Part 110 (1/2)
But Raoul, less credulous than his old friend, had concluded fro, Saint-Aignan would tell the king everything, and that the king would nan to obey the su The consequence of his reflections was, that he had left Porthos to re, in the very i endeavored to make Porthos promise that he would not remain there est Porthos, however, for of the kind, but, on the contrary, installed hi to take root there,Raoul promise that when he had been to see his father, he would return to his own apartht knohere to find hinan should happen to coelonne had left Vincennes, and proceeded at once straight to the apart the last two days, the co been already infornan Raoul arrived at his father's; Athos, after having held out his hand to hin for hio to a friend, vico; tell s you now”
The young an his recital; more than once in the course of it his tears almost choked his utterance, and a sob, checked in his throat, compelled him to suspend his narrative for a few minutes Athos most probably already kne nan had already written to hi until the conclusion that calm, unruffled composure of manner which constituted the almost superhuman side of his character, he replied, ”Raoul, I do not believe there is a word of truth in these rumors; I do not believe in the existence of what you fear, although I do not deny that persons best entitled to the fullest credit have already conversed with me on the subject Incould be guilty of such an outrage on a gentle, therefore, and will soon bring you back the proof of what I say”
Raoul, wavering like a drunken man bethat he had seen with his own eyes and the imperturbable faith he had in a man who had never told a falsehood, bowed and simply answered, ”Go, then, monsieur le co his face in his hands
Athos dressed, and then left hi; the result of that interview is already known to our readers
When he returned to his lodgings, Raoul, pale and dejected, had not quitted his attitude of despair At the sound, however, of the opening doors, and of his father's footsteps as he approached hi man raised his head Athos's face was very pale, his head uncovered, and his ave his cloak and hat to the lackey, disesture, and sat down near Raoul
”Well,loves Mademoiselle de la Valliere”
”He confesses it, then?” cried Raoul
”Yes,” replied Athos
”And she?”
”I have not seen her”
”No; but the king spoke to you about her What did he say?”
”He says that she loves hi esture of despair
”Raoul,” resu, believe ed, and I believe I did so in becoh sufficiently firm”
”And what did you say to hi was now at an end between hiain I told hi further re”
”What is that, monsieur?”
”Whether you have deter what?”
”With reference to your disappointed affection, and--your ideas of vengeance”
”Oh, ard to my affection, I shall, perhaps, so it from my heart; I trust I shall do so, aided by Heaven's eance is concerned, it occurred to ht, for I could not revenge uilty; I have, therefore, already renounced every idea of revenge”
”And you no longer think of seeking a quarrel with M de Saint-Aignan?”
”No, nan accepts it, I will s as they are”
”And La Valliere?”
”You cannot, I know, have seriously thought that I should drea myself upon a woman!” replied Raoul, with a smile so sad that a tear started even to the eyes of his father, who had so many times in the course of his life bowed beneath his own sorrows and those of others