"Sayingthesewordsandwavinghissword，hehimselfrodetowardstheenemy。？Theregiments，rushinginhissteps，ranintheirturn，utteringcriesasterribleasthoseoftheArabswerewild。
　　"ThecombatcommencedoverthebodyofM。deBragelonne，andwithsuchinveteracywasitfoughtthatahundredandsixtyArabswereleftuponthefield，bythesideofatleastfiftyofourtroops。？ItwasalieutenantfromNormandywhotookthebodyofthevicomteonhisshouldersandcarrieditbacktothelines。？Theadvantagewas，however，pursued，theregimentstookthereservewiththem，andtheenemy'spalisadeswereutterlydestroyed。？Atthreeo'clockthefireoftheArabsceased;thehand—to—handfightlastedtwohours;itwasamassacre。？Atfiveo'clockwewerevictoriousatallpoints;
　　theenemyhadabandonedhispositions，andM。leducorderedthewhiteflagtobeplantedonthesummitofthelittlemountain。？ItwasthenwehadtimetothinkofM。deBragelonne，whohadeightlargewoundsinhisbody，throughwhichalmostallhisbloodhadwelledaway。？Still，however，hehadbreathed，whichaffordedinexpressiblejoytomonseigneur，whoinsistedonbeingpresentatthefirstdressingofthewoundsandtheconsultationofthesurgeons。？ThereweretwoamongthemwhodeclaredM。deBragelonnewouldlive。？Monseigneurthrewhisarmsaroundtheirnecks，andpromisedthemathousandlouiseachiftheycouldsavehim。
　　"Thevicomteheardthesetransportsofjoy，andwhetherhewasindespair，orwhetherhesufferedmuchfromhiswounds，heexpressedbyhiscountenanceacontradiction，whichgaverisetoreflection，particularlyinoneofthesecretarieswhenhehadheardwhatfollows。？ThethirdsurgeonwasthebrotherofSylvaindeSaint—Cosme，themostlearnedofthemall。？Heprobedthewoundsinhisturn，andsaidnothing。？M。deBragelonnefixedhiseyessteadilyupontheskillfulsurgeon，andseemedtointerrogatehiseverymovement。？Thelatter，uponbeingquestionedbymonseigneur，repliedthathesawplainlythreemortalwoundsoutofeight，butsostrongwastheconstitutionofthewounded，sorichwasheinyouth，andsomercifulwasthegoodnessofGod，thatperhapsM。deBragelonnemightrecover，particularlyifhedidnotmoveintheslightestmanner。？Fr鑢eSylvainadded，turningtowardshisassistants，'Aboveeverything，donotallowhimtomove，evenafinger，oryouwillkillhim;'andweallleftthetentinverylowspirits。？ThatsecretaryIhavementioned，onleavingthetent，thoughtheperceivedafaintandsadsmileglideoverthelipsofM。deBragelonnewhenthedukesaidtohim，inacheerful，kindvoice，'Wewillsaveyou，vicomte，wewillsaveyouyet。'
　　"Intheevening，whenitwasbelievedthewoundedyouthhadtakensomerepose，oneoftheassistantsenteredhistent，butrushedoutagainimmediately，utteringloudcries。？Weallranupindisorder，M。leducwithus，andtheassistantpointedtothebodyofM。deBragelonneupontheground，atthefootofhisbed，bathedintheremainderofhisblood。？Itappearedthathehadsufferedsomeconvulsion，somedelirium，andthathehadfallen;thatthefallhadacceleratedhisend，accordingtotheprognosisofFr鑢eSylvain。？Weraisedthevicomte;hewascoldanddead。？Heheldalockoffairhairinhisrighthand，andthathandwastightlypresseduponhisheart。"
　　Thenfollowedthedetailsoftheexpedition，andofthevictoryobtainedovertheArabs。？D'ArtagnanstoppedattheaccountofthedeathofpoorRaoul。？"Oh！"murmuredhe，"unhappyboy！asuicide！"？Andturninghiseyestowardsthechamberofthech鈚eau，inwhichAthossleptineternalsleep，"Theykepttheirwordswitheachother，"saidhe，inalowvoice;"nowIbelievethemtobehappy;theymustbereunited。"？Andhereturnedthroughtheparterrewithslowandmelancholysteps。？Allthevillage—alltheneighborhood—werefilledwithgrievingneighborsrelatingtoeachotherthedoublecatastrophe，andmakingpreparationsforthefuneral。
