"Youaretakinghimaway，whither？"
　　"ToBelle—Isle，atfirst。？Thatisanimpregnableplaceofrefuge。？Then，I
　　havethesea，andavesseltopassoverintoEngland，whereIhavemanyrelations。"
　　"You？
　　inEngland？"
　　"Yes，orelseinSpain，whereIhavestillmore。"
　　"But，ourexcellentPorthos！youruinhim，forthekingwillconfiscateallhisproperty。"
　　"Allisprovidedfor。？Iknowhow，whenonceinSpain，toreconcilemyselfwithLouisXIV。，andrestorePorthostofavor。"
　　"Youhavecredit，seemingly，Aramis！"saidAthos，withadiscreetair。
　　"Much;
　　andattheserviceofmyfriends。"
　　Thesewordswereaccompaniedbyawarmpressureofthehand。
　　"Thankyou，"repliedthecomte。
　　"Andwhileweareonthishead，"saidAramis，"youalsoareamalcontent;
　　youalso，Raoul，havegriefstolaytotheking。？Followourexample;passoverintoBelle—Isle。？Thenweshallsee，Iguaranteeuponmyhonor，thatinamonththerewillbewarbetweenFranceandSpainonthesubjectofthissonofLouisXIII。，whoisanInfantelikewise，andwhomFrancedetainsinhumanly。？Now，asLouisXIV。
　　wouldhavenoinclinationforawaronthatsubject，Iwillanswerforanarrangement，theresultofwhichmustbringgreatnesstoPorthosandtome，andaduchyinFrancetoyou，whoarealreadyagrandeeofSpain。？Willyoujoinus？"
　　"No;
　　formypartIpreferhavingsomethingtoreproachthekingwith;itisapridenaturaltomyracetopretendtoasuperiorityoverroyalraces。？Doingwhatyoupropose，Ishouldbecometheobligedoftheking;Ishouldcertainlybethegaineronthatground，butI
　　shouldbealoserinmyconscience。—No，thankyou！"
　　"Thengivemetwothings，Athos，—yourabsolution。"
　　"Oh！？Igiveityouifyoureallywishedtoavengetheweakandoppressedagainsttheoppressor。"
　　"Thatissufficientforme，"saidAramis，witha？blushwhichwaslostintheobscurityofthenight。？"Andnow，givemeyourtwobesthorsestogainthesecondpost，asIhavebeenrefusedanyunderthepretextoftheDucdeBeaufortbeingtravelinginthiscountry。"
　　"Youshallhavethetwobesthorses，Aramis;andagainIrecommendpoorPorthosstronglytoyourcare。"
　　"Oh！？Ihavenofearonthatscore。？Onewordmore:doyouthinkIammaneuveringforhimasIought？"
　　"Theevilbeingcommitted，yes;forthekingwouldnotpardonhim，andyouhave，whatevermaybesaid，alwaysasupporterinM。Fouquet，whowillnotabandonyou，hebeinghimselfcompromised，notwithstandinghisheroicaction。"
　　"Youareright。？Andthatiswhy，insteadofgainingtheseaatonce，whichwouldproclaimmyfearandguilt，thatiswhyI
　　remainuponFrenchground。？ButBelle—IslewillbeformewhatevergroundIwishittobe，English，Spanish，orRoman;allwilldepend，withme，onthestandardIshallthinkpropertounfurl。"
　　"Howso？"
　　"ItwasIwhofortifiedBelle—Isle;and，solongasIdefendit，nobodycantakeBelle—Islefromme。？Andthen，asyouhavesaidjustnow，M。Fouquetisthere。？Belle—IslewillnotbeattackedwithoutthesignatureofM。
　　Fouquet。"
　　"Thatistrue。？Nevertheless，beprudent。？Thekingisbothcunningandstrong。"？Aramissmiled。
　　"I
　　againrecommendPorthostoyou，"repeatedthecount，withasortofcoldpersistence。
　　"Whateverbecomesofme，count，"repliedAramis，inthesametone，"ourbrotherPorthoswillfareasIdo—orbetter。"
　　AthosbowedwhilstpressingthehandofAramis，andturnedtoembracePorthoswithemotion。
　　"I
