Part 45 (2/2)
”Oh! that is of the first importance”
”Attend to it, then, at once”
”Unfortunately, it is a thing that I can't perfor and no other ti, ”ht”
”About that tis that bear postponeood an excuse to give on your return----”
”Yes, if I return”
”If you do not return, how does it concern you? Be reasonable Coreat regret, mordieu! Ah, if I were but twenty years old!”
”Yes,” said Athos, ”doubtless you would coreat follies! But noe must part I have one or two visits to ht o'clock or shall I wait supper for you at seven?”
”That will do very well,” said Aramis ”I have twenty visits to make and as many letters to write”
They then separated Athos went to pay a visit to Madame de Vendome, left his na letter to D'Artagnan: ”Dear Friend,--I am about to set off with Aramis on important business I wished to make my adieux to you, but time does not permit Remember that I write to you now to repeat how one to Blois and is ignorant of my departure; watch over him in my absence as much as you possibly can; and if by chance you receive no news of me three months hence, tell him to open a packet which he will find addressed to him in my bronze casket at Blois, of which I send you now the key
”Embrace Porthos from Arareed upon Aramis arrived; he was dressed as an officer and had the old sword at his side which he had drawn so often and which he was more than ever ready to draw
”By-the-bye,” he said, ”I think that we are decidedly wrong to depart thus, without leaving a line for Porthos and D'Artagnan”
”The thing is done, dear friend,” said Athos; ”I foresaw that and have embraced them both from you and myself”
”You are a wonderful ”
”Well, have you made up your mind to this journey?”
”Quite; and now that I reflect about it, I alad to leave Paris at this ret is not having seen D'Artagnan; but the rascal is so cunning, he uessed our project”
When supper was over Blaisois entered ”Sir,” said he, ”here is Monsieur d'Artagnan's answer”
”But I did not tell you there would be an answer, stupid!” said Athos
”And I set off without waiting for one, but he called ave iving out a golden jingle
Athos opened it and began by drawing forth a little note, written in these terms: ”My dear Count,--When one travels, and especially for threeformer times of mutual distress, I send you half my purse; it is money to obtain which I made Mazarin sweat Don't make a bad use of it, I entreat you
”As to what you say about not seeing you again, I believe not a word of it; with such a heart as yours--and such a sword--one passes through the valley of the shadow of death a dozen times, unscathed and unalarmed Au revoir, not farewell
”It is unnecessary to say that from the day I saw Raoul I loved him; nevertheless, believe that I heartily pray that I ht be proud of such a son
”Your ”D'Artagnan
”PS--Be it well understood that the fifty louis which I send are equally for Aramis as for you--for you as Aramis”
Athos snan, who had loved hih a Mazarinist
”There are the fifty louis, i'faith,” said Aray of Louis XIII ”Well, what shall you do with this money, count? Shall you keep it or send it back?”
”I shall keep it, Arah I had no need of it I still should keep it What is offered froenerously Take twenty-five of the twenty-five”
”All right; I alad to see you are of my opinion There now, shall we start?”
”When you like; but have you no groom?”
”No; that idiot Bazin had the folly to er, as you know, and therefore cannot leave Notre Dame
”Very well, take Blaisois, hom I know not what to do, since I already have Grily,” said Aramis
At this moment Grimaud appeared at the door ”Ready,” said he, with his usual curtness
”Let us go, then,” said Athos
The two friends mounted, as did their servants At the corner of the Quai they encountered Bazin, as running breathlessly
”Oh, sir!” exclaimed he, ”thank Heaven I have arrived in time Monsieur Porthos has just been to your house and has left this for you, saying that the letter was iiven to you before you left”
”Good,” said Ara a purse which Bazin presented to him ”What is this?”
”Wait, your reverence, there is a letter”
”You know I have already told you that if you ever callbut chevalier I will break every bone in your body Give me the letter”
”How can you read?” asked Athos, ”it is as dark as a cold oven”
”Wait,” said Bazin, striking a flint, and setting afire a twisted wax-light, hich he started the church candles Thus illu epistle: ”My dear D'Herblay,--I learned fronan who has embraced me on the part of the Co out on a journey which may perhaps last two or three months; as I know that you do not like to ask money of your friends I offer you some of my own accord Here are two hundred pistoles, which you can dispose of as you wish and return to me when opportunity occurs Do not fear that you put me to inconvenience; if I want money I can send for some to any of my chateaux; at Bracieux alone, I have twenty thousand francs in gold So, if I do not send you er suh I esteem him from my heart I am a little awed by the Comte de la Fere; but it is understood that what I offer you I offer him at the same time
”I am, as I trust you do not doubt, your devoted ”Du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds”
”Well,” said Aramis, ”what do you say to that?”