\"Youaretakinghimaway，whither？\"
\"ToBelle—Isle，atfirst。？Thatisanimpregnableplaceofrefuge。？Then，I
havethesea，andavesseltopassoverintoEngland，whereIhavemanyrelations。\"
\"You？
inEngland？\"
\"Yes，orelseinSpain，whereIhavestillmore。\"
\"But，ourexcellentPorthos！youruinhim，forthekingwillconfiscateallhisproperty。\"
\"Allisprovidedfor。？Iknowhow，whenonceinSpain，toreconcilemyselfwithLouisXIV。，andrestorePorthostofavor。\"
\"Youhavecredit，seemingly，Aramis！\"saidAthos，withadiscreetair。
\"Much;
andattheserviceofmyfriends。\"
Thesewordswereaccompaniedbyawarmpressureofthehand。
\"Thankyou，\"repliedthecomte。
\"Andwhileweareonthishead，\"saidAramis，\"youalsoareamalcontent;
youalso，Raoul，havegriefstolaytotheking。？Followourexample;passoverintoBelle—Isle。？Thenweshallsee，Iguaranteeuponmyhonor，thatinamonththerewillbewarbetweenFranceandSpainonthesubjectofthissonofLouisXIII。，whoisanInfantelikewise，andwhomFrancedetainsinhumanly。？Now，asLouisXIV。
wouldhavenoinclinationforawaronthatsubject，Iwillanswerforanarrangement，theresultofwhichmustbringgreatnesstoPorthosandtome，andaduchyinFrancetoyou，whoarealreadyagrandeeofSpain。？Willyoujoinus？\"
\"No;
formypartIpreferhavingsomethingtoreproachthekingwith;itisapridenaturaltomyracetopretendtoasuperiorityoverroyalraces。？Doingwhatyoupropose，Ishouldbecometheobligedoftheking;Ishouldcertainlybethegaineronthatground，butI
shouldbealoserinmyconscience。—No，thankyou！\"
\"Thengivemetwothings，Athos，—yourabsolution。\"
\"Oh！？Igiveityouifyoureallywishedtoavengetheweakandoppressedagainsttheoppressor。\"
\"Thatissufficientforme，\"saidAramis，witha？blushwhichwaslostintheobscurityofthenight。？\"Andnow，givemeyourtwobesthorsestogainthesecondpost，asIhavebeenrefusedanyunderthepretextoftheDucdeBeaufortbeingtravelinginthiscountry。\"
\"Youshallhavethetwobesthorses，Aramis;andagainIrecommendpoorPorthosstronglytoyourcare。\"
\"Oh！？Ihavenofearonthatscore。？Onewordmore:doyouthinkIammaneuveringforhimasIought？\"
\"Theevilbeingcommitted，yes;forthekingwouldnotpardonhim，andyouhave，whatevermaybesaid，alwaysasupporterinM。Fouquet，whowillnotabandonyou，hebeinghimselfcompromised，notwithstandinghisheroicaction。\"
\"Youareright。？Andthatiswhy，insteadofgainingtheseaatonce，whichwouldproclaimmyfearandguilt，thatiswhyI
remainuponFrenchground。？ButBelle—IslewillbeformewhatevergroundIwishittobe，English，Spanish，orRoman;allwilldepend，withme，onthestandardIshallthinkpropertounfurl。\"
\"Howso？\"
\"ItwasIwhofortifiedBelle—Isle;and，solongasIdefendit，nobodycantakeBelle—Islefromme。？Andthen，asyouhavesaidjustnow，M。Fouquetisthere。？Belle—IslewillnotbeattackedwithoutthesignatureofM。
Fouquet。\"
\"Thatistrue。？Nevertheless，beprudent。？Thekingisbothcunningandstrong。\"？Aramissmiled。
\"I
againrecommendPorthostoyou，\"repeatedthecount，withasortofcoldpersistence。
\"Whateverbecomesofme，count，\"repliedAramis，inthesametone，\"ourbrotherPorthoswillfareasIdo—orbetter。\"
AthosbowedwhilstpressingthehandofAramis，andturnedtoembracePorthoswithemotion。
\"I