　　ChapterLX:
　　TheLastCantoofthePoem。
　　Onthemorrow，allthenoblesseoftheprovinces，oftheenvirons，andwherevermessengershadcarriedthenews，mighthavebeenseenarrivingindetachments。？D'Artagnanhadshuthimselfup，withoutbeingwillingtospeaktoanybody。？Twosuchheavydeathsfallinguponthecaptain，socloselyafterthedeathofPorthos，foralongtimeoppressedthatspiritwhichhadhithertobeensoindefatigableandinvulnerable。？ExceptGrimaud，whoenteredhischamberonce，themusketeersawneitherservantsnorguests。？Hesupposed，fromthenoisesinthehouse，andthecontinualcomingandgoing，thatpreparationswerebeingmadeforthefuneralofthecomte。？Hewrotetothekingtoaskforanextensionofhisleaveofabsence。？Grimaud，aswehavesaid，hadenteredD'Artagnan'sapartment，hadseatedhimselfuponajoint—stoolnearthedoor，likeamanwhomeditatesprofoundly;then，rising，hemadeasigntoD'Artagnantofollowhim。？Thelatterobeyedinsilence。？Grimauddescendedtothecomte'sbed—chamber，showedthecaptainwithhisfingertheplaceoftheemptybed，andraisedhiseyeseloquentlytowardsHeaven。
　　"Yes，"
　　repliedD'Artagnan，"yes，goodGrimaud—nowwiththesonhelovedsomuch！"
　　Grimaudleftthechamber，andledthewaytothehall，where，accordingtothecustomoftheprovince，thebodywaslaidout，previouslytobeingputawayforever。？D'Artagnanwasstruckatseeingtwoopencoffinsinthehall。？InreplytothemuteinvitationofGrimaud，heapproached，andsawinoneofthemAthos，stillhandsomeindeath，and，intheother，Raoulwithhiseyesclosed，hischeekspearlyasthoseofthePallsofVirgil，withasmileonhisvioletlips。？Heshudderedatseeingthefatherandson，thosetwodepartedsouls，representedonearthbytwosilent，melancholybodies，incapableoftouchingeachother，howeverclosetheymightbe。
　　"Raoulhere！"murmuredhe。？"Oh！？Grimaud，whydidyounottellmethis？"
　　Grimaudshookhishead，andmadenoreply;buttakingD'Artagnanbythehand，heledhimtothecoffin，andshowedhim，underthethinwinding—sheet，theblackwoundsbywhichlifehadescaped。？Thecaptainturnedawayhiseyes，and，judgingitwasuselesstoquestionGrimaud，whowouldnotanswer，herecollectedthatM。deBeaufort'ssecretaryhadwrittenmorethanhe，D'Artagnan，hadhadthecouragetoread。？TakinguptherecitaloftheaffairwhichhadcostRaoulhislife，hefoundthesewords，whichendedtheconcludingparagraphoftheletter:
　　"Monseigneurleduchasorderedthatthebodyofmonsieurlevicomteshouldbeembalmed，afterthemannerpracticedbytheArabswhentheywishtheirdeadtobecarriedtotheirnativeland;andmonsieurleduchasappointedrelays，sothatthesameconfidentialservantwhobroughtuptheyoungmanmighttakebackhisremainstoM。leComtedelaF鑢e。"
　　"Andso，"thoughtD'Artagnan，"Ishallfollowthyfuneral，mydearboy—
　　I，alreadyold—I，whoamofnovalueonearth—andIshallscatterdustuponthatbrowIkissedbuttwomonthssince。？Godhaswilledittobeso。？Thouhastwilledittobeso，thyself。？I
　　havenolongertherighteventoweep。？Thouhastchosendeath;itseemedtotheeapreferablegifttolife。"
