AthosandRaoulwanderedforsometimeroundthefencesofthegardenwithoutfindinganyonetointroducethemtothegovernor。？Theyendedbymakingtheirownwayintothegarden。？Itwasatthehottesttimeoftheday。？Eachlivingthingsoughtitsshelterundergrassorstone。？Theheavensspreadtheirfieryveilsasiftostifleallnoises，toenvelopallexistences;therabbitunderthebroom，theflyundertheleaf，sleptasthewavedidbeneaththeheavens。？Athossawnothinglivingbutasoldier，upontheterracebeneaththesecondandthirdcourt，whowascarryingabasketofprovisionsonhishead。？Thismanreturnedalmostimmediatelywithouthisbasket，anddisappearedintheshadeofhissentry—box。？Athossupposedhemusthavebeencarryingdinnertosomeone，and，afterhavingdoneso，returnedtodinehimself。？Allatoncetheyheardsomeonecallout，andraisingtheirheads，perceivedintheframeofthebarsofthewindowsomethingofawhitecolor，likeahandthatwaswavedbackwardsandforwards—somethingshining，likeapolishedweaponstruckbytheraysofthesun。？Andbeforetheywereabletoascertainwhatitwas，aluminoustrain，accompaniedbyahissingsoundintheair，calledtheirattentionfromthedonjontotheground。？Aseconddullnoisewasheardfromtheditch，andRaoulrantopickupasilverplatewhichwasrollingalongthedrysand。？Thehandthathadthrownthisplatemadeasigntothetwogentlemen，andthendisappeared。？AthosandRaoul，approachingeachother，commencedanattentiveexaminationofthedustyplate，andtheydiscovered，incharacterstraceduponthebottomofitwiththepointofaknife，thisinscription:
"IamthebrotherofthekingofFrance—aprisonerto—day—amadmanto—morrow。？FrenchgentlemenandChristians，praytoGodforthesoulandthereasonofthesonofyouroldrulers。"
TheplatefellfromthehandsofAthoswhilstRaoulwasendeavoringtomakeoutthemeaningofthesedismalwords。？Atthesamemomenttheyheardacryfromthetopofthedonjon。？QuickaslightningRaoulbentdownhishead，andforceddownthatofhisfatherlikewise。？Amusket—barrelglitteredfromthecrestofthewall。？Awhitesmokefloatedlikeaplumefromthemouthofthemusket，andaballwasflattenedagainstastonewithinsixinchesofthetwogentlemen。
"Cordieu！"criedAthos。？"What，arepeopleassassinatedhere？？Comedown，cowardsasyouare！"
"Yes，comedown！"criedRaoul，furiouslyshakinghisfistatthecastle。
Oneoftheassailants—hewhowasabouttofire—repliedtothesecriesbyanexclamationofsurprise;and，ashiscompanion，whowishedtocontinuetheattack，hadre—seizedhisloadedmusket，hewhohadcriedoutthrewuptheweapon，andtheballflewintotheair。？AthosandRaoul，seeingthemdisappearfromtheplatform，expectedtheywouldcomedowntothem，andwaitedwithafirmdemeanor。？Fiveminuteshadnotelapsed，whenastrokeuponadrumcalledtheeightsoldiersofthegarrisontoarms，andtheyshowedthemselvesontheothersideoftheditchwiththeirmusketsinhand。？Attheheadofthesemenwasanofficer，whomAthosandRaoulrecognizedastheonewhohadfiredthefirstmusket。？Themanorderedthesoldiersto"makeready。"
"Wearegoingtobeshot！"criedRaoul;"but，swordinhand，atleast，letusleaptheditch！？Weshallkillatleasttwoofthesescoundrels，whentheirmusketsareempty。"？And，suitingtheactiontotheword，Raoulwasspringingforward，followedbyAthos，whenawell—knownvoiceresoundedbehindthem，"Athos！？Raoul！"
"D'Artagnan！"
repliedthetwogentlemen。
"Recoverarms！？Mordioux！"criedthecaptaintothesoldiers。？"IwassureIcouldnotbemistaken！"
"Whatisthemeaningofthis？"askedAthos。？"What！werewetobeshotwithoutwarning？"
"ItwasIwhowasgoingtoshootyou，andifthegovernormissedyou，Ishouldnothavemissedyou，mydearfriends。？HowfortunateitisthatIamaccustomedtotakealongaim，insteadoffiringattheinstantIraisemyweapon！？I
thoughtIrecognizedyou。？Ah！mydearfriends，howfortunate！"？AndD'Artagnanwipedhisbrow，forhehadrunfast，andemotionwithhimwasnotfeigned。
"How！"
saidAthos。？"Andisthegentlemanwhofiredatusthegovernorofthefortress？"
"Inperson。"
"Andwhydidhefireatus？？Whathavewedonetohim？"
"Pardieu！？Youreceivedwhattheprisonerthrewtoyou？"
"Thatistrue。"
"Thatplate—theprisonerhaswrittensomethingonit，hashenot？"
"Yes。"
"Goodheavens！？Iwasafraidhehad。"
AndD'Artagnan，withallthemarksofmortaldisquietude，seizedtheplate，toreadtheinscription。？Whenhehadreadit，afearfulpallorspreadacrosshiscountenance。？"Oh！goodheavens！"repeatedhe。？"Silence！—Hereisthegovernor。"
"Andwhatwillhedotous？？Isitourfault？"
"Itistrue，then？"saidAthos，inasubduedvoice。？"Itistrue？"
"Silence！？Itellyou—silence！？Ifheonlybelievesyoucanread;ifheonlysuspectsyouhaveunderstood;Iloveyou，mydearfriends，Iwouldwillinglybekilledforyou，but—"
"But—"saidAthosandRaoul。
"ButIcouldnotsaveyoufromperpetualimprisonmentifIsavedyoufromdeath。？Silence，then！？Silenceagain！"
Thegovernorcameup，havingcrossedtheditchuponaplankbridge。
"Well！"
saidhetoD'Artagnan，"whatstopsus？"
"YouareSpaniards—youdonotunderstandawordofFrench，"saidthecaptain，eagerly，tohisfriendsinalowvoice。
"Well！"
repliedhe，addressingthegovernor，"Iwasright;thesegentlemenaretwoSpanishcaptainswithwhomIwasacquaintedatYpres，lastyear;theydon'tknowawordofFrench。"
"Ah！"
saidthegovernor，sharply。？"Andyettheyweretryingtoreadtheinscriptionontheplate。"
D'Artagnantookitoutofhishands，effacingthecharacterswiththepointofhissword。
"How！"
criedthegovernor，"whatareyoudoing？？Icannotreadthemnow！"
"Itisastatesecret，"repliedD'Artagnan，bluntly;"andasyouknowthat，accordingtotheking'sorders，itisunderthepenaltyofdeathanyoneshouldpenetrateit，Iwill，ifyoulike，allowyoutoreadit，andhaveyoushotimmediatelyafterwards。"
Duringthisapostrophe—halfserious，halfironical—AthosandRaoulpreservedthecoolest，mostunconcernedsilence。
"But，isitpossible，"saidthegovernor，"thatthesegentlemendonotcomprehendatleastsomewords？"
"Supposetheydo！？Iftheydounderstandafewspokenwords，itdoesnotfollowthattheyshouldunderstandwhatiswritten。？TheycannotevenreadSpanish。？AnobleSpaniard，remember，oughtnevertoknowhowtoread。"
Thegovernorwasobligedtobesatisfiedwiththeseexplanations，buthewasstilltenacious。？"Invitethesegentlementocometothefortress，"saidhe。
"ThatIwillwillinglydo。？Iwasabouttoproposeittoyou。"？Thefactis，thecaptainhadquiteanotheridea，andwouldhavewishedhisfriendsahundredleaguesoff。？Buthewasobligedtomakethebestofit。？HeaddressedthetwogentlemeninSpanish，givingthemapoliteinvitation，whichtheyaccepted。？Theyallturnedtowardstheentranceofthefort，and，theincidentbeingatanend，theeightsoldiersreturnedtotheirdelightfulleisure，foramomentdisturbedbythisunexpectedadventure。
ChapterXXXII:
CaptiveandJailers。
Whentheyhadenteredthefort，andwhilstthegovernorwasmakingsomepreparationsforthereceptionofhisguests，"Come，"saidAthos，"letushaveawordofexplanationwhilstwearealone。"
"Itissimplythis，"repliedthemusketeer。？"Ihaveconductedhitheraprisoner，whothekingcommandsshallnotbeseen。？Youcamehere，hehasthrownsomethingtoyouthroughthelatticeofhiswindow;Iwasatdinnerwiththegovernor，Isawtheobjectthrown，andIsawRaoulpickitup。？Itdoesnottakelongtounderstandthis。？Iunderstoodit，andIthoughtyouinintelligencewithmyprisoner。？Andthen—"
"Andthen—youcommandedustobeshot。"
"Mafoi！？Iadmitit;but，ifIwasthefirsttoseizeamusket，fortunately，I
wasthelasttotakeaimatyou。"
"Ifyouhadkilledme，D'Artagnan，IshouldhavehadthegoodfortunetodiefortheroyalhouseofFrance，anditwouldbeanhonortodiebyyourhand—you，itsnoblestandmostloyaldefender。"
"Whatthedevil，Athos，doyoumeanbytheroyalhouse？"stammeredD'Artagnan。？"Youdon'tmeanthatyou，awell—informedandsensibleman，canplaceanyfaithinthenonsensewrittenbyanidiot？"
"I
dobelieveinit。"
"Withsomuchthemorereason，mydearchevalier，fromyourhavingorderstokillallthosewhodobelieveinit，"saidRaoul。
"Thatisbecause，"repliedthecaptainofthemusketeers—"becauseeverycalumny，howeverabsurditmaybe，hasthealmostcertainchanceofbecomingpopular。"
"No，D'Artagnan，"repliedAthos，promptly;"butbecausethekingisnotwillingthatthesecretofhisfamilyshouldtranspireamongthepeople，andcoverwithshametheexecutionersofthesonofLouisXIII。"
"Donottalkinsuchachildishmanner，Athos，orIshallbegintothinkyouhavelostyoursenses。？Besides，explaintomehowitispossibleLouisXIII。shouldhaveasonintheIsleofSainte—Marguerite。"
"A
sonwhomyouhavebroughthithermasked，inafishing—boat，"saidAthos。？"Whynot？"
D'Artagnanwasbroughttoapause。
"Oh！"
saidhe;"whencedoyouknowthatafishing—boat—？"
"BroughtyoutoSainte—Marguerite'swiththecarriagecontainingtheprisoner—withaprisonerwhomyoustyledmonseigneur。？Oh！？Iamacquaintedwithallthat，"resumedthecomte。？D'Artagnanbithismustache。
"Ifitweretrue，"saidhe，"thatIhadbroughthitherinaboatandwithacarriageamaskedprisoner，nothingprovesthatthisprisonermustbeaprince—aprinceofthehouseofFrance。"
"AskAramissuchriddles，"repliedAthos，coolly。
"Aramis，"
criedthemusketeer，quiteatastand。？"HaveyouseenAramis？"
"AfterhisdiscomfitureatVaux，yes;IhaveseenAramis，afugitive，pursued，bewildered，ruined;andAramishastoldmeenoughtomakemebelieveinthecomplaintsthisunfortunateyoungprincecutuponthebottomoftheplate。"
D'Artagnan'sheadsunkonhisbreastinsomeconfusion。？"Thisistheway，"saidhe，"inwhichGodturnstonothingthatwhichmencallwisdom！？A
finesecretmustthatbeofwhichtwelveorfifteenpersonsholdthetatteredfragments！？Athos，cursedbethechancewhichhasbroughtyoufacetofacewithmeinthisaffair！fornow—"
"Well，"
saidAthos，withhiscustomarymildseverity，"isyoursecretlostbecauseIknowit？？Consultyourmemory，myfriend。？HaveInotbornesecretsheavierthanthis？"
"Youhaveneverborneonesodangerous，"repliedD'Artagnan，inatoneofsadness。？"Ihavesomethinglikeasinisterideathatallwhoareconcernedwiththissecretwilldie，anddieunhappily。"
"ThewillofGodbedone！"saidAthos，"buthereisyourgovernor。"
D'Artagnanandhisfriendsimmediatelyresumedtheirparts。？Thegovernor，suspiciousandhard，behavedtowardsD'Artagnanwithapolitenessalmostamountingtoobsequiousness。？Withrespecttothetravelers，hecontentedhimselfwithofferinggoodcheer，andnevertakinghiseyefromthem。？AthosandRaoulobservedthatheoftentriedtoembarrassthembysuddenattacks，ortocatchthemofftheirguard;butneithertheonenortheothergavehimtheleastadvantage。？WhatD'Artagnanhadsaidwasprobable，ifthegovernordidnotbelieveittobequitetrue。？Theyrosefromthetabletoreposeawhile。
"Whatisthisman'sname？？Idon'tlikethelooksofhim，"saidAthostoD'ArtagnaninSpanish。
"DeSaint—Mars，"repliedthecaptain。
"Heis，then，Isuppose，theprince'sjailer？"
"Eh！
howcanItell？？ImaybekeptatSainte—Margueriteforever。"
"Oh！
no，notyou！"
"Myfriend，Iaminthesituationofamanwhofindsatreasureinthemidstofadesert。？Hewouldliketocarryitaway，buthecannot;hewouldliketoleaveit，buthedaresnot。？Thekingwillnotdaretorecallme，fornooneelsewouldservehimasfaithfullyasIdo;heregretsnothavingmenearhim，frombeingawarethatnoonewouldbeofsomuchservicenearhispersonasmyself。？ButitwillhappenasitmaypleaseGod。"
"But，"
observedRaoul，"yournotbeingcertainprovesthatyoursituationhereisprovisional，andyouwillreturntoParis？"
"Askthesegentlemen，"interruptedthegovernor，"whatwastheirpurposeincomingtoSaint—Marguerite？"
"TheycamefromlearningtherewasaconventofBenedictinesatSainte—Honnoratwhichisconsideredcurious;andfrombeingtoldtherewasexcellentshootingintheisland。"
"Thatisquiteattheirservice，aswellasyours，"repliedSaint—Mars。
D'Artagnanpolitelythankedhim。
"Whenwilltheydepart？"addedthegovernor。
"To—morrow，"
repliedD'Artagnan。
M。
deSaint—Marswenttomakehisrounds，andleftD'ArtagnanalonewiththepretendedSpaniards。
"Oh！"
exclaimedthemusketeer，"hereisalifeandasocietythatsuitsmeverylittle。？Icommandthisman，andheboresme，mordioux！？Come，letushaveashotortwoattherabbits;thewalkwillbebeautiful，andnotfatiguing。？Thewholeislandisbutaleagueandahalfinlength，withthebreadthofaleague;arealpark。？Letustrytoamuseourselves。"
"Asyouplease，D'Artagnan;notforthesakeofamusingourselves，buttogainanopportunityfortalkingfreely。"
D'Artagnanmadeasigntoasoldier，whobroughtthegentlemensomeguns，andthenreturnedtothefort。
"Andnow，"saidthemusketeer，"answermethequestionputtoyoubythatblack—lookingSaint—Mars:whatdidyoucometodoattheLerinIsles？"
"Tobidyoufarewell。"
"Bidmefarewell！？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？？IsRaoulgoinganywhere？"
"Yes。"
"ThenIwilllayawageritiswithM。deBeaufort。"
"WithM。deBeaufortitis，mydearfriend。？Youalwaysguesscorrectly。"
"Fromhabit。"
Whilstthetwofriendswerecommencingtheirconversation，Raoul，withhisheadhangingdownandhisheartoppressed，seatedhimselfonamossyrock，hisgunacrosshisknees，lookingatthesea—lookingattheheavens，andlisteningtothevoiceofhissoul;heallowedthesportsmentoattainaconsiderabledistancefromhim。？D'Artagnanremarkedhisabsence。
"Hehasnotrecoveredtheblow？"saidhetoAthos。
"Heisstrucktodeath。"
"Oh！
yourfearsexaggerate，Ihope。？Raoulisofatemperednature。？Aroundallheartsasnobleashis，thereisasecondenvelopethatformsacuirass。？Thefirstbleeds，thesecondresists。"
"No，"
repliedAthos，"Raoulwilldieofit。"
"Mordioux！"saidD'Artagnan，inamelancholytone。？Andhedidnotaddawordtothisexclamation。？Then，aminuteafter，"Whydoyoulethimgo？"
"Becauseheinsistsongoing。"
"Andwhydoyounotgowithhim？"
"BecauseIcouldnotbeartoseehimdie。"
D'Artagnanlookedhisfriendearnestlyintheface。？"Youknowonething，"continuedthecomte，leaninguponthearmofthecaptain;"youknowthatinthecourseofmylifeIhavebeenafraidofbutfewthings。？Well！？Ihaveanincessantgnawing，insurmountablefearthatanhourwillcomeinwhichIshallholdthedeadbodyofthatboyinmyarms。"
"Oh！"
murmuredD'Artagnan;"oh！"
"Hewilldie，Iknow，Ihaveaperfectconvictionofthat;butIwouldnotseehimdie。"
"Howisthis，Athos？youcomeandplaceyourselfinthepresenceofthebravestman，yousayyouhaveeverseen，ofyourownD'Artagnan，ofthatmanwithoutanequal，asyouformerlycalledhim，andyoucomeandtellhim，withyourarmsfolded，thatyouareafraidofwitnessingthedeathofyourson，youwhohaveseenallthatcanbeseeninthisworld！？Whyhaveyouthisfear，Athos？？Manuponthisearthmustexpecteverything，andoughttofaceeverything。"
"Listentome，myfriend。？Afterhavingwornmyselfoutuponthisearthofwhichyouspeak，Ihavepreservedbuttworeligions:thatoflife，friendship，mydutyasafather—thatofeternity，love，andrespectforGod。？Now，IhavewithinmetherevelationthatifGodshoulddecreethatmyfriendormysonshouldrenderuphislastsighinmypresence—oh！no，Icannoteventellyou，D'Artagnan！"
"Speak，speak，tellme！"
"I
amstrongagainsteverything，exceptagainstthedeathofthoseIlove。？Forthatonlythereisnoremedy。？Hewhodies，gains;hewhoseesothersdie，loses。？No，thisisit—toknowthatI
shouldnomoremeetonearthhimwhomInowbeholdwithjoy;toknowthattherewouldnowherebea？D'Artagnananymore，nowhereagainbeaRaoul，oh！？Iamold，lookyou，Ihavenolongercourage;IprayGodtosparemeinmyweakness;butifhestruckmesoplainlyandinthatfashion，Ishouldcursehim。？AChristiangentlemanoughtnottocursehisGod，D'Artagnan;itisenoughtooncehavecursedaking！"
"Humph！"
sighedD'Artagnan，alittleconfusedbythisviolenttempestofgrief。
