arch; and when you have found, you will tell
me, will you not?"

"Pardieu!" said Porthos.

90. Conclusion.

On going home, the two friends found a letter from Athos, who desired
them to meet him at the Grand Charlemagne on the following day.

The friends went to bed early, but neither of them slept. When we arrive
at the summit of our wishes, success has usually the power to drive away
sleep on the first night after the fulfilment of long cherished hopes.

The next day at the appointed hour they went to see Athos and found him
and Aramis in traveling costume.

"What!" cried Porthos, "are we all going away, then? I, so, have made my
preparations this morning."

"Oh, heavens! yes," said Aramis. "There's nothing to do in Paris now
there's no Fronde. The Duchess de Longueville has invited me to pass
a few days in Normandy, and has deputed me, while her son is being
baptized, to go and prepare her residence at Rouen; after which,
if nothing new occurs, I shall go and bury myself in my convent at
Noisy-le-Sec."

"And I," said Athos, "am returning to Bragelonne. You know, dear
D'Artagnan, I am nothing more than a good honest country gentleman.
Raoul has no fortune other than I possess, poor child! and I must take
care of it for him, since I only lend him my name."

"And Raoul--what shall you do with him?"

"I leave him with you, my friend. War has broken out in Flanders. You
shall take him with you there. I am afraid that remaining at Blois would
be dangerous to his youthful mind. Take him and teach him to be as brave
and loyal as you are yourself."

"Then," replied D'Artagnan, "though I shall not have you, Athos, at all
events I shall have that dear fair-haired head by me; and though he's
but a boy, yet, since your soul lives again in him, dear Athos, I shall
always fancy that you are near me, sustaining and encouraging me."

The four friends embraced with tears in their eyes.

Then they departed, without knowing whether they would ever see each
other again.

D'Artagnan returned to the Rue Tiquetonne with Porthos, still possessed
by the wish to find out who the man was that he had killed. On arriving
at the Hotel de la Chevrette they found the baron's equipage all really
and Mousqueton on his saddle.

"Come, D'Artagnan," said Porthos, "bid adieu to your sword and go
with me to Pierrefonds, to Bracieux, or to Du Vallon. We will grow old
together and talk of our companions."

"No!" replied D'Artag