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LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. 427 generals — what am I saying? — I mean among the fifty- francs, like the princes, and you would have supped every evening as you have done to-night." "Allow me, monsieur," said Athos, "to prefer my own simpler fare." And then, turning to D'Artagnan, he said, "Let us go, my dear friend. Shall I have that greatest of all pleasures forme — that of having you as my companion?" "To the city gate only," replied D'Artagnan, "after which I will tell you what I told the king. I am on duty." "And you, my dear Aramis," said Athos, smiling, "will you accompany me? La Fere is on the road to Vannes." "Thank you, my dear friend," said Aramis, "but I have an appointment in Paris this evening, and I cannot leave without very serious interests suffering by my absence." "In that case," said Athos, "I must say adieu, and take my leave of you. My dear Monsieur de Baisemeaux, I have to thank you exceedingly for your kind and friendly dis- position toward me, and particularly for the specimen you have given me of the usual fare of the Bastile." And, having embraced Aramis, and shaken hands with M. de Baisemeaux, and having received their wishes for an agreeable journey from them both, Athos set off with D'Artagnan. While the denoue7nent of the scene of the Palais Royal was taking place at the Bastile, let us relate what was going on at the lodgings of Athos and De Bragelonne. Grimaud, as we have seen, had accompanied his master to Paris; and, as we have said, he was present when Athos went out; he had observed D'Artagnan gnaw the corners of his mustache; he had seen his master get into the carriage; he had nar- rowly examined both their countenances, and he had known them both for a sufficiently long period to read and under- stand, through the mask of their impassibility, that some- thing serious was the matter. As soon as Athos had gone he began to reflect; he then, and then only, remembered the strange manner in which Athos had taken leave of him, the embarrassment — imperceptible for anyone else but him- self — of the master whose ideas were, to him, so clear and defined, and the expression of whose wishes was so precise. He knew that Athos had taken nothing with him but the clothes he had on him at the time; and yet he seemed to fancy that Athos had not left for an hour merely, or even for a day. A long absence was signified by the manner in which he pronounced the word "Adieu." All these cir- cumstances recurred to his mind, with feelings of deep