orably upon another, do you mean, monsieur?" said
Raoul, pale with agony.

"Exactly."

"Well, monsieur, I would kill him," said Raoul, simply, "and all the men
whom Mademoiselle de la Valliere should choose, until one of them had
killed me, or Mademoiselle de la Valliere had restored me her heart."

Athos started. "I thought," resumed he, in an agitated voice, "that you
called my just now your god, your law in this world."

"Oh!" said Raoul, trembling, "you would forbid me the duel?"

"Suppose I _did_ forbid it, Raoul?"

"You would not forbid me to hope, monsieur; consequently you would not
forbid me to die."

Athos raised his eyes toward the vicomte. He had pronounced these
words with the most melancholy look. "Enough," said Athos, after a long
silence, "enough of this subject, upon which we both go too far. Live as
well as you are able, Raoul, perform your duties, love Mademoiselle de
la Valliere; in a word, act like a man, since you have attained the
age of a man; only do not forget that I love you tenderly, and that you
profess to love me."

"Ah! monsieur le comte!" cried Raoul, pressing the hand of Athos to his
heart.

"Enough, dear boy, leave me; I want rest. _A propos_, M. d'Artagnan has
returned from England with me; you owe him a visit."

"I will pay it, monsieur, with great pleasure. I love Monsieur
d'Artagnan exceedingly."

"You are right in doing so; he is a worthy man and a brave cavalier."

"Who loves you dearly."

"I am sure of that. Do you know his address?"

"At the Louvre, I suppose, or wherever the king is. Does he not command
the musketeers?"

"No; at present M. d'Artagnan is absent on leave; he is resting for
awhile. Do not, therefore, seek him at the posts of his service. You
will hear of him at the house of a certain Planchet."

"His former lackey?"

"Exactly; turned grocer."

"I know; Rue des Lombards?"

"Somewhere thereabouts, or Rue des Arcis."

"I will find it, monsieur--I will find it."

"You will say a thousand kind things to him, on my part, and ask him to
come and dine with me before I set out for La Fere."

"Yes, monsieur."

"Good-might, Raoul!"

"Monsieur, I see you wear an order I never saw you wear before; accept
my compliments."

"The Fleece!--that is true. A bauble, my boy, which no longer amuses an
old child like myself. Good-night, Raoul!"

Chapter LII. D'Artagnan's Lesson.

Raoul did not meet with D'Artagnan the next day, as he had hoped. H