months old, with
a purse filled with gold and a note containing these simple words:
'11 October, 1633.'"

"It was the date of that strange adventure," interrupted Madame de
Chevreuse.

"Yes, but he couldn't understand what it meant, for he had spent that
night with a dying person and Marie Michon had left his house before his
return."

"You must know, monsieur, that Marie Michon, when she returned to France
in 1643, immediately sought for information about that child; as a
fugitive she could not take care of it, but on her return she wished to
have it near her."

"And what said the abbe?" asked Athos.

"That a nobleman whom he did not know had wished to take charge of it,
had answered for its future, and had taken it away."

"That was true."

"Ah! I see! That nobleman was you; it was his father!"

"Hush! do not speak so loud, madame; he is there."

"He is there! my son! the son of Marie Michon! But I must see him
instantly."

"Take care, madame," said Athos, "for he knows neither his father nor
his mother."

"You have kept the secret! you have brought him to see me, thinking
to make me happy. Oh, thanks! sir, thanks!" cried Madame de Chevreuse,
seizing his hand and trying to put it to her lips; "you have a noble
heart."

"I bring him to you, madame," said Athos, withdrawing his hand, "hoping
that in your turn you will do something for him; till now I have
watched over his education and I have made him, I hope, an accomplished
gentleman; but I am now obliged to return to the dangerous and wandering
life of party faction. To-morrow I plunge into an adventurous affair
in which I may be killed. Then it will devolve on you to push him on in
that world where he is called on to occupy a place."

"Rest assured," cried the duchess, "I shall do what I can. I have but
little influence now, but all that I have shall most assuredly be his.
As to his title and fortune----"

"As to that, madame, I have made over to him the estate of Bragelonne,
my inheritance, which will give him ten thousand francs a year and the
title of vicomte."

"Upon my soul, monsieur," said the duchess, "you are a true nobleman!
But I am eager to see our young vicomte. Where is he?"

"There, in the salon. I will have him come in, if you really wish it."

Athos moved toward the door; the duchess held him back.

"Is he handsome?" she asked.

Athos smiled.

"He resembles his mother."

So he opened the door and beckoned the young man i