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396 LOUISE DE LA VaLLIERE. Athos smiled, as he said: "Yes, I have seen him/' "Ah, indeed! you were not aware, then, that the comte had seen his majesty?" inquired Raoul, half-reassured. "Yes, indeed, quite so." "In that case, I am less uneasy," said Raoul. "Uneasy — and about what?" inquired Athos. "Forgive me, monsieur," said Raoul, "but knowing so well the regard and affection you have for me, I was afraid you might possibly have expressed somewhat plainly to his majesty my own sufferings and your indignation, and that the king had, consequently " "And that the king had, consequently?" repeated D'Ar- tagnan; "well, go on, finish what you were going to say." "I have now to ask you to forgive me. Monsieur d'Ar- tagnan," said Raoul. "For a moment, and I cannot help confessing it, I trembled lest you had come here, not as Monsieur d'Artagnan, but as captain of the musketeers." "You are mad, my poor boy I" cried D'Artagnan, with a burst of laughter, in which an"^ exact observer might perhaps have wished to have heard a little more frankness. "So much the better," said Raoul. "Yes, mad; and do you know what I would advise you to do?" "Tell me, monsieur, for the advice is sure to be good as it comes from you." "Very good, then; I advise you, after your long journey from England, after your visit to Monsieur de Guiche, after your visit to madame, after your visit to Porthos, after your journey to Vincennes, I advise you, I say, to take a few hours' rest; go and lie down, sleep for a dozen hours, and when you wake up, go and ride one of my horses until you have tired him to death." And drawing Raoul toward him, he embraced him as he would have done his own child. Athos did the like; only it was very visible that the kiss was more affectionate, and the pressure of his lips still warmer with the father than with the friend. The young man again looked at both his companions, endeavoring to penetrate their real meaning, or their real feelings, with the utmost strength of^ his intel- ligence; but his look was powerless upon the smiling coun- tenance of the musketeer, or upon the calm and composed features of the Comte de la Fere. "Where are you going, Raoul?" inquired the latter, see- ing that De Bragelonne was preparing to go out.