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〃Here es a young gentleman；〃 said one of them； 〃who seems as if he were going to join the army。〃
〃How do you make that out？〃 inquired Athos。
〃By his manner； sir； and his age； he's the second to…day。〃
〃Has a young man； such as I am； gone through this morning； then？〃 asked Raoul。
〃Faith； yes； with a haughty presence； a fine equipage； such as the son of a noble house would have。〃
〃He will be my panion on the journey； sir；〃 cried Raoul。 〃Alas！ he cannot make me forget what I shall have lost！〃
Thus talking； they traversed the streets； full of people on account of the fete； and arrived opposite the old cathedral； where first mass was going on。
〃Let us alight； Raoul；〃 said Athos。 〃Olivain； take care of our horses and give me my sword。〃
The two gentlemen then went into the church。 Athos gave Raoul some of the holy water。 A love as tender as that of a lover for his mistress dwells； undoubtedly； in some paternal hearts toward a son。
Athos said a word to one of the vergers； who bowed and proceeded toward the basement。
〃e； Raoul；〃 he said； 〃let us follow this man。〃
The verger opened the iron grating that guarded the royal tombs and stood on the topmost step； whilst Athos and Raoul descended。 The sepulchral depths of the descent were dimly lighted by a silver lamp on the lowest step； and just below this lamp there was laid； wrapped in a flowing mantle of violet velvet； worked with fleurs…de…lis of gold； a catafalque resting on trestles of oak。 The young man； prepared for this scene by the state of his own feelings； which were mournful； and by the majesty of the cathedral which he had passed through； descended in a slow and solemn manner and stood with head uncovered before these mortal spoils of the last king； who was not to be placed by the side of his forefathers until his successor should take his place there； and who appeared to abide on that spot； that he might thus address human pride； so sure to be exalted by the glories of a throne： 〃Dust of the earth！ Here I await thee！〃
There was profound silence。
Then Athos raised his hand and pointing to the coffin：
〃This temporary sepulture is；〃 he said； 〃that of a man who was of feeble mind； yet one whose reign was full of great events； because over this king watched the spirit of another man； even as this lamp keeps vigil over this coffin and illumines it。 He whose intellect was thus supreme； Raoul； was the actual sovereign； the other； nothing but a phantom to whom he lent a soul； and yet； so powerful is majesty amongst us； this man has not even the honor of a tomb at the feet of him in whose service his life was worn away。 Remember； Raoul； this！ If Richelieu made the king； by parison； seem small； he made royalty great。 The Palace of the Louvre contains two things the king； who must die； and royalty； which never dies。 The minister； so feared； so hated by his master； has descended into the tomb； drawing after him the king； whom he would not leave alone on earth； lest his work should be destroyed。 So blind were his contemporaries that they regarded the cardinal's death as a deliverance； and I； even I； opposed the designs of the great man who held the destinies of France within the hollow of his hand。 Raoul； learn how to distinguish the king from royalty； the king is but a man； royalty is the gift of God。 Whenever you hesitate as to whom you ought to serve； abandon the exterior； the material appearance for the invisible principle； for the invisible principle is everything。 Raoul； I seem to read your future destiny as through a cloud。 It will be happier； I think； than ours has been。 Different in 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 parison 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； prehended 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； vite； 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 acpany monsieur le vite 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。
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 bee 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 mitted。 It m