　　wasbornlucky，wasInot？"murmuredthelatter，transportedwithhappiness，ashefoldedhiscloakroundhim。
　　"Come，mydearfriend，"saidAramis。
　　Raoulhadgoneouttogiveordersforthesaddlingofthehorses。？Thegroupwasalreadydivided。？Athossawhistwofriendsonthepointofdeparture，andsomethinglikeamistpassedbeforehiseyesandweigheduponhisheart。
　　"Itisstrange，"thoughthe，"whencecomestheinclinationIfeeltoembracePorthosoncemore？"？AtthatmomentPorthosturnedround，andhecametowardshisoldfriendwithopenarms。？Thislastendearmentwastenderasinyouth，asintimeswhenheartswerewarm—lifehappy。？AndthenPorthosmountedhishorse。？AramiscamebackoncemoretothrowhisarmsroundtheneckofAthos。？Thelatterwatchedthemalongthehigh—road，elongatedbytheshade，intheirwhitecloaks。？Likephantomstheyseemedtoenlargeontheirdeparturefromtheearth，anditwasnotinthemist，butinthedeclivityofthegroundthattheydisappeared。？Attheendoftheperspective，bothseemedtohavegivenaspringwiththeirfeet，whichmadethemvanishasifevaporatedintocloud—land。
　　ThenAthos，withaveryheavyheart，returnedtowardsthehouse，sayingtoBragelonne，"Raoul，Idon抰knowwhatitisthathasjusttoldmethatI
　　haveseenthosetwoforthelasttime。"
　　"Itdoesnotastonishme，monsieur，thatyoushouldhavesuchathought，"
　　repliedtheyoungman，"forIhaveatthismomentthesame，andthinkalsothatIshallneverseeMessieursduVallonandd'Herblayagain。"
　　"Oh！
　　you，"repliedthecount，"youspeaklikeamanrenderedsadbyadifferentcause;youseeeverythinginblack;youareyoung，andifyouchancenevertoseethoseoldfriendsagain，itwillbecausetheynolongerexistintheworldinwhichyouhaveyetmanyyearstopass。？ButI—"
　　Raoulshookhisheadsadly，andleanedupontheshoulderofthecount，withouteitherofthemfindinganotherwordintheirhearts，whichwerereadytooverflow。
　　Allatonceanoiseofhorsesandvoices，fromtheextremityoftheroadtoBlois，attractedtheirattentionthatway。？Flambeaux—bearersshooktheirtorchesmerrilyamongthetreesoftheirroute，andturnedround，fromtimetotime，toavoiddistancingthehorsemenwhofollowedthem。？Theseflames，thisnoise，thisdustofadozenrichlycaparisonedhorses，formedastrangecontrastinthemiddleofthenightwiththemelancholyandalmostfunerealdisappearanceofthetwoshadowsofAramisandPorthos。？Athoswenttowardsthehouse;buthehadhardlyreachedtheparterre，whentheentrancegateappearedinablaze;alltheflambeauxstoppedandappearedtoenflametheroad。？Acrywasheardof"M。leDucdeBeaufort"—andAthossprangtowardsthedoorofhishouse。？Butthedukehadalreadyalightedfromhishorse，andwaslookingaroundhim。
　　"I
　　amhere，monseigneur，"saidAthos。
　　"Ah！
　　goodevening，dearcount，"saidtheprince，withthatfrankcordialitywhichwonhimsomanyhearts。？"Isittoolateforafriend？"
　　"Ah！
　　mydearprince，comein！"saidthecount。
　　And，M。deBeaufortleaningonthearmofAthos，theyenteredthehouse，followedbyRaoul，whowalkedrespectfullyandmodestlyamongtheofficersoftheprince，withseveralofwhomhewasacquainted。
　　ChapterXXVII:
　　MonsieurdeBeaufort。
　　TheprinceturnedroundatthemomentwhenRaoul，inordertoleavehimalonewithAthos，wasshuttingthedoor，andpreparingtogowiththeotherofficersintoanadjoiningapartment。
　　"IsthattheyoungmanIhaveheardM。lePrincespeaksohighlyof？"askedM。
