AthosandRaoulwanderedforsometimeroundthefencesofthegardenwithoutfindinganyonetointroducethemtothegovernor。？Theyendedbymakingtheirownwayintothegarden。？Itwasatthehottesttimeoftheday。？Eachlivingthingsoughtitsshelterundergrassorstone。？Theheavensspreadtheirfieryveilsasiftostifleallnoises，toenvelopallexistences;therabbitunderthebroom，theflyundertheleaf，sleptasthewavedidbeneaththeheavens。？Athossawnothinglivingbutasoldier，upontheterracebeneaththesecondandthirdcourt，whowascarryingabasketofprovisionsonhishead。？Thismanreturnedalmostimmediatelywithouthisbasket，anddisappearedintheshadeofhissentry—box。？Athossupposedhemusthavebeencarryingdinnertosomeone，and，afterhavingdoneso，returnedtodinehimself。？Allatoncetheyheardsomeonecallout，andraisingtheirheads，perceivedintheframeofthebarsofthewindowsomethingofawhitecolor，likeahandthatwaswavedbackwardsandforwards—somethingshining，likeapolishedweaponstruckbytheraysofthesun。？Andbeforetheywereabletoascertainwhatitwas，aluminoustrain，accompaniedbyahissingsoundintheair，calledtheirattentionfromthedonjontotheground。？Aseconddullnoisewasheardfromtheditch，andRaoulrantopickupasilverplatewhichwasrollingalongthedrysand。？Thehandthathadthrownthisplatemadeasigntothetwogentlemen，andthendisappeared。？AthosandRaoul，approachingeachother，commencedanattentiveexaminationofthedustyplate，andtheydiscovered，incharacterstraceduponthebottomofitwiththepointofaknife，thisinscription:
　　"IamthebrotherofthekingofFrance—aprisonerto—day—amadmanto—morrow。？FrenchgentlemenandChristians，praytoGodforthesoulandthereasonofthesonofyouroldrulers。"
　　TheplatefellfromthehandsofAthoswhilstRaoulwasendeavoringtomakeoutthemeaningofthesedismalwords。？Atthesamemomenttheyheardacryfromthetopofthedonjon。？QuickaslightningRaoulbentdownhishead，andforceddownthatofhisfatherlikewise。？Amusket—barrelglitteredfromthecrestofthewall。？Awhitesmokefloatedlikeaplumefromthemouthofthemusket，andaballwasflattenedagainstastonewithinsixinchesofthetwogentlemen。
　　"Cordieu！"criedAthos。？"What，arepeopleassassinatedhere？？Comedown，cowardsasyouare！"
　　"Yes，comedown！"criedRaoul，furiouslyshakinghisfistatthecastle。
　　Oneoftheassailants—hewhowasabouttofire—repliedtothesecriesbyanexclamationofsurprise;and，ashiscompanion，whowishedtocontinuetheattack，hadre—seizedhisloadedmusket，hewhohadcriedoutthrewuptheweapon，andtheballflewintotheair。？AthosandRaoul，seeingthemdisappearfromtheplatform，expectedtheywouldcomedowntothem，andwaitedwithafirmdemeanor。？Fiveminuteshadnotelapsed，whenastrokeuponadrumcalledtheeightsoldiersofthegarrisontoarms，andtheyshowedthemselvesontheothersideoftheditchwiththeirmusketsinhand。？Attheheadofthesemenwasanofficer，whomAthosandRaoulrecognizedastheonewhohadfiredthefirstmusket。？Themanorderedthesoldiersto"makeready。"
　　"Wearegoingtobeshot！"criedRaoul;"but，swordinhand，atleast，letusleaptheditch！？Weshallkillatleasttwoofthesescoundrels，whentheirmusketsareempty。"？And，suitingtheactiontotheword，Raoulwasspringingforward，followedbyAthos，whenawell—knownvoiceresoundedbehindthem，"Athos！？Raoul！"
　　"D'Artagnan！"
　　repliedthetwogentlemen。
　　"Recoverarms！？Mordioux！"criedthecaptaintothesoldiers。？"IwassureIcouldnotbemistaken！"
　　"Whatisthemeaningofthis？"askedAthos。？"What！werewetobeshotwithoutwarning？"
　　"ItwasIwhowasgoingtoshootyou，andifthegovernormissedyou，Ishouldnothavemissedyou，mydearfriends。？HowfortunateitisthatIamaccustomedtotakealongaim，insteadoffiringattheinstantIraisemyweapon！？I
