Part 56 (1/2)
”That is just,” said Philippe, with resignation; ”I aht,” said Fouquet, in a low voice, to theas the other”
”More so!” replied D'Artagnan ”He wanted only you anda Duchy
Araranted them by Fouquet, did honor to the French cavalry by their speed Porthos did not clearly understand on what kind of mission he was forced to display soon furiously, he, Porthos, spurred on in the saues between theanize a sort of post arrangeate Aramis discreetly
”Hush!+” replied the latter, ”know only that our fortune depends on our speed”
As if Porthos had still been the musketeer, without a sou or a _ic word ”fortune” always h_ for those who have nothing; it h
”I shall beto hi after his own fashi+on, as Porthos's horse passed hih his brain were on fire; the activity of the body had not yet succeeded in subduing that of thepassion, ruhts of the unhappy prelate His countenance exhibited visible traces of this rude cohway to abandon himself to every impression of the moment, Aramis did not fail to swear at every start of his horse, at every inequality in the road Pale, at tiain dry and icy, he flogged his horses till the blood streamed from their sides Porthos, whose doroaned at this Thus traveled they on for eight long hours, and then arrived at Orleans It was four o'clock in the afternoon Ara showed pursuit to be a possibility It would be without exa him and Porthos should be furnished with relays sufficient to perfor pursuit, which was not at all itives were five hours in advance of their pursuers
Ara a little rest, but that to continue would ues ues devoured, and no one, not even D'Artagnan, could overtake the eneed, therefore, to inflict upon Porthos the pain of ain They rode on till seven o'clock in the evening, and had only one post more between thereatly There were no horses at the post The prelate asked himself by what infernalhinized chance as a deity, who found a cause for every accident, preferred believing that the refusal of the postmaster, at such an hour, in such a country, was the consequence of an order e short the king-ht But at the moment he was about to fly into a passion, so as to procure either a horse or an explanation, he was struck with the recollection that the Cohborhood
”I a,” said he; ”I do not want horses for a whole stage Find o and pay a visit to a nobleman of my acquaintance who resides near this place”
”What nobleman?” asked the postmaster
”M le Comte de la Fere”
”Oh!” replied the post with respect, ”a very worthy noblereeable to hied by M le Duc de Beaufort”
”Indeed!” said Aramis, much disappointed
”Only,” continued the poste I have, I will harness an old blind horse who has still his legs left, and peradventure will draw you to the house of M le Comte de la Fere”
”It is worth a louis,” said Aramis
”No, monsieur, such a ride is worth no more than a crown; that is what M Grimaud, the comte's intendant, always pays e; and I should not wish the Co imposed on one of his friends”
”As you please,” said Ara the Coive you a louis for your idea”
”Oh! doubtless,” replied the postht And he hie In the ined he had discovered a clew to the secret, and he felt pleased, because a visit to Athos, in the first place, proave hiood supper The e ready, ordered one of his ers to La Fere Porthos took his seat by the side of Ara in his ear, ”I understand”
”Aha!” said Araoing, on the part of the king, to reat proposal to Athos”
”Pooh!” said Ara about it,” added the worthy Porthos, endeavoring to reseat hi, I shall guess”