\"Sayingthesewordsandwavinghissword，hehimselfrodetowardstheenemy。？Theregiments，rushinginhissteps，ranintheirturn，utteringcriesasterribleasthoseoftheArabswerewild。
\"ThecombatcommencedoverthebodyofM。deBragelonne，andwithsuchinveteracywasitfoughtthatahundredandsixtyArabswereleftuponthefield，bythesideofatleastfiftyofourtroops。？ItwasalieutenantfromNormandywhotookthebodyofthevicomteonhisshouldersandcarrieditbacktothelines。？Theadvantagewas，however，pursued，theregimentstookthereservewiththem，andtheenemy\'spalisadeswereutterlydestroyed。？Atthreeo\'clockthefireoftheArabsceased;thehand—to—handfightlastedtwohours;itwasamassacre。？Atfiveo\'clockwewerevictoriousatallpoints;
theenemyhadabandonedhispositions，andM。leducorderedthewhiteflagtobeplantedonthesummitofthelittlemountain。？ItwasthenwehadtimetothinkofM。deBragelonne，whohadeightlargewoundsinhisbody，throughwhichalmostallhisbloodhadwelledaway。？Still，however，hehadbreathed，whichaffordedinexpressiblejoytomonseigneur，whoinsistedonbeingpresentatthefirstdressingofthewoundsandtheconsultationofthesurgeons。？ThereweretwoamongthemwhodeclaredM。deBragelonnewouldlive。？Monseigneurthrewhisarmsaroundtheirnecks，andpromisedthemathousandlouiseachiftheycouldsavehim。
\"Thevicomteheardthesetransportsofjoy，andwhetherhewasindespair，orwhetherhesufferedmuchfromhiswounds，heexpressedbyhiscountenanceacontradiction，whichgaverisetoreflection，particularlyinoneofthesecretarieswhenhehadheardwhatfollows。？ThethirdsurgeonwasthebrotherofSylvaindeSaint—Cosme，themostlearnedofthemall。？Heprobedthewoundsinhisturn，andsaidnothing。？M。deBragelonnefixedhiseyessteadilyupontheskillfulsurgeon，andseemedtointerrogatehiseverymovement。？Thelatter，uponbeingquestionedbymonseigneur，repliedthathesawplainlythreemortalwoundsoutofeight，butsostrongwastheconstitutionofthewounded，sorichwasheinyouth，andsomercifulwasthegoodnessofGod，thatperhapsM。deBragelonnemightrecover，particularlyifhedidnotmoveintheslightestmanner。？Fr鑢eSylvainadded，turningtowardshisassistants，\'Aboveeverything，donotallowhimtomove，evenafinger，oryouwillkillhim;\'andweallleftthetentinverylowspirits。？ThatsecretaryIhavementioned，onleavingthetent，thoughtheperceivedafaintandsadsmileglideoverthelipsofM。deBragelonnewhenthedukesaidtohim，inacheerful，kindvoice，\'Wewillsaveyou，vicomte，wewillsaveyouyet。\'
\"Intheevening，whenitwasbelievedthewoundedyouthhadtakensomerepose，oneoftheassistantsenteredhistent，butrushedoutagainimmediately，utteringloudcries。？Weallranupindisorder，M。leducwithus，andtheassistantpointedtothebodyofM。deBragelonneupontheground，atthefootofhisbed，bathedintheremainderofhisblood。？Itappearedthathehadsufferedsomeconvulsion，somedelirium，andthathehadfallen;thatthefallhadacceleratedhisend，accordingtotheprognosisofFr鑢eSylvain。？Weraisedthevicomte;hewascoldanddead。？Heheldalockoffairhairinhisrighthand，andthathandwastightlypresseduponhisheart。\"
Thenfollowedthedetailsoftheexpedition，andofthevictoryobtainedovertheArabs。？D\'ArtagnanstoppedattheaccountofthedeathofpoorRaoul。？\"Oh！\"murmuredhe，\"unhappyboy！asuicide！\"？Andturninghiseyestowardsthechamberofthech鈚eau，inwhichAthossleptineternalsleep，\"Theykepttheirwordswitheachother，\"saidhe，inalowvoice;\"nowIbelievethemtobehappy;theymustbereunited。\"？Andhereturnedthroughtheparterrewithslowandmelancholysteps。？Allthevillage—alltheneighborhood—werefilledwithgrievingneighborsrelatingtoeachotherthedoublecatastrophe，andmakingpreparationsforthefuneral。