　　Atlengtharrivedthemomentwhenthechillremainsofthesetwogentlemenweretobegivenbacktomotherearth。？Therewassuchanaffluenceofmilitaryandotherpeoplethatuptotheplaceofthesepulture，whichwasalittlechapelontheplain，theroadfromthecitywasfilledwithhorsemenandpedestriansinmourning。？Athoshadchosenforhisresting—placethelittleinclosureofachapelerectedbyhimselfneartheboundaryofhisestates。？Hehadhadthestones，cutin1550，broughtfromanoldGothicmanor—houseinBerry，whichhadshelteredhisearlyyouth。？Thechapel，thusrebuilt，transported，waspleasingtotheeyebeneathitsleafycurtainsofpoplarsandsycamores。？ItwasministeredineverySunday，bythecur？oftheneighboringbourg，towhomAthospaidanallowanceoftwohundredfrancsforthisservice;andallthevassalsofhisdomain，withtheirfamilies，camethithertohearmass，withouthavinganyoccasiontogotothecity。
　　Behindthechapelextended，surroundedbytwohighhedgesofhazel，elderandwhitethorn，andadeepditch，thelittleinclosure—uncultivated，thoughgayinitssterility;becausethemossestheregrewthick，wildheliotropeandravenellestheremingledperfumes，whilefrombeneathanancientchestnutissuedacrystalspring，aprisonerinitsmarblecistern，andonthethymeallaroundalightedthousandsofbeesfromtheneighboringplants，whilstchaffinchesandredthroatssangcheerfullyamongtheflower—spangledhedges。？Itwastothisplacethesombercoffinswerecarried，attendedbyasilentandrespectfulcrowd。？Theofficeofthedeadbeingcelebrated，thelastadieuxpaidtothenobledeparted，theassemblydispersed，talking，alongtheroads，ofthevirtuesandmilddeathofthefather，ofthehopesthesonhadgiven，andofhismelancholyenduponthearidcoastofAfrica。
　　Littlebylittle，allnoiseswereextinguished，likethelampsilluminatingthehumblenave。？Theministerbowedforthelasttimetothealtarandthestillfreshgraves;then，followedbyhisassistant，heslowlytooktheroadbacktothepresbytery。？D'Artagnan，leftalone，perceivedthatnightwascomingon。？Hehadforgottenthehour，thinkingonlyofthedead。？Hearosefromtheoakenbenchonwhichhewasseatedinthechapel，andwished，asthepriesthaddone，togoandbidalastadieutothedoublegravewhichcontainedhistwolostfriends。
　　A
　　womanwaspraying，kneelingonthemoistearth。？D'Artagnanstoppedatthedoorofthechapel，toavoiddisturbingher，andalsotoendeavortofindoutwhowasthepiousfriendwhoperformedthissacreddutywithsomuchzealandperseverance。？Theunknownhadhiddenherfaceinherhands，whichwerewhiteasalabaster。？Fromthenoblesimplicityofhercostume，shemustbeawomanofdistinction。？Outsidetheinclosurewereseveralhorsesmountedbyservants;atravellingcarriagewasinwaitingforthislady。？D'Artagnaninvainsoughttomakeoutwhatcausedherdelay。？Shecontinuedpraying，andfrequentlypressedherhandkerchieftoherface，bywhichD'Artagnanperceivedshewasweeping。？HebeheldherstrikeherbreastwiththecompunctionofaChristianwoman。？Heheardherseveraltimesexclaimasfromawoundedheart:
　　"Pardon！pardon！"？Andassheappearedtoabandonherselfentirelytohergrief，asshethrewherselfdown，almostfainting，exhaustedbycomplaintsandprayers，D'Artagnan，touchedbythisloveforhissomuchregrettedfriends，madeafewstepstowardsthegrave，inordertointerruptthemelancholycolloquyofthepenitentwiththedead。？Butassoonashisstepsoundedonthegravel，theunknownraisedherhead，revealingtoD'Artagnanafaceafloodwithtears，awell—knownface。？ItwasMademoiselledelaValli鑢e！？"Monsieurd'Artagnan！"murmuredshe。
　　"You！"
　　repliedthecaptain，inasternvoice，"youhere！—oh！madame，IshouldbetterhavelikedtoseeyoudeckedwithflowersinthemansionoftheComtedelaF鑢e。？Youwouldhaveweptless—andtheytoo—andI！"
　　"Monsieur！"
　　saidshe，sobbing。
