is the real truth of the matter. And what then, captain! One
cannot win every battle. The great Pompey lost that of Pharsalia,
and Francis I., who, from what I have heard, was no fool in the
fighting way, got roughly handled at Pavia.'

"'And I have the honour to assure you, sir,' said Aramis, 'that I
killed one of the guards with his own sword, for mine was broken
at the first onset.'

"'I did not know that,' said Treville in a more gentle tone. 'I
see that the Cardinal exaggerated matters.'

"'But for heaven's sake, sir,' continued Aramis, encouraged by the
softened manner of his commander, 'for heaven's sake, do not
mention that Athos is wounded: he would be in despair if the King
heard of it; and as the wound is very serious, having passed
through the shoulder and entered the breast, it is to be
feared....'

"At this moment the tapestry that covered the door was raised, and
the head of a man of noble aspect and handsome features, but
fearfully pale, appeared below the fringe.

"'Athos!' exclaimed the two guardsmen.

"'Athos!' repeated Monsieur de Treville himself.

"You asked for me, sir,' said Athos to Monsieur de Treville, in a
calm but enfeebled voice--'my comrades told me that you asked for
me, and I hastened to obey your summons.'

"And so saying, the mousquetaire entered the room with a tolerably
firm step, in full uniform and belted as usual. Monsieur de
Treville, touched to the soul by this proof of courage, sprang to
meet him.

"'I was telling these gentlemen,' said he, 'that I forbid my
mousquetaires to expose their lives without necessity; that brave
men are very dear to the King, and his Majesty knows that his
mousquetaires are the bravest men upon the face of the earth. Your
hand, Athos!'

"And without waiting for the new comer to hold out his right hand,
Monsieur de Treville seized and pressed it energetically, not
observing that Athos, in spite of his command over himself,
writhed with pain, and grew each moment paler than before. The
room-door had remained half open, and a loud murmur of
satisfaction from without replied to the words addressed to Athos
by Monsieur de Treville. The heads of two or three mousquetaires,
who forgot themselves in the enthusiasm of the moment, appeared at
the opening of the tapestry. Doubtless Mons