ChapterLX:
TheLastCantoofthePoem。
Onthemorrow，allthenoblesseoftheprovinces，oftheenvirons，andwherevermessengershadcarriedthenews，mighthavebeenseenarrivingindetachments。？D\'Artagnanhadshuthimselfup，withoutbeingwillingtospeaktoanybody。？Twosuchheavydeathsfallinguponthecaptain，socloselyafterthedeathofPorthos，foralongtimeoppressedthatspiritwhichhadhithertobeensoindefatigableandinvulnerable。？ExceptGrimaud，whoenteredhischamberonce，themusketeersawneitherservantsnorguests。？Hesupposed，fromthenoisesinthehouse，andthecontinualcomingandgoing，thatpreparationswerebeingmadeforthefuneralofthecomte。？Hewrotetothekingtoaskforanextensionofhisleaveofabsence。？Grimaud，aswehavesaid，hadenteredD\'Artagnan\'sapartment，hadseatedhimselfuponajoint—stoolnearthedoor，likeamanwhomeditatesprofoundly;then，rising，hemadeasigntoD\'Artagnantofollowhim。？Thelatterobeyedinsilence。？Grimauddescendedtothecomte\'sbed—chamber，showedthecaptainwithhisfingertheplaceoftheemptybed，andraisedhiseyeseloquentlytowardsHeaven。
\"Yes，\"
repliedD\'Artagnan，\"yes，goodGrimaud—nowwiththesonhelovedsomuch！\"
Grimaudleftthechamber，andledthewaytothehall，where，accordingtothecustomoftheprovince，thebodywaslaidout，previouslytobeingputawayforever。？D\'Artagnanwasstruckatseeingtwoopencoffinsinthehall。？InreplytothemuteinvitationofGrimaud，heapproached，andsawinoneofthemAthos，stillhandsomeindeath，and，intheother，Raoulwithhiseyesclosed，hischeekspearlyasthoseofthePallsofVirgil，withasmileonhisvioletlips。？Heshudderedatseeingthefatherandson，thosetwodepartedsouls，representedonearthbytwosilent，melancholybodies，incapableoftouchingeachother，howeverclosetheymightbe。
\"Raoulhere！\"murmuredhe。？\"Oh！？Grimaud，whydidyounottellmethis？\"
Grimaudshookhishead，andmadenoreply;buttakingD\'Artagnanbythehand，heledhimtothecoffin，andshowedhim，underthethinwinding—sheet，theblackwoundsbywhichlifehadescaped。？Thecaptainturnedawayhiseyes，and，judgingitwasuselesstoquestionGrimaud，whowouldnotanswer，herecollectedthatM。deBeaufort\'ssecretaryhadwrittenmorethanhe，D\'Artagnan，hadhadthecouragetoread。？TakinguptherecitaloftheaffairwhichhadcostRaoulhislife，hefoundthesewords，whichendedtheconcludingparagraphoftheletter:
\"Monseigneurleduchasorderedthatthebodyofmonsieurlevicomteshouldbeembalmed，afterthemannerpracticedbytheArabswhentheywishtheirdeadtobecarriedtotheirnativeland;andmonsieurleduchasappointedrelays，sothatthesameconfidentialservantwhobroughtuptheyoungmanmighttakebackhisremainstoM。leComtedelaF鑢e。\"
\"Andso，\"thoughtD\'Artagnan，\"Ishallfollowthyfuneral，mydearboy—
I，alreadyold—I，whoamofnovalueonearth—andIshallscatterdustuponthatbrowIkissedbuttwomonthssince。？Godhaswilledittobeso。？Thouhastwilledittobeso，thyself。？I
havenolongertherighteventoweep。？Thouhastchosendeath;itseemedtotheeapreferablegifttolife。\"
Atlengtharrivedthemomentwhenthechillremainsofthesetwogentlemenweretobegivenbacktomotherearth。？Therewassuchanaffluenceofmilitaryandotherpeoplethatuptotheplaceofthesepulture，whichwasalittlechapelontheplain，theroadfromthecitywasfilledwithhorsemenandpedestriansinmourning。？Athoshadchosenforhisresting—placethelittleinclosureofachapelerectedbyhimselfneartheboundaryofhisestates。？Hehadhadthestones，cutin1550，broughtfromanoldGothicmanor—houseinBerry，whichhadshelteredhisearlyyouth。？Thechapel，thusrebuilt，transported，waspleasingtotheeyebeneathitsleafycurtainsofpoplarsandsycamores。？ItwasministeredineverySunday，bythecur？oftheneighboringbourg，towhomAthospaidanallowanceoftwohundredfrancsforthisservice;andallthevassalsofhisdomain，withtheirfamilies，camethithertohearmass，withouthavinganyoccasiontogotothecity。
Behindthechapelextended，surroundedbytwohighhedgesofhazel，elderandwhitethorn，andadeepditch，thelittleinclosure—uncultivated，thoughgayinitssterility;becausethemossestheregrewthick，wildheliotropeandravenellestheremingledperfumes，whilefrombeneathanancientchestnutissuedacrystalspring，aprisonerinitsmarblecistern，andonthethymeallaroundalightedthousandsofbeesfromtheneighboringplants，whilstchaffinchesandredthroatssangcheerfullyamongtheflower—spangledhedges。？Itwastothisplacethesombercoffinswerecarried，attendedbyasilentandrespectfulcrowd。？Theofficeofthedeadbeingcelebrated，thelastadieuxpaidtothenobledeparted，theassemblydispersed，talking，alongtheroads，ofthevirtuesandmilddeathofthefather，ofthehopesthesonhadgiven，andofhismelancholyenduponthearidcoastofAfrica。
Littlebylittle，allnoiseswereextinguished，likethelampsilluminatingthehumblenave。？Theministerbowedforthelasttimetothealtarandthestillfreshgraves;then，followedbyhisassistant，heslowlytooktheroadbacktothepresbytery。？D\'Artagnan，leftalone，perceivedthatnightwascomingon。？Hehadforgottenthehour，thinkingonlyofthedead。？Hearosefromtheoakenbenchonwhichhewasseatedinthechapel，andwished，asthepriesthaddone，togoandbidalastadieutothedoublegravewhichcontainedhistwolostfriends。
A
womanwaspraying，kneelingonthemoistearth。？D\'Artagnanstoppedatthedoorofthechapel，toavoiddisturbingher，andalsotoendeavortofindoutwhowasthepiousfriendwhoperformedthissacreddutywithsomuchzealandperseverance。？Theunknownhadhiddenherfaceinherhands，whichwerewhiteasalabaster。？Fromthenoblesimplicityofhercostume，shemustbeawomanofdistinction。？Outsidetheinclosurewereseveralhorsesmountedbyservants;atravellingcarriagewasinwaitingforthislady。？D\'Artagnaninvainsoughttomakeoutwhatcausedherdelay。？Shecontinuedpraying，andfrequentlypressedherhandkerchieftoherface，bywhichD\'Artagnanperceivedshewasweeping。？HebeheldherstrikeherbreastwiththecompunctionofaChristianwoman。？Heheardherseveraltimesexclaimasfromawoundedheart:
\"Pardon！pardon！\"？Andassheappearedtoabandonherselfentirelytohergrief，asshethrewherselfdown，almostfainting，exhaustedbycomplaintsandprayers，D\'Artagnan，touchedbythisloveforhissomuchregrettedfriends，madeafewstepstowardsthegrave，inordertointerruptthemelancholycolloquyofthepenitentwiththedead。？Butassoonashisstepsoundedonthegravel，theunknownraisedherhead，revealingtoD\'Artagnanafaceafloodwithtears，awell—knownface。？ItwasMademoiselledelaValli鑢e！？\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan！\"murmuredshe。
\"You！\"
repliedthecaptain，inasternvoice，\"youhere！—oh！madame，IshouldbetterhavelikedtoseeyoudeckedwithflowersinthemansionoftheComtedelaF鑢e。？Youwouldhaveweptless—andtheytoo—andI！\"
\"Monsieur！\"
saidshe，sobbing。
\"Foritwasyou，\"addedthispitilessfriendofthedead，—\"itwasyouwhospedthesetwomentothegrave。\"
\"Oh！
spareme！\"
\"Godforbid，madame，thatIshouldoffendawoman，orthatIshouldmakeherweepinvain;butImustsaythattheplaceofthemurdererisnotuponthegraveofhervictims。\"？Shewishedtoreply。
\"WhatInowtellyou，\"addedhe，coldly，\"Ihavealreadytoldtheking。\"
Sheclaspedherhands。？\"Iknow，\"
saidshe，\"IhavecausedthedeathoftheVicomtedeBragelonne。\"
\"Ah！
youknowit？\"
\"Thenewsarrivedatcourtyesterday。？Ihavetraveledduringthenightfortyleaguestocomeandaskpardonofthecomte，whomIsupposedtobestillliving，andtoprayGod，onthetombofRaoul，thathewouldsendmeallthemisfortunesIhavemerited，exceptasingleone。？Now，monsieur，Iknowthatthedeathofthesonhaskilledthefather;Ihavetwocrimestoreproachmyselfwith;IhavetwopunishmentstoexpectfromHeaven。\"
\"I
willrepeattoyou，mademoiselle，\"saidD\'Artagnan，\"whatM。deBragelonnesaidofyou，atAntibes，whenhealreadymeditateddeath:\'Ifprideandcoquetryhavemisledher，Ipardonherwhiledespisingher。？Iflovehasproducedhererror，Ipardonher，butIswearthatnoonecouldhavelovedherasIhavedone。\'\"
\"Youknow，\"interruptedLouise，\"thatofmyloveIwasabouttosacrificemyself;youknowwhetherIsufferedwhenyoumetmelost，dying，abandoned。？Well！neverhaveIsufferedsomuchasnow;becausethenIhoped，desired，—nowIhavenolongeranythingtowishfor;becausethisdeathdragsallmyjoyintothetomb;becauseIcannolongerdaretolovewithoutremorse，andIfeelthathewhomIlove—oh！itisbutjust！—willrepaymewiththetorturesIhavemadeothersundergo。\"
D\'Artagnanmadenoreply;hewastoowellconvincedthatshewasnotmistaken。
\"Well，then，\"addedshe，\"dearMonsieurd\'Artagnan，donotoverwhelmmeto—day，Iagainimploreyou！？Iamlikethebranchtornfromthetrunk，Inolongerholdtoanythinginthisworld—acurrentdragsmeon，Iknownotwhither。？Ilovemadly，eventothepointofcomingtotellit，wretchthatIam，overtheashesofthedead，andIdonotblushforit—Ihavenoremorseonthisaccount。？Suchloveisareligion。？Only，ashereafteryouwillseemealone，forgotten，disdained;asyouwillseemepunished，asIamdestinedtobepunished，sparemeinmyephemeralhappiness，leaveittomeforafewdays，forafewminutes。？Now，evenatthemomentIamspeakingtoyou，perhapsitnolongerexists。？MyGod！thisdoublemurderisperhapsalreadyexpiated！\"
Whileshewasspeakingthus，thesoundofvoicesandofhorsesdrewtheattentionofthecaptain。？M。deSaint—AignancametoseekLaValli鑢e。？\"Theking，\"
hesaid，\"isapreytojealousyanduneasiness。\"？Saint—AignandidnotperceiveD\'Artagnan，halfconcealedbythetrunkofachestnut—treewhichshadedthedoublegrave。？LouisethankedSaint—Aignan，anddismissedhimwithagesture。？Herejoinedthepartyoutsidetheinclosure。
\"Yousee，madame，\"saidthecaptainbitterlytotheyoungwoman，—\"youseeyourhappinessstilllasts。\"
Theyoungwomanraisedherheadwithasolemnair。？\"Adaywillcome，\"saidshe，\"whenyouwillrepentofhavingsomisjudgedme。？Onthatday，itisIwhowillprayGodtoforgiveyouforhavingbeenunjusttowardsme。？Besides，Ishallsuffersomuchthatyouyourselfwillbethefirsttopitymysufferings。？Donotreproachmewithmyfleetinghappiness，Monsieurd\'Artagnan;itcostsmedear，andIhavenotpaidallmydebt。\"？Sayingthesewords，sheagainkneltdown，softlyandaffectionately。
\"Pardonmethelasttime，myaffiancedRaoul！\"saidshe。？\"Ihavebrokenourchain;wearebothdestinedtodieofgrief。？Itisthouwhodepartestfirst;
