Part 57 (1/2)

”The saddest truth I am entirely ruined”

”Well, but Porthos--this title of duke--what does all that mean?”

”That is the subject of my severest pain; that is the deepest ofin infallible success, drawn Porthos into my conspiracy He threw hith, without knohat he was about; and now he is as much compromised as myself--as completely ruined as I am”

”Good God!” And Athos turned towards Porthos, as s complacently

”I must make you acquainted with the whole Listen to me,” continued Ara the recital, several tireat idea,” said he, ”but a great error”

”For which I am punished, Athos”

”Therefore, I will not tell you ht”

”Tell it, nevertheless”

”It is a crime”

”A capital crime; I know it is _Lese majeste_”

”Porthos! poor Porthos!”

”What would you advise me to do? Success, as I have told you, was certain”

”M Fouquet is an honest ed hirinds the world! and which is one day stopped by a grain of sand which has fallen, no one kno, between its wheels”

”Say by a dia is done How do you think of acting?”

”I a will never believe that that worthy man has acted innocently He never can believe that Porthos has thought he was serving the king, whilst acting as he has done His head would pay my fault It shall not,him ahither?”

”To Belle-Isle, at first That is an ie Then, I have the sea, and a vessel to pass over into England, where I have land?”

”Yes, or else in Spain, where I have still more”

”But, our excellent Porthos! you ruin hi will confiscate all his property”

”All is provided for I knohen once in Spain, to reconcile myself with Louis XIV, and restore Porthos to favor”

”You have credit, seely, Aramis!” said Athos, with a discreet air

”Much; and at the service of my friends”

These words were accompanied by a warm pressure of the hand

”Thank you,” replied the comte