Part 24 (1/2)
”When shall alk together?” Athos then said to Aramis
”Presently--there are not a sufficient number of people here yet; we shall be remarked”
At this moment the door opened and in walked the coadjutor
At this name every one looked around, for his was already a very celebrated name Athos did the same He knew the Abbe de Gondy only by report
He saw a little dark --except drawing a sword and firing a pistol--with sohty and contemptuous in his face
Scarron turned around toward him and came to meet hi hirace, then, abbe?”
This was the orthodox phrase It had been said that evening a hundred times--and Scarron was at his hundredth bon mot on the subject; he was very nearly at the end of his hu effort saved him
”Monsieur, the Cardinal Mazarin has been so kind as to think of me,” he said
”But how can you continue to receive us?” asked the coadjutor; ”if your incoed to make you a canon of Notre Dame”
”Oh, no!” cried Scarron, ”I should compromise you too norant?”
”I shall borrow from the queen”
”But her majesty has no property,” interposed Aramis
At this moment the door opened and Madame de Chevreuse was announced Every one arose Scarron turned his chair toward the door, Raoul blushed, Athos n to Aramis, ent and hid himself in the enclosure of a
In the midst of all the compliments that awaited her on her entrance, the duchess see for some one; at last she found out Raoul and her eyes sparkled; she perceived Athos and becahtful; she saw Araave a start of surprise behind her fan
”Apropos,” she said, as if to drive away thoughts that pursued her in spite of herself, ”how is poor Voiture, do you know, Scarron?”
”What, is Monsieur Voiture ill?” inquired a gentleman who had spoken to Athos in the Rue Saint Honore; ”what is the ot to take the precaution to have a change of linen ready after the performance,” said the coadjutor, ”so he took cold and is about to die”
”Is he then so ill, dear Voiture?” asked Aramis, half hidden by thecurtain
”Die!” cried Mademoiselle Paulet, bitterly, ”he! Why, he is surrounded by sultanas, like a Turk Madame de Saintot has hastened to him with broth; La Renaudot warms his sheets; the Marquise de Rambouillet sends him his tisanes”
”You don't like him, my dear Parthenie,” said Scarron
”What an injustice, hted to order masses for the repose of his soul”
”You are not called 'Lionne' for nothing,” observed Madame de Chevreuse, ”your teeth are terrible”
”You are unjust to a great poet, it seereat poet! come, one may easily see, vicomte, that you are lately froreat poet! he is scarcely five feet high”
”Bravo bravo!” cried a tallrapier, ”bravo, fair Paulet, it is high tiht place For ht his poetry detestable, and I think I know so about poetry”
”Who is this officer,” inquired Raoul of Athos, ”who is speaking?”
”Monsieur de Scudery, the author of 'Clelie,' and of 'Le Grand Cyrus,' which were composed partly by hi to that pretty person yonder, near Monsieur Scarron”
Raoul turned and sao faces just arrived One was perfectly char, delicate, pensive, shaded by beautiful dark hair, and eyes soft as velvet, like those lovely flowers, the heartsease, in which shi+ne out the golden petals The other, of e, and was cold, dry and yellow--the true type of a duenna or a devotee
Raoul resolved not to quit the rooirl with the soft eyes, who by a strange fancy, although she bore no resemblance, reminded him of his poor little Louise, whom he had left in the Chateau de la Valliere and whom, in the otten Meanti all the while, contrived to drop so his self-control, could not refrain froh, then,” said Monsieur de Retz; ”they are looking at us” And leaving Aramis he went to talk with Madaroup
Arah, to divert the attention of certain curious listeners, and perceiving that Athos had betaken himself to the embrasure of aand re out a feords carelessly as he h the rooan a conversation which was eesticulation
Raoul then approached them as Athos had directed him to do
”'Tis a rondeau by Monsieur Voiture thatto me” said Athos in a loud voice, ”and I confess I think it incomparable”
Raoul stayed only a few roup round Madame de Chevreuse
”Well, then?” asked Athos, in a low tone
”It is to be to-morrow,” said Aramis hastily
”At what time?”
”Six o'clock”
”Where?”
”At Saint Mande”
”Who told you?”
”The Count de Rochefort”
Some one drew near