　　deBeaufort。
　　"Itis，monseigneur。"
　　"Heisquitethesoldier;lethimstay，count，wecannotsparehim。"
　　"Remain，Raoul，sincemonseigneurpermitsit，"saidAthos。
　　"Mafoi！heistallandhandsome！"
　　continuedtheduke。？"Willyougivehimtome，monseigneur，ifIaskhimofyou？"
　　"HowamItounderstandyou，monseigneur？"saidAthos。
　　"Why，Icalluponyoutobidyoufarewell。"
　　"Farewell！"
　　"Yes，ingoodtruth。？HaveyounoideaofwhatIamabouttobecome？"
　　"Why，Isuppose，whatyouhavealwaysbeen，monseigneur，—avaliantprince，andanexcellentgentleman。"
　　"I
　　amgoingtobecomeanAfricanprince，—aBedouingentleman。？ThekingissendingmetomakeconquestsamongtheArabs。"
　　"Whatisthisyoutellme，monseigneur？"
　　"Strange，isitnot？？I，theParisianparessence，Iwhohavereignedinthefaubourgs，andhavebeencalledKingoftheHalles，—IamgoingtopassfromthePlaceMauberttotheminaretsofGigelli;fromaFrondeurIambecominganadventurer！"
　　"Oh，monseigneur，ifyoudidnotyourselftellmethat—"
　　"Itwouldnotbecredible，wouldit？？Believeme，nevertheless，andwehavebuttobideachotherfarewell。？Thisiswhatcomesofgettingintofavoragain。"
　　"Intofavor？"
　　"Yes。？Yousmile。？Ah，mydearcount，doyouknowwhyIhaveacceptedthisenterprise，canyouguess？"
　　"Becauseyourhighnesslovesgloryabove—everything。"
　　"Oh！
　　no;thereisnogloryinfiringmusketsatsavages。？Iseenogloryinthat，formypart，anditismoreprobablethatIshalltheremeetwithsomethingelse。？ButIhavewished，andstillwishearnestly，mydearcount，thatmylifeshouldhavethatlastfacet，afterallthewhimsicalexhibitionsIhaveseenmyselfmakeduringfiftyyears。？For，inshort，youmustadmitthatitissufficientlystrangetobebornthegrandsonofaking，tohavemadewaragainstkings，tohavebeenreckonedamongthepowersoftheage，tohavemaintainedmyrank，tofeelHenryIV。withinme，tobegreatadmiralofFrance—andthentogoandgetkilledatGigelli，amongallthoseTurks，Saracens，andMoors。"
　　"Monseigneur，youharpwithstrangepersistenceonthattheme，"saidAthos，inanagitatedvoice。？"Howcanyousupposethatsobrilliantadestinywillbeextinguishedinthatremoteandmiserablescene？"
　　"Andcanyoubelieve，uprightandsimpleasyouare，thatifIgointoAfricaforthisridiculousmotive，Iwillnotendeavortocomeoutofitwithoutridicule？？ShallInotgivetheworldcausetospeakofme？？Andtobespokenof，nowadays，whenthereareMonsieurlePrince，M。deTurenne，andmanyothers，mycontemporaries，I，admiralofFrance，grandsonofHenryIV。，kingofParis，haveIanythingleftbuttogetmyselfkilled？？Cordieu！？Iwillbetalkedof，Itellyou;Ishallbekilledwhetherornot;ifnothere，somewhereelse。"
　　"Why，monseigneur，thisismereexaggeration;andhithertoyouhaveshownnothingexaggeratedsaveinbravery。"
　　"Peste！mydearfriend，thereisbraveryinfacingscurvy，dysentery，locusts，poisonedarrows，asmyancestorSt。Louisdid。？Doyouknowthosefellowsstillusepoisonedarrows？？Andthen，youknowmeofold，Ifancy，andyouknowthatwhenIoncemakeupmymindtoathing，I
　　performitingrimearnest。"
　　"Yes，youmadeupyourmindtoescapefromVincennes。"
　　"Ay，butyouaidedmeinthat，mymaster;and，？
　　propos，Iturnthiswayandthat，withoutseeingmyoldfriend，M。
　　Vaugrimaud。？Howishe？"
　　"M。
