ThefirstofthefriendsofFouquet\'stoadvancewasP閘isson。？Hedidnotweep，buthistearswereonlyrestrainedthatthekingmightbetterhearhisvoiceandprayer。？Gourvillebithislipstocheckhistears，outofrespectfortheking。？LaFontaineburiedhisfaceinhishandkerchief，andtheonlysignsoflifehegaveweretheconvulsivemotionsofhisshoulders，raisedbyhissobs。
Thekingpreservedhisdignity。？Hiscountenancewasimpassible。？HeevenmaintainedthefrownwhichappearedwhenD\'Artagnanannouncedhisenemies。？Hemadeagesturewhichsignified，\"Speak;\"andheremainedstanding，withhiseyesfixedsearchinglyonthesedespondingmen。？P閘issonbowedtotheground，andLaFontainekneltaspeopledoinchurches。？Thisdismalsilence，disturbedonlybysighsandgroans，begantoexciteintheking，notcompassion，butimpatience。
\"MonsieurP閘isson，\"saidhe，inasharp，drytone。？\"MonsieurGourville，andyou，Monsieur—\"andhedidnotnameLaFontaine，\"Icannot，withoutsensibledispleasure，seeyoucometopleadforoneofthegreatestcriminalsitisthedutyofjusticetopunish。？Akingdoesnotallowhimselftosoftensaveatthetearsoftheinnocent，theremorseoftheguilty。？IhavenofaitheitherintheremorseofM。
Fouquetorthetearsofhisfriends，becausetheoneistaintedtotheveryheart，andtheothersoughttodreadoffendingmeinmyownpalace。？Forthesereasons，Ibegyou，MonsieurP閘isson，MonsieurGourville，andyou，Monsieur—，tosaynothingthatwillnotplainlyproclaimtherespectyouhaveformywill。\"
\"Sire，\"
repliedP閘isson，tremblingatthesewords，\"wearecometosaynothingtoyourmajestythatisnotthemostprofoundexpressionofthemostsincererespectandlovethatareduetoakingfromallhissubjects。？Yourmajesty\'sjusticeisredoubtable;everyonemustyieldtothesentencesitpronounces。？Werespectfullybowbeforeit。？Farfromustheideaofcomingtodefendhimwhohashadthemisfortunetooffendyourmajesty。？Hewhohasincurredyourdispleasuremaybeafriendofours，butheisanenemytothestate。？Weabandonhim，butwithtears，totheseverityoftheking。\"
\"Besides，\"
interruptedtheking，calmedbythatsupplicatingvoice，andthosepersuasivewords，\"myparliamentwilldecide。？Idonotstrikewithoutfirsthavingweighedthecrime;myjusticedoesnotwieldtheswordwithoutemployingfirstapairofscales。\"
\"Thereforewehaveeveryconfidenceinthatimpartialityoftheking，andhopetomakeourfeeblevoicesheard，withtheconsentofyourmajesty，whenthehourfordefendinganaccusedfriendstrikes。\"
\"Inthatcase，messieurs，whatdoyouaskofme？\"saidtheking，withhismostimposingair。
\"Sire，\"
continuedP閘isson，\"theaccusedhasawifeandfamily。？Thelittlepropertyhehadwasscarcelysufficienttopayhisdebts，andMadameFouquet，sinceherhusband\'scaptivity，isabandonedbyeverybody。？ThehandofyourmajestystrikeslikethehandofGod。？WhentheLordsendsthecurseofleprosyorpestilenceintoafamily，everyonefliesandshunstheabodeoftheleprousorplague—stricken。？Sometimes，butveryrarely，agenerousphysicianaloneventurestoapproachtheill—reputedthreshold，passesitwithcourage，andriskshislifetocombatdeath。？Heisthelastresourceofthedying，thechoseninstrumentofheavenlymercy。？Sire，wesupplicateyou，withclaspedhandsandbendedknees，asadivinityissupplicated！？MadameFouquethasnolongeranyfriends，nolongeranymeansofsupport;sheweepsinherdesertedhome，abandonedbyallthosewhobesiegeditsdoorsinthehourofprosperity;shehasneithercreditnorhopeleft。？Atleast，theunhappywretchuponwhomyourangerfallsreceivesfromyou，howeverculpablehemaybe，hisdailybreadthoughmoistenedbyhistears。？Asmuchafflicted，moredestitutethanherhusband，MadameFouquet—theladywhohadthehonortoreceiveyourmajestyathertable—