wasbornlucky，wasInot？\"murmuredthelatter，transportedwithhappiness，ashefoldedhiscloakroundhim。
\"Come，mydearfriend，\"saidAramis。
Raoulhadgoneouttogiveordersforthesaddlingofthehorses。？Thegroupwasalreadydivided。？Athossawhistwofriendsonthepointofdeparture，andsomethinglikeamistpassedbeforehiseyesandweigheduponhisheart。
\"Itisstrange，\"thoughthe，\"whencecomestheinclinationIfeeltoembracePorthosoncemore？\"？AtthatmomentPorthosturnedround，andhecametowardshisoldfriendwithopenarms。？Thislastendearmentwastenderasinyouth，asintimeswhenheartswerewarm—lifehappy。？AndthenPorthosmountedhishorse。？AramiscamebackoncemoretothrowhisarmsroundtheneckofAthos。？Thelatterwatchedthemalongthehigh—road，elongatedbytheshade，intheirwhitecloaks。？Likephantomstheyseemedtoenlargeontheirdeparturefromtheearth，anditwasnotinthemist，butinthedeclivityofthegroundthattheydisappeared。？Attheendoftheperspective，bothseemedtohavegivenaspringwiththeirfeet，whichmadethemvanishasifevaporatedintocloud—land。
ThenAthos，withaveryheavyheart，returnedtowardsthehouse，sayingtoBragelonne，\"Raoul，Idon抰knowwhatitisthathasjusttoldmethatI
haveseenthosetwoforthelasttime。\"
\"Itdoesnotastonishme，monsieur，thatyoushouldhavesuchathought，\"
repliedtheyoungman，\"forIhaveatthismomentthesame，andthinkalsothatIshallneverseeMessieursduVallonandd\'Herblayagain。\"
\"Oh！
you，\"repliedthecount，\"youspeaklikeamanrenderedsadbyadifferentcause;youseeeverythinginblack;youareyoung，andifyouchancenevertoseethoseoldfriendsagain，itwillbecausetheynolongerexistintheworldinwhichyouhaveyetmanyyearstopass。？ButI—\"
Raoulshookhisheadsadly，andleanedupontheshoulderofthecount，withouteitherofthemfindinganotherwordintheirhearts，whichwerereadytooverflow。
Allatonceanoiseofhorsesandvoices，fromtheextremityoftheroadtoBlois，attractedtheirattentionthatway。？Flambeaux—bearersshooktheirtorchesmerrilyamongthetreesoftheirroute，andturnedround，fromtimetotime，toavoiddistancingthehorsemenwhofollowedthem。？Theseflames，thisnoise，thisdustofadozenrichlycaparisonedhorses，formedastrangecontrastinthemiddleofthenightwiththemelancholyandalmostfunerealdisappearanceofthetwoshadowsofAramisandPorthos。？Athoswenttowardsthehouse;buthehadhardlyreachedtheparterre，whentheentrancegateappearedinablaze;alltheflambeauxstoppedandappearedtoenflametheroad。？Acrywasheardof\"M。leDucdeBeaufort\"—andAthossprangtowardsthedoorofhishouse。？Butthedukehadalreadyalightedfromhishorse，andwaslookingaroundhim。
\"I
amhere，monseigneur，\"saidAthos。
\"Ah！
goodevening，dearcount，\"saidtheprince，withthatfrankcordialitywhichwonhimsomanyhearts。？\"Isittoolateforafriend？\"
\"Ah！
mydearprince，comein！\"saidthecount。
And，M。deBeaufortleaningonthearmofAthos，theyenteredthehouse，followedbyRaoul，whowalkedrespectfullyandmodestlyamongtheofficersoftheprince，withseveralofwhomhewasacquainted。
ChapterXXVII:
MonsieurdeBeaufort。
TheprinceturnedroundatthemomentwhenRaoul，inordertoleavehimalonewithAthos，wasshuttingthedoor，andpreparingtogowiththeotherofficersintoanadjoiningapartment。
\"IsthattheyoungmanIhaveheardM。lePrincespeaksohighlyof？\"askedM。
