my must be prepared to
embark in a fortnight at the latest."

"That shall be done, monseigneur."

"The present order gives you the right to visit and search all the isles
along the coast; you will there make the enrollments and levies you may
want for me."

"Yes, Monsieur le Duc."

"And as you are an active man, and will work freely, you will spend much
money."

"I hope not, monseigneur."

"But I reckon you will. My intendant has prepared orders of a thousand
livres, drawn upon the cities of the south; he will give you a hundred
of them. Now, dear vicomte, begone."

Athos interrupted the prince. "Keep your money, monseigneur; war is to
be made among the Arabs with gold as well as lead."

"I wish to try the contrary," replied the duc; "and then, you are
acquainted with my ideas upon the expedition--plenty of noise, plenty of
fire, and, if so it must be, I shall disappear in the smoke." Having
spoken thus, M. de Beaufort began to laugh; but his mirth was not
reciprocated by Athos and Raoul. He perceived this at once. "Ah," said
he, with the courteous egotism of his rank and his age, "you are such
people as a man should not see after dinner; you are cold, stiff, and
dry, when I am all fire, all suppleness, and all wine. No, devil take
me! I should always see you fasting, vicomte, and you, comte, if you
wear such a face as that, you will see me no more."

He said this, pressing the hand of Athos, who replied with a
smile--"Monseigneur, do not talk so grandly because you happen to have
plenty of money. I predict that within a month you will be dry, stiff,
and cold, in presence of your strong box, and that then, having Raoul at
your elbow, quite fasting, you will be surprised to see him gay,
animated, and generous, because he will have some new crowns to offer
you."

"God grant it may be so!" cried the delighted duc. "Comte, stay with
me."

"No, I shall go with Raoul; the mission with which you charge him is a
troublesome and a difficult one. Alone, it would be too much for him to
execute. You do not observe, monseigneur, you have given him a command
of the first order."

"Bah!"

"And in the marine."

"That may be true. But when people resemble him, do they not do all that
is required of them?"

"Monseigneur, I believe you will find nowhere so much zeal and
intelligence, so much real bravery, as in Raoul; but if he failed in
your embarkation, you would only meet with what you deserve."

"Humph! you are