£08 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. (( (" 'And I am to arrest him, wherever he may be? 'Yes; but try that he may be at his own house. If he should have started for his own estate, leave Paris at once, and arrest him on his way thither.' "I bowed; but as I did not move, he said:
- ' Well, what are you waiting for?'
- ' 'For the order to arrest the comte, signed by yourself.'
"The king seemed annoyed; for, in point of fact, it was the exercise of a fresh act of authority; a repetition of the arbitrary act, if, indeed, it is to be considered as such. He took hold of his pen slowly, and evidently in no very good temper, and then he wrote, 'Order for Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan, captain of my musketeers, to arrest Monsieur le Comte de la Tore, wherever he is to be found. He then turned toward me, but I was looking on without moving a muscle of my face. In all probability, he thought he perceived something like bravado in my tranquil manner for he signed hurriedly, and then, handing me the order, he said: " 'Go, monsieur.' "I obeyed, and here I am." Athos pressed his friend's hand. "Well, let us set off," he said. "Oh, surely," said D'Artagnan, "you must have some trifling matters to arrange before you leave your apartments in this manner?" "I— not at all." "Why not?" "Why, you know, D'Artagnan, that I have always been a very simple traveler on this earth, ready to go to the end of the world by the order of my sovereign, ready to quit it at the summons of my Maker. What does a man who is thus prepared require in such a case? — a portmanteau, or a shroud? I am ready at this moment, as I have always been, my dear friend, and can accompany you at once." "But De Bragelonne " "I have brought him up in the same principles I laid down for my own guidance; and you observed that, as soon as he perceived you, he guessed, that very moment, the motive of your visit. We have thrown him off his guard for a moment; but do not be uneasy, he is suflBciently pre- {)ared for my disgrace to be too much alarmed at it. So, et us go." "Very well; 'let us go,' " said D'Artagnan quietly. "As I broke my sword in the king's presence, and threw
