Part 85 (1/2)
”Monsieur, I had thirty pistoles left fron, and M le Prince had the kindness to allow me to o hundred pistoles at his play-table three o”
”Do you play? I don't like that, Raoul”
”I never play, monsieur; it was M le Prince who ordered ht when a courier ca
I won, and M le Prince commanded me to take the stakes”
”Is that a practice in the household, Raoul?” asked Athos with a frown
”Yes, monsieur; every week M le Prince affords, upon one occasion or another, a sientlehness's household; it was my turn”
”Very well! You went into Spain, then?”
”Yes,journey”
”You have been back a month, have you not?”
”Yes, monsieur”
”And in the course of that month?”
”In that month--”
”What have you done?”
”My duty, monsieur”
”Have you not been home, to La Fere?”
Raoul colored Athos looked at him with a fixed but tranquil expression
”You would be wrong not to believe me,” said Raoul ”I feel that I colored, and in spite of myself The question you did me the honor to ask me is of a nature to raise in itated, not because I meditate a falsehood”
”I know, Raoul, you never lie”
”No, ; what I wanted to say--”
”I know quite well, monsieur You would ask me if I have not been to Blois?”
”Exactly so”
”I have not been there; I have not even seen the person to whom you allude”
Raoul's voice tree in all matters of delicacy, i; you are unhappy”
”Very, o to Blois, or to see Made htful to pronounce, h so sweet upon his lips
”And I have acted rightly, Raoul” Athos hastened to reply ”I am neither an unjust nor a barbarous father; I respect true love; but I look forward for you to a future--an in is about to break upon us like a fresh dawn War calls upon a young king full of chivalric spirit What is wanting to assist this heroic ardor is a battalion of young and free lieutenants ould rush to the fight with enthusias: 'Vive le Roi!' instead of 'Adieu, my dear wife' You understand that, Raoul However brutalmay appear, I conjure you, then, to believe hts from those early days of youth in which you took up this habit of love--days of effeminate carelessness, which soften the heart and render it incapable of consulory and adversity Therefore, Raoul, I repeat to you, you should see inuseful to you, only the a you prosper I believe you capable of beco a remarkable man March alone, and you will march better, and more quickly”