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narrowed down to four on each side。
Naturally the three principal warriors approached each other。
They simultaneously uttered a cry。
〃Aramis！〃
〃Athos！〃
〃D'Artagnan！〃
They fell into each other's arms。
〃And it seems that we are fighting against each other； my children；〃
said the Count de la Fere； mournfully。
〃How singular！〃 exclaimed Aramis and D'Artagnan。
〃Let us stop this fratricidal warfare；〃 said Athos。
〃We will！〃 they exclaimed together。
〃But how to disband our followers？〃 queried D'Artagnan。
Aramis winked。 They understood each other。 〃Let us cut 'em down！〃
They cut 'em down。 Aramis killed three。 D'Artagnan three。 Athos
three。
The friends again embraced。 〃How like old times；〃 said Aramis。 〃How
touching！〃 exclaimed the serious and philosophic Count de la Fere。
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The galloping of hoofs caused them to withdraw from each other's
embraces。 A gigantic figure rapidly approached。
〃The innkeeper of Provins！〃 they cried； drawing their swords。
〃Perigord； down with him！〃 shouted D'Artagnan。
〃Stay；〃 said Athos。
The gigantic figure was beside them。 He uttered a cry。
〃Athos； Aramis； D'Artagnan！〃
〃Porthos！〃 exclaimed the astonished trio。
〃The same。〃 They all fell in each other's arms。
The Count de la Fere slowly raised his hands to Heaven。 〃Bless you！
Bless us； my children！ However different our opinion may be in regard to
politics； we have but one opinion in regard to our own merits。 Where can
you find a better man than Aramus？〃
〃Than Porthos？〃 said Aramis。
〃Than D'Artagnan？〃 said Porthos。
〃Than Athos？〃 said D'Artagnan。
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CHAPTER III。
SHOWING HOW THE KING OF FRANCE WENT UP A
LADDER。
The King descended into the garden。 Proceeding cautiously along the
terraced walk； he came to the wall immediately below the windows of
Madame。 To the left were two windows； concealed by vines。 They opened
into the apartments of La Valliere。
The King sighed。
〃It is about nineteen feet to that window；〃 said the King。 〃If I had a
ladder about nineteen feet long； it would reach to that window。 This is
logic。〃
Suddenly the King stumbled over something。 〃St。 Denis！〃 he
exclaimed； looking down。 It was a ladder； just nineteen feet long。
The King placed it against the wall。 In so doing； he fixed the lower end
upon the abdomen of a man who lay concealed by the wall The man did
not utter a cry or wince。 The King suspected nothing。 He ascended the
ladder。
The ladder was too short。 Louis the Grand was not a tall man。 He was
still two feet below the window。
〃Dear me！〃 said the King。
Suddenly the ladder was lifted two feet from below。 This enabled the
King to leap in the window。 At the farther end of the apartment stood a
young girl； with red hair and a lame leg。 She was trembling with emotion。
〃Louise！〃
〃The King！〃
〃Ah； my God； mademoiselle。〃
〃Ah； my God； sire。〃
But a low knock at the door interrupted the lovers。 The King uttered a
cry of rage； Louise one of despair。
The door opened and D'Artagnan entered。
〃Good evening； sire；〃 said the musketeer。
The King touched a bell。 Porthos appeared in the doorway。
〃Good evening； sire。〃
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〃Arrest M。 D'Artagnan。〃
Porthos looked at D'Artagnan； and did not move。
The King almost turned purple with rage。 He again touched the bell。
Athos entered。
〃Count； arrest Porthos and D'Artagnan。〃
The Count de la Fere glanced at Porthos and D'Artagnan； and smiled
sweetly。
〃Sacre！ Where is Aramis？〃 said the King； violently。
〃Here； sire；〃 and Aramis entered。
〃Arrest Athos； Porthos； and D'Artagnan。〃
Aramis bowed and folded his arms。
〃Arrest yourself！〃
Aramis did not move。
The King shuddered and turned pale。 〃Am I not King of France？〃
〃Assuredly； sire； but we are also severally； Porthos； Aramis；
D'Artagnan； and Athos。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the King。
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃What does this mean？〃
〃It means； your Majesty；〃 said Aramis； stepping forward； 〃that your
conduct as a married man is highly improper。 I am an Abbe； and I object to
these improprieties。 My friends here； D'Artagnan； Athos； and Porthos；
pure…minded young men； are also terribly shocked。 Observe； sire； how
they blush！〃
Athos； Porthos； and D'Artagnan blushed。 〃Ah；〃 said the King；
thoughtfully。 〃You teach me a lesson。 You are devoted and noble young
gentlemen； but your only weakness is your excessive modesty。 From this
moment I make you all Marshals and Dukes； with the exception of
Aramis。〃
〃And me； sire？〃 said Aramis。
〃You shall be an Archbishop！〃
The four friends looked up and then rushed into each other's arms。 The
King embraced Louise de la Valliere； by way of keeping them company。 A
pause ensued。 At last Athos spoke：
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〃Swear； my children； that； next to yourselves； you will respect the
King of France； and remember that 'Forty years after' we will meet again。〃
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THE DWELLER OF THE
THRESHOLD。
BY SIR EDD LTTN BLWR。
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BOOK I。
THE PROMPTINGS OF THE IDEAL。
It was noon。 Sir Edward had stepped from his brougham and was
proceeding on foot down the Strand。 He was dressed with his usual
faultless taste； but in alighting from his vehicle his foot had slipped； and a
small round disk of conglomerated soil； which instantly appeared on his
high arched instep； marred the harmonious glitter of his boots。 Sir Edward
was fastidious。 Casting his eyes around； at a little distance he perceived
the stand of