　　"Foritwasyou，"addedthispitilessfriendofthedead，—"itwasyouwhospedthesetwomentothegrave。"
　　"Oh！
　　spareme！"
　　"Godforbid，madame，thatIshouldoffendawoman，orthatIshouldmakeherweepinvain;butImustsaythattheplaceofthemurdererisnotuponthegraveofhervictims。"？Shewishedtoreply。
　　"WhatInowtellyou，"addedhe，coldly，"Ihavealreadytoldtheking。"
　　Sheclaspedherhands。？"Iknow，"
　　saidshe，"IhavecausedthedeathoftheVicomtedeBragelonne。"
　　"Ah！
　　youknowit？"
　　"Thenewsarrivedatcourtyesterday。？Ihavetraveledduringthenightfortyleaguestocomeandaskpardonofthecomte，whomIsupposedtobestillliving，andtoprayGod，onthetombofRaoul，thathewouldsendmeallthemisfortunesIhavemerited，exceptasingleone。？Now，monsieur，Iknowthatthedeathofthesonhaskilledthefather;Ihavetwocrimestoreproachmyselfwith;IhavetwopunishmentstoexpectfromHeaven。"
　　"I
　　willrepeattoyou，mademoiselle，"saidD'Artagnan，"whatM。deBragelonnesaidofyou，atAntibes，whenhealreadymeditateddeath:'Ifprideandcoquetryhavemisledher，Ipardonherwhiledespisingher。？Iflovehasproducedhererror，Ipardonher，butIswearthatnoonecouldhavelovedherasIhavedone。'"
　　"Youknow，"interruptedLouise，"thatofmyloveIwasabouttosacrificemyself;youknowwhetherIsufferedwhenyoumetmelost，dying，abandoned。？Well！neverhaveIsufferedsomuchasnow;becausethenIhoped，desired，—nowIhavenolongeranythingtowishfor;becausethisdeathdragsallmyjoyintothetomb;becauseIcannolongerdaretolovewithoutremorse，andIfeelthathewhomIlove—oh！itisbutjust！—willrepaymewiththetorturesIhavemadeothersundergo。"
　　D'Artagnanmadenoreply;hewastoowellconvincedthatshewasnotmistaken。
　　"Well，then，"addedshe，"dearMonsieurd'Artagnan，donotoverwhelmmeto—day，Iagainimploreyou！？Iamlikethebranchtornfromthetrunk，Inolongerholdtoanythinginthisworld—acurrentdragsmeon，Iknownotwhither。？Ilovemadly，eventothepointofcomingtotellit，wretchthatIam，overtheashesofthedead，andIdonotblushforit—Ihavenoremorseonthisaccount。？Suchloveisareligion。？Only，ashereafteryouwillseemealone，forgotten，disdained;asyouwillseemepunished，asIamdestinedtobepunished，sparemeinmyephemeralhappiness，leaveittomeforafewdays，forafewminutes。？Now，evenatthemomentIamspeakingtoyou，perhapsitnolongerexists。？MyGod！thisdoublemurderisperhapsalreadyexpiated！"
　　Whileshewasspeakingthus，thesoundofvoicesandofhorsesdrewtheattentionofthecaptain。？M。deSaint—AignancametoseekLaValli鑢e。？"Theking，"
　　hesaid，"isapreytojealousyanduneasiness。"？Saint—AignandidnotperceiveD'Artagnan，halfconcealedbythetrunkofachestnut—treewhichshadedthedoublegrave。？LouisethankedSaint—Aignan，anddismissedhimwithagesture。？Herejoinedthepartyoutsidetheinclosure。
　　"Yousee，madame，"saidthecaptainbitterlytotheyoungwoman，—"youseeyourhappinessstilllasts。"
　　Theyoungwomanraisedherheadwithasolemnair。？"Adaywillcome，"saidshe，"whenyouwillrepentofhavingsomisjudgedme。？Onthatday，itisIwhowillprayGodtoforgiveyouforhavingbeenunjusttowardsme。？Besides，Ishallsuffersomuchthatyouyourselfwillbethefirsttopitymysufferings。？Donotreproachmewithmyfleetinghappiness，Monsieurd'Artagnan;itcostsmedear，andIhavenotpaidallmydebt。"？Sayingthesewords，sheagainkneltdown，softlyandaffectionately。
　　"Pardonmethelasttime，myaffiancedRaoul！"saidshe。？"Ihavebrokenourchain;wearebothdestinedtodieofgrief。？Itisthouwhodepartestfirst;