MadameFouquet，thewifeoftheancientsuperintendentofyourmajesty\'sfinances，MadameFouquethasnolongerbread。\"
HerethemortalsilencewhichhadchainedthebreathofP閘isson\'stwofriendswasbrokenbyanoutburstofsobs;andD\'Artagnan，whosechestheavedathearingthishumbleprayer，turnedroundtowardstheangleofthecabinettobitehismustacheandconcealagroan。
Thekinghadpreservedhiseyedryandhiscountenancesevere;butthebloodhadmountedtohischeeks，andthefirmnessofhislookwasvisiblydiminished。
\"Whatdoyouwish？\"saidhe，inanagitatedvoice。
\"Wecomehumblytoaskyourmajesty，\"repliedP閘isson，uponwhomemotionwasfastgaining，\"topermitus，withoutincurringthedispleasureofyourmajesty，tolendtoMadameFouquettwothousandpistolescollectedamongtheoldfriendsofherhusband，inorderthatthewidowmaynotstandinneedofthenecessariesoflife。\"
Atthewordwidow，pronouncedbyP閘issonwhilstFouquetwasstillalive，thekingturnedverypale;—hispridedisappeared;
pityrosefromhishearttohislips;hecastasoftenedlookuponthemenwhokneltsobbingathisfeet。
\"Godforbid，\"saidhe，\"thatIshouldconfoundtheinnocentwiththeguilty。？Theyknowmebutillwhodoubtmymercytowardstheweak。？Istrikenonebutthearrogant。？Do，messieurs，doallthatyourheartscounselyoutoassuagethegriefofMadameFouquet。？Go，messieurs—go！\"
Thethreenowroseinsilencewithdryeyes。？Thetearshadbeenscorchedawaybycontactwiththeirburningcheeksandeyelids。？Theyhadnotthestrengthtoaddresstheirthankstotheking，whohimselfcutshorttheirsolemnreverencesbyentrenchinghimselfsuddenlybehindthefauteuil。
D\'Artagnanremainedalonewiththeking。
\"Well，\"
saidhe，approachingtheyoungprince，whointerrogatedhimwithhislook。？\"Well，mymaster！？Ifyouhadnotthedevicewhichbelongstoyoursun，IwouldrecommendyouonewhichM。ConrartmighttranslateintoeclecticLatin，\'Calmwiththelowly;stormywiththestrong。\'\"
Thekingsmiled，andpassedintothenextapartment，afterhavingsaidtoD\'Artagnan，\"I
giveyoutheleaveofabsenceyoumustwanttoputtheaffairsofyourfriend，thelateM。duVallon，inorder。\"
ChapterLV:
Porthos\'sWill。
AtPierrefondseverythingwasinmourning。？Thecourtsweredeserted—thestablesclosed—theparterresneglected。？Inthebasins，thefountains，formerlysojubilantlyfreshandnoisy，hadstoppedofthemselves。？Alongtheroadsaroundthech鈚eaucameafewgravepersonagesmountedonmulesorcountrynags。？Thesewereruralneighbors，cur閟andbailiffsofadjacentestates。？Allthesepeopleenteredthech鈚eausilently，handedtheirhorsestoamelancholy—lookinggroom，anddirectedtheirsteps，conductedbyahuntsmaninblack，tothegreatdining—room，whereMousquetonreceivedthematthedoor。？Mousquetonhadbecomesothinintwodaysthathisclothesmoveduponhimlikeanill—fittingscabbardinwhichthesword—bladedancesateachmotion。？