　　Vaugrimaudisstillyourhighness'smostrespectfulservant，"saidAthos，smiling。
　　"I
　　haveahundredpistoleshereforhim，whichIbringasalegacy。？Mywillismade，count。"
　　"Ah！
　　monseigneur！monseigneur！"
　　"AndyoumayunderstandthatifGrimaud'snameweretoappearinmywill—
　　"？Thedukebegantolaugh;thenaddressingRaoul，who，fromthecommencementofthisconversation，hadsunkintoaprofoundreverie，"Youngman，"saidhe，"IknowthereistobefoundhereacertainDeVouvraywine，andIbelieve—"？Raoullefttheroomprecipitatelytoorderthewine。？InthemeantimeM。deBeauforttookthehandofAthos。
　　"Whatdoyoumeantodowithhim？"askedhe。
　　"Nothingatpresent，monseigneur。"
　　"Ah！
　　yes，Iknow;sincethepassionofthekingforLaValli鑢e。"
　　"Yes，monseigneur。"
　　"Thatisalltrue，then，isit？？IthinkI
　　knowher，thatlittleLaValli鑢e。？Sheisnotparticularlyhandsome，ifIrememberright？"
　　"No，monseigneur，"saidAthos。
　　"Doyouknowwhomsheremindsmeof？"
　　"Doessheremindyourhighnessofanyone？"
　　"Sheremindsmeofaveryagreeablegirl，whosemotherlivedintheHalles。"
　　"Ah！
　　ah！"saidAthos，smiling。
　　"Oh！
　　thegoodoldtimes，"addedM。deBeaufort。？"Yes，LaValli鑢eremindsmeofthatgirl。"
　　"Whohadason，hadshenot？"
　　Transcriber'snote:ItispossiblethattheprecedingconversationisanobscureallegoricalallusiontotheFronde，orperhapsanintimationthattheDucwasthefatherofMordaunt，fromTwentyYearsAfter，butadefiniteinterpretationstilleludesmodernscholars。—
　　JB
　　"Ibelieveshehad，"repliedtheduke，withcarelessna飗et？andacomplaisantforgetfulness，ofwhichnowordscouldtranslatethetoneandthevocalexpression。？"Now，hereispoorRaoul，whoisyourson，Ibelieve。"
　　"Yes，heismyson，monseigneur。"
　　"Andthepoorladhasbeencutoutbytheking，andhefrets。"
　　"Stillbetter，monseigneur，heabstains。"
　　"Youaregoingtolettheboyrustinidleness;itisamistake。？Come，givehimtome。"
　　"Mywishistokeephimathome，monseigneur。？Ihavenolongeranythingintheworldbuthim，andaslongashelikestoremain—"
　　"Well，well，"repliedtheduke。？"I
　　could，nevertheless，havesoonputmatterstorightsagain。？Iassureyou，Ithinkhehasinhimthestuffofwhichmar閏halsofFrancearemade;Ihaveseenmorethanoneproducedfromlesslikelyroughmaterial。"
　　"Thatisverypossible，monseigneur;butitisthekingwhomakesmar閏halsofFrance，andRaoulwillneveracceptanythingoftheking。"
　　Raoulinterruptedthisconversationbyhisreturn。？HeprecededGrimaud，whosestillsteadyhandscarriedtheplateauwithoneglassandabottleoftheduke'sfavoritewine。？Onseeinghisoldprot間？，thedukeutteredanexclamationofpleasure。
　　"Grimaud！？Goodevening，Grimaud！"saidhe;
　　"howgoesit？"
　　Theservantbowedprofoundly，asmuchgratifiedashisnobleinterlocutor。
　　"Twooldfriends！"saidtheduke，shakinghonestGrimaud'sshoulderafteravigorousfashion;whichwasfollowedbyanotherstillmoreprofoundanddelightedbowfromGrimaud。
　　"Butwhatisthis，count，onlyoneglass？"
　　"I
　　shouldnotthinkofdrinkingwithyourhighness，unlessyourhighnesspermittedme，"repliedAthos，withnoblehumility。
　　"Cordieu！youwererighttobringonlyoneglass，wewillbothdrinkoutofit，liketwobrothersinarms。？Begin，count。"
　　"Domethehonor，"saidAthos，gentlyputtingbacktheglass。
　　"Youareacharmingfriend，"repliedtheDucdeBeaufort，whodrank，andpassedthegoblettohiscompanion。？"Butthatisnotall，"continuedhe，"Iamstillthirsty，andIwishtodohonortothishandsomeyoungmanwhostandshere。？Icarrygoodluckwithme，vicomte，"saidhetoRaoul;
　　"wishforsomethingwhiledrinkingoutofmyglass，andmaytheblackplaguegrabmeifwhatyouwishdoesnotcometopass！"？HeheldthegoblettoRaoul，whohastilymoistenedhislips，andrepliedwiththesamepromptitude:
　　"I
　　havewishedforsomething，monseigneur。"？Hiseyessparkledwithagloomyfire，andthebloodmountedtohischeeks;
　　heterrifiedAthos，ifonlywithhissmile。
　　"Andwhathaveyouwishedfor？"repliedtheduke，sinkingbackintohisfauteuil，whilstwithonehandhereturnedthebottletoGrimaud，andwiththeothergavehimapurse。
　　"Willyoupromiseme，monseigneur，tograntmewhatIwishfor？"
　　"Pardieu！？Thatisagreedupon。"
　　"I
　　wished，monsieurleduc，togowithyoutoGigelli。"
　　Athosbecamepale，andwasunabletoconcealhisagitation。？Thedukelookedathisfriend，asifdesiroustoassisthimtoparrythisunexpectedblow。
　　"Thatisdifficult，mydearvicomte，verydifficult，"addedhe，inalowertoneofvoice。
　　"Pardonme，monseigneur，Ihavebeenindiscreet，"repliedRaoul，inafirmvoice;
　　"butasyouyourselfinvitedmetowish—"
　　"Towishtoleaveme？"saidAthos。
　　"Oh！
　　monsieur—canyouimagine—"
　　"Well，mordieu！"criedtheduke，"theyoungvicomteisright！？Whatcanhedohere？？Hewillgomoldywithgrief。"
　　Raoulblushed，andtheexcitableprincecontinued:"Warisadistraction:wegaineverythingbyit;wecanonlyloseonethingbyit—life—thensomuchtheworse！"
　　"Thatistosay，memory，"saidRaoul，eagerly;"andthatistosay，somuchthebetter！"
　　HerepentedofhavingspokensowarmlywhenhesawAthosriseandopenthewindow;whichwas，doubtless，toconcealhisemotion。？Raoulsprangtowardsthecomte，butthelatterhadalreadyovercomehisemotion，andturnedtothelightswithasereneandimpassiblecountenance。？"Well，come，"saidtheduke，"letussee！？Shallhego，orshallhenot？？Ifhegoes，comte，heshallbemyaide—de—camp，myson。"
　　"Monseigneur！"
　　criedRaoul，bendinghisknee。
　　"Monseigneur！"
　　criedAthos，takingthehandoftheduke;"Raoulshalldojustashelikes。"
　　"Oh！no，monsieur，justasyoulike，"interruptedtheyoungman。
　　"Parlacorbleu！"saidtheprinceinhisturn，"itisneitherthecomtenorthevicomtethatshallhavehisway，itisI。？Iwilltakehimaway。？Themarineoffersasuperbfortune，myfriend。"
　　Raoulsmiledagainsosadly，thatthistimeAthosfelthisheartpenetratedbyit，andrepliedtohimbyaseverelook。？Raoulcomprehendeditall;herecoveredhiscalmness，andwassoguarded，thatnotanotherwordescapedhim。？Thedukeatlengthrose，onobservingtheadvancedhour，andsaid，withanimation，"I
　　amingreathaste，butifIamtoldIhavelosttimeintalkingwithafriend，IwillreplyIhavegained—onthebalance—amostexcellentrecruit。"
　　"Pardonme，monsieurleduc，"interruptedRaoul，"donottellthekingso，foritisnotthekingIwishtoserve。"
　　"Eh！myfriend，whom，then，willyouserve？？Thetimesarepastwhenyoumighthavesaid，'IbelongtoM。deBeaufort。'？No，nowadays，weallbelongtotheking，greatorsmall。？Therefore，ifyouserveonboardmyvessels，therecanbenothingequivocalaboutit，mydearvicomte;
　　itwillbethekingyouwillserve。"
