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　　〃I　believe　he　is　at　this　moment　in　a　very　plicated　one；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
　　Athos　made　no　reply。
　　〃He　is　not　curious；〃　thought　D'Artagnan。
　　Athos　not　only　failed　to　reply；　he　even　changed　the　subject　of　conversation。
　　〃You　see；〃　said　he；　calling　D'Artagnan's　attention　to　the　fact　that　they　had　e　back　to　the　chateau　after　an　hour's　walk；　〃we　have　made　a　tour　of　my　domains。〃
　　〃All　is　charming　and　everything　savors　of　nobility；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。
　　At　this　instant　they　heard　the　sound　of　horses'　feet。
　　〃'Tis　Raoul　who　has　e　back；〃　said　Athos；　〃and　we　can　now　hear　how　the　poor　child　is。〃
　　In　fact；　the　young　man　appeared　at　the　gate；　covered　with　dust；　entered　the　courtyard；　leaped　from　his　horse；　which　he　consigned　to　the　charge　of　a　groom；　and　then　went　to　greet　the　count　and　D'Artagnan。
　　〃Monsieur；〃　said　Athos；　placing　his　hand　on　D'Artagnan's　shoulder；　〃monsieur　is　the　Chevalier　D'Artagnan　of　whom　you　have　often　heard　me　speak；　Raoul。〃
　　〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　young　man；　saluting　again　and　more　profoundly；　〃monsieur　le　te　has　pronounced　your　name　before　me　as　an　example　whenever　he　wished　to　speak　of　an　intrepid　and　generous　gentleman。〃
　　That　little　pliment　could　not　fail　to　move　D'Artagnan。　He　extended　a　hand　to　Raoul　and　said：
　　〃My　young　friend；　all　the　praises　that　are　given　me　should　be　passed　on　to　the　count　here；　for　he　has　educated　me　in　everything　and　it　is　not　his　fault　that　his　pupil　profited　so　little　from　his　instructions。　But　he　will　make　it　up　in　you　I　am　sure。　I　like　your　manner；　Raoul；　and　your　politeness　has　touched　me。〃
　　Athos　was　more　delighted　than　can　be　told。　He　looked　at　D'Artagnan　with　an　expression　of　gratitude　and　then　bestowed　on　Raoul　one　of　those　strange　smiles；　of　which　children　are　so　proud　when　they　receive　them。
　　〃Now；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　himself；　noticing　that　silent　play　of　countenance；　〃I　am　sure　of　it。〃
　　〃I　hope　the　accident　has　been　of　no　consequence？〃
　　〃They　don't　yet　know；　sir；　on　account　of　the　swelling；　but　the　doctor　is　afraid　some　tendon　has　been　injured。〃
　　At　this　moment　a　little　boy；　half　peasant；　half　foot…boy；　came　to　announce　supper。
　　Athos　led　his　guest　into　a　dining…room　of　moderate　size；　the　windows　of　which　opened　on　one　side　on　a　garden；　on　the　other　on　a　hot…house　full　of　magnificent　flowers。
　　D'Artagnan　glanced　at　the　dinner　service。　The　plate　was　magnificent；　old；　and　appertaining　to　the　family。　D'Artagnan　stopped　to　look　at　a　sideboard　on　which　was　a　superb　ewer　of　silver。
　　〃That　workmanship　is　divine！〃　he　exclaimed。
　　〃Yes；　a　chef　d'oeuvre　of　the　great　Florentine　sculptor；　Benvenuto　Cellini；〃　replied　Athos。
　　〃What　battle　does　it　represent？〃
　　〃That　of　Marignan；　just　at　the　point　where　one　of　my　forefathers　is　offering　his　sword　to　Francis　I。；　who　has　broken　his。　It　was　on　that　occasion　that　my　ancestor；　Enguerrand　de　la　Fere；　was　made　a　knight　of　the　Order　of　St。　Michael；　besides　which；　the　king；　fifteen　years　afterward；　gave　him　also　this　ewer　and　a　sword　which　you　may　have　seen　formerly　in　my　house；　also　a　lovely　specimen　of　workmanship。　Men　were　giants　in　those　times；〃　said　Athos；　〃now　we　are　pigmies　in　parison。　Let　us　sit　down　to　supper。　Call　Charles；〃　he　added；　addressing　the　boy　who　waited。
　　〃My　good　Charles；　I　particularly　remend　to　your　care　Planchet；　the　laquais　of　Monsieur　D'Artagnan。　He　likes　good　wine；　now　you　have　the　key　of　the　cellar。　He　has　slept　a　long　time　on　a　hard　bed；　so　he　won't　object　to　a　soft　one；　take　every　care　of　him；　I　beg　of　you。〃　Charles　bowed　and　retired。
　　〃You　think　of　everything；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and　I　thank　you　for　Planchet；　my　dear　Athos。〃
　　Raoul　stared　on　hearing　this　name　and　looked　at　the　count　to　be　quite　sure　that　it　was　he　whom　the　lieutenant　thus　addressed。
　　〃That　name　sounds　strange　to　you；〃　said　Athos；　smiling；　〃it　was　my　nom　de　guerre　when　Monsieur　D'Artagnan；　two　other　gallant　friends　and　myself　performed　some　feats　of　arms　at　the　siege　of　La　Rochelle；　under　the　deceased　cardinal　and　Monsieur　de　Bassompierre。　My　friend　is　still　so　kind　as　to　address　me　by　that　old　and　well　beloved　appellation；　which　makes　my　heart　glad　when　I　hear　it。〃
　　〃'Tis　an　illustrious　name；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃and　had　one　day　triumphal　honors　paid　to　it。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃　inquired　Raoul。
　　〃You　have　not　forgotten　St。　Gervais；　Athos；　and　the　napkin　which　was　converted　into　a　banner？〃　and　he　then　related　to　Raoul　the　story　of　the　bastion；　and　Raoul　fancied　he　was　listening　to　one　of　those　deeds　of　arms　belonging　to　days　of　chivalry；　so　gloriously　recounted　by　Tasso　and　Ariosto。
　　〃D'Artagnan　does　not　tell　you；　Raoul；〃　said　Athos；　in　his　turn；　〃that　he　was　reckoned　one　of　the　finest　swordsmen　of　his　time　　a　knuckle　of　iron；　a　wrist　of　steel；　a　sure　eye　and　a　glance　of　fire；　that's　what　his　adversary　met　with。　He　was　eighteen；　only　three　years　older　than　you　are；　Raoul；　when　I　saw　him　set　to　work；　pitted　against　tried　men。〃
　　〃And　did　Monsieur　D'Artagnan　e　off　the　conqueror？〃　asked　the　young　man；　with　glistening　eye。
　　〃I　killed　one　man；　if　I　recollect　rightly；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　with　a　look　of　inquiry　directed　to　Athos；　〃another　I　disarmed　or　wounded；　I　don't　remember　which。〃
　　〃Wounded！〃　said　Athos；　〃it　was　a　phenomenon　of　skill。〃
　　The　young　man　would　willingly　have　prolonged　this　conversation　far　into　the　night；　but　Athos　pointed　out　to　him　that　his　guest　must　need　repose。　D'Artagnan　would　fain　have　declared　that　he　was　not　fatigued；　but　Athos　insisted　on　his　retiring　to　his　chamber；　conducted　thither　by　Raoul。
　　Athos　as　a　Diplomatist
　　D'Artagnan　retired　to　bed　　not　to　sleep；　but　to　think　over　all　he　had　heard　that　evening。　Being　naturally　goodhearted；　and　having　had　once　a　liking　for　Athos；　which　had　grown　into　a　sincere　friendship；　he　was　delighted　at　thus　meeting　a　man　full　of　intelligence　and　moral　strength；　instead　of　a　drunkard。　He　admitted　without　annoyance　the　continued　superiority　of　Athos　over　himself；　devoid　as　he　was　of　that　jealousy　which　might　have　saddened　a　less　generous　disposition；　he　was　delighted　also　that　the　high　qualities　of　Athos　appeared　to　promise　favorably　for　his　mission。　Nevertheless；　it　seemed　to　him　that　Athos　was　not　in　all　respects　sincere　and　frank。　Who　was　the　youth　he　had　adopted　and　who　bore　so　striking　a　resemblance　to　him？　What　could　explain　Athos's　having　re…entered　the　world　and　the　extreme　sobriety　he　had　observed　at　table？　The　absence　of　Grimaud；　whose　name　had　never　once　been　uttered　by　Athos；　gave　D'Artagnan　uneasiness。　It　was　evident　either　that　he　no　longer　possessed　the　confidence　of　his　friend；　or　that　Athos　was　bound　by　some　invisible　chain；　or　that　he　had　been　forewarned　of　the　lieutenant's　visit。
　　He　could　not　help　thinking　of　M。　Rochefort；　whom　he　had　seen　in　Notre　Dame；　could　De　Rochefort　have　forestalled　him　with　Athos？　Again；　the　moderate　fortune　which　Athos　possessed；　concealed　as　it　was；　so　skillfully；　seemed　to　show　a　regard　for　appearances　and　to　betray　a　latent　ambition　which　might　be　easily　aroused。　The　clear　and　vigorous　intellect　of　Athos　would　render　him　more　open　to　conviction　than　a　less　able　man　would　be。　He　would　enter　into　the　minister's　schemes　with　the　more　ardor；　because　his　natural　activity　would　be　doubled　by　necessity。
　　Resolved　to　seek　an　explanation　on　all　these　points　on　the　following　day；　D'Artagnan；　in　spite　of　his　fatigue；　prepared　for　an　attack　and　determined　that　it　should　take　place　after　breakfast。　He　determined　to　cultivate　the　good…will　of　the　youth　Raoul　and；　either　whilst　fencing　with　him　or　when　out　shooting；　to　extract　from　his　simplicity　some　information　which　would　connect　the　Athos　of　old　times　with　the　Athos　of　the　present。　But　D'Artagnan　at　the　same　time；　being　a　man　of　extreme　caution；　was　quite　aware　what　injury　he　should　do　himself；　if　by　any　indiscretion　or　awkwardness　he　should　betray　has　manoeuvering　to　the　experienced　eye　of　Athos。　Besides；　to　tell　truth；　whilst　D'Artagnan　was　quite　disposed　to　adopt　a　subtle　course　against　the　cunning　of　Aramis　or　the　vanity　of　Porthos；　he　was　ashamed　to　equivocate　with　Athos；　true…hearted；　open　Athos。　It　seemed　to　him　that　if　Porthos　and　Aramis　deemed　him　supe