　　thoughtIrecognizedyou。？Ah！mydearfriends，howfortunate！"？AndD'Artagnanwipedhisbrow，forhehadrunfast，andemotionwithhimwasnotfeigned。
　　"How！"
　　saidAthos。？"Andisthegentlemanwhofiredatusthegovernorofthefortress？"
　　"Inperson。"
　　"Andwhydidhefireatus？？Whathavewedonetohim？"
　　"Pardieu！？Youreceivedwhattheprisonerthrewtoyou？"
　　"Thatistrue。"
　　"Thatplate—theprisonerhaswrittensomethingonit，hashenot？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Goodheavens！？Iwasafraidhehad。"
　　AndD'Artagnan，withallthemarksofmortaldisquietude，seizedtheplate，toreadtheinscription。？Whenhehadreadit，afearfulpallorspreadacrosshiscountenance。？"Oh！goodheavens！"repeatedhe。？"Silence！—Hereisthegovernor。"
　　"Andwhatwillhedotous？？Isitourfault？"
　　"Itistrue，then？"saidAthos，inasubduedvoice。？"Itistrue？"
　　"Silence！？Itellyou—silence！？Ifheonlybelievesyoucanread;ifheonlysuspectsyouhaveunderstood;Iloveyou，mydearfriends，Iwouldwillinglybekilledforyou，but—"
　　"But—"saidAthosandRaoul。
　　"ButIcouldnotsaveyoufromperpetualimprisonmentifIsavedyoufromdeath。？Silence，then！？Silenceagain！"
　　Thegovernorcameup，havingcrossedtheditchuponaplankbridge。
　　"Well！"
　　saidhetoD'Artagnan，"whatstopsus？"
　　"YouareSpaniards—youdonotunderstandawordofFrench，"saidthecaptain，eagerly，tohisfriendsinalowvoice。
　　"Well！"
　　repliedhe，addressingthegovernor，"Iwasright;thesegentlemenaretwoSpanishcaptainswithwhomIwasacquaintedatYpres，lastyear;theydon'tknowawordofFrench。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidthegovernor，sharply。？"Andyettheyweretryingtoreadtheinscriptionontheplate。"
　　D'Artagnantookitoutofhishands，effacingthecharacterswiththepointofhissword。
　　"How！"
　　criedthegovernor，"whatareyoudoing？？Icannotreadthemnow！"
　　"Itisastatesecret，"repliedD'Artagnan，bluntly;"andasyouknowthat，accordingtotheking'sorders，itisunderthepenaltyofdeathanyoneshouldpenetrateit，Iwill，ifyoulike，allowyoutoreadit，andhaveyoushotimmediatelyafterwards。"
　　Duringthisapostrophe—halfserious，halfironical—AthosandRaoulpreservedthecoolest，mostunconcernedsilence。
　　"But，isitpossible，"saidthegovernor，"thatthesegentlemendonotcomprehendatleastsomewords？"
　　"Supposetheydo！？Iftheydounderstandafewspokenwords，itdoesnotfollowthattheyshouldunderstandwhatiswritten。？TheycannotevenreadSpanish。？AnobleSpaniard，remember，oughtnevertoknowhowtoread。"
　　Thegovernorwasobligedtobesatisfiedwiththeseexplanations，buthewasstilltenacious。？"Invitethesegentlementocometothefortress，"saidhe。
　　"ThatIwillwillinglydo。？Iwasabouttoproposeittoyou。"？Thefactis，thecaptainhadquiteanotheridea，andwouldhavewishedhisfriendsahundredleaguesoff。？Buthewasobligedtomakethebestofit。？HeaddressedthetwogentlemeninSpanish，givingthemapoliteinvitation，whichtheyaccepted。？Theyallturnedtowardstheentranceofthefort，and，theincidentbeingatanend，theeightsoldiersreturnedtotheirdelightfulleisure，foramomentdisturbedbythisunexpectedadventure。
　　ChapterXXXII:
　　CaptiveandJailers。
　　Whentheyhadenteredthefort，andwhilstthegovernorwasmakingsomepreparationsforthereceptionofhisguests，"Come，"saidAthos，"letushaveawordofexplanationwhilstwearealone。"
　　"Itissimplythis，"repliedthemusketeer。？"Ihaveconductedhitheraprisoner，whothekingcommandsshallnotbeseen。？Youcamehere，hehasthrownsomethingtoyouthroughthelatticeofhiswindow;Iwasatdinnerwiththegovernor，Isawtheobjectthrown，andIsawRaoulpