Prodigal

Whilst Mazarin was endeavoring to recover from the serious alarm he
had just experienced, Athos and Raoul were exchanging a few words in
a corner of the apartment. "Well, here you are at Paris, then, Raoul?"
said the comte.

"Yes, monsieur, since the return of M. le Prince."

"I cannot converse freely with you here, because we are observed; but I
shall return home presently, and shall expect you as soon as your duty
permits."

Raoul bowed, and, at that moment, M. le Prince came up to them. The
prince had that clear and keen look which distinguishes birds of prey
of the noble species; his physiognomy itself presented several distinct
traits of this resemblance. It is known that in the Prince de Conde,
the aquiline nose rose out sharply and incisively from a brow slightly
retreating, rather low than high, and according to the railers of the
court,--a pitiless race even for genius,--constituted rather an eagle's
beak than a human nose, in the heir of the illustrious princes of the
house of Conde. This penetrating look, this imperious expression of the
whole countenance generally disturbed those to whom the prince spoke,
more than either majesty or regular beauty could have done in the
conqueror of Rocroy. Besides this, the fire mounted so suddenly to his
projecting eyes, that with the prince every sort of animation resembled
passion. Now, on account of his rank, everybody at the court respected
M. le Prince, and many even, seeing only the man, carried their respect
as far as terror.

Louis de Conde then advanced towards the Comte de la Fere and Raoul,
with the marked intention of being saluted by the one, and of speaking
to the other. No man bowed with more reserved grace than the Comte de
la Fere. He disdained to put into a salutation all the shades which a
courtier ordinarily borrows from the same color--the desire to please.
Athos knew his own personal value, and bowed to the prince like a man,
correcting by something sympathetic and undefinable that which might
have appeared offensive to the pride of the highest rank in the
inflexibility of his attitude. The prince was about to speak to Raoul.
Athos forestalled him. "If M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne," said he, "were
not one of the humble servants of your royal highness, I would beg him
to pronounce my name before you--mon prince."

"I have the honor to address Monsieur le Comte de la Fere," said Conde
instantly.

"My protector," added Raoul, blushi