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extended a hand to Raoul and said：
〃My young friend； all the praises that are given me should
be passed on to the count here； for he has educated me in
everything and it is not his fault that his pupil profited
so little from his instructions。 But he will make it up in
you I am sure。 I like your manner； Raoul； and your
politeness has touched me。〃
Athos was more delighted than can be told。 He looked at
D'Artagnan with an expression of gratitude and then bestowed
on Raoul one of those strange smiles； of which children are
so proud when they receive them。
〃Now；〃 said D'Artagnan to himself； noticing that silent play
of countenance； 〃I am sure of it。〃
〃I hope the accident has been of no consequence？〃
〃They don't yet know； sir； on account of the swelling； but
the doctor is afraid some tendon has been injured。〃
At this moment a little boy； half peasant； half foot…boy；
came to announce supper。
Athos led his guest into a dining…room of moderate size； the
windows of which opened on one side on a garden； on the
other on a hot…house full of magnificent flowers。
D'Artagnan glanced at the dinner service。 The plate was
magnificent； old； and appertaining to the family。 D'Artagnan
stopped to look at a sideboard on which was a superb ewer of
silver。
〃That workmanship is divine！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Yes； a chef d'oeuvre of the great Florentine sculptor；
Benvenuto Cellini；〃 replied Athos。
〃What battle does it represent？〃
〃That of Marignan； just at the point where one of my
forefathers is offering his sword to Francis I。； who has
broken his。 It was on that occasion that my ancestor；
Enguerrand de la Fere； was made a knight of the Order of St。
Michael； besides which； the king； fifteen years afterward；
gave him also this ewer and a sword which you may have seen
formerly in my house； also a lovely specimen of workmanship。
Men were giants in those times；〃 said Athos； 〃now we are
pigmies in comparison。 Let us sit down to supper。 Call
Charles；〃 he added； addressing the boy who waited。
〃My good Charles； I particularly recommend to your care
Planchet； the laquais of Monsieur D'Artagnan。 He likes good
wine； now you have the key of the cellar。 He has slept a
long time on a hard bed； so he won't object to a soft one；
take every care of him； I beg of you。〃 Charles bowed and
retired。
〃You think of everything；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and I thank you
for Planchet； my dear Athos。〃
Raoul stared on hearing this name and looked at the count to
be quite sure that it was he whom the lieutenant thus
addressed。
〃That name sounds strange to you；〃 said Athos； smiling； 〃it
was my nom de guerre when Monsieur D'Artagnan； two other
gallant friends and myself performed some feats of arms at
the siege of La Rochelle； under the deceased cardinal and
Monsieur de Bassompierre。 My friend is still so kind as to
address me by that old and well beloved appellation； which
makes my heart glad when I hear it。〃
〃'Tis an illustrious name；〃 said the lieutenant； 〃and had
one day triumphal honors paid to it。〃
〃What do you mean； sir？〃 inquired Raoul。
〃You have not forgotten St。 Gervais； Athos； and the napkin
which was converted into a banner？〃 and he then related to
Raoul the story of the bastion； and Raoul fancied he was
listening to one of those deeds of arms belonging to days of
chivalry； so gloriously recounted by Tasso and Ariosto。
〃D'Artagnan does not tell you； Raoul；〃 said Athos； in his
turn； 〃that he was reckoned one of the finest swordsmen of
his time a knuckle of iron； a wrist of steel； a sure eye
and a glance of fire； that's what his adversary met with。 He
was eighteen； only three years older than you are； Raoul；
when I saw him set to work； pitted against tried men。〃
〃And did Monsieur D'Artagnan come off the conqueror？〃 asked
the young man； with glistening eye。
〃I killed one man； if I recollect rightly；〃 replied
D'Artagnan； with a look of inquiry directed to Athos；
〃another I disarmed or wounded； I don't remember which。〃
〃Wounded！〃 said Athos； 〃it was a phenomenon of skill。〃
The young man would willingly have prolonged this
conversation far into the night； but Athos pointed out to
him that his guest must need repose。 D'Artagnan would fain
have declared that he was not fatigued； but Athos insisted
on his retiring to his chamber； conducted thither by Raoul。
15
Athos as a Diplomatist。
D'Artagnan retired to bed not to sleep； but to think over
all he had heard that evening。 Being naturally goodhearted；
and having had once a liking for Athos； which had grown into
a sincere friendship； he was delighted at thus meeting a man
full of intelligence and moral strength； instead of a
drunkard。 He admitted without annoyance the continued
superiority of Athos over himself； devoid as he was of that
jealousy which might have saddened a less generous
disposition； he was delighted also that the high qualities
of Athos appeared to promise favorably for his mission。
Nevertheless； it seemed to him that Athos was not in all
respects sincere and frank。 Who was the youth he had adopted
and who bore so striking a resemblance to him？ What could
explain Athos's having re…entered the world and the extreme
sobriety he had observed at table？ The absence of Grimaud；
whose name had never once been uttered by Athos； gave
D'Artagnan uneasiness。 It was evident either that he no
longer possessed the confidence of his friend； or that Athos
was bound by some invisible chain； or that he had been
forewarned of the lieutenant's visit。
He could not help thinking of M。 Rochefort； whom he had seen
in Notre Dame； could De Rochefort have forestalled him with
Athos？ Again； the moderate fortune which Athos possessed；
concealed as it was； so skillfully； seemed to show a regard
for appearances and to betray a latent ambition which might
be easily aroused。 The clear and vigorous intellect of Athos
would render him more open to conviction than a less able
man would be。 He would enter into the minister's schemes
with the more ardor； because his natural activity would be
doubled by necessity。
Resolved to seek an explanation on all these points on the
following day； D'Artagnan； in spite of his fatigue； prepared
for an attack and determined that it should take place after
breakfast。 He determined to cultivate the good…will of the
youth Raoul and； either whilst fencing with him or when out
shooting； to extract from his simplicity some information
which would connect the Athos of old times with the Athos of
the present。 But D'Artagnan at the same time； being a man of
extreme caution； was quite aware what injury he should do
himself； if by any indiscretion or awkwardness he should
betray has manoeuvering to the experienced eye of Athos。
Besides； to tell truth； whilst D'Artagnan was quite disposed
to adopt a subtle course against the cunning of Aramis or
the vanity of Porthos； he was ashamed to equivocate with
Athos； true…hearted； open Athos。 It seemed to him that if
Porthos and Aramis deemed him superior to them in the arts
of diplomacy； they would like him all the better for it； but
that Athos； on the contrary； would despise him。
〃Ah！ why is not Grimaud； the taciturn Grimaud； here？〃
thought D'Artagnan； 〃there are so ma