Hisface，composedofredandwhite，likethatoftheMadonnaofVandyke，wasfurrowedbytwosilverrivuletswhichhaddugtheirbedsinhischeeks，asfullformerlyastheyhadbecomeflabbysincehisgriefbegan。？Ateachfresharrival，Mousquetonfoundfreshtears，anditwaspitifultoseehimpresshisthroatwithhisfathandtokeepfromburstingintosobsandlamentations。？AllthesevisitswereforthepurposeofhearingthereadingofPorthos\'swill，announcedforthatday，andatwhichallthecovetousfriendsofthedeadmanwereanxioustobepresent，ashehadleftnorelationsbehindhim。
Thevisitorstooktheirplacesastheyarrived，andthegreatroomhadjustbeenclosedwhentheclockstrucktwelve，thehourfixedforthereadingoftheimportantdocument。？Porthos\'sprocureur—andthatwasnaturallythesuccessorofMasterCoquenard—commencedbyslowlyunfoldingthevastparchmentuponwhichthepowerfulhandofPorthoshadtracedhissovereignwill。？Thesealbroken—thespectaclesputon—thepreliminarycoughhavingsounded—everyoneprickeduphisears。？Mousquetonhadsquattedhimselfinacorner，thebettertoweepandthebettertohear。？Allatoncethefolding—doorsofthegreatroom，whichhadbeenshut，werethrownopenasifbymagic，andawarlikefigureappeareduponthethreshold，resplendentinthefulllightofthesun。？ThiswasD\'Artagnan，whohadcomealonetothegate，andfindingnobodytoholdhisstirrup，hadtiedhishorsetotheknockerandannouncedhimself。？Thesplendorofdaylightinvadingtheroom，themurmurofallpresent，and，morethanall，theinstinctofthefaithfuldog，drewMousquetonfromhisreverie;heraisedhishead，recognizedtheoldfriendofhismaster，and，screamingwithgrief，heembracedhisknees，wateringthefloorwithhistears。？D\'Artagnanraisedthepoorintendant，embracedhimasifhehadbeenabrother，and，havingnoblysalutedtheassembly，whoallbowedastheywhisperedtoeachotherhisname，hewentandtookhisseatattheextremityofthegreatcarvedoakhall，stillholdingbythehandpoorMousqueton，whowassuffocatingwithexcessofwoe，andsankuponthesteps。？Thentheprocureur，who，liketherest，wasconsiderablyagitated，commenced。
Porthos，afteraprofessionoffaithofthemostChristiancharacter，askedpardonofhisenemiesforalltheinjurieshemighthavedonethem。？Atthisparagraph，arayofinexpressiblepridebeamedfromtheeyesofD\'Artagnan。
Herecalledtohismindtheoldsoldier;allthoseenemiesofPorthosbroughttoearthbyhisvalianthand;hereckonedupthenumbersofthem，andsaidtohimselfthatPorthoshadactedwisely，nottoenumeratehisenemiesortheinjuriesdonetothem，orthetaskwouldhavebeentoomuchforthereader。？Thencamethefollowingscheduleofhisextensivelands:
\"I
possessatthispresenttime，bythegraceofGod—
\"1。
ThedomainofPierrefonds，lands，woods，meadows，waters，andforests，surroundedbygoodwalls。
\"2。
ThedomainofBracieux，ch鈚eaux，forests，plowedlands，formingthreefarms。
\"3。
ThelittleestateDuVallon，sonamedbecauseitisinthevalley。\"？（BravePorthos！）
\"4。
FiftyfarmsinTouraine，amountingtofivehundredacres。
\"5。
ThreemillsupontheCher，bringinginsixhundredlivreseach。
\"6。
Threefish—poolsinBerry，producingtwohundredlivresayear。
