Part 43 (2/2)
41 Paternal Affection
Whilst this terrible scene was passing at Lord de Winter's, Athos, seated near his , his elbow on the table and his head supported on his hand, was listening intently to Raoul's account of the adventures he met with on his journey and the details of the battle
Listening to the relation of those emotions so fresh and pure, the fine, noble face of Athos betrayed indescribable pleasure; he inhaled the tones of that young voice, as harot all that was dark in the past and that was cloudy in the future It aled his fears to hopes Athos was happy--happy as he had never been before
”And you assisted and took part in this great battle, Bragelonne!” cried the former musketeer
”Yes, sir”
”And it was a fierce one?”
”His highness the prince charged eleven tielonne”
”He is a hero, sir I did not lose sight of him for an instant Oh! how fine it is to be called Conde and to be so worthy of such a name!”
”He was calm and radiant, was he not?”
”As calm as at parade, radiant as at a fete When ent up to the enemy it was sloere forbidden to draw first and ere ht with lowered muskets When we arrived about thirty paces from them the prince turned around to the soldiers: 'Coe; but after that you will make short ith those fellows' There was such dead silence that friends and ene his sword, 'Sound truood; you will do as much when the opportunity occurs, will you, Raoul?”
”I know not, sir, but I thought it really very fine and grand!”
”Were you afraid, Raoul?” asked the count
”Yes, sir,” replied the young reat chill at my heart, and at the word 'fire,' which resounded in Spanish froht of you”
”In honest truth, Raoul?” said Athos, pressing his hand
”Yes, sir; at that instant there was such a rataplan of ions had opened Those ere not killed felt the heat of the flames I opened my eyes, astonished to find myself alive and even unhurt; a third of the squadron were lying on the ground, wounded, dead or dying At that moht and that was that he was observing me I spurred on and found myself in the enemy's ranks”
”And the prince was pleased with you?”
”He told me so, at least, sir, when he desired me to return to Paris with Monsieur de Chatillon, as charged to carry the news to the queen and to bring the colors we had taken 'Go,' said he; 'the enemy will not rally for fifteen days and until that time I have no need of your service Go and see those whoueville that I thank her for the present that sheat the count with a slad to seeman toward him and pressed his lips to his brow, as he would have done to a young daughter
”And now, Raoul,” said he, ”you are launched; you have dukes for friends, a marshal of France for Godfather, a prince of the blood as commander, and on the day of your return you have been received by two queens; it is not so bad for a novice”
”Oh sir,” said Raoul, suddenly, ”you recall sootten; it is that there ith Her Majesty the Queen of England, a gentleman hen I pronounced your name, uttered a cry of surprise and joy; he said he was a friend of yours, asked your address, and is co to see you”
”What is his naantly, although I thought frolish down his head as if to reain, he was struck by the presence of aat him with a compassionate air
”Lord de Winter!” exclaientlemen were for an instant locked in each other's ar him by both hands, said: ”What ails you, my lord? you appear as unhappy as I am the reverse”
”Yes, truly, dear friend; and I ht of you increasesaround him, Raoul quickly understood that the two friends wished to be alone and he therefore left the room unaffectedly
”Come, now that we are alone,” said Athos, ”let us talk of yourself”
”Whilst we are alone let us speak of ourselves,” replied De Winter ”He is here”
”Who?”
”Milady's son”
Athos, again struck by this name, which seemed to pursue hi his brows, he calmly said: ”I know it, Grimaud met him between Bethune and Arras and then came here to warn me of his presence”
”Does Grimaud know him, then?”
”No; but he was present at the deathbed of a man who knew him”
”The headsman of Bethune?” exclaimed De Winter
”You know about that?” cried Athos, astonished
”He has just leftme all Ah! my friend! what a horrible scene! Why did we not destroy the child with thefrom the instinctive fear he had at first experienced, by the aid of reason; ”are we notman an assassin by profession--a murderer in cold blood? He has killed the executioner of Bethune in an access of passion, but now his fury is assuaged”
De Winter smiled sorrowfully and shook his head
”Do you not know the race?” said he
”Pooh!” said Athos, trying to smile in his turn ”It eneration Besides, uard All we can now do is to wait Let us wait; and, as I said before, let us speak of yourself What brings you to Paris?”
”Affairs of importance which you shall know later But what is this that I hear fronan sides with Mazarin! Pardon my frankness, dear friend I neither hate nor blame the cardinal, and your opinions will be held ever sacred byto hinan,” replied Athos, ”is in the service; he is a soldier and obeys all constitutional authority Monsieur d'Artagnan is not rich and has need of his position as lieutenant to enable him to live Millionaires like yourself, my lord, are rare in France”