deBeaufort。
\"Itis，monseigneur。\"
\"Heisquitethesoldier;lethimstay，count，wecannotsparehim。\"
\"Remain，Raoul，sincemonseigneurpermitsit，\"saidAthos。
\"Mafoi！heistallandhandsome！\"
continuedtheduke。？\"Willyougivehimtome，monseigneur，ifIaskhimofyou？\"
\"HowamItounderstandyou，monseigneur？\"saidAthos。
\"Why，Icalluponyoutobidyoufarewell。\"
\"Farewell！\"
\"Yes，ingoodtruth。？HaveyounoideaofwhatIamabouttobecome？\"
\"Why，Isuppose，whatyouhavealwaysbeen，monseigneur，—avaliantprince，andanexcellentgentleman。\"
\"I
amgoingtobecomeanAfricanprince，—aBedouingentleman。？ThekingissendingmetomakeconquestsamongtheArabs。\"
\"Whatisthisyoutellme，monseigneur？\"
\"Strange，isitnot？？I，theParisianparessence，Iwhohavereignedinthefaubourgs，andhavebeencalledKingoftheHalles，—IamgoingtopassfromthePlaceMauberttotheminaretsofGigelli;fromaFrondeurIambecominganadventurer！\"
\"Oh，monseigneur，ifyoudidnotyourselftellmethat—\"
\"Itwouldnotbecredible，wouldit？？Believeme，nevertheless，andwehavebuttobideachotherfarewell。？Thisiswhatcomesofgettingintofavoragain。\"
\"Intofavor？\"
\"Yes。？Yousmile。？Ah，mydearcount，doyouknowwhyIhaveacceptedthisenterprise，canyouguess？\"
\"Becauseyourhighnesslovesgloryabove—everything。\"
\"Oh！
no;thereisnogloryinfiringmusketsatsavages。？Iseenogloryinthat，formypart，anditismoreprobablethatIshalltheremeetwithsomethingelse。？ButIhavewished，andstillwishearnestly，mydearcount，thatmylifeshouldhavethatlastfacet，afterallthewhimsicalexhibitionsIhaveseenmyselfmakeduringfiftyyears。？For，inshort，youmustadmitthatitissufficientlystrangetobebornthegrandsonofaking，tohavemadewaragainstkings，tohavebeenreckonedamongthepowersoftheage，tohavemaintainedmyrank，tofeelHenryIV。withinme，tobegreatadmiralofFrance—andthentogoandgetkilledatGigelli，amongallthoseTurks，Saracens，andMoors。\"
\"Monseigneur，youharpwithstrangepersistenceonthattheme，\"saidAthos，inanagitatedvoice。？\"Howcanyousupposethatsobrilliantadestinywillbeextinguishedinthatremoteandmiserablescene？\"
\"Andcanyoubelieve，uprightandsimpleasyouare，thatifIgointoAfricaforthisridiculousmotive，Iwillnotendeavortocomeoutofitwithoutridicule？？ShallInotgivetheworldcausetospeakofme？？Andtobespokenof，nowadays，whenthereareMonsieurlePrince，M。deTurenne，andmanyothers，mycontemporaries，I，admiralofFrance，grandsonofHenryIV。，kingofParis，haveIanythingleftbuttogetmyselfkilled？？Cordieu！？Iwillbetalkedof，Itellyou;Ishallbekilledwhetherornot;ifnothere，somewhereelse。\"
\"Why，monseigneur，thisismereexaggeration;andhithertoyouhaveshownnothingexaggeratedsaveinbravery。\"
\"Peste！mydearfriend，thereisbraveryinfacingscurvy，dysentery，locusts，poisonedarrows，asmyancestorSt。Louisdid。？Doyouknowthosefellowsstillusepoisonedarrows？？Andthen，youknowmeofold，Ifancy，andyouknowthatwhenIoncemakeupmymindtoathing，I
performitingrimearnest。\"
\"Yes，youmadeupyourmindtoescapefromVincennes。\"
\"Ay，butyouaidedmeinthat，mymaster;and，？
propos，Iturnthiswayandthat，withoutseeingmyoldfriend，M。
Vaugrimaud。？Howishe？\"
\"M。
