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LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE

406 LOUISE DB LA VALLIERB. She pressed her lips upon it, and fell fainting to the ground. "Olivian," said Raoul, "take this young lady and bear her to the carriage which is waiting for her at the door." As Olivian lifted her up, Raoul made a movement as if to dart toward La Valliere, in order to give her a first and last kiss, but, stopping abruptly, he said: "No! she is not mine. I am not a thief, like the king of France." And he returned to his room, while the lackey carried La Valliere, still fainting, to the carriage. CHAPTER LXII. WHAT RAOUL HAD GUESSED. As soon as Raoul had quitted Athos and D'Artagnan, and as soon as the two exclamations which had followed his departure had escaped their lips, they found themselves face to face alone. Athos immediately resumed the earnest ajr that he had assumed at D'Artagnan's arrival. "Well," he said, "what have you come to announce to me, my friend?" "I?" inquired D'Artagnan. "Yes; I do not see you in this way without some reason for it," said Athos, smiling. "The deuce!" said D'Artagnan. "I will place you at your ease. The king is furious, I suppose?" "Well, I must say he is not altogether pleased." "And you have come to arrest me, then?" "My dear friend, you have hit the very mark." "Oh, I expected it. I am quite ready to go with you.** "Deuce take it!" said D'Artagnan, "what a hurry you are in." "I am afraid of delaying you," said Athos, smiling. "I have plenty of time. Are you not curious, besides, to know how things went on between the king and me?" "If you will be good enough to tell me, I will listen with the greatest of pleasure," said Athos, pointing out to D'Ar^ tagnan a large chair, into which the latter threw himself, assuming the easiest possible attitude. "Well, I will do so willingly enough," continued D*Ar-