　　fearnothing，Ishallfollowthee。？See，only，thatIhavenotbeenbase，andthatIhavecometobidtheethislastadieu。？TheLordismywitness，Raoul，thatifwithmylifeIcouldhaveredeemedthine，Iwouldhavegiventhatlifewithouthesitation。？Icouldnotgivemylove。？Oncemore，forgiveme，dearest，kindestfriend。"
　　Shestrewedafewsweetflowersonthefreshlysoddedearth;then，wipingthetearsfromhereyes，theheavilystrickenladybowedtoD'Artagnan，anddisappeared。
　　Thecaptainwatchedthedepartureofthehorses，horsemen，andcarriage，thencrossinghisarmsuponhisswellingchest，"Whenwillitbemyturntodepart？"saidhe，inanagitatedvoice。？"Whatisthereleftformanafteryouth，love，glory，friendship，strength，andwealthhavedisappeared？？Thatrock，underwhichsleepsPorthos，whopossessedallIhavenamed;
　　thismoss，underwhichreposeAthosandRaoul，whopossessedmuchmore！"
　　Hehesitatedforamoment，withadulleye;then，drawinghimselfup，"Forward！stillforward！"saidhe。？"Whenitistime，Godwilltellme，asheforetoldtheothers。"
　　Hetouchedtheearth，moistenedwiththeeveningdew，withtheendsofhisfingers，signedhimselfasifhehadbeenattheb閚itierinchurch，andretookalone—everalone—theroadtoParis。
　　Epilogue。？Fouryearsafterthescenewehavejustdescribed，twohorsemen，wellmounted，traversedBloisearlyinthemorning，forthepurposeofarrangingahawkingpartythekinghadarrangedtomakeinthatunevenplaintheLoiredividesintwo，whichbordersontheonesideMeung，ontheotherAmboise。？Thesewerethekeeperoftheking'sharriersandthemasterofthefalcons，personagesgreatlyrespectedinthetimeofLouisXIII。，butratherneglectedbyhissuccessor。？Thehorsemen，havingreconnoiteredtheground，werereturning，theirobservationsmade，whentheyperceivedcertainlittlegroupsofsoldiers，hereandthere，whomthesergeantswereplacingatdistancesattheopeningsoftheinclosures。？Theseweretheking'smusketeers。？Behindthemcame，uponasplendidhorse，thecaptain，knownbyhisrichlyembroidereduniform。？Hishairwasgray，hisbeardturningso。？Heseemedalittlebent，althoughsittingandhandlinghishorsegracefully。？Hewaslookingabouthimwatchfully。
　　"M。
　　d'Artagnandoesnotgetanyolder，"saidthekeeperoftheharrierstohiscolleaguethefalconer;"withtenyearsmoretocarrythaneitherofus，hehastheseatofayoungmanonhorseback。"
　　"Thatistrue，"repliedthefalconer。？"Idon'tseeanychangeinhimforthelasttwentyyears。"
　　Butthisofficerwasmistaken;D'Artagnaninthelastfouryearshadlivedadozen。？Agehadprinteditspitilessclawsateachangleofhiseyes;hisbrowwasbald;hishands，formerlybrownandnervous，weregettingwhite，asifthebloodhadhalfforgottenthem。
　　D'Artagnanaccostedtheofficerswiththeshadeofaffabilitywhichdistinguishessuperiors，andreceivedinturnforhiscourtesytwomostrespectfulbows。
　　"Ah！
　　whataluckychancetoseeyouhere，Monsieurd'Artagnan！"criedthefalconer。
　　"ItisratherIwhoshouldsaythat，messieurs，"repliedthecaptain，"fornowadays，thekingmakesmorefrequentuseofhismusketeersthanofhisfalcons。"
　　"Ah！
　　itisnotasitwasinthegoodoldtimes，"sighedthefalconer。？"Doyouremember，Monsieurd'Artagnan，whenthelatekingflewthepieinthevineyardsbeyondBeaugence？？Ah！dame！youwerenotthecaptainofthemusketeersatthattime，Monsieurd'Artagnan。"
　　Transcriber'snote:
　　"Pie"inthiscasereferstomagpies，thepreyforthefalcons。—JB
　　"Andyouwerenothingbutunder—corporalofthetiercelets，"repliedD'Artagnan，laughing。？"Nevermindthat，itwasagoodtime，seeingthatitisalwaysagoodtimewhenweareyoung。？Goodday，monsieurthekeeperoftheharriers。"
