This was an affair which would have
unhesitatingly made me draw my sword, had I not felt that I was
under the necessity of dispatching the king's mission before
undertaking any quarrel. Burn this letter, which Olivain will hand
you. Whatever Olivain says you may confidently rely upon. Will you
have the goodness, my dear comte, to recall me to the remembrance
of Mademoiselle de la Valliere, whose hand I kiss with the greatest
respect.

"Your devoted,
"DE BRAGELONNE.

"P. S.--If anything serious should happen--we should be prepared for
everything--dispatch a courier to me with this one single word,
'Come,' and I shall be in Paris within six-and-thirty hours after I
shall have received your letter."

De Guiche sighed, folded the letter up a third time, and instead of
burning it, as Raoul had recommended him to do, placed it in his pocket.
He felt that he needed to read it over and over again.

"How much distress of mind, and yet how great a confidence, he shows!"
murmured the comte. "He has poured out his whole soul in that letter. He
says nothing of the Comte de la Fere, and speaks of his respect for
Louise. He cautions me on my account, and entreats me on his own. Ah!"
continued De Guiche, with a threatening gesture, "you interfere in my
affairs, Monsieur de Wardes, do you? Very well, then; I shall now occupy
myself with yours. And for you, poor Raoul--you who intrust your heart
to my keeping--be assured I will watch over it."

With this promise, De Guiche begged Malicorne to come immediately to his
apartments, if it were possible. Malicorne acknowledged the invitation
with an activity which was the first result of his conversation with
Montalais. And while De Guiche, who thought that his motive was
undiscovered, cross-examined Malicorne, the latter, who appeared to be
working in the dark, soon guessed his questioner's motives. The
consequence was that, after a quarter of an hour's conversation, during
which De Guiche thought he had ascertained the whole truth with regard
to La Valliere and the king, he had learned absolutely nothing more than
his own eyes had already acquainted him with; while Malicorne learned or
guessed that Raoul, who was absent, was fast becoming suspicious, and
that De Guiche intended to watch over the treasure of the Hesperides.
Malicorne accepted the office of dragon. De