on the exterior, the material appearance for the invisible
principle, for the invisible principle is everything. Raoul, I seem
to read your future destiny as through a cloud. It will be happier, I
think, than ours has been. Different in your fate from us, you will have
a king without a minister, whom you may serve, love, respect. Should
the king prove a tyrant, for power begets tyranny, serve, love, respect
royalty, that Divine right, that celestial spark which makes this dust
still powerful and holy, so that we--gentlemen, nevertheless, of rank
and condition--are as nothing in comparison with the cold corpse there
extended."

"I shall adore God, sir," said Raoul, "respect royalty and ever serve
the king. And if death be my lot, I hope to die for the king, for
royalty and for God. Have I, sir, comprehended your instructions?"

Athos smiled.

"Yours is a noble nature." he said; "here is your sword."

Raoul bent his knee to the ground.

"It was worn by my father, a loyal gentleman. I have worn it in my turn
and it has sometimes not been disgraced when the hilt was in my hand and
the sheath at my side. Should your hand still be too weak to use this
sword, Raoul, so much the better. You will have the more time to learn
to draw it only when it ought to be used."

"Sir," replied Raoul, putting the sword to his lips as he received it
from the count, "I owe you everything and yet this sword is the most
precious gift you have yet made me. I will wear it, I swear to you, as a
grateful man should do."

"'Tis well; arise, vicomte, embrace me."

Raoul arose and threw himself with emotion into the count's arms.

"Adieu," faltered the count, who felt his heart die away within him;
"adieu, and think of me."

"Oh! for ever and ever!" cried the youth; "oh! I swear to you, sir,
should any harm befall me, your name will be the last name that I shall
utter, the remembrance of you my last thought."

Athos hastened upstairs to conceal his emotion, and regained with
hurried steps the porch where Olivain was waiting with the horses.

"Olivain," said Athos, showing the servant Raoul's shoulder-belt,
"tighten the buckle of the sword, it falls too low. You will accompany
monsieur le vicomte till Grimaud rejoins you. You know, Raoul, Grimaud
is an old and zealous servant; he will follow you."

"Yes, sir," answered Raoul.

"Now to horse, that I may see you depart!"

Raoul obeyed.

"Adieu, Raoul," said the count; "adieu, my deares