Vaugrimaudisstillyourhighness\'smostrespectfulservant，\"saidAthos，smiling。
\"I
haveahundredpistoleshereforhim，whichIbringasalegacy。？Mywillismade，count。\"
\"Ah！
monseigneur！monseigneur！\"
\"AndyoumayunderstandthatifGrimaud\'snameweretoappearinmywill—
\"？Thedukebegantolaugh;thenaddressingRaoul，who，fromthecommencementofthisconversation，hadsunkintoaprofoundreverie，\"Youngman，\"saidhe，\"IknowthereistobefoundhereacertainDeVouvraywine，andIbelieve—\"？Raoullefttheroomprecipitatelytoorderthewine。？InthemeantimeM。deBeauforttookthehandofAthos。
\"Whatdoyoumeantodowithhim？\"askedhe。
\"Nothingatpresent，monseigneur。\"
\"Ah！
yes，Iknow;sincethepassionofthekingforLaValli鑢e。\"
\"Yes，monseigneur。\"
\"Thatisalltrue，then，isit？？IthinkI
knowher，thatlittleLaValli鑢e。？Sheisnotparticularlyhandsome，ifIrememberright？\"
\"No，monseigneur，\"saidAthos。
\"Doyouknowwhomsheremindsmeof？\"
\"Doessheremindyourhighnessofanyone？\"
\"Sheremindsmeofaveryagreeablegirl，whosemotherlivedintheHalles。\"
\"Ah！
ah！\"saidAthos，smiling。
\"Oh！
thegoodoldtimes，\"addedM。deBeaufort。？\"Yes，LaValli鑢eremindsmeofthatgirl。\"
\"Whohadason，hadshenot？\"
Transcriber\'snote:ItispossiblethattheprecedingconversationisanobscureallegoricalallusiontotheFronde，orperhapsanintimationthattheDucwasthefatherofMordaunt，fromTwentyYearsAfter，butadefiniteinterpretationstilleludesmodernscholars。—
JB
\"Ibelieveshehad，\"repliedtheduke，withcarelessna飗et？andacomplaisantforgetfulness，ofwhichnowordscouldtranslatethetoneandthevocalexpression。？\"Now，hereispoorRaoul，whoisyourson，Ibelieve。\"
\"Yes，heismyson，monseigneur。\"
\"Andthepoorladhasbeencutoutbytheking，andhefrets。\"
\"Stillbetter，monseigneur，heabstains。\"
\"Youaregoingtolettheboyrustinidleness;itisamistake。？Come，givehimtome。\"
\"Mywishistokeephimathome，monseigneur。？Ihavenolongeranythingintheworldbuthim，andaslongashelikestoremain—\"
\"Well，well，\"repliedtheduke。？\"I
could，nevertheless，havesoonputmatterstorightsagain。？Iassureyou，Ithinkhehasinhimthestuffofwhichmar閏halsofFrancearemade;Ihaveseenmorethanoneproducedfromlesslikelyroughmaterial。\"
\"Thatisverypossible，monseigneur;butitisthekingwhomakesmar閏halsofFrance，andRaoulwillneveracceptanythingoftheking。\"
Raoulinterruptedthisconversationbyhisreturn。？HeprecededGrimaud，whosestillsteadyhandscarriedtheplateauwithoneglassandabottleoftheduke\'sfavoritewine。？Onseeinghisoldprot間？，thedukeutteredanexclamationofpleasure。
\"Grimaud！？Goodevening，Grimaud！\"saidhe;
\"howgoesit？\"
Theservantbowedprofoundly，asmuchgratifiedashisnobleinterlocutor。
\"Twooldfriends！\"saidtheduke，shakinghonestGrimaud\'sshoulderafteravigorousfashion;whichwasfollowedbyanotherstillmoreprofoundanddelightedbowfromGrimaud。
\"Butwhatisthis，count，onlyoneglass？\"
\"I
shouldnotthinkofdrinkingwithyourhighness，unlessyourhighnesspermittedme，\"repliedAthos，withnoblehumility。
\"Cordieu！youwererighttobringonlyoneglass，wewillbothdrinkoutofit，liketwobrothersinarms。？Begin，count。\"
\"Domethehonor，\"saidAthos，gentlyputtingbacktheglass。
