Part 133 (1/2)
and he read:--
”Dear Friend,--An affair of the ent nature calls ain before I set out; but I lose that hope in thinking that you are going, no doubt, to remain two or three days at Belle-Isle, with our dear Porthos Amuse yourself as well as you can; but do not atteainst hiiven even to Athos, in his most brilliant and best days Adieu, dear friend; believe that I regret greatly not having better, and for a longer time, profited by your excellent conan ”I am tricked Ah! blockhead, brute, triple fool that I ah last Oh, duped, duped like a monkey, cheated with an empty nutshell!” And with a hearty blow bestowed upon the nose of the s valet de chambre, he ood a trotter, was not equal to present circunan therefore took the post, and chose a horse which he soon caused to deht hand, that deer are not the swiftest aninan makes all Speed, Porthos snores, and Aramis counsels
From thirty to thirty-five hours after the events we have just related, as M Fouquet, according to his custo in the cabinet of his house at Saint-Mande, hich we are already acquainted, a carriage, drawn by four horses steaallop This carriage was, probably, expected; for three or four lackeys hastened to the door, which they opened Whilst M Fouquet rose froot painfully out of the carriage, descending with difficulty the three steps of the door, leaning upon the shoulders of the lackeys He had scarcely uttered his na up to the perron, and disappeared in the vestibule This man went to inform his master; but he had no occasion to knock at the door: Fouquet was standing on the threshold
”Monseigneur, the Bishop of Vannes,” said he
”Very well!” replied hisover the banister of the staircase, of which Ara to ascend the first steps,--
”Ah, dear friend!” said he, ”you, so soon!”
”Yes; I, myself, monsieur! but bruised, battered, as you see”
”Oh!him his arm, on which Aramis leant, whilst the servants drew back respectfully
”Bah!” replied Ara was that I should get here, and here I a the door of the cabinet behind Aramis and himself
”Are we alone?”
”Yes, perfectly”
”No one observes us?--no one can hear us?”
”Be satisfied; nobody”
”Is M du Vallon arrived?”
”Yes”
”And you have received my letter?”
”Yes The affair is serious, apparently, since it necessitates your attendance in Paris, at a ent elsewhere”
”You are right, it could not be more serious”
”Thank you! thank you! What is it about? But, for God's sake! before anything else, take tihten reat pain But, for Heaven's sake, think nothing about , when he delivered the letter to you?”
”No; I heard a great noise; I went to the ; I saw at the foot of the perron a sort of horseman of marble; I went down, he held the letter out to me, and his horse fell down dead”