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country to the ports of the Loire； came out of a byroad full of ruts and turned on that which the two horsemen were following。 A man carrying a long switch with a nail at the end of it； with which he urged on his slow team； was walking with the cart。
〃Ho！ friend；〃 cried Planchet。
〃What's your pleasure； gentlemen？〃 replied the peasant； with a purity of accent peculiar to the people of that district and which might have put to shame the cultured denizens of the Sorbonne and the Rue de l'Universite。
〃We are looking for the house of Monsieur de la Fere；〃 said D'Artagnan。
The peasant took off his hat on hearing this revered name。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃the wood that I am carting is his； I cut it in his copse and I am taking it to the chateau。〃
D'Artagnan determined not to question this man； he did not wish to hear from another what he had himself said to Planchet。
〃The chateau！〃 he said to himself； 〃what chateau？ Ah； I understand！ Athos is not a man to be thwarted； he； like Porthos； has obliged his peasantry to call him ‘my lord；' and to dignify his pettifogging place by the name of chateau。 He had a heavy hand dear old Athos after drinking。〃
D'Artagnan； after asking the man the right way； continued his route； agitated in spite of himself at the idea of seeing once more that singular man whom he had so truly loved and who had contributed so much by advice and example to his education as a gentleman。 He checked by degrees the speed of his horse and went on； his head drooping as if in deep thought。
Soon； as the road turned； the Chateau de la Valliere appeared in view； then； a quarter of a mile beyond； a white house； encircled in sycamores； was visible at the farther end of a group of trees； which spring had powdered with a snow of flowers。
On beholding this house； D'Artagnan； calm as he was in general； felt an unusual disturbance within his heart so powerful during the whole course of life are the recollections of youth。 He proceeded； nevertheless； and came opposite to an iron gate； ornamented in the taste of the period。
Through the gate was seen kitchen…gardens； carefully attended to； a spacious courtyard； in which neighed several horses held by valets in various liveries； and a carriage； drawn by two horses of the country。
〃We are mistaken；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃This cannot be the establishment of Athos。 Good heavens！ suppose he is dead and that this property now belongs to some one who bears his name。 Alight； Planchet； and inquire； for I confess that I have scarcely courage so to do。〃
Planchet alighted。
〃Thou must add；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃that a gentleman who is passing by wishes to have the honor of paying his respects to the te de la Fere； and if thou art satisfied with what thou hearest； then mention my name！〃
Planchet； leading his horse by the bridle； drew near to the gate and rang the bell； and immediately a servant…man with white hair and of erect stature； notwithstanding his age； presented himself。
〃Does Monsieur le te de la Fere live here？〃 asked Planchet。
〃Yes； monsieur； it is here he lives；〃 the servant replied to Planchet； who was not in livery。
〃A nobleman retired from service； is he not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And who had a lackey named Grimaud？〃 persisted Planchet； who had prudently considered that he couldn't have too much information。
〃Monsieur Grimaud is absent from the chateau for the time being；〃 said the servitor； who； little used as he was to such inquiries； began to examine Planchet from head to foot。
〃Then；〃 cried Planchet joyously； 〃I see well that it is the same te de la Fere whom we seek。 Be good enough to open to me； for I wish to announce to monsieur le te that my master； one of his friends； is here； and wishes to greet him。〃
〃Why didn't you say so？〃 said the servitor； opening the gate。 〃But where is your master？〃
〃He is following me。〃
The servitor opened the gate and walked before Planchet； who made a sign to D'Artagnan。 The latter； his heart palpitating more than ever； entered the courtyard without dismounting。
Whilst Planchet was standing on the steps before the house he heard a voice say：
〃Well； where is this gentleman and why do they not bring him here？〃
This voice； the sound of which reached D'Artagnan； reawakened in his heart a thousand sentiments； a thousand recollections that he had forgotten。 He vaulted hastily from his horse； whilst Planchet； with a smile on his lips； advanced toward the master of the house。
〃But I know you； my lad；〃 said Athos； appearing on the threshold。