\"Astomypersonalormovableproperty，socalledbecauseitcanbemoved，asissowellexplainedbymylearnedfriendthebishopofVannes—\"？（D\'Artagnanshudderedatthedismalremembranceattachedtothatname）—theprocureurcontinuedimperturbably—
\"theyconsist—\"
\"1。
IngoodswhichIcannotdetailhereforwantofroom，andwhichfurnishallmych鈚eauxorhouses，butofwhichthelistisdrawnupbymyintendant。\"
EveryoneturnedhiseyestowardsMousqueton，whowasstilllostingrief。
\"2。
Intwentyhorsesforsaddleanddraught，whichIhaveparticularlyatmych鈚eauofPierrefonds，andwhicharecalled—Bayard，Roland，Charlemagne，P閜in，Dunois，LaHire，Ogier，Samson，Milo，Nimrod，Urganda，Armida，Flastrade，Dalilah，Rebecca，Yolande，Finette，Grisette，Lisette，andMusette。
\"3。
Insixtydogs，formingsixpacks，dividedasfollows:thefirst，forthestag;
thesecond，forthewolf;thethird，forthewildboar;thefourth，forthehare;andthetwoothers，forsettersandprotection。
\"4。
Inarmsforwarandthechasecontainedinmygalleryofarms。
\"5。
MywinesofAnjou，selectedforAthos，wholikedthemformerly;mywinesofBurgundy，Champagne，Bordeaux，andSpain，stockingeightcellarsandtwelvevaults，inmyvarioushouses。
\"6。
Mypicturesandstatues，whicharesaidtobeofgreatvalue，andwhicharesufficientlynumeroustofatiguethesight。
\"7。
Mylibrary，consistingofsixthousandvolumes，quitenew，andhaveneverbeenopened。
\"8。
Mysilverplate，whichisperhapsalittleworn，butwhichoughttoweighfromathousandtotwelvehundredpounds，forIhadgreattroubleinliftingthecofferthatcontaineditandcouldnotcarryitmorethansixtimesroundmychamber。
\"9。
Alltheseobjects，inadditiontothetableandhouselinen，aredividedintheresidencesIlikedthebest。\"
Herethereaderstoppedtotakebreath。？Everyonesighed，coughed，andredoubledhisattention。？Theprocureurresumed:
\"I
havelivedwithouthavinganychildren，anditisprobableInevershallhaveany，whichtomeisacuttinggrief。？AndyetIammistaken，forIhaveason，incommonwithmyotherfriends;thatis，M。RaoulAugusteJulesdeBragelonne，thetruesonofM。leComtedelaF鑢e。
\"ThisyoungnoblemanappearstomeextremelyworthytosucceedthevaliantgentlemanofwhomIamthefriendandveryhumbleservant。\"
Hereasharpsoundinterruptedthereader。？ItwasD\'Artagnan\'ssword，which，slippingfromhisbaldric，hadfallenonthesonorousflooring。？Everyoneturnedhiseyesthatway，andsawthatalargetearhadrolledfromthethicklidofD\'Artagnan，half—waydowntohisaquilinenose，theluminousedgeofwhichshonelikealittlecrescentmoon。
\"Thisiswhy，\"continuedtheprocureur，\"Ihaveleftallmyproperty，movable，orimmovable，comprisedintheaboveenumerations，toM。leVicomteRaoulAugusteJulesdeBragelonne，sonofM。leComtedelaF鑢e，toconsolehimforthegriefheseemstosuffer，andenablehimtoaddmorelustertohisalreadygloriousname。\"
A
vaguemurmurranthroughtheauditory。？Theprocureurcontinued，secondedbytheflashingeyeofD\'Artagnan，which，glancingovertheassembly，quicklyrestoredtheinterruptedsilence:
\"OnconditionthatM。leVicomtedeBragelonnedogivetoM。leChevalierd\'Artagnan，captainoftheking\'smusketeers，whateverthesaidChevalierd\'Artagnanmaydemandofmyproperty。？OnconditionthatM。leVicomtedeBragelonnedopayagoodpensiontoM。leChevalierd\'Herblay，myfriend，ifheshouldneeditinexile。？IleavetomyintendantMousquetonallofmyclothes，ofcity，war，orchase，tothenumberofforty—sevensuits，intheassurancethathewillwearthemtilltheyarewornout，fortheloveofandinremembranceofhismaster。？Moreover，I
