LOUISE DB LA VALLIERE. 415 other object than that of shaking hands with you, and of presenting the comte to you, of whom you spoke so highly that evening a: the palace, when " "Cei'tainly, certainly — Monsieur le Comte de la Fere.'* "Precisely.'* "The comte is welcome, I am sure.'* "And he will sup with you two, I suppose, while I, un- fortunate dog that I am, must run off on a matter of duty. Oh! what happy things you are, compared to myself," he added, sighing as loud as Porthos might have done. "And so you are going away, then?" said Aramis and Baisemeaux together, with the same expression of delighted surprise, the tone of which was immediately noticed by D'Artagnan. "I leave you in my place,*' he said, "a noble and excel- lent guest." And he touched Athos gently on the shoulder, who, astonished also, could not prevent exhibiting his surprise a little; a tone which was noticed by Aramis only, for M. de Baisemeaux was not quite equal to the three friends in point of intelligence. "What, are you going to leave us?" resumed the governor. "I shall only be about an hour, or an hour and a half. I will return in time for dessert." "Oh, we will wait for you I" said Baisemeaux. "No, no; that would be really disobliging me." "You will be sure to return, though?" said Athos with an expression of doubt. "Most certainly," he said, pressing his friend's hand confidentially; and he added, in a low voice, "Wait for me, Athos; be cheerful and lively as possible, and, above all, don't allude even to business affairs, for Heaven's sake." And with a renewed pressure of the hand, he seemed to warn the comte of the necessity of keeping perfectly dis- creet and impenetrable. Baisemeaux led D'Artagnan to the gate. Aramis, with many frieudly protestations of de- light, sat down by Athos, determined to make bini speak; but Athos possessed every virtue and quality to the very highest degree. If necessity had required it, he would have been the finest orator in the world, but on other occasions he would rather have died than have opened his lips. Ten minutes after D'Artagnan's departure, the three gentlemen sat down to the table, which was covered with the most substantial display of gastronomic luxury. Large joints, exquisite dishes, preserves, the greatest variety of
