Raoul and the Comte de la Fere reached Paris the evening ofthe same day on which Buckingham had held the conversationwith the queen-mother. The count had scarcely arrived, when,through Raoul, he solicited an audience of the king. Hismajesty had passed a portion of the morning in looking over,with Madame and the ladies of the court, various goods ofLyons manufacture, of which he had made his sister-in-law apresent. A court dinner had succeeded, then cards, andafterwards, according to his usual custom, the king, leavingthe card-tables at eight o'clock, passed into his cabinet inorder to work with M. Colbert and M. Fouquet. Raoul enteredthe ante-chamber at the very moment the two ministersquitted it, and the king, perceiving him through thehalf-closed door, said, "What do you want, M. deBragelonne?"

The young man approached: "An audience, sire," he replied,"for the Comte de la Fere, who has just arrived from Blois,and is most anxious to have an interview with your majesty."

"I have an hour to spare between cards and supper," said theking. "Is the Comte de la Fere at hand?"

"He is below, and awaits your majesty's permission."

"Let him come up at once," said the king, and five minutesafterwards Athos entered the presence of Louis XIV. He wasreceived by the king with that gracious kindness of mannerwhich Louis, with a tact beyond his years, reserved for thepurpose of gaining those who were not to be conquered byordinary favors. "Let me hope, comte," said the king, "thatyou have come to ask me for something."

"I will not conceal from your majesty," replied the comte,"that I am indeed come for that purpose."

"That is well," said the king, joyously.

"It is not for myself, sire."

"So much the worse; but, at least, I will do for yourprotege what you refuse to permit me to do for you."

"Your majesty encourages me. I have come to speak on behalfof the Vicomte de Bragelonne."

"It is the same as if you spoke on your own behalf, comte."

"Not altogether so, sire. I am desirous of obtaining fromyour majesty that which I cannot ask for myself. The vicomtethinks of marrying."

"He is still very young; but that does not matter. He is aneminently distinguished man, I will choose a wife for him."

"He has already chosen one, sire, and only awaits yourconsent."

"It is only a question, then, of signing themarriage-contract?" Athos bowed. "Has he chosen a wife whosefortune and position accord with your own anticipations?"

Athos hesitated for a moment. "His affianced wife is of goodbirth, but has no fortune."

"That is a misfortune we can remedy."

"You overwhelm me with gratitude, sire; but your majestywill permit me to offer a remark?"

"Do so, comte."

"Your majesty seems to intimate an intention of giving amarriage-portion to this young lady."

"Certainly."

"I should regret, sire, if the step I have taken towardsyour majesty should be attended by this result."

"No false delicacy, comte; what is the bride's name?"

"Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere," saidAthos, coldly."

"I seem to know that name," said the king, as if reflecting;"there was a Marquis de la Valliere"

"Yes, sire, it is his daughter."

"But he died, and his widow married again M. de Saint-Remy,I think, steward of the wager Madame's household."

"Your majesty is correctly informed."

"More than that, the young lady has lately become one of theprincess's maids of honor."

"Your majesty is better acquainted with her history than Iam."

The king again reflected, and glancing at the comte'sanxious countenance, said: "The young lady does not seem tome to be very pretty, comte."

"I am not quite sure," replied Athos.

"I have seen her, but she hardly struck me as being so."

"She seems to be a good and modest girl, but has littlebeauty, sire."

"Beautiful fair hair, however."

"I think so."

"And her blue eyes are tolerably good."

"Yes, sire."

"With regard to beauty, then, the match is but an ordinaryone. Now for the money side of the question."

"Fifteen to twenty thousand francs dowry at the veryoutside, sire; the lovers are disinterested enough; formyself, I care little for money."

"For superfluity, you mean; but a needful amount is ofimportance. With fifteen thousand francs, without landedproperty, a woman cannot live at court. We will make up thedeficiency; I will do it for De Bragelonne." The king againremarked the coldness with which Athos received the remark.

"Let us pass from the question of money to that of rank,"said Louis XIV.; "the daughter of the Marquis de laValliere, that is well enough; but there is that excellentSaint-Remy, who somewhat damages the credit of the family;and you, comte, are rather particular, I believe, about yourown family."

"Sire, I no longer hold to anything but my devotion to yourmajesty."

The king again paused. "A moment, comte. You have surprisedme in no little degree from the beginning of yourconversation. You came to ask me to authorize a marriage,and you seem greatly disturbed in having to make therequest. Nay, pardon me, comte, but I am rarely deceived,young as I am; for while with some persons I place myfriendship at the disposal of my understanding, with othersI call my distrust to my aid, by which my discernment isincreased. I repeat that you do not prefer your request asthough you wished it success."

"Well, sire, that is true."

"I do not understand you, then; refuse."

"Nay, sire; I love De Bragelonne with my whole heart; he issmitten with Mademoiselle de la Valliere, he weaves dreamsof bliss for the future; I am not one who is willing todestroy the illusions of youth. This marriage isobjectionable to me, but I implore your majesty to consentto it forthwith, and thus make Raoul happy."

"Tell me, comte, is she in love with him?"

"If your majesty requires me to speak candidly, I do notbelieve in Mademoiselle de la Valliere's affection; thedelight at being at court, the honor of being in the serviceof Madame, counteract in her head whatever affection she mayhappen to have in her heart; it is a marriage similar tomany others which already exist at court; but De Bragelonnewishes it, and so let it be."

"And yet you do not resemble those easy-tempered fathers whovolunteer as stepping-stones for their children," said theking.

"I am determined enough against the viciously disposed, butnot so against men of upright character. Raoul is suffering;he is in great distress of mind: his disposition, naturallylight and cheerful, has become gloomy and melancholy. I donot wish to deprive your majesty of the services he may beable to render."