bequeathtoM。leVicomtedeBragelonnemyoldservantandfaithfulfriendMousqueton，alreadynamed，providingthatthesaidvicomteshallsoactthatMousquetonshalldeclare，whendying，hehasneverceasedtobehappy。\"
Onhearingthesewords，Mousquetonbowed，paleandtrembling;hisshouldersshookconvulsively;hiscountenance，compressedbyafrightfulgrief，appearedfrombetweenhisicyhands，andthespectatorssawhimstaggerandhesitate，asif，thoughwishingtoleavethehall，hedidnotknowtheway。
\"Mousqueton，mygoodfriend，\"saidD\'Artagnan，\"goandmakeyourpreparations。？IwilltakeyouwithmetoAthos\'shouse，whitherIshallgoonleavingPierrefonds。\"
Mousquetonmadenoreply。？Hescarcelybreathed，asifeverythinginthathallwouldfromthattimebeforeign。？Heopenedthedoor，andslowlydisappeared。
Theprocureurfinishedhisreading，afterwhichthegreaterpartofthosewhohadcometohearthelastwillofPorthosdispersedbydegrees，manydisappointed，butallpenetratedwithrespect。？AsforD\'Artagnan，thusleftalone，afterhavingreceivedtheformalcomplimentsoftheprocureur，hewaslostinadmirationofthewisdomofthetestator，whohadsojudiciouslybestowedhiswealthuponthemostnecessitousandthemostworthy，withadelicacythatneithernoblemannorcourtiercouldhavedisplayedmorekindly。？WhenPorthosenjoinedRaouldeBragelonnetogiveD\'Artagnanallthathewouldask，heknewwell，ourworthyPorthos，thatD\'Artagnanwouldaskortakenothing;andincasehediddemandanything，nonebuthimselfcouldsaywhat。？PorthosleftapensiontoAramis，who，ifheshouldbeinclinedtoasktoomuch，wascheckedbytheexampleofD\'Artagnan;andthatwordexile，thrownoutbythetestator，withoutapparentintention，wasitnotthemildest，mostexquisitecriticismuponthatconductofAramiswhichhadbroughtaboutthedeathofPorthos？？ButtherewasnomentionofAthosinthetestamentofthedead。？Couldthelatterforamomentsupposethatthesonwouldnotofferthebestparttothefather？？TheroughmindofPorthoshadfathomedallthesecauses，seizedalltheseshadesmoreclearlythanlaw，betterthancustom，withmoreproprietythantaste。
\"Porthoshadindeedaheart，\"saidD\'Artagnantohimselfwithasigh。？Ashemadethisreflection，hefanciedhehardagroanintheroomabovehim;andhethoughtimmediatelyofpoorMousqueton，whomhefeltitwasapleasingdutytodivertfromhisgrief。？Forthispurposeheleftthehallhastilytoseektheworthyintendant，ashehadnotreturned。？Heascendedthestaircaseleadingtothefirststory，andperceived，inPorthos\'sownchamber，aheapofclothesofallcolorsandmaterials，uponwhichMousquetonhadlaidhimselfdownafterheapingthemallonthefloortogether。？Itwasthelegacyofthefaithfulfriend。？Thoseclothesweretrulyhisown;theyhadbeengiventohim;thehandofMousquetonwasstretchedovertheserelics，whichhewaskissingwithhislips，withallhisface，andcoveredwithhisbody。？D\'Artagnanapproachedtoconsolethepoorfellow。
\"MyGod！\"saidhe，\"hedoesnotstir—hehasfainted！\"
ButD\'Artagnanwasmistaken。？Mousquetonwasdead！？Dead，likethedogwho，havinglosthismaster，crawlsbacktodieuponhiscloak。
ChapterLVI:
TheOldAgeofAthos。
Whiletheseaffairswereseparatingforeverthefourmusketeers，formerlyboundtogetherinamannerthatseemedindissoluble，Athos，leftaloneafterthedepartureofRaoul，begantopayhistributetothatforetasteofdeathwhichiscalledtheabsenceofthosewelove。？BackinhishouseatBlois，nolongerhavingevenGrimaudtoreceiveapoorsmileashepassedthroughtheparterre，Athosdailyfeltthedeclineofvigorofanaturewhichforsolongatimehadseemedimpregnable。？Age，whichhadbeenkeptbackbythepresenceofthebelovedobject，arrivedwiththatcort鑗eofpainsandinconveniences，whichgrowsbygeometricalaccretion。？Athoshadnolongerhissontoinducehimtowalkfirmly，withheaderect，asagoodexample;hehadnolonger，inthosebrillianteyesoftheyoungman，anever—ardentfocusatwhichtokindleanewthefireofhislooks。？Andthen，mustitbesaid，thatnature，exquisiteintendernessandreserve，nolongerfindinganythingtounderstanditsfeelings，gaveitselfuptogriefwithallthewarmthofcommonnatureswhentheyyieldtojoy。？TheComtedelaF鑢e，whohadremainedayoungmantohissixty—secondyear;thewarriorwhohadpreservedhisstrengthinspiteoffatigue;hisfreshnessofmindinspiteofmisfortune，hismildserenityofsoulandbodyinspiteofMilady，inspiteofMazarin，inspiteofLaValli鑢e;Athoshadbecomeanoldmaninaweek，fromthemomentatwhichhelostthecomfortofhislateryouth。？Stillhandsome，thoughbent，noble，butsad，hesought，sincehissolitude，thedeepergladeswheresunshinescarcelypenetrated。？Hediscontinuedallthemightyexerciseshehadenjoyedthroughlife，whenRaoulwasnolongerwithhim。？Theservants，accustomedtoseehimstirringwiththedawnatallseasons，wereastonishedtohearseveno\'clockstrikebeforetheirmasterquittedhisbed。？Athosremainedinbedwithabookunderhispillow—buthedidnotsleep，neitherdidheread。？Remaininginbedthathemightnolongerhavetocarryhisbody，heallowedhissoulandspirittowanderfromtheirenvelopeandreturntohisson，ortoGod。
Transcriber\'snote:Insomeeditions，\"inspiteofMilady\"reads\"inspiteofmalady。\"
—JB
Hispeopleweresometimesterrifiedtoseehim，forhourstogether，absorbedinsilentreverie，muteandinsensible;henolongerheardthetimidstepoftheservantwhocametothedoorofhischambertowatchthesleepingorwakingofhismaster。？Itoftenoccurredthatheforgotthedayhadhalfpassedaway，thatthehoursforthetwofirstmealsweregoneby。？Thenhewasawakened。？Herose，descendedtohisshadywalk，thencameoutalittleintothesun，asthoughtopartakeofitswarmthforaminuteinmemoryofhisabsentchild。？Andthenthedismalmonotonouswalkrecommenced，until，exhausted，heregainedthechamberandhisbed，hisdomicilebychoice。？Forseveraldaysthecomtedidnotspeakasingleword。？Herefusedtoreceivethevisitsthatwerepaidhim，andduringthenighthewasseentorelighthislampandpasslonghoursinwriting，orexaminingparchments。
