Part 83 (1/2)

”Do!” replied Fouquet, without relaxing his speed

D'Artagnan seized a pistol and cocked it, hoping that the double click of the spring would stop his enemy ”You have pistols likewise,” said he, ”turn and defend yourself”

Fouquet did turn round at the noise, and looking D'Artagnan full in the face, opened, with his right hand, the part of his dress which concealed his body, but he did not even touch his holsters There were not more than twenty paces between the two

”_Mordioux!_” said D'Artagnan, ”I will not assassinate you; if you will not fire upon me, surrender! what is a prison?”

”I would rather die!” replied Fouquet; ”I shall suffer less”

D'Artagnan, drunk with despair, hurled his pistol to the ground ”I will take you alive!” said he; and by a prodigy of skill which this incomparable horseman alone was capable, he threw his horse forward to within ten paces of the white horse; already his hand was stretched out to seize his prey

”Kill me! kill me!” cried Fouquet, ”'twould be more humane!”

”No! alive--alive!” murmured the captain

At this moment his horse ain took the lead It was an unheard-of spectacle, this race between two horses which now only kept alive by the will of their riders Itbetween his knees To the furious gallop had succeeded the fast trot, and that had sunk to what ht be scarcely called a trot at all

But the chase appeared equally warnan, quite in despair, seized his second pistol, and cocked it

”At your horse! not at you!” cried he to Fouquet And he fired The animal was hit in the quarters--he ed forward At that nan's horse fell dead

”I aht the musketeer; ”I am a miserable wretch! for pity's sake, M Fouquet, throw me one of your pistols, that I may blow out my brains!” But Fouquet rode away

”For nan; ”that which you will not do at this moment, I myself will do within an hour, but here, upon this road, I should die bravely; I should die esteemed; do me that service, M Fouquet!”

M Fouquet an to run after his enemy Successively he threay his hat, his coat, which eot between his legs as he was running The sword in his hand itself became too heavy, and he threw it after the sheath The white horse began to rattle in its throat; D'Artagnan gained upon hi walk--the foanantowards Fouquet, and seized hi in a broken, breathless voice, ”I arrest you in the king's name! blow my brains out, if you like; we have both done our duty”

Fouquet hurled far froht have seized, and dis from his horse--”I am your prisoner, monsieur,” said he; ”will you take my arm, for I see you are ready to faint?”

”Thanks!”fro to blackness around hith Fouquet hastened to the brink of the river, dipped some water in his hat, hich he bathed the temples of the nan raised hi eye He beheld Fouquet on his knees, with his wet hat in his hand, s upon him with ineffable sweetness ”You are not off, then?” cried he ”Oh,of royalty, in heart, in soul, is not Louis of the Louvre, or Philippe of Sainte-Marguerite; it is you, proscribed, condele error, M d'Artagnan”

”What, in the name of Heaven, is that?”

”I should have had you for a friend! But how shall we return to Nantes?

We are a great way frolooood horse! Mount, Monsieur d'Artagnan; I alk till you have rested a little”

”Poor beast! and wounded, too?” said the o, I tell you; I know hiet up, and ride slowly”

”We can try,” said the captain But they had scarcely charged the anier, and then with a great effort walked a few ain, and sank down dead by the side of the black horse, which he had just o on foot--destiny wills it so--the ill be pleasant,”