Part 23 (1/2)
”And that cavalier, that guest, that nobleman who arrived before she came?”
”It was I, the Co respectfully to the duchess de Chevreuse
The duchess rehter: ”Ah! upon my word,” said she, ”it is very droll, and that mad Marie Michon fared better than she expected Sit down, dear count, and go on with your story”
”At this point I have to accuse myself of a fault,on an importantcompanion asleep In the front roo back on the chair, in all respects worthy of her mistress Her pretty face arrested nized that little Kitty whom our friend Aramis had placed with her In that way I discovered that the char traveler was----”
”Marie Michon!” said Madame de Chevreuse, hastily
”Marie Michon,” continued Athos ”Then I went out of the house; I proceeded to the stable and found my horse saddled and my lackey ready We set forth on our journey”
”And have you never revisited that village?” eagerly asked Madame de Chevreuse
”A year after, ain I found him much preoccupied with an event that he could not at all comprehend A week before he had received, in a cradle, a beautiful little boy three old and a note containing these simple words: '11 October, 1633'”
”It was the date of that strange adventure,” interrupted Madame de Chevreuse
”Yes, but he couldn't understand what itperson and Marie Michon had left his house before his return”
”You must know, monsieur, that Marie Michon, when she returned to France in 1643, iitive she could not take care of it, but on her return she wished to have it near her”
”And what said the abbe?” asked Athos
”That a noblee of it, had answered for its future, and had taken it away”
”That was true”
”Ah! I see! That nobleman was you; it was his father!”
”Hush!+ do not speak so loud, madame; he is there”
”He is there! my son! the son of Marie Michon! But I must see him instantly”
”Take care, madame,” said Athos, ”for he knows neither his father nor his ht hi to make me happy Oh, thanks! sir, thanks!” cried Mada to put it to her lips; ”you have a noble heart”
”I bring hi that in your turn you will do so for him; till now I have watched over his education and I have entleerous and wandering life of party faction To-e into an adventurous affair in which I may be killed Then it will devolve on you to push him on in that world where he is called on to occupy a place”
”Rest assured,” cried the duchess, ”I shall do what I can I have but little influence now, but all that I have shall most assuredly be his As to his title and fortune----”
”As to that, elonne, ive him ten thousand francs a year and the title of vicomte”
”Upon my soul, monsieur,” said the duchess, ”you are a true noble vicomte Where is he?”
”There, in the salon I will have him come in, if you really wish it”
Athos moved toward the door; the duchess held him back
”Is he handsome?” she asked
Athos smiled
”He resembles hisman in
The duchess could not restrain a cry of joy on seeing so handso all that her maternal pride had been able to conceive
”Vicomte, come here,” said Athos; ”the duchess permits you to kiss her hand”
The youth approached with his char down, kissed the hand of the duchess de Chevreuse
”Sir,” he said, turning to Athos, ”was it not in compassion to my timidity that you told me that this lady was the duchess de Chevreuse, and is she not the queen?”
”No, vico hi with pleasure; ”no, unhappily, I am not the queen If I were I should do for you at once the most that you deserve But let us see; whatever Ithat pure brow, ”let us see what profession you wish to follow”
Athos, standing, looked at them both with indescribable pleasure
”Madame,” answered the youth in his sweet voice, ”it seeentleht up byave me reason to hope that at Paris he would present me to some one ould recommend me to the favor of the prince”
”Yes, I understand it well Personally, I am on bad terms with him, on account of the quarrels between Madaueville But the Prince de Marsillac! Yes, indeed, that's the right thing The Prince de Marsillac-- friend to Madaive him a letter to her brother, the prince, who loves her too tenderly not to do what she wishes ily,” said the count; ”but reatest hastethe vicoht in Paris!”
”Do you wish it known that you are interested about him, monsieur le comte?”
”Better for him in future that he should be supposed never to have seen elonne,” said Athos, ”I never speak without reflection”
”Well, co instantly,” interrupted the duchess, ”to send for the Prince de Marsillac, who is happily, in Paris just now What are you going to do this evening?”
”We intend to visit the Abbe Scarron, for whom I have a letter of introduction and at whose house I expect to o there also, for a few minutes,” said the duchess; ”do not quit his salon until you have seen me”