to a test, Raoul; I should like to see
if Mademoiselle de la Valliere will wait as you do."

"I hope so, monsieur."

"But take care, Raoul! suppose she did not wait? Ah, you are so young,
so confiding, so loyal! Women are changeable."

"You have never spoken ill to me of women, monsieur; you have never
had to complain of them; why should you doubt of Mademoiselle de la
Valliere?"

"That is true," said Athos, casting down his eyes; "I have never spoken
ill to you of women; I have never had to complain of them; Mademoiselle
de la Valliere never gave birth to a suspicion; but when we are looking
forward, we must go even to exceptions, even to improbabilities! If, I
say, Mademoiselle de la Valliere should not wait for you?"

"How, monsieur?"

"If she turned her eyes another way."

"If she looked favorably 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 me 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 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 inflection, accompanied by 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?"