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〃As for me； I am quite sure that after turning out all my pockets and emptying my drawers I shall not find ten louis at home。 Fortunately Lord de Winter is rich。〃
〃Lord de Winter is ruined for the moment； Oliver Cromwell has annexed his ine resources。〃
〃Now is the time when Baron Porthos would be useful。〃
〃Now it is that I regret D'Artagnan。〃
〃Let us entice them away。〃
〃This secret； Aramis； does not belong to us； take my advice； then； and let no one into our confidence。 And moreover； in taking such a step we should appear to be doubtful of ourselves。 Let us regret their absence to ourselves for our own sakes； but not speak of it。〃
〃You are right； but what are you going to do until this evening？ I have two things to postpone。〃
〃And what are they？〃
〃First； a thrust with the coadjutor； whom I met last night at Madame de Rambouillet's and whom I found particular in his remarks respecting me。〃
〃Oh； fie a quarrel between priests； a duel between allies！〃
〃What can I do； friend？ he is a bully and so am I； his cassock is a burden to him and I imagine I have had enough of mine； in fact； there is so much resemblance between us that I sometimes believe he is Aramis and I am the coadjutor。 This kind of life fatigues and oppresses me； besides； he is a turbulent fellow； who will ruin our party。 I am convinced that if I gave him a box on the ear； such as I gave this morning to the little citizen who splashed me； it would change the appearance of things。〃
〃And I； my dear Aramis；〃 quietly replied Athos； 〃I think it would only change Monsieur de Retz's appearance。 Take my advice； leave things just as they are； besides； you are neither of you now your own masters； he belongs to the Fronde and you to the queen of England。 So； if the second matter which you regret being unable to attend to is not more important than the first 〃
〃Oh！ that is of the first importance。〃
〃Attend to it； then； at once。〃
〃Unfortunately； it is a thing that I can't perform at any time I choose。 It was arranged for the evening and no other time will serve。〃
〃I understand；〃 said Athos smiling； 〃midnight。〃
〃About that time。〃
〃But； my dear fellow； those are things that bear postponement and you must put it off； especially with so good an excuse to give on your return 〃
〃Yes； if I return。〃
〃If you do not return； how does it concern you？ Be reasonable。 e； you are no longer twenty years old。〃
〃To my great regret； mordieu！ Ah； if I were but twenty years old！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Athos； 〃doubtless you would mit great follies！ But now we must part。 I have one or two visits to make and a letter yet to write。 Call for me at eight o'clock or shall I wait supper for you at seven？〃
〃That will do very well；〃 said Aramis。 〃I have twenty visits to make and as many letters to write。〃
They then separated。 Athos went to pay a visit to Madame de Vendome； left his name at Madame de Chevreuse's and wrote the following letter to D'Artagnan：
〃Dear Friend； I am about to set off with Aramis on important business。 I wished to make my adieux to you； but time does not permit。 Remember that I write to you now to repeat how much affection for you I still cherish。
〃Raoul is gone to Blois and is ignorant of my departure； watch over him in my absence as much as you possibly can； and if by chance you receive no news of me three months hence； tell him to open a packet which he will find addressed to him in my bronze casket at Blois； of which I send you now the key。
〃Embrace Porthos from Aramis and myself。 Adieu； perhaps farewell。〃
At the hour agreed upon Aramis arrived； he was dressed as an officer and had the old sword at his side which he had drawn so often and which he was more than ever ready to draw。
〃By…the…bye；〃 he said； 〃I think that we are decidedly wrong to depart thus； without leaving a line for Porthos and D'Artagnan。〃
〃The thing is done； dear friend；〃 said Athos； 〃I foresaw that and have embraced them both from you and myself。〃
〃You are a wonderful man； my dear count；〃 said Aramis； 〃you think of everything。〃
〃Well； have you made up your mind to this journey？〃
〃Quite； and now that I reflect about it； I am glad to leave Paris at this moment。〃
〃And so am I；〃 replied Athos； 〃my only regret is not having seen D'Artagnan； but the rascal is so cunning； he might have guessed our project。〃
When supper was over Blaisois entered。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃here is Monsieur d'Artagnan's answer。〃
〃But I did not tell you there would be an answer； stupid！〃 said Athos。
〃And I set off without waiting for one； but he called me back and gave me this；〃 and he presented a little leather bag； plump and giving out a golden jingle。
Athos opened it and began by drawing forth a little note； written in these terms：
〃My dear Count； When one travels； and especially for three months； one never has a superfluity of money。 Now； recalling former times of mutual distress； I send you half my purse； it is money to obtain which I made Mazarin sweat。 Don't make a bad use of it； I entreat you。
〃As to what you say about not seeing you again； I believe not a word of it； with such a heart as yours and such a sword one passes through the valley of the shadow of death a dozen times； unscathed and unalarmed。 Au revoir； not farewell。
〃It is unnecessary to say that from the day I saw Raoul I loved him； nevertheless； believe that I heartily pray that I may not bee to him a father； however much I might be proud of such a son。
〃Your
〃D'Artagnan。
〃P。S。 Be it well understood that the fifty louis which I send are equally for Aramis as for you for you as Aramis。〃
Athos smiled； and his fine eye was dimmed by a tear。 D'Artagnan； who had loved him so tenderly； loved him still； although a Mazarinist。
〃There are the fifty louis； i'faith；〃 said Aramis； emptying the purse on the table； all bearing the effigy of Louis XIII。 〃Well； what shall you do with this money； count？ Shall you keep it or send it back？〃
〃I shall keep it； Aramis； and even though I had no need of it I still should keep it。 What is offered from a generous heart should be