　　AthoswaitedwithakindofimpatientjoyforthereplyabouttobemadetothisembarrassingquestionbyRaoul，theintractableenemyoftheking，hisrival。？Thefatherhopedthattheobstaclewouldovercomethedesire。？HewasthankfultoM。deBeaufort，whoselightnessorgenerousreflectionhadthrownanimpedimentinthewayofthedepartureofason，nowhisonlyjoy。？ButRaoul，stillfirmandtranquil，replied:
　　"Monsieurleduc，theobjectionyoumakeIhavealreadyconsideredinmymind。？Iwillserveonboardyourvessels，becauseyoudomethehonortotakemewithyou;butIshallthereserveamorepowerfulmasterthantheking:IshallserveGod！"
　　"God！howso？"saidthedukeandAthostogether。
　　"Myintentionistomakeprofession，andbecomeaknightofMalta，"addedBragelonne，lettingfall，onebyone，wordsmoreicythanthedropswhichfallfromthebaretreesafterthetempestsofwinter。
　　Transcriber'snote:ThedictatesofsuchaservicewouldrequireRaoultospendtherestofhislifeoutsideofFrance，henceAthos'sandGrimaud'sextremereactions。—JB
　　UnderthisblowAthosstaggeredandtheprincehimselfwasmoved。？Grimaudutteredaheavygroan，andletfallthebottle，whichwasbrokenwithoutanybodypayingattention。？M。deBeaufortlookedtheyoungmanintheface，andreadplainly，thoughhiseyeswerecastdown，thefireofresolutionbeforewhicheverythingmustgiveway。？AstoAthos，hewastoowellacquaintedwiththattender，butinflexiblesoul;hecouldnothopetomakeitdeviatefromthefatalroadithadjustchosen。？Hecouldonlypressthehandthedukeheldouttohim。？"Comte，IshallsetoffintwodaysforToulon，"saidM。deBeaufort。？"WillyoumeetmeatParis，inorderthatImayknowyourdetermination？"
　　"Iwillhavethehonorofthankingyouthere，monprince，forallyourkindness，"repliedthecomte。
　　"Andbesuretobringthevicomtewithyou，whetherhefollowsmeordoesnotfollowme，"addedtheduke;"hehasmyword，andIonlyaskyours。"
　　Havingthrownalittlebalmuponthewoundofthepaternalheart，hepulledtheearofGrimaud，whoseeyessparkledmorethanusual，andregainedhisescortintheparterre。？Thehorses，restedandrefreshed，setoffwithspiritthroughthelovelynight，andsoonplacedaconsiderabledistancebetweentheirmasterandthech鈚eau。
　　AthosandBragelonnewereagainfacetoface。？Eleveno'clockwasstriking。？Thefatherandsonpreservedaprofoundsilencetowardseachother，whereanintelligentobserverwouldhaveexpectedcriesandtears。？Butthesetwomenwereofsuchanaturethatallemotionfollowingtheirfinalresolutionsplungeditselfsodeepintotheirheartsthatitwaslostforever。？Theypassed，then，silentlyandalmostbreathlessly，thehourthatprecededmidnight。？Theclock，bystriking，alonepointedouttothemhowmanyminuteshadlastedthepainfuljourneymadebytheirsoulsintheimmensityoftheirremembrancesofthepastandfearofthefuture。？Athosrosefirst，saying，"itislate，then？？Tillto—morrow。"
　　Raoulrose，andinhisturnembracedhisfather。？Thelatterheldhimclaspedtohisbreast，andsaid，inatremulousvoice，"Intwodays，youwillhaveleftme，myson—leftmeforever，Raoul！"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　repliedtheyoungman，"Ihadformedadetermination，thatofpiercingmyheartwithmysword;butyouwouldhavethoughtthatcowardly。？Ihaverenouncedthatdetermination，andthereforewemustpart。"
　　"Youleavemedesolatebygoing，Raoul。"