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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