"Letmespeaktohim，Athos。？Whoknows？"
"Try，ifyouplease，butIamconvincedyouwillnotsucceed。"
"I
willnotattempttoconsolehim。？Iwillservehim。"
"Youwill？"
"Doubtless，Iwill。？Doyouthinkthiswouldbethefirsttimeawomanhadrepentedofaninfidelity？？Iwillgotohim，Itellyou。"
Athosshookhishead，andcontinuedhiswalkalone，D'Artagnan，cuttingacrossthebrambles，rejoinedRaoulandheldouthishandtohim。？"Well，Raoul！？Youhavesomethingtosaytome？"
"I
haveakindnesstoaskofyou，"repliedBragelonne。
"Askit，then。"
"YouwillsomedayreturntoFrance？"
"Ihopeso。"
"OughtItowritetoMademoiselledelaValli鑢e？"
"No，youmustnot。"
"ButIhavemanythingstosaytoher。"
"Goandsaythemtoher，then。"
"Never！"
"Pray，whatvirtuedoyouattributetoaletter，whichyourspeechmightnotpossess？"
"Perhapsyouareright。"
"Shelovestheking，"saidD'Artagnan，bluntly;"andsheisanhonestgirl。"？Raoulstarted。？"Andyou，youwhomsheabandons，she，perhaps，lovesbetterthanshedoestheking，butafteranotherfashion。"
"D'Artagnan，doyoubelieveshelovestheking？"
"Toidolatry。？Herheartisinaccessibletoanyotherfeeling。？Youmightcontinuetolivenearher，andwouldbeherbestfriend。"
"Ah！"
exclaimedRaoul，withapassionateburstofrepugnanceatsuchahideoushope。
"Willyoudoso？"
"Itwouldbebase。"
"Thatisaveryabsurdword，whichwouldleadmetothinkslightlyofyourunderstanding。？Pleasetounderstand，Raoul，thatitisneverbasetodothatwhichisimposeduponusbyasuperiorforce。？Ifyourheartsaystoyou，'Gothere，ordie，'whygo，Raoul。？Wasshebaseorbrave，shewhomyouloved，inpreferringthekingtoyou，thekingwhomherheartcommandedherimperiouslytoprefertoyou？？No，shewasthebravestofwomen。？Do，then，asshehasdone。？Obligeyourself。？DoyouknowonethingofwhichIamsure，Raoul？"
"Whatisthat？"
"Why，thatbyseeinghercloselywiththeeyesofajealousman—"
"Well？"
"Well！
youwouldceasetoloveher。"
"ThenIamdecided，mydearD'Artagnan。"
"Tosetofftoseeheragain？"
"No;tosetoffthatImayneverseeheragain。？Iwishtoloveherforever。"
"Ha！？Imustconfess，"repliedthemusketeer，"thatisaconclusionwhichIwasfarfromexpecting。"
"ThisiswhatIwish，myfriend。？Youwillseeheragain，andyouwillgiveheraletterwhich，ifyouthinkproper，willexplaintoher，astoyourself，whatispassinginmyheart。？Readit;Idrewituplastnight。？SomethingtoldmeIshouldseeyouto—day。"？Heheldtheletterout，andD'Artagnanread:
"MADEMOISELLE，—Youarenotwronginmyeyesinnotlovingme。？Youhaveonlybeenguiltyofonefaulttowardsme，thatofhavingleftmetobelieveyoulovedme。？Thiserrorwillcostmemylife。？Ipardonyou，butIcannotpardonmyself。？Itissaidthathappyloversaredeaftothesorrowsofrejectedlovers。？Itwillnotbesowithyou，whodidnotloveme，savewithanxiety。？IamsurethatifIhadpersistedinendeavoringtochangethatfriendshipintolove，youwouldhaveyieldedoutofafearofbringingaboutmydeath，orlesseningtheesteemIhadforyou。？Itismuchmoredelightfultometodie，knowingthatyouarefreeandsatisfied。？Howmuch，then，willyouloveme，whenyouwillnolongerfeareithermypresenceorreproaches？？