〃Oh； yes； monsieur le te； you know me and I know you。 I am Planchet Planchet； whom you know well。〃 But the honest servant could say no more； so much was he overe by this unexpected interview。
〃What； Planchet； is Monsieur d'Artagnan here？〃
〃Here I am； my friend； dear Athos！〃 cried D'Artagnan； in a faltering voice and almost staggering from agitation。
At these words a visible emotion was expressed on the beautiful countenance and calm features of Athos。 He rushed toward D'Artagnan with eyes fixed upon him and clasped him in his arms。 D'Artagnan； equally moved； pressed him also closely to him； whilst tears stood in his eyes。 Athos then took him by the hand and led him into the drawing…room； where there were several people。 Every one arose。
〃I present to you；〃 he said； 〃Monsieur le Chevalier D'Artagnan； lieutenant of his majesty's musketeers； a devoted friend and one of the most excellent； brave gentlemen that I have ever known。〃
D'Artagnan received the pliments of those who were present in his own way； and whilst the conversation became general he looked earnestly at Athos。
Strange！ Athos was scarcely aged at all！ His fine eyes； no longer surrounded by that dark line which nights of dissipation pencil too infallibly； seemed larger； more liquid than ever。 His face； a little elongated； had gained in calm dignity what it had lost in feverish excitement。 His hand； always wonderfully beautiful and strong； was set off by a ruffle of lace； like certain hands by Titian and Vandyck。 He was less stiff than formerly。 His long； dark hair； softly powdered here and there with silver tendrils； fell elegantly over his shoulders in wavy curls； his voice was still youthful； as if belonging to a Hercules of twenty…five； and his magnificent teeth； which he had preserved white and sound； gave an indescribable charm to his smile。
Meanwhile the guests； seeing that the two friends were longing to be alone； prepared to depart； when a noise of dogs barking resounded through the courtyard and many persons said at the same moment：
〃Ah！ 'tis Raoul； who is e home。〃
Athos； as the name of Raoul was pronounced； looked inquisitively at D'Artagnan； in order to see if any curiosity was painted on his face。 But D'Artagnan was still in confusion and turned around almost mechanically when a fine young man of fifteen years of age； dressed simply； but in perfect taste； entered the room； raising； as he came； his hat； adorned with a long plume of scarlet feathers。
Nevertheless； D'Artagnan was struck by the appearance of this new personage。 It seemed to explain to him the change in Athos； a resemblance between the boy and the man explained the mystery of this regenerated existence。 He remained listening and gazing。
〃Here you are； home again； Raoul；〃 said the te。
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied the youth； with deep respect； 〃and I have performed the mission that you gave me。〃
〃But what's the matter； Raoul？〃 said Athos； very anxiously。 〃You are pale and agitated。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied the young man； 〃it is on account of an accident which has happened to our little neighbor。〃
〃To Mademoiselle de la Valliere？〃 asked Athos； quickly。
〃What is it？〃 cried many persons present。
〃She was walking with her nurse Marceline； in the place where the woodmen cut the wood； when； passing on horseback； I stopped。 She saw me also and in trying to jump from the end of a pile of wood on which she had mounted； the poor child fell and was not able to rise again。 I fear that she has badly sprained her ankle。〃
〃Oh； heavens！〃 cried Athos。 〃And her mother； Madame de Saint…Remy； have they yet told her of it？〃
〃No； sir； Madame de Saint…Remy is at Blois with the Duchess of Orleans。 I am afraid that what was first done was unskillful； if not worse than useless。 I am e； sir； to ask your advice。〃
〃Send directly to Blois； Raoul； or； rather； take horse and ride immediately yourself。〃
Raoul bowed。
〃But where is Louise？〃 asked the te。
〃I have brought her here； sir； and I have deposited her in charge of Charlotte； who； till better advice es； has bathed the foot in cold well…water。〃
The guests now all took leave of Athos； excepting the old Duc de Barbe； who； as an old friend of the family of La Valliere； went to see little Louise and offered to take her to Blois in his carriage。
〃You are right； sir；〃 said Athos。 〃She will be the sooner with her mother。 As for you； Raoul； I am sure it is your fault； some giddiness or folly。〃
〃No； sir； I assure you；〃 muttered Raoul； 〃it is not。〃
〃Oh； no； no； I declare it is not！〃 cried the young girl； while Raoul turned pale at the idea of hi