394 LOUISE DE LA VALLIESE.
- 'Yes/* replied Athos.
"And she?"
- 'I have not seen her.'*
'*No; but the king spoke to you about her. What did he say?" He says that she loves him." "Oh! you see — you see, monsieur!" said the young man, with a gesture of despair. "Eaoul," resumed the oomte, "I told the king, believe me, all that you yourself could possibly have said; and I believe I did so in becoming language, though suflBciently firm." "And what did you say to him, monsieur?" "I told him, Eaoul, that everything was now at an end between him and ourselves; that you would never serve him again. I told him that I, too, should remain aloof. Noth- ing further remains for me, then, but to be satisfied of one thing." "What is that, monsieur?" "Whether you have determined to adopt any steps." "Any steps? Eegarding what?" "With reference to your disappointed affection, and — to your ideas of vengeance." "Oh, monsieur, with regard to my affection, I shall, per- haps, some day or other, succeed in tearing it from my heart; I trust I shall do so, aided by Heaven's merciful help, and your wise exhortations. As far as vengeance is concerned, it occurred to me only when under the influence of an evil thought, for I could not revenge myself upon the one who is actually guilty; I have, therefore, already re- nounced every idea of revenge." "And so you no longer think of seeking a quarrel with Monsieur de St. Aignan?" "No, monsieur; I sent him a challenge; if Monsieur de St. Aignan accepts it, I will maintain it; if he does not take it up, I will leave it where it is." "And La Valliere?" "You cannot, I know, have seriously thought that I should dream of revenging myself upon a Avoman?" replied Raoul, with a smile so sad that a tear started even to the eyes of his father, who had so many times in the course of his life been bowed beneath his own sorrows and those of others. He held out his hand to Raoul, which the latter seized most eagerly.