AthoswroteoneoftheseletterstoVannes，anothertoFontainebleau;theyremainedwithoutanswers。？Weknowwhy:AramishadquittedFrance，andD\'ArtagnanwastravelingfromNantestoParis，fromParistoPierrefonds。？Hisvaletdechambreobservedthatheshortenedhiswalkeverydaybyseveralturns。？Thegreatalleyoflimessoonbecametoolongforfeetthatusedtotraverseitformerlyahundredtimesaday。？Thecomtewalkedfeeblyasfarasthemiddletrees，seatedhimselfuponamossybankthatslopedtowardsasidewalk，andtherewaitedthereturnofhisstrength，orratherthereturnofnight。？Veryshortlyahundredstepsexhaustedhim。？AtlengthAthosrefusedtoriseatall;hedeclinedallnourishment，andhisterrifiedpeople，althoughhedidnotcomplain，althoughheworeasmileuponhislips，althoughhecontinuedtospeakwithhissweetvoice—hispeoplewenttoBloisinsearchoftheancientphysicianofthelateMonsieur，andbroughthimtotheComtedelaF鑢einsuchafashionthathecouldseethecomtewithoutbeinghimselfseen。？Forthispurpose，theyplacedhiminaclosetadjoiningthechamberofthepatient，andimploredhimnottoshowhimself，forfearofdispleasingtheirmaster，whohadnotaskedforaphysician。？Thedoctorobeyed。？Athoswasasortofmodelforthegentlemenofthecountry;theBlaisoisboastedofpossessingthissacredrelicofFrenchglory。？Athoswasagreatseigneurcomparedwithsuchnoblesasthekingimprovisedbytouchingwithhisartificialsceptertheparched—uptrunksoftheheraldictreesoftheprovince。
PeoplerespectedAthos，wesay，andtheylovedhim。？Thephysiciancouldnotbeartoseehispeopleweep，toseeflockroundhimthepoorofthecanton，towhomAthoshadsooftengivenlifeandconsolationbyhiskindwordsandhischarities。？Heexamined，therefore，fromthedepthsofhishiding—place，thenatureofthatmysteriousmaladywhichbentandagedmoremortallyeverydayamanbutlatelysofulloflifeandadesiretolive。？HeremarkeduponthecheeksofAthosthehectichueoffever，whichfeedsuponitself;slowfever，pitiless，borninafoldoftheheart，shelteringitselfbehindthatrampart，growingfromthesufferingitengenders，atoncecauseandeffectofaperiloussituation。？Thecomtespoketonobody;hedidnoteventalktohimself。？Histhoughtfearednoise;itapproachedtothatdegreeofover—excitementwhichbordersuponecstasy。？Manthusabsorbed，thoughhedoesnotyetbelongtoGod，alreadyappertainsnolongertotheearth。？Thedoctorremainedforseveralhoursstudyingthispainfulstruggleofthewillagainstsuperiorpower;hewasterrifiedatseeingthoseeyesalwaysfixed，everdirectedonsomeinvisibleobject;wasterrifiedatthemonotonousbeatingofthatheartfromwhichneverasigharosetovarythemelancholystate;foroftenpainbecomesthehopeofthephysician。？Halfadaypassedawaythus。？Thedoctorformedhisresolutionlikeabraveman;heissuedsuddenlyfromhisplaceofretreat，andwentstraightuptoAthos，whobeheldhimwithoutevincingmoresurprisethanifhehadunderstoodnothingoftheapparition。
\"Monsieurlecomte，Icraveyourpardon，\"saidthedoctor，cominguptothepatientwithopenarms;\"butIhaveareproachtomakeyou—youshallhearme。\"？AndheseatedhimselfbythepillowofAthos，whohadgreattroubleinrousinghimselffromhispreoccupation。
\"Whatisthematter，doctor？\"askedthecomte，afterasilence。
\"Thematteris，youareill，monsieur，andhavehadnoadvice。\"
\"I！
ill！\"saidAthos，smiling。
\"Fever，consumption，weakness，decay，monsieurlecomte！\"
\"Weakness！\"
repliedAthos;\"isitpossible？？I
donotgetup。\"
\"Come，come！monsieurlecomte，nosubterfuges;youareagoodChristian？\"
\"I
hopeso，\"saidAthos。
\"Isityourwishtokillyourself？\"
\"Never，doctor。\"
\"Well！
monsieur，youareinafairwayofdoingso。？Thustoremainissuicide。？Getwell！monsieurlecomte，getwell！\"
