Part 132 (1/2)
”Will you take an arquebus?”
”Thank you”
”Order what horse you like to be saddled”
”The one I rode yesterday, on co from Belle-Isle”
”So be it: use the horse as your own”
Aranan had chosen saddled
D'Artagnan followed the servant charged with the execution of this order When arrived at the door, the servant drew on one side to allow M d'Artagnan to pass; and at thatof the brow gave the intelligent spy to understand that all should be given to D'Artagnan he wished D'Artagnan got into the saddle, and Aramis heard the steps of his horse on the pavement An instant after, the servant returned
”Well?” asked the bishop
”Monseigneur, he has followed the course of the canal, and is going towards the sea,” said the servant
”Very well!” said Ara all suspicion, hastened towards the ocean, constantly hoping to see in the Landes, or on the beach, the colossal profile of Porthos He persisted in fancying he could trace a horse's steps in every puddle Soun This illusion lasted three hours; during two of which he went forward in search of his friend--in the last he returned to the house
”Wefor nan was mistaken He no more found Porthos at the palace than he had found hi for hi very much concerned
”Did nan?” cried he, as soon as he caught sight of the musketeer
”No; did you send any one after me?”
”I am deeply concerned, my friend, deeply, to have induced you to make such a useless search; but, about seven o'clock, the almoner of Saint-Patern ca away, and who, being unwilling to disturb anybody at the palace, had charged hi M Getard would play hie of thetide to make a tour of Belle-Isle”
”But tell ues of sea, I should think”
”There are full six,” said Aramis
”That makes it less probable still”
”Therefore, my friend,” said Aramis, with one of his blandest smiles, ”Goliath is in the stable, well pleased, I will answer for it, that Porthos is no longer on his back” In fact, the horse had been brought back from the relay by the direction of the prelate, fronan appeared as well satisfied with as possible with the explanation He entered upon a part of dissireed perfectly with the suspicions that arose ly in histhe Do particularly at the Dominican, whose jolly, fat face pleased hi and sumptuous; excellent Spanish wine, fine Morbihan oysters, exquisite fish from the mouth of the Loire, enorame from the nan ate , unless it ater After the repast,--
”You offered nan
”I did”
”Lend it ?”