Part 162 (1/2)

D'Artagnan seized the hands of Athos with an anguish difficult to be described

”And what do you believe?' His voice was stifled by sobs

”I believe everything,” said Athos biting his lips till the blood sprang to avoid sighing

”d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!” cried Mme Bonacieux, ”where art thou? Do not leave nan released the hands of Athos which he still held clasped in both his own, and hastened to her Her beautiful face was distorted with agony; her glassy eyes had no longer their sight; a convulsive shuddering shook her whole body; the sweat rolled from her brow

”In the name of heaven, run, call! Aramis! Porthos! Call for help!”

”Useless!” said Athos, ”useless! For the poison which SHE pours there is no antidote”

”Yes, yes! Help, help!”all her strength, she took the head of the young man between her hands, looked at him for an instant as if her whole soul passed into that look, and with a sobbing cry pressed her lips to his

”Constance, Constance!” cried d'Artagnan

A sigh escaped from the mouth of Mnan That sigh was the soul, so chaste and so loving, which reascended to heaven

D'Artagnan pressed nothing but a corpse in his ar man uttered a cry, and fell by the side of his mistress as pale and as icy as herself

Porthos wept; Aran of the cross

At that moment a man appeared in the doorway, almost as pale as those in the chamber He looked around hinan in a swoon He appeared just at that reat catastrophes

”I was not deceived,” said he; ”here is Monsieur d'Artagnan; and you are his friends, Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis”

The persons whose naer with astonishment It seemed to all three that they knew him

”Gentlemen,” resumed the newcomer, ”you are, as I am, in search of a woman who,” added he, with a terrible smile, ”must have passed this way, for I see a corpse”

The three friends reh the voice as well as the countenance reminded them of someone they had seen, they could not remember under what circuer, ”since you do not recognize a man who probably owes his life to you twice, I must name myself I am Lord de Winter, brother-in-law of THAT WOMAN”

The three friends uttered a cry of surprise

Athos rose, and offering him his hand, ”Be welcome, my Lord,” said he, ”you are one of us”

”I set out five hours after her from Portsmouth,” said Lord de Winter

”I arrived three hours after her at Boulogne I missed her by twenty minutes at St O about at randonized Monsieur d'Artagnan I called to you, but you did not answer ued to go at the same pace with yours And yet it appears, in spite of all your diligence, you have arrived too late”