\"Ofwhat？？Findthediseasefirst。？Formypart，Ineverknewmyselfbetter;
neverdidtheskyappearmorebluetome;neverdidItakemorecareofmyflowers。\"
\"Youhaveahiddengrief。\"
\"Concealed！—notatall;theabsenceofmyson，doctor;thatismymalady，andIdonotconcealit。\"
\"Monsieurlecomte，yoursonlives，heisstrong，hehasallthefuturebeforehim—thefutureofmenofmerit，ofhisrace;liveforhim—\"
\"ButIdolive，doctor;oh！besatisfiedofthat，\"addedhe，withamelancholysmile;\"foraslongasRaoullives，itwillbeplainlyknown，foraslongashelives，Ishalllive。\"
\"Whatdoyousay？\"
\"A
verysimplething。？Atthismoment，doctor，Ileavelifesuspendedwithinme。？Aforgetful，dissipated，indifferentlifewouldbebeyondmystrength，nowIhavenolongerRaoulwithme。？Youdonotaskthelamptoburnwhenthematchhasnotillumedtheflame;donotaskmetoliveamidstnoiseandmerriment。？Ivegetate，Ipreparemyself，Iwait。？Look，doctor;rememberthosesoldierswehavesooftenseentogetherattheports，wheretheywerewaitingtoembark;lyingdown，indifferent，halfononeelement，halfontheother;theywereneitherattheplacewheretheseawasgoingtocarrythem，norattheplacetheearthwasgoingtolosethem;baggageprepared，mindsonthestretch，armsstacked—theywaited。？Irepeatit，thewordistheonewhichpaintsmypresentlife。？Lyingdownlikethesoldiers，myearonthestretchforthereportthatmayreachme，Iwishtobereadytosetoutatthefirstsummons。？Whowillmakemethatsummons？lifeordeath？？GodorRaoul？？Mybaggageispacked，mysoulisprepared，Iawaitthesignal—Iwait，doctor，I
wait！\"
Thedoctorknewthetemperofthatmind;heappreciatedthestrengthofthatbody;
hereflectedforthemoment，toldhimselfthatwordswereuseless，remediesabsurd，andleftthech鈚eau，exhortingAthos\'sservantsnottoquithimforamoment。
Thedoctorbeinggone，Athosevincedneitherangernorvexationathavingbeendisturbed。？Hedidnotevendesirethatalllettersthatcameshouldbebroughttohimdirectly。？Heknewverywellthateverydistractionwhichshouldarisewouldbeajoy，ahope，whichhisservantswouldhavepaidwiththeirbloodtoprocurehim。？Sleephadbecomerare。？Byintensethinking，Athosforgothimself，forafewhoursatmost，inareveriemostprofound，moreobscurethanotherpeoplewouldhavecalledadream。？Themomentaryreposewhichthisforgetfulnessthusgavethebody，stillfurtherfatiguedthesoul，forAthoslivedadoublelifeduringthesewanderingsofhisunderstanding。？Onenight，hedreamtthatRaoulwasdressinghimselfinatent，togouponanexpeditioncommandedbyM。deBeaufortinperson。？Theyoungmanwassad;heclaspedhiscuirassslowly，andslowlyhegirdedonhissword。
\"Whatisthematter？\"askedhisfather，tenderly。
\"WhatafflictsmeisthedeathofPorthos，eversodearafriend，\"repliedRaoul。？\"Isufferherethegriefyousoonwillfeelathome。\"
AndthevisiondisappearedwiththeslumberofAthos。？Atdaybreakoneofhisservantsenteredhismaster\'sapartment，andgavehimaletterwhichcamefromSpain。
\"ThewritingofAramis，\"thoughtthecomte;andheread。
\"Porthosisdead！\"criedhe，afterthefirstlines。？\"Oh！？Raoul，Raoul！
thanks！thoukeepestthypromise，thouwarnestme！\"
AndAthos，seizedwithamortalsweat，faintedinhisbed，withoutanyothercausethanweakness。