\"Youareacharmingfriend，\"repliedtheDucdeBeaufort，whodrank，andpassedthegoblettohiscompanion。？\"Butthatisnotall，\"continuedhe，\"Iamstillthirsty，andIwishtodohonortothishandsomeyoungmanwhostandshere。？Icarrygoodluckwithme，vicomte，\"saidhetoRaoul;
\"wishforsomethingwhiledrinkingoutofmyglass，andmaytheblackplaguegrabmeifwhatyouwishdoesnotcometopass！\"？HeheldthegoblettoRaoul，whohastilymoistenedhislips，andrepliedwiththesamepromptitude:
\"I
havewishedforsomething，monseigneur。\"？Hiseyessparkledwithagloomyfire，andthebloodmountedtohischeeks;
heterrifiedAthos，ifonlywithhissmile。
\"Andwhathaveyouwishedfor？\"repliedtheduke，sinkingbackintohisfauteuil，whilstwithonehandhereturnedthebottletoGrimaud，andwiththeothergavehimapurse。
\"Willyoupromiseme，monseigneur，tograntmewhatIwishfor？\"
\"Pardieu！？Thatisagreedupon。\"
\"I
wished，monsieurleduc，togowithyoutoGigelli。\"
Athosbecamepale，andwasunabletoconcealhisagitation。？Thedukelookedathisfriend，asifdesiroustoassisthimtoparrythisunexpectedblow。
\"Thatisdifficult，mydearvicomte，verydifficult，\"addedhe，inalowertoneofvoice。
\"Pardonme，monseigneur，Ihavebeenindiscreet，\"repliedRaoul，inafirmvoice;
\"butasyouyourselfinvitedmetowish—\"
\"Towishtoleaveme？\"saidAthos。
\"Oh！
monsieur—canyouimagine—\"
\"Well，mordieu！\"criedtheduke，\"theyoungvicomteisright！？Whatcanhedohere？？Hewillgomoldywithgrief。\"
Raoulblushed，andtheexcitableprincecontinued:\"Warisadistraction:wegaineverythingbyit;wecanonlyloseonethingbyit—life—thensomuchtheworse！\"
\"Thatistosay，memory，\"saidRaoul，eagerly;\"andthatistosay，somuchthebetter！\"
HerepentedofhavingspokensowarmlywhenhesawAthosriseandopenthewindow;whichwas，doubtless，toconcealhisemotion。？Raoulsprangtowardsthecomte，butthelatterhadalreadyovercomehisemotion，andturnedtothelightswithasereneandimpassiblecountenance。？\"Well，come，\"saidtheduke，\"letussee！？Shallhego，orshallhenot？？Ifhegoes，comte，heshallbemyaide—de—camp，myson。\"
\"Monseigneur！\"
criedRaoul，bendinghisknee。
\"Monseigneur！\"
criedAthos，takingthehandoftheduke;\"Raoulshalldojustashelikes。\"
\"Oh！no，monsieur，justasyoulike，\"interruptedtheyoungman。
\"Parlacorbleu！\"saidtheprinceinhisturn，\"itisneitherthecomtenorthevicomtethatshallhavehisway，itisI。？Iwilltakehimaway。？Themarineoffersasuperbfortune，myfriend。\"
Raoulsmiledagainsosadly，thatthistimeAthosfelthisheartpenetratedbyit，andrepliedtohimbyaseverelook。？Raoulcomprehendeditall;herecoveredhiscalmness，andwassoguarded，thatnotanotherwordescapedhim。？Thedukeatlengthrose，onobservingtheadvancedhour，andsaid，withanimation，\"I
amingreathaste，butifIamtoldIhavelosttimeintalkingwithafriend，IwillreplyIhavegained—onthebalance—amostexcellentrecruit。\"
\"Pardonme，monsieurleduc，\"interruptedRaoul，\"donottellthekingso，foritisnotthekingIwishtoserve。\"
\"Eh！myfriend，whom，then，willyouserve？？Thetimesarepastwhenyoumighthavesaid，\'IbelongtoM。deBeaufort。\'？No，nowadays，weallbelongtotheking，greatorsmall。？Therefore，ifyouserveonboardmyvessels，therecanbenothingequivocalaboutit，mydearvicomte;
itwillbethekingyouwillserve。\"
