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your fate from us； you will have a king without a minister；
whom you may serve； love； respect。 Should the king prove a
tyrant； for power begets tyranny； serve； love； respect
royalty； that Divine right； that celestial spark which makes
this dust still powerful and holy； so that we gentlemen；
nevertheless； of rank and condition are as nothing in
comparison with the cold corpse there extended。〃
〃I shall adore God； sir；〃 said Raoul； 〃respect royalty and
ever serve the king。 And if death be my lot； I hope to die
for the king； for royalty and for God。 Have I； sir；
comprehended your instructions？〃
Athos smiled。
〃Yours is a noble nature。〃 he said； 〃here is your sword。〃
Raoul bent his knee to the ground。
〃It was worn by my father； a loyal gentleman。 I have worn it
in my turn and it has sometimes not been disgraced when the
hilt was in my hand and the sheath at my side。 Should your
hand still be too weak to use this sword； Raoul； so much the
better。 You will have the more time to learn to draw it only
when it ought to be used。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Raoul； putting the sword to his lips as he
received it from the count； 〃I owe you everything and yet
this sword is the most precious gift you have yet made me。 I
will wear it； I swear to you； as a grateful man should do。〃
〃'Tis well； arise； vicomte； embrace me。〃
Raoul arose and threw himself with emotion into the count's
arms。
〃Adieu；〃 faltered the count； who felt his heart die away
within him； 〃adieu； and think of me。〃
〃Oh！ for ever and ever！〃 cried the youth； 〃oh！ I swear to
you； sir； should any harm befall me； your name will be the
last name that I shall utter； the remembrance of you my last
thought。〃
Athos hastened upstairs to conceal his emotion； and regained
with hurried steps the porch where Olivain was waiting with
the horses。
〃Olivain；〃 said Athos； showing the servant Raoul's
shoulder…belt； 〃tighten the buckle of the sword； it falls
too low。 You will accompany monsieur le vicomte till Grimaud
rejoins you。 You know； Raoul； Grimaud is an old and zealous
servant； he will follow you。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered Raoul。
〃Now to horse； that I may see you depart！〃
Raoul obeyed。
〃Adieu； Raoul；〃 said the count； 〃adieu； my dearest boy！〃
〃Adieu； sir； adieu； my beloved protector。〃
Athos waved his hand he dared not trust himself to speak：
and Raoul went away； his head uncovered。 Athos remained
motionless； looking after him until he turned the corner of
the street。
Then the count threw the bridle of his horse into the hands
of a peasant； remounted the steps； went into the cathedral；
there to kneel down in the darkest corner and pray。
23
One of the Forty Methods of Escape of the Duc de Beaufort。
Meanwhile time was passing on for the prisoner； as well as
for those who were preparing his escape； only for him it
passed more slowly。 Unlike other men； who enter with ardor
upon a perilous resolution and grow cold as the moment of
execution approaches； the Duc de Beaufort； whose buoyant
courage had become a proverb； seemed to push time before him
and sought most eagerly to hasten the hour of action。 In his
escape alone； apart from his plans for the future； which； it
must be admitted； were for the present sufficiently vague
and uncertain； there was a beginning of vengeance which
filled his heart。 In the first place his escape would be a
serious misfortune to Monsieur de Chavigny； whom he hated
for the petty persecutions he owed to him。 It would be a
still worse affair for Mazarin； whom he execrated for the
greater offences he had committed。 It may be observed that
there was a proper proportion in his sentiments toward the
governor of the prison and the minister toward the
subordinate and the master。
Then Monsieur de Beaufort； who was so familiar with the
interior of the Palais Royal； though he did not know the
relations existing between the queen and the cardinal；
pictured to himself； in his prison； all that dramatic
excitement which would ensue when the rumor should run from
the minister's cabinet to the chamber of Anne of Austria：
〃Monsieur de Beaufort has escaped！〃 Whilst saying that to
himself； Monsieur de Beaufort smiled pleasantly and imagined
himself already outside； breathing the air of the plains and
the forests； pressing a strong horse between his knees and
crying out in a loud voice； 〃I am free！〃
It is true that on coming to himself he found that he was
still within four walls； he saw La Ramee twirling his thumbs
ten feet from him； and his guards laughing and drinking in
the ante…chamber。 The only thing that was pleasant to him in
that odious tableau such is the instability of the human
mind was the sullen face of Grimaud； for whom he had at
first conceived such a hatred and who now was all his hope。
Grimaud seemed to him an Antinous。 It is needless to say
that this transformation was visible only to the prisoner's
feverish imagination。 Grimaud was still the same； and
therefore he retained the entire confidence of his superior；
La Ramee； who now relied upon him more than he did upon
himself； for； as we have said； La Ramee felt at the bottom
of his heart a certain weakness for Monsieur de Beaufort。
And so the good La Ramee made a festivity of the little
supper with his prisoner。 He had but one fault he was a
gourmand； he had found the pates good； the wine excellent。
Now the successor of Pere Marteau had promised him a pate of
pheasant instead of a pate of fowl； and Chambertin wine
instead of Macon。 All this； set off by the presence of that
excellent prince； who was so good…natured； who invented so
droll tricks against Monsieur de Chavigny and so fine jokes
against Mazarin； made for La Ramee the approaching Pentecost
one of the four great feasts of the year。 He therefore
looked forward to six o'clock with as much impatience as the
duke himself。
Since daybreak La Ramee had been occupied with the
preparations； and trusting no one but himself； he had
visited personally the successor of Pere Marteau。 The latter
had surpassed himself； he showed La Ramee a monstrous pate；
ornamented with Monsieur de Beaufort's coat…of…arms。 It was
empty as yet； but a pheasant and two partridges were lying
near it。 La Ramee's mouth watered and he returned to the
duke's chamber rubbing his hands。 To crown his happiness；
Monsieur de Chavigny had started on a journey that morning
and in his absence La Ramee was deputy…governor of the
chateau。
As for Grimaud； he seemed more sullen than ever。
In the course of the forenoon Monsieur de Beaufort had a
game of tennis with La Ramee； a sign from Grimaud put him on
the alert。 Grimaud； going in advance； followed the course
which they were to take in the evening。 The game was played
in an inclosure called the little court of the chateau； a
place quite deserted except when Monsieur de Beaufort was
playing； and even then the precaution seemed superfluous；
the wall was so high。
There were three gates to open before reaching the
inclosure； each by a different key。 When they arrived
Grimaud went carelessly and sat down by a loophole in the
wall； letting his legs dangle outside。 It was evident that
there the rope ladder was to be attached。
This manoeuvre； transpar