Youwillloveme，because，howevercharminganewlovemayappeartoyou，Godhasnotmademeinanythinginferiortohimyouhavechosen，andbecausemydevotedness，mysacrifice，andmypainfulendwillassureme，inyoureyes，acertainsuperiorityoverhim。？Ihaveallowedtoescape，inthecandidcredulityofmyheart，thetreasureIpossessed。？Manypeopletellmethatyoulovedmeenoughtoleadmetohopeyouwouldhavelovedmemuch。？Thatideatakesfrommymindallbitterness，andleadsmeonlytoblamemyself。？Youwillacceptthislastfarewell，andyouwillblessmeforhavingtakenrefugeintheinviolableasylumwherehatredisextinguished，andwhereallloveenduresforever。？Adieu，mademoiselle。？Ifyourhappinesscouldbepurchasedbythelastdropofmyblood，Iwouldshedthatdrop。？Iwillinglymakethesacrificeofittomymisery！
"RAOUL，VICOTMEDEBRAGELONNE。"
"Theletterreadsverywell，"saidthecaptain。？"Ihaveonlyonefaulttofindwithit。"
"Tellmewhatthatis！"saidRaoul。
"Why，itisthatittellseverything，exceptthethingwhichexhales，likeamortalpoisonfromyoureyesandfromyourheart;exceptthesenselesslovewhichstillconsumesyou。"？Raoulgrewpaler，butremainedsilent。
"Whydidyounotwritesimplythesewords:
"'MADEMOISELLE，—Insteadofcursingyou，IloveyouandIdie。'"
"Thatistrue，"exclaimedRaoul，withasinisterkindofjoy。
Andtearingtheletterhehadjusttakenback，hewrotethefollowingwordsuponaleafofhistablets:
"ToprocurethehappinessofoncemoretellingyouIloveyou，Icommitthebasenessofwritingtoyou;andtopunishmyselfforthatbaseness，Idie。"？Andhesignedit。
"Youwillgiveherthesetablets，captain，willyounot？"
"When？"askedthelatter。
"Ontheday，"saidBragelonne，pointingtothelastsentence，"onthedaywhenyoucanplaceadateunderthesewords。"？AndhesprangawayquicklytojoinAthos，whowasreturningwithslowsteps。
Astheyre—enteredthefort，thesearosewiththatrapid，gustyvehemencewhichcharacterizestheMediterranean;theill—humoroftheelementbecameatempest。？Somethingshapeless，andtossedaboutviolentlybythewaves，appearedjustoffthecoast。
"Whatisthat？"saidAthos，—"awreckedboat？"
"No，itisnotaboat，"saidD'Artagnan。
"Pardonme，"saidRaoul，"thereisabarkgainingtheportrapidly。"
"Yes，thereisabarkinthecreek，whichisprudentlyseekingshelterhere;butthatwhichAthospointstointhesandisnotaboatatall—ithasrunaground。"
"Yes，yes，Iseeit。"
"Itisthecarriage，whichIthrewintotheseaafterlandingtheprisoner。"
"Well！"saidAthos，"ifyoutakemyadvice，D'Artagnan，youwillburnthatcarriage，inorderthatnovestigeofitmayremain，withoutwhichthefishermenofAntibes，whohavebelievedtheyhadtodowiththedevil，willendeavortoprovethatyourprisonerwasbutaman。"
"Youradviceisgood，Athos，andIwillthisnighthaveitcarriedout，orrather，I
willcarryitoutmyself;butletusgoin，fortherainfallsheavily，andthelightningisterrific。"
AstheywerepassingovertherampartstoagalleryofwhichD'Artagnanhadthekey，theysawM。deSaint—Marsdirectinghisstepstowardsthechamberinhabitedbytheprisoner。？UponasignfromD'Artagnan，theyconcealedthemselvesinanangleofthestaircase。
"Whatisit？"saidAthos。