AthoswaitedwithakindofimpatientjoyforthereplyabouttobemadetothisembarrassingquestionbyRaoul，theintractableenemyoftheking，hisrival。？Thefatherhopedthattheobstaclewouldovercomethedesire。？HewasthankfultoM。deBeaufort，whoselightnessorgenerousreflectionhadthrownanimpedimentinthewayofthedepartureofason，nowhisonlyjoy。？ButRaoul，stillfirmandtranquil，replied:
\"Monsieurleduc，theobjectionyoumakeIhavealreadyconsideredinmymind。？Iwillserveonboardyourvessels，becauseyoudomethehonortotakemewithyou;butIshallthereserveamorepowerfulmasterthantheking:IshallserveGod！\"
\"God！howso？\"saidthedukeandAthostogether。
\"Myintentionistomakeprofession，andbecomeaknightofMalta，\"addedBragelonne，lettingfall，onebyone，wordsmoreicythanthedropswhichfallfromthebaretreesafterthetempestsofwinter。
Transcriber\'snote:ThedictatesofsuchaservicewouldrequireRaoultospendtherestofhislifeoutsideofFrance，henceAthos\'sandGrimaud\'sextremereactions。—JB
UnderthisblowAthosstaggeredandtheprincehimselfwasmoved。？Grimaudutteredaheavygroan，andletfallthebottle，whichwasbrokenwithoutanybodypayingattention。？M。deBeaufortlookedtheyoungmanintheface，andreadplainly，thoughhiseyeswerecastdown，thefireofresolutionbeforewhicheverythingmustgiveway。？AstoAthos，hewastoowellacquaintedwiththattender，butinflexiblesoul;hecouldnothopetomakeitdeviatefromthefatalroadithadjustchosen。？Hecouldonlypressthehandthedukeheldouttohim。？\"Comte，IshallsetoffintwodaysforToulon，\"saidM。deBeaufort。？\"WillyoumeetmeatParis，inorderthatImayknowyourdetermination？\"
\"Iwillhavethehonorofthankingyouthere，monprince，forallyourkindness，\"repliedthecomte。
\"Andbesuretobringthevicomtewithyou，whetherhefollowsmeordoesnotfollowme，\"addedtheduke;\"hehasmyword，andIonlyaskyours。\"
Havingthrownalittlebalmuponthewoundofthepaternalheart，hepulledtheearofGrimaud，whoseeyessparkledmorethanusual，andregainedhisescortintheparterre。？Thehorses，restedandrefreshed，setoffwithspiritthroughthelovelynight，andsoonplacedaconsiderabledistancebetweentheirmasterandthech鈚eau。
AthosandBragelonnewereagainfacetoface。？Eleveno\'clockwasstriking。？Thefatherandsonpreservedaprofoundsilencetowardseachother，whereanintelligentobserverwouldhaveexpectedcriesandtears。？Butthesetwomenwereofsuchanaturethatallemotionfollowingtheirfinalresolutionsplungeditselfsodeepintotheirheartsthatitwaslostforever。？Theypassed，then，silentlyandalmostbreathlessly，thehourthatprecededmidnight。？Theclock，bystriking，alonepointedouttothemhowmanyminuteshadlastedthepainfuljourneymadebytheirsoulsintheimmensityoftheirremembrancesofthepastandfearofthefuture。？Athosrosefirst，saying，\"itislate，then？？Tillto—morrow。\"
Raoulrose，andinhisturnembracedhisfather。？Thelatterheldhimclaspedtohisbreast，andsaid，inatremulousvoice，\"Intwodays，youwillhaveleftme，myson—leftmeforever，Raoul！\"
\"Monsieur，\"
repliedtheyoungman，\"Ihadformedadetermination，thatofpiercingmyheartwithmysword;butyouwouldhavethoughtthatcowardly。？Ihaverenouncedthatdetermination，andthereforewemustpart。\"
\"Youleavemedesolatebygoing，Raoul。\"