fearnothing，Ishallfollowthee。？See，only，thatIhavenotbeenbase，andthatIhavecometobidtheethislastadieu。？TheLordismywitness，Raoul，thatifwithmylifeIcouldhaveredeemedthine，Iwouldhavegiventhatlifewithouthesitation。？Icouldnotgivemylove。？Oncemore，forgiveme，dearest，kindestfriend。\"
Shestrewedafewsweetflowersonthefreshlysoddedearth;then，wipingthetearsfromhereyes，theheavilystrickenladybowedtoD\'Artagnan，anddisappeared。
Thecaptainwatchedthedepartureofthehorses，horsemen，andcarriage，thencrossinghisarmsuponhisswellingchest，\"Whenwillitbemyturntodepart？\"saidhe，inanagitatedvoice。？\"Whatisthereleftformanafteryouth，love，glory，friendship，strength，andwealthhavedisappeared？？Thatrock，underwhichsleepsPorthos，whopossessedallIhavenamed;
thismoss，underwhichreposeAthosandRaoul，whopossessedmuchmore！\"
Hehesitatedforamoment，withadulleye;then，drawinghimselfup，\"Forward！stillforward！\"saidhe。？\"Whenitistime，Godwilltellme，asheforetoldtheothers。\"
Hetouchedtheearth，moistenedwiththeeveningdew，withtheendsofhisfingers，signedhimselfasifhehadbeenattheb閚itierinchurch，andretookalone—everalone—theroadtoParis。
Epilogue。？Fouryearsafterthescenewehavejustdescribed，twohorsemen，wellmounted，traversedBloisearlyinthemorning，forthepurposeofarrangingahawkingpartythekinghadarrangedtomakeinthatunevenplaintheLoiredividesintwo，whichbordersontheonesideMeung，ontheotherAmboise。？Thesewerethekeeperoftheking\'sharriersandthemasterofthefalcons，personagesgreatlyrespectedinthetimeofLouisXIII。，butratherneglectedbyhissuccessor。？Thehorsemen，havingreconnoiteredtheground，werereturning，theirobservationsmade，whentheyperceivedcertainlittlegroupsofsoldiers，hereandthere，whomthesergeantswereplacingatdistancesattheopeningsoftheinclosures。？Theseweretheking\'smusketeers。？Behindthemcame，uponasplendidhorse，thecaptain，knownbyhisrichlyembroidereduniform。？Hishairwasgray，hisbeardturningso。？Heseemedalittlebent，althoughsittingandhandlinghishorsegracefully。？Hewaslookingabouthimwatchfully。
\"M。
d\'Artagnandoesnotgetanyolder，\"saidthekeeperoftheharrierstohiscolleaguethefalconer;\"withtenyearsmoretocarrythaneitherofus，hehastheseatofayoungmanonhorseback。\"
\"Thatistrue，\"repliedthefalconer。？\"Idon\'tseeanychangeinhimforthelasttwentyyears。\"
Butthisofficerwasmistaken;D\'Artagnaninthelastfouryearshadlivedadozen。？Agehadprinteditspitilessclawsateachangleofhiseyes;hisbrowwasbald;hishands，formerlybrownandnervous，weregettingwhite，asifthebloodhadhalfforgottenthem。
D\'Artagnanaccostedtheofficerswiththeshadeofaffabilitywhichdistinguishessuperiors，andreceivedinturnforhiscourtesytwomostrespectfulbows。
\"Ah！
whataluckychancetoseeyouhere，Monsieurd\'Artagnan！\"criedthefalconer。
\"ItisratherIwhoshouldsaythat，messieurs，\"repliedthecaptain，\"fornowadays，thekingmakesmorefrequentuseofhismusketeersthanofhisfalcons。\"
\"Ah！
itisnotasitwasinthegoodoldtimes，\"sighedthefalconer。？\"Doyouremember，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，whenthelatekingflewthepieinthevineyardsbeyondBeaugence？？Ah！dame！youwerenotthecaptainofthemusketeersatthattime，Monsieurd\'Artagnan。\"
Transcriber\'snote:
\"Pie\"inthiscasereferstomagpies，thepreyforthefalcons。—JB
\"Andyouwerenothingbutunder—corporalofthetiercelets，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，laughing。？\"Nevermindthat，itwasagoodtime，seeingthatitisalwaysagoodtimewhenweareyoung。？Goodday，monsieurthekeeperoftheharriers。\"