"I understand you," said the king; "and what is more, Iunderstand your heart, too, comte."

"There is no occasion, therefore," replied the comte, "totell your majesty that my object is to make these children,or rather Raoul, happy."

"And I, too, as much as yourself, comte, wish to secure M.de Bragelonne's happiness."

"I only await your majesty's signature. Raoul will have thehonor of presenting himself before your majesty to receiveyour consent."

"You are mistaken, comte," said the king, firmly; "I havejust said that I desire to secure M. de Bragelonne'shappiness, and from the present moment, therefore, I opposehis marriage."

"But, sire," exclaimed Athos, "your majesty has promised!"

"Not so, comte, I did not promise you, for it is opposed tomy own views."

"I appreciate your majesty's considerate and generousintentions in my behalf; but I take the liberty of recallingto you that I undertook to approach you as an ambassador."

"An ambassador, comte, frequently asks, but does not alwaysobtain what he asks."

"But, sire, it will be such a blow for De Bragelonne."

"My hand shall deal the blow; I will speak to the vicomte."

"Love, sir, is overwhelming in its might."

"Love can be resisted, comte. I myself can assure you ofthat."

"When one has the soul of a king, - your own, for instance,sire."

"Do not make yourself uneasy on the subject. I have certainviews for De Bragelonne. I do not say that he shall notmarry Mademoiselle de la Valliere, but I do not wish him tomarry so young; I do not wish him to marry her until she hasacquired a fortune; and he, on his side, no less deservesfavor, such as I wish to confer upon him. In a word, comte,I wish them to wait."

"Yet once more, sire."

"Comte, you told me you came to request a favor."

"Assuredly, sire."

"Grant me one, then, instead; let us speak no longer uponthis matter. It is probable that, before long, war may bedeclared. I require men about me who are unfettered. Ishould hesitate to send under fire a married man, or afather of a family. I should hesitate also, on DeBragelonne's account, to endow with a fortune, without somesound reason for it, a young girl, a perfect stranger; suchan act would sow jealousy amongst my nobility." Athos bowed,and remained silent.

"Is that all you wished to ask me?" added Louis XIV.

"Absolutely all, sire; and I take my leave of your majesty.Is it, however, necessary that I should inform Raoul?"

"Spare yourself the trouble and annoyance. Tell the vicomtethat at my levee to-morrow morning I will speak to him. Ishall expect you this evening, comte, to join mycard-table."

"I am in traveling-costume, sire."

"A day will come, I hope, when you will leave me no more.Before long, comte, the monarchy will be established in sucha manner as to enable me to offer a worthy hospitality tomen of your merit."

"Provided, sire, a monarch reigns grandly in the hearts ofhis subjects, the palace he inhabits matters little, sincehe is worshipped in a temple." With these words Athos leftthe cabinet, and found De Bragelonne, who was awaiting himanxiously.

"Well, monsieur?" said the young man.

"The king, Raoul, is well intentioned towards us both; not,perhaps, in the sense you suppose, but he is kind, andgenerously disposed to our house."

"You have bad news to communicate to me, monsieur," said theyoung man, turning very pale.

"The king himself will inform you tomorrow morning that itis not bad news."

"The king has not signed, however?"

"The king wishes himself to settle the terms of thecontract, and he desires to make it so grand that herequires time for consideration. Throw the blame rather onyour own impatience, than on the king's good feeling towardsyou."

Raoul, in utter consternation, on account of his knowledgeof the count's frankness as well as his diplomacy, remainedplunged in dull and gloomy stupor.

"Will you not go with me to my lodgings?" said Athos.

"I beg your pardon, monsieur; I will follow you," hestammered out, following Athos down the staircase.

"Since I am here," said Athos, suddenly, "cannot I see M.d'Artagnan?"

"Shall I show you his apartments?" said De Bragelonne.

"Do so."

"They are on the opposite staircase."

They altered their course, but on reaching the landing ofthe grand staircase, Raoul perceived a servant in the Comtede Guiche's livery, who ran towards him as soon as he heardhis voice.

"What is it?" said Raoul.

"This note, monsieur. My master heard of your return andwrote to you without delay; I have been looking for you forthe last half-hour."

Raoul approached Athos as he unsealed the letter. saying,"With your permission, monsieur."

"Certainly."

"Dear Raoul," wrote the Comte de Guiche, "I have an affairin hand which requires immediate attention; I know you havereturned, come to me as soon as possible."

Hardly had he finished reading it, when a servant in thelivery of the Duke of Buckingham, turning out of thegallery, recognized Raoul, and approached him respectfully,saying, "From his Grace, monsieur."

"Well, Raoul, as I see you are already as busy as a generalof an army, I shall leave you, and will find M. d'Artagnanmyself."

"You will excuse me, I trust," said Raoul.

"Yes, yes, I excuse you; adieu, Raoul; you will find me atmy apartments until to-morrow; during the day I may set outfor Blois, unless I have orders to the contrary."

"I shall present my respects to you to-morrow, monsieur."

As soon as Athos had left, Raoul opened Buckingham's letter.

"Monsieur de Bragelonne," it ran, "You are, of all theFrenchmen I have known, the one with whom I am most pleased;I am about to put your friendship to the proof. I havereceived a certain message, written in very good French. AsI am an Englishman, I am afraid of not comprehending it veryclearly. The letter has a good name attached to it, and thatis all I can tell you. Will you be good enough to come andsee me? for I am told you have arrived from Blois.

"Your devoted

"Villiers, Duke of Buckingham."

"I am going now to see your master," said Raoul to DeGuiche's servant, as he dismissed him; "and I shall be withthe Duke of Buckingham in an hour," he added, dismissingwith these words the duke's messenger.