　　"Youdomehonor，monsieurlecomte，"saidthelatter。？D'Artagnanmadenoreply。？Thetitleofcomtehadhardlystruckhim;
　　D'Artagnanhadbeenacomtefouryears。
　　"Areyounotverymuchfatiguedwiththelongjourneyyouhavetaken，monsieurlecapitaine？"continuedthefalconer。？"ItmustbefulltwohundredleaguesfromhencetoPignerol。"
　　"Twohundredandsixtytogo，andasmanytoreturn，"saidD'Artagnan，quietly。
　　"And，"
　　saidthefalconer，"ishewell？"
　　"Who？"
　　askedD'Artagnan。
　　"Why，poorM。Fouquet，"continuedthefalconer，inalowvoice。？Thekeeperoftheharriershadprudentlywithdrawn。
　　"No，"
　　repliedD'Artagnan，"thepoormanfretsterribly;hecannotcomprehendhowimprisonmentcanbeafavor;hesaysthatparliamentabsolvedhimbybanishinghim，andbanishmentis，orshouldbe，liberty。？Hecannotimaginethattheyhadswornhisdeath，andthattosavehislifefromtheclawsofparliamentwastobeundertoomuchobligationtoHeaven。"
　　"Ah！
　　yes;thepoormanhadaclosechanceofthescaffold，"repliedthefalconer;"itissaidthatM。ColberthadgivenorderstothegovernoroftheBastile，andthattheexecutionwasordered。"
　　"Enough！"
　　saidD'Artagnan，pensively，andwithaviewofcuttingshorttheconversation。
　　"Yes，"
　　saidthekeeperoftheharriers，drawingtowardsthem，"M。FouquetisnowatPignerol;hehasrichlydeservedit。？Hehadthegoodfortunetobeconductedtherebyyou;herobbedthekingsufficiently。"
　　D'Artagnanlaunchedatthemasterofthedogsoneofhiscrossestlooks，andsaidtohim，"Monsieur，ifanyonetoldmeyouhadeatenyourdogs'meat，notonlywouldIrefusetobelieveit;butstillmore，ifyouwerecondemnedtothelashortojailforit，Ishouldpityyouandwouldnotallowpeopletospeakillofyou。？Andyet，monsieur，honestmanasyoumaybe，IassureyouthatyouarenotmoresothanpoorM。Fouquetwas。"
　　Afterhavingundergonethissharprebuke，thekeeperoftheharriershunghishead，andallowedthefalconertogettwostepsinadvanceofhimnearertoD'Artagnan。
　　"Heiscontent，"saidthefalconer，inalowvoice，tothemusketeer;"weallknowthatharriersareinfashionnowadays;ifhewereafalconerhewouldnottalkinthatway。"
　　D'Artagnansmiledinamelancholymanneratseeingthisgreatpoliticalquestionresolvedbythediscontentofsuchhumbleinterest。？Heforamomentranoverinhismindthegloriousexistenceofthesurintendant，thecrumblingofhisfortunes，andthemelancholydeaththatawaitedhim;andtoconclude，"DidM。Fouquetlovefalconry？"saidhe。
　　"Oh，passionately，monsieur！"repeatedthefalconer，withanaccentofbitterregretandasighthatwasthefuneralorationofFouquet。
　　D'Artagnanallowedtheill—humoroftheoneandtheregretoftheothertopass，andcontinuedtoadvance。？Theycouldalreadycatchglimpsesofthehuntsmenattheissueofthewood，thefeathersoftheoutriderspassinglikeshootingstarsacrosstheclearings，andthewhitehorsesskirtingtheboskythicketslookinglikeilluminatedapparitions。
　　"But，"
　　resumedD'Artagnan，"willthesportlastlong？？Pray，giveusagoodswiftbird，forIamverytired。？Isitaheronoraswan？"
　　"Both，Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidthefalconer;"butyouneednotbealarmed;thekingisnotmuchofasportsman;hedoesnottakethefieldonhisownaccount，heonlywishestoamusetheladies。"
　　Thewords"toamusetheladies"weresostronglyaccentedtheysetD'Artagnanthinking。
　　"Ah！"
　　saidhe，lookingkeenlyatthefalconer。
　　Thekeeperoftheharrierssmiled，nodoubtwithaviewofmakingitupwiththemusketeer。
　　"Oh！
