Part 22 (1/2)
20 One of Marie Michon's Adventures
Whilst these projects were being formed by the Duc de Beaufort and Grielonne were entering Paris by the Rue du Faubourg Saint Marcel
They stopped at the sign of the Fox, in the Rue du Vieux Colombier, a tavern known for many years by Athos, and asked for two bedrooms
”Youto present you to soendoith the endurance of Athos, who seemed to be made of iron, he would have preferred a bath in the river Seine of which he had heard so much, and afterward his bed; but the Coht but to obey
”By the way,” said Athos, ”take some pains with your toilet, Raoul; I want you to be approved”
”I hope, sir,” replied the youth, se for ement to Louise?”
Athos, in his turn, sh it is to a lady that I a to present you, and I a man looked at the count with a certain uneasiness, but at a smile from Athos he was quickly reassured
”How old is she?” inquired the Vicoelonne
”My dear Raoul, learn, once for all, that that is a question which is never asked When you can find out a woe by her face, it is useless to ask it; when you cannot do so, it is indiscreet”
”Is she beautiful?”
”Sixteen years ago she was deeraceful woman in France”
This reply reassured the vico beauty a year before he was born could not be the subject of any scheme for him He retired to his toilet When he reappeared, Athos received him with the same paternal snan, but a more profound tenderness for Raoul was now visibly ilance at his feet, hands and hair--those three marks of race The youth's dark hair was neatly parted and hung in curls, for a sort of dark frame around his face; such was the fashi+on of the day Gloves of gray kid,the hat, well displayed the forant hand; whilst his boots, siloves, confined feet small as those of a boy twelve years old
”Come,” murmured Athos, ”if she is not proud of him, she must be hard to please”
It was three o'clock in the afternoon The two travelers proceeded to the Rue Saint Donificent hotel, surmounted with the arms of De Luynes
”'Tis here,” said Athos
He entered the hotel and ascended the front steps, and addressing a footrand livery, asked if the duchess de Chevreuse was visible and if she could receive the Coe to say, that, though the duchess had not the honor of knowing Monsieur de la Fere, she would receive hih a long succession of apartth before a closed door Athos elonne to remain where he was
The footman opened the door and announced Monsieur le Comte de la Fere
Madame de Chevreuse, whose name appears so often in our story ”The Three Musketeers,” without her actually having appeared in any scene, was still a beautiful woh about forty-four or forty-five years old, she ht have passed for thirty-five She still had her rich fair hair; her large, aniue, so often closed by the blindness of love She had still her nymph-like form, so that when her back was turned she still was not unlike the girl who had jumped, with Anne of Austria, over the moat of the Tuileries in 1563 In all other respects she was the sainality as to make them proverbial for eccentricity in her fa with blue da upon a garden; and reclined upon a sofa, her head supported on the rich tapestry which covered it She held a book in her hand and her arm was supported by a cushi+on
At the footman's announcement she raised herself a little and peeped out, with some curiosity
Athos appeared
He was dressed in violet-tinted velvet, trimmed with silk of the same color His shoulder-knots were of burnished silver, his old nor embroidery on it; a simple plume of violet feathers adorned his hat; his boots were of black leather, and at his girdle hung that sith a nificent hilt that Porthos had so often ad collar of his shi+rt, and lace fell also over the top of his boots
In his whole person he bore such an iree, that Madame de Chevreuse half rose fron to sit down near her
Athos bowed and obeyed The footn
”Madame,” he said to the duchess, ”I have had the boldness to presentknown to you; it has succeeded, since you deign to receive me I have now the boldness to ask you for an interview of half an hour”
”I grant it, racious smile
”But that is not all, , I am aware The interview for which I ask is of us two alone, and I very earnestly wish that it may not be interrupted”
”I am not at home to any one,” said the duchess de Chevreuse to the footo”
The foot which these two persons, who at first sight recognized each other so clearly as of noble race, examined each other without embarrassment on either side
The duchess was the first to speak
”Well, sir, I a with impatience to hear what you wish to say towith admiration”
”Sir,” said Mada to knoho to the court, doubtless, yet I have never seen you at court Have you, by any chance, been in the Bastile?”
”No, madame, I have not; but very likely I am on the road to it”
”Ah! then tellwith you upon your journey,” replied the duchess, with the gayety which , ”for I a myself still more”
”Who I am, madame? My name has been mentioned to you--the Comte de la Fere; you do not know that name I once bore another, which you knew, but you have certainly forgotten it”
”Tell it me, sir”
”Formerly,” said the count, ”I was Athos”
Madame de Chevreuse looked astonished The naotten, but mixed up and confused with ancient recollections
”Athos?” said she; ”wait a moment”
And she placed her hands on her brow, as if to force the fugitive ideas it contained to concentration in a moment
”Shall I help you, madame?” asked Athos