nary man. Thus,
although he repeated to himself that his death was inevitable, he
by no means made up his mind to fall an easy sacrifice, as one
less cool and courageous than himself might perhaps have done. He
reflected on the different characters of the three men with whom
he had to fight, and began to think that his case was not so
desperate as it might have been. He hoped, by the candid and
loyal apology which he intended to offer, to make himself a
friend of Athos, whose austere mien and noble air pleased him
greatly. He flattered himself that he should be able to
intimidate Porthos by the affair of the shoulder-belt, which he
could, if not killed upon the spot, relate to every body, and
which would cover the giant with ridicule. Finally, he did not
feel much afraid of Aramis, and he resolved, if he lived long
enough, either to kill him, or at least to administer to him a
wound in the face, that would considerably impair the beauty of
which he was evidently so proud.

"When D'Artagnan arrived in sight of the waste land adjoining the
convent of barefooted Carmelites, noon was striking, and Athos
was already on the ground. The guardsman, who still suffered
cruelly from his wound, was seated on a post, and awaiting his
adversary with the calm countenance and dignified air that never
abandoned him. Upon D'Artagnan's appearance, he rose courteously,
and advanced a few steps to meet him. Our Gascon, on his side,
made his approach hat in hand, the plume trailing on the earth.

"'Sir,' said Athos, 'I have given notice to two gentlemen to act
as my seconds, but they are not come. I am surprised at it, for
they are usually punctual.'

"'For my part, sir,' returned D'Artagnan, 'I have no seconds. I
arrived in Paris yesterday, and know no one but Monsieur de
Treville, to whom I was recommended by my father, who has the
honour to be a friend of his.'

"Athos glanced at the beardless chin and youthful mien of his
adversary, and seemed to reflect for a moment.

"'_Ah ca_!' said he at last, speaking half to himself and half to
D'Artagnan; '_ah ca_! but if I kill you, it will be something
very like child-murder.'

"'Not exactly, sir,' replied D'Artagnan, with a bow that was not
without its dignity; 'not exactly, sir, since you do me the