\"Youdomehonor，monsieurlecomte，\"saidthelatter。？D\'Artagnanmadenoreply。？Thetitleofcomtehadhardlystruckhim;
D\'Artagnanhadbeenacomtefouryears。
\"Areyounotverymuchfatiguedwiththelongjourneyyouhavetaken，monsieurlecapitaine？\"continuedthefalconer。？\"ItmustbefulltwohundredleaguesfromhencetoPignerol。\"
\"Twohundredandsixtytogo，andasmanytoreturn，\"saidD\'Artagnan，quietly。
\"And，\"
saidthefalconer，\"ishewell？\"
\"Who？\"
askedD\'Artagnan。
\"Why，poorM。Fouquet，\"continuedthefalconer，inalowvoice。？Thekeeperoftheharriershadprudentlywithdrawn。
\"No，\"
repliedD\'Artagnan，\"thepoormanfretsterribly;hecannotcomprehendhowimprisonmentcanbeafavor;hesaysthatparliamentabsolvedhimbybanishinghim，andbanishmentis，orshouldbe，liberty。？Hecannotimaginethattheyhadswornhisdeath，andthattosavehislifefromtheclawsofparliamentwastobeundertoomuchobligationtoHeaven。\"
\"Ah！
yes;thepoormanhadaclosechanceofthescaffold，\"repliedthefalconer;\"itissaidthatM。ColberthadgivenorderstothegovernoroftheBastile，andthattheexecutionwasordered。\"
\"Enough！\"
saidD\'Artagnan，pensively，andwithaviewofcuttingshorttheconversation。
\"Yes，\"
saidthekeeperoftheharriers，drawingtowardsthem，\"M。FouquetisnowatPignerol;hehasrichlydeservedit。？Hehadthegoodfortunetobeconductedtherebyyou;herobbedthekingsufficiently。\"
D\'Artagnanlaunchedatthemasterofthedogsoneofhiscrossestlooks，andsaidtohim，\"Monsieur，ifanyonetoldmeyouhadeatenyourdogs\'meat，notonlywouldIrefusetobelieveit;butstillmore，ifyouwerecondemnedtothelashortojailforit，Ishouldpityyouandwouldnotallowpeopletospeakillofyou。？Andyet，monsieur，honestmanasyoumaybe，IassureyouthatyouarenotmoresothanpoorM。Fouquetwas。\"
Afterhavingundergonethissharprebuke，thekeeperoftheharriershunghishead，andallowedthefalconertogettwostepsinadvanceofhimnearertoD\'Artagnan。
\"Heiscontent，\"saidthefalconer，inalowvoice，tothemusketeer;\"weallknowthatharriersareinfashionnowadays;ifhewereafalconerhewouldnottalkinthatway。\"
D\'Artagnansmiledinamelancholymanneratseeingthisgreatpoliticalquestionresolvedbythediscontentofsuchhumbleinterest。？Heforamomentranoverinhismindthegloriousexistenceofthesurintendant，thecrumblingofhisfortunes，andthemelancholydeaththatawaitedhim;andtoconclude，\"DidM。Fouquetlovefalconry？\"saidhe。
\"Oh，passionately，monsieur！\"repeatedthefalconer，withanaccentofbitterregretandasighthatwasthefuneralorationofFouquet。
D\'Artagnanallowedtheill—humoroftheoneandtheregretoftheothertopass，andcontinuedtoadvance。？Theycouldalreadycatchglimpsesofthehuntsmenattheissueofthewood，thefeathersoftheoutriderspassinglikeshootingstarsacrosstheclearings，andthewhitehorsesskirtingtheboskythicketslookinglikeilluminatedapparitions。
\"But，\"
resumedD\'Artagnan，\"willthesportlastlong？？Pray，giveusagoodswiftbird，forIamverytired。？Isitaheronoraswan？\"
\"Both，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidthefalconer;\"butyouneednotbealarmed;thekingisnotmuchofasportsman;hedoesnottakethefieldonhisownaccount，heonlywishestoamusetheladies。\"
Thewords\"toamusetheladies\"weresostronglyaccentedtheysetD\'Artagnanthinking。
\"Ah！\"
saidhe，lookingkeenlyatthefalconer。
Thekeeperoftheharrierssmiled，nodoubtwithaviewofmakingitupwiththemusketeer。
\"Oh！
youmaysafelylaugh，\"saidD\'Artagnan;\"Iknownothingofcurrentnews;Ionlyarrivedyesterday，afteramonth\'sabsence。？Ileftthecourtmourningthedeathofthequeen—mother。？ThekingwasnotwillingtotakeanyamusementafterreceivingthelastsighofAnneofAustria;buteverythingcomestoanendinthisworld。？Well！
thenheisnolongersad？？Somuchthebetter。\"
\"Andeverythingbeginsaswellasends，\"saidthekeeperwithacoarselaugh。
Transcriber\'snote:AnneofAustriadidnotdieuntil1666，andDumassetsthecurrentyearas1665。—JB
\"Ah！\"saidD\'Artagnan，asecondtime，—heburnedtoknow，butdignitywouldnotallowhimtointerrogatepeoplebelowhim，—\"thereissomethingbeginning，then，itseems？\"
Thekeepergavehimasignificantwink;butD\'Artagnanwasunwillingtolearnanythingfromthisman。
\"Shallweseethekingearly？\"askedheofthefalconer。
\"Atseveno\'clock，monsieur，Ishallflythebirds。\"
\"Whocomeswiththeking？？HowisMadame？？Howisthequeen？\"
\"Better，monsieur。\"
\"Hasshebeenill，then？\"
\"Monsieur，sincethelastchagrinshesuffered，hermajestyhasbeenunwell。\"
\"Whatchagrin？？Youneednotfancyyournewsisold。？Ihavebutjustreturned。\"
\"Itappearsthatthequeen，alittleneglectedsincethedeathofhermother—in—law，complainedtotheking，whoansweredher，—\'DoInotsleepathomeeverynight，madame？？Whatmoredoyouexpect？\'\"
\"Ah！\"
saidD\'Artagnan，—\"poorwoman！？ShemustheartilyhateMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。\"
\"Oh，no！
notMademoiselledelaValli鑢e，\"repliedthefalconer。
\"Whothen—
\"？Theblastofahunting—horninterruptedthisconversation。？Itsummonedthedogsandthehawks。？Thefalconerandhiscompanionssetoffimmediately，leavingD\'Artagnanaloneinthemidstofthesuspendedsentence。？Thekingappearedatadistance，surroundedbyladiesandhorsemen。？Allthetroopadvancedinbeautifulorder，atafoot\'space，thehornsofvarioussortsanimatingthedogsandhorses。？Therewasananimationinthescene，amirageoflight，ofwhichnothingnowcangiveanidea，unlessitbethefictitioussplendorofatheatricspectacle。？D\'Artagnan，withaneyealittle，justalittle，dimmedbyage，distinguishedbehindthegroupthreecarriages。？Thefirstwasintendedforthequeen;itwasempty。？D\'Artagnan，whodidnotseeMademoiselledelaValli鑢ebytheking\'sside，onlookingaboutforher，sawherinthesecondcarriage。？Shewasalonewithtwoofherwomen，whoseemedasdullastheirmistress。？Onthelefthandoftheking，uponahigh—spiritedhorse，restrainedbyaboldandskillfulhand，shonealadyofmostdazzlingbeauty。？Thekingsmileduponher，andshesmiledupontheking。？Loudlaughterfollowedeverywordsheuttered。
\"Imustknowthatwoman，\"thoughtthemusketeer;\"whocanshebe？\"？Andhestoopedtowardshisfriend，thefalconer，towhomheaddressedthequestionhehadputtohimself。
Thefalconerwasabouttoreply，whentheking，perceivingD\'Artagnan，\"Ah，comte！\"
saidhe，\"youareamongstusoncemorethen！？WhyhaveInotseenyou？\"
\"Sire，\"
repliedthecaptain，\"becauseyourmajestywasasleepwhenIarrived，andnotawakewhenIresumedmydutiesthismorning。\"
\"Stillthesame，\"saidLouis，inaloudvoice，denotingsatisfaction。？\"Takesomerest，comte;Icommandyoutodoso。？Youwilldinewithmeto—day。\"
AmurmurofadmirationsurroundedD\'Artagnanlikeacaress。？Everyonewaseagertosalutehim。？DiningwiththekingwasanhonorhismajestywasnotsoprodigalofasHenryIV。hadbeen。？Thekingpassedafewstepsinadvance，andD\'Artagnanfoundhimselfinthemidstofafreshgroup，amongwhomshoneColbert。