan could notrestrain himself from jumping up several times on seeing himread these epistles, in one of which, there being at thetime a very strong light, he perceived the fine writing ofAramis. The other was in a feminine hand, long, and crossed.

"Come," said D'Artagnan to Raoul, seeing that Athos wishedto be alone, "come, let us take a turn in the fencinggallery; that will amuse you."

And they both went into a low room where there were foils,gloves, masks, breastplates, and all the accessories for afencing match.

In a quarter of an hour Athos joined them and at the samemoment Charles brought in a letter for D'Artagnan, which amessenger had just desired might be instantly delivered.

It was now Athos's turn to take a sly look.

D'Artagnan read the letter with apparent calmness and said,shaking his head:

"See, dear friend, what it is to belong to the army. Faith,you are indeed right not to return to it. Monsieur deTreville is ill, so my company can't do without me; there!my leave is at an end!"

"Do you return to Paris?" asked Athos, quickly.

"Egad! yes; but why don't you come there also?"

Athos colored a little and answered:

"Should I go, I shall be delighted to see you there."

"Halloo, Planchet!" cried the Gascon from the door, "we mustset out in ten minutes; give the horses some hay.

Then turning to Athos he added:

"I seem to miss something here. I am really sorry to go awaywithout having seen Grimaud."

"Grimaud!" replied Athos. "I'm surprised you have never somuch as asked after him. I have lent him to a friend - - "

"Who will understand the signs he makes?" returnedD'Artagnan.

"I hope so."

The friends embraced cordially; D'Artagnan pressed Raoul'shand.

"Will you not come with me?" he said; "I shall pass byBlois."

Raoul turned toward Athos, who showed him by a secret signthat he did not wish him to go.

"No, monsieur," replied the young man; "I will remain withmonsieur le comte."

"Adieu, then, to both, my good friends," said D'Artagnan;"may God preserve you! as we used to say when we saidgood-bye to each other in the late cardinal's time."

Athos waved his hand, Raoul bowed, and D'Artagnan andPlanchet set out.

The count followed them with his eyes, his hands resting onthe shoulders of the youth, whose height was almost equal tohis own; but as soon as they were out of sight he said:

"Raoul, we set out to-night for Paris."

"Eh?" cried the young man, turning pale.

"You may go and offer your adieux and mine to Madame deSaint-Remy. I shall wait for you here till seven."

The young man bent low, with an expression of sorrow andgratitude mingled, and retired in order to saddle his horse.

As to D'Artagnan, scarcely, on his side, was he out of sightwhen he drew from his pocket a letter, which he read overagain:

"Return immediately to Paris. - J. M - - ."

"The epistle is laconic," said D'Artagnan; "and if there hadnot been a postscript, probably I should not have understoodit; but happily there is a postscript."

And he read that welcome postscript, which made him forgetthe abruptness of the letter.

"P. S. - Go to the king's treasurer, at Blois; tell himyour name and show him this letter; you will receive twohundred pistoles."

"Assuredly," said D'Artagnan, "I admire this piece of prose.The cardinal writes better than I thought. Come, Planchet,let us pay a visit to the king's treasurer and then setoff."

"Toward Paris, sir?"

"Toward Paris."

And they set out at as hard a canter as their horses couldmaintain.