　　youmaysafelylaugh，"saidD'Artagnan;"Iknownothingofcurrentnews;Ionlyarrivedyesterday，afteramonth'sabsence。？Ileftthecourtmourningthedeathofthequeen—mother。？ThekingwasnotwillingtotakeanyamusementafterreceivingthelastsighofAnneofAustria;buteverythingcomestoanendinthisworld。？Well！
　　thenheisnolongersad？？Somuchthebetter。"
　　"Andeverythingbeginsaswellasends，"saidthekeeperwithacoarselaugh。
　　Transcriber'snote:AnneofAustriadidnotdieuntil1666，andDumassetsthecurrentyearas1665。—JB
　　"Ah！"saidD'Artagnan，asecondtime，—heburnedtoknow，butdignitywouldnotallowhimtointerrogatepeoplebelowhim，—"thereissomethingbeginning，then，itseems？"
　　Thekeepergavehimasignificantwink;butD'Artagnanwasunwillingtolearnanythingfromthisman。
　　"Shallweseethekingearly？"askedheofthefalconer。
　　"Atseveno'clock，monsieur，Ishallflythebirds。"
　　"Whocomeswiththeking？？HowisMadame？？Howisthequeen？"
　　"Better，monsieur。"
　　"Hasshebeenill，then？"
　　"Monsieur，sincethelastchagrinshesuffered，hermajestyhasbeenunwell。"
　　"Whatchagrin？？Youneednotfancyyournewsisold。？Ihavebutjustreturned。"
　　"Itappearsthatthequeen，alittleneglectedsincethedeathofhermother—in—law，complainedtotheking，whoansweredher，—'DoInotsleepathomeeverynight，madame？？Whatmoredoyouexpect？'"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidD'Artagnan，—"poorwoman！？ShemustheartilyhateMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。"
　　"Oh，no！
　　notMademoiselledelaValli鑢e，"repliedthefalconer。
　　"Whothen—
　　"？Theblastofahunting—horninterruptedthisconversation。？Itsummonedthedogsandthehawks。？Thefalconerandhiscompanionssetoffimmediately，leavingD'Artagnanaloneinthemidstofthesuspendedsentence。？Thekingappearedatadistance，surroundedbyladiesandhorsemen。？Allthetroopadvancedinbeautifulorder，atafoot'space，thehornsofvarioussortsanimatingthedogsandhorses。？Therewasananimationinthescene，amirageoflight，ofwhichnothingnowcangiveanidea，unlessitbethefictitioussplendorofatheatricspectacle。？D'Artagnan，withaneyealittle，justalittle，dimmedbyage，distinguishedbehindthegroupthreecarriages。？Thefirstwasintendedforthequeen;itwasempty。？D'Artagnan，whodidnotseeMademoiselledelaValli鑢ebytheking'sside，onlookingaboutforher，sawherinthesecondcarriage。？Shewasalonewithtwoofherwomen，whoseemedasdullastheirmistress。？Onthelefthandoftheking，uponahigh—spiritedhorse，restrainedbyaboldandskillfulhand，shonealadyofmostdazzlingbeauty。？Thekingsmileduponher，andshesmiledupontheking。？Loudlaughterfollowedeverywordsheuttered。
　　"Imustknowthatwoman，"thoughtthemusketeer;"whocanshebe？"？Andhestoopedtowardshisfriend，thefalconer，towhomheaddressedthequestionhehadputtohimself。
　　Thefalconerwasabouttoreply，whentheking，perceivingD'Artagnan，"Ah，comte！"
　　saidhe，"youareamongstusoncemorethen！？WhyhaveInotseenyou？"
　　"Sire，"
　　repliedthecaptain，"becauseyourmajestywasasleepwhenIarrived，andnotawakewhenIresumedmydutiesthismorning。"
　　"Stillthesame，"saidLouis，inaloudvoice，denotingsatisfaction。？"Takesomerest，comte;Icommandyoutodoso。？Youwilldinewithmeto—day。"
　　AmurmurofadmirationsurroundedD'Artagnanlikeacaress。？Everyonewaseagertosalutehim。？DiningwiththekingwasanhonorhismajestywasnotsoprodigalofasHenryIV。hadbeen。？Thekingpassedafewstepsinadvance，andD'Artagnanfoundhimselfinthemidstofafreshgroup，amongwhomshoneColbert。