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that Athos； on the contrary； would despise him。
〃Ah！ why is not Grimaud； the taciturn Grimaud； here？〃
thought D'Artagnan； 〃there are so many things his silence
would have told me； with Grimaud silence was another form of
eloquence！〃
There reigned a perfect stillness in the house。 D'Artagnan
had heard the door shut and the shutters barred； the dogs
became in their turn silent。 At last a nightingale； lost in
a thicket of shrubs； in the midst of its most melodious
cadences had fluted low and lower into stillness and fallen
asleep。 Not a sound was heard in the castle； except of a
footstep up and down； in the chamber above as he
supposed； the bedroom of Athos。
〃He is walking about and thinking；〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃but
of what？ It is impossible to know； everything else might be
guessed； but not that。〃
At length Athos went to bed； apparently； for the noise
ceased。
Silence and fatigue together overcame D'Artagnan and sleep
overtook him also。 He was not； however； a good sleeper。
Scarcely had dawn gilded his window curtains when he sprang
out of bed and opened the windows。 Somebody； he perceived；
was in the courtyard； moving stealthily。 True to his custom
of never passing anything over that it was within his power
to know； D'Artagnan looked out of the window and perceived
the close red coat and brown hair of Raoul。
The young man was opening the door of the stable。 He then；
with noiseless haste； took out the horse that he had ridden
on the previous evening； saddled and bridled it himself and
led the animal into the alley to the right of the
kitchen…garden； opened a side door which conducted him to a
bridle road； shut it after him； and D'Artagnan saw him pass
by like a dart； bending； as he went； beneath the pendent
flowery branches of maple and acacia。 The road； as
D'Artagnan had observed； was the way to Blois。
〃So！〃 thought the Gascon 〃here's a young blade who has
already his love affair； who doesn't at all agree with Athos
in his hatred to the fair sex。 He's not going to hunt； for
he has neither dogs nor arms； he's not going on a message；
for he goes secretly。 Why does he go in secret？ Is he afraid
of me or of his father？ for I am sure the count is his
father。 By Jove！ I shall know about that soon； for I shall
soon speak out to Athos。〃
Day was now advanced； all the noises that had ceased the
night before reawakened； one after the other。 The bird on
the branch； the dog in his kennel； the sheep in the field；
the boats moored in the Loire； even； became alive and vocal。
The latter； leaving the shore； abandoned themselves gaily to
the current。 The Gascon gave a last twirl to his mustache； a
last turn to his hair； brushed； from habit； the brim of his
hat with the sleeve of his doublet； and went downstairs。
Scarcely had he descended the last step of the threshold
when he saw Athos bent down toward the ground； as if he were
looking for a crown…piece in the dust。
〃Good…morning； my dear host；〃 cried D'Artagnan。
〃Good…day to you； have you slept well？〃
〃Excellently； Athos； but what are you looking for？ You are
perhaps a tulip fancier？〃
〃My dear friend； if I am； you must not laugh at me for being
so。 In the country people alter； one gets to like； without
knowing it； all those beautiful objects that God causes to
spring from the earth； which are despised in cities。 I was
looking anxiously for some iris roots I planted here； close
to this reservoir； and which some one has trampled upon this
morning。 These gardeners are the most careless people in the
world； in bringing the horse out to the water they've
allowed him to walk over the border。〃
D'Artagnan began to smile。
〃Ah！ you think so； do you？〃
And he took his friend along the alley； where a number of
tracks like those which had trampled down the flowerbeds；
were visible。
〃Here are the horse's hoofs again； it seems； Athos；〃 he said
carelessly。
〃Yes； indeed； the marks are recent。〃
〃Quite so；〃 replied the lieutenant。
〃Who went out this morning？〃 Athos asked； uneasily。 〃Has any
horse got loose？〃
〃Not likely；〃 answered the Gascon； 〃these marks are
regular。〃
〃Where is Raoul？〃 asked Athos； 〃how is it that I have not
seen him？〃
〃Hush！〃 exclaimed D'Artagnan； putting his finger on his
lips； and he related what he had seen； watching Athos all
the while。
〃Ah； he's gone to Blois； the poor boy 〃
〃Wherefore？〃
〃Ah； to inquire after the little La Valliere； she has
sprained her foot； you know。〃
〃You think he has？〃
〃I am sure of it；〃 said Athos； 〃don't you see that Raoul is
in love？〃
〃Indeed！ with whom with a child seven years old？〃
〃Dear friend； at Raoul's age the heart is so expansive that
it must encircle one object or another； fancied or real。
Well； his love is half real； half fanciful。 She is the
prettiest little creature in the world； with flaxen hair；
blue eyes； at once saucy and languishing。〃
〃But what say you to Raoul's fancy？〃
〃Nothing I laugh at Raoul； but this first desire of the
heart is imperious。 I remember； just at his age； how deep in
love I was with a Grecian statue which our good king； then
Henry IV。； gave my father； insomuch that I was mad with
grief when they told me that the story of Pygmalion was
nothing but a fable。〃
〃It is mere want of occupation。 You do not make Raoul work；
so he takes his own way of employing himself。〃
〃Exactly； therefore I think of sending him away from here。〃
〃You will be wise to do so。〃
〃No doubt of it； but it will break his heart。 So long as
three or four years ago he used to adorn and adore his
little idol； whom he will some day fall in love with in
right earnest if he remains here。 The parents of little La
Valliere have for a long time perceived and been amused at
it； now they begin to look concerned。〃
〃Nonsense！ However； Raoul must be diverted from this fancy。
Send him away or you will never make a man of him。〃
〃I think I shall send him to Paris。〃
〃So！〃 thought D'Artagnan； and it seemed to him that the
moment for attack had arrived。
〃Suppose；〃 he said； 〃we roughly chalk out a career for this
young man。 I wish to consult you about some thing。〃
〃Do so。〃
〃Do you think it is time for us to enter the service？〃
〃But are you not still in the service you； D'Artagnan？〃
〃I mean active service。 Our former life； has it still no
attractions for you？ would you not be happy to begin anew in
my society and in that of Porthos； the exploits of our
youth？〃
〃Do you propose to me to do so； D'Artagnan？〃
〃Decidedly and honestly。〃
〃On whose side？〃 asked Athos； fixing his clear； benevolent
glance on the countenance of the Gascon。
〃Ah； devil take it； you speak in earnest 〃
〃And must have a definite answer。 Listen； D'Artagnan。 There
is but one person； or rather； one cause； to whom a man like
me can be useful that of the king。〃
〃Exactly；〃 answered the musketeer。
〃Yes； but let us understand each other；〃 returned Athos；
seriously。 〃If by the cause of the king you mean that of
Monsieur de Mazarin； we do not understand each other。〃
〃I don't say exactly；〃 answered the Gascon； confused。
〃Come； D'Artagnan； don't let us play a sidelong game； your
hesitation； your evasion； tells me at once on whose side you
are； for that party no one dares openly to recruit；