first.
Raoul replied only by spurring the flanks of his steed. In a few
moments the three cavaliers had overtaken the carriage, and followed it
so closely that their horses' breath moistened the back of it.
D'Artagnan, whose senses were ever on the alert, heard the trot of the
horses, at the moment when Raoul was telling Porthos to pass the chariot
so as to see who was the person accompanying Athos. Porthos complied,
but could not see anything, for the blinds were lowered. Rage and
impatience were gaining mastery over Raoul. He had just noticed the
mystery preserved by Athos' companion, and determined on proceeding to
extremities. On his part, D'Artagnan had perfectly recognized Porthos,
and Raoul also, from under the blinds, and had communicated to the comte
the result of his observation. They were desirous only of seeing whether
Raoul and Porthos would push the affair to the uttermost. And this they
speedily did, for Raoul presenting his pistol threw himself on the
leader, commanding the coachman to stop. Porthos seized the coachman and
dragged him from his seat. Grimaud already had hold of the carriage
door. Raoul threw open his arms, exclaiming, "M. le Comte! M. le Comte!"

"Ah! is it you, Raoul?" said Athos, intoxicated with joy.

"Not bad, indeed!" added D'Artagnan, with a burst of laughter, and they
both embraced the young man and Porthos, who had taken possession of
them.

"My brave Porthos! best of friends," cried Athos, "it is still the same
with you."

"He is still only twenty," said D'Artagnan, "brave Porthos!"

"Confound it!" answered Porthos, slightly confused, "we thought that you
were being arrested."

"While," rejoined Athos, "the matter in question was nothing but my
taking a drive in M. d'Artagnan's carriage."

"But we followed you from the Bastille," returned Raoul, with a tone of
suspicion and reproach.

"Where we had been to take supper with our good friend M. Baisemeaux. Do
you recollect Baisemeaux, Porthos?"

"Very well, indeed."

"And there we saw Aramis."

"In the Bastille?"

"At supper."

"Ah!" said Porthos, again breathing freely.

"He gave us a thousand messages for you."

"And where is M. le Comte going?" asked Grimaud, already recompensed by
a smile from his master.

"We are going home to Blois."

"How can that be?"

"At once?" said Raoul.

"Yes; right forward."

"Without any luggage?"

"Oh! Raoul would have been instructed to forward me mine, or to bring it