trimmed with silk of the same
color. His shoulder-knots were of burnished silver, his mantle had no
gold nor embroidery on it; a simple plume of violet feathers adorned his
hat; his boots were of black leather, and at his girdle hung that sword
with a magnificent hilt that Porthos had so often admired in the Rue
Feron. Splendid lace adorned the falling collar of his shirt, and lace
fell also over the top of his boots.

In his whole person he bore such an impress of high degree, that Madame
de Chevreuse half rose from her seat when she saw him and made him a
sign to sit down near her.

Athos bowed and obeyed. The footman was withdrawing, but Athos stopped
him by a sign.

"Madame," he said to the duchess, "I have had the boldness to present
myself at your hotel without being known to you; it has succeeded,
since you deign to receive me. I have now the boldness to ask you for an
interview of half an hour."

"I grant it, monsieur," replied Madame de Chevreuse with her most
gracious smile.

"But that is not all, madame. Oh, I am very presuming, I am aware. The
interview for which I ask is of us two alone, and I very earnestly wish
that it may not be interrupted."

"I am not at home to any one," said the Duchess de Chevreuse to the
footman. "You may go."

The footman went out

There ensued a brief silence, during which these two persons, who at
first sight recognized each other so clearly as of noble race, examined
each other without embarrassment on either side.

The duchess was the first to speak.

"Well, sir, I am waiting with impatience to hear what you wish to say to
me."

"And I, madame," replied Athos, "am looking with admiration."

"Sir," said Madame de Chevreuse, "you must excuse me, but I long to know
to whom I am talking. You belong to the court, doubtless, yet I have
never seen you at court. Have you, by any chance, been in the Bastile?"

"No, madame, I have not; but very likely I am on the road to it."

"Ah! then tell me who you are, and get along with you upon your
journey," replied the duchess, with the gayety which made her
so charming, "for I am sufficiently in bad odor already, without
compromising myself still more."

"Who I am, madame? My name has been mentioned to you--the Comte de la
Fere; you do not know that name. I once bore another, which you knew,
but you have certainly forgotten it."

"Tell it me, sir."

"Formerly," said the count, "I was Athos."

Madame de Chevreuse looke