Twenty Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

neither of you now your own masters; he belongs to the

Fronde and you to the queen of England. So, if the second

matter which you regret being unable to attend to is not

more important than the first —- ”

“Oh! that is of the first importance.”

“Attend to it, then, at once.”

“Unfortunately, it is a thing that I can’t perform at any

time I choose. It was arranged for the evening and no other

time will serve.”

“I understand,” said Athos smiling, “midnight.”

“About that time.”

“But, my dear fellow, those are things that bear

postponement and you must put it off, especially with so

good an excuse to give on your return —- ”

“Yes, if I return.”

“If you do not return, how does it concern you? Be

reasonable. Come, you are no longer twenty years old.”

“To my great regret, mordieu! Ah, if I were but twenty years

old!”

“Yes,” said Athos, “doubtless you would commit great

follies! But now we must part. I have one or two visits to

make and a letter yet to write. Call for me at eight o’clock

or shall I wait supper for you at seven?”

“That will do very well,” said Aramis. “I have twenty visits

to make and as many letters to write.”

They then separated. Athos went to pay a visit to Madame de

Vendome, left his name at Madame de Chevreuse’s and wrote

the following letter to D’Artagnan:

“Dear Friend, — I am about to set off with Aramis on

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

important business. I wished to make my adieux to you, but

time does not permit. Remember that I write to you now to

repeat how much affection for you I still cherish.

“Raoul is gone to Blois and is ignorant of my departure;

watch over him in my absence as much as you possibly can;

and if by chance you receive no news of me three months

hence, tell him to open a packet which he will find

addressed to him in my bronze casket at Blois, of which I

send you now the key.

“Embrace Porthos from Aramis and myself. Adieu, perhaps

farewell.”

At the hour agreed upon Aramis arrived; he was dressed as an

officer and had the old sword at his side which he had drawn

so often and which he was more than ever ready to draw.

“By-the-bye,” he said, “I think that we are decidedly wrong

to depart thus, without leaving a line for Porthos and

D’Artagnan.”

“The thing is done, dear friend,” said Athos; “I foresaw

that and have embraced them both from you and myself.”

“You are a wonderful man, my dear count,” said Aramis; “you

think of everything.”

“Well, have you made up your mind to this journey?”

“Quite; and now that I reflect about it, I am glad to leave

Paris at this moment.”

“And so am I,” replied Athos; “my only regret is not having

seen D’Artagnan; but the rascal is so cunning, he might have

guessed our project.”

When supper was over Blaisois entered. “Sir,” said he, “here

is Monsieur d’Artagnan’s answer.”

“But I did not tell you there would be an answer, stupid!”

said Athos.

“And I set off without waiting for one, but he called me

back and gave me this;” and he presented a little leather

bag, plump and giving out a golden jingle.

Athos opened it and began by drawing forth a little note,

written in these terms:

“My dear Count, — When one travels, and especially for

three months, one never has a superfluity of money. Now,

recalling former times of mutual distress, I send you half

my purse; it is money to obtain which I made Mazarin sweat.

Don’t make a bad use of it, I entreat you.

“As to what you say about not seeing you again, I believe

not a word of it; with such a heart as yours — and such a

sword — one passes through the valley of the shadow of

death a dozen times, unscathed and unalarmed. Au revoir, not

farewell.

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

“It is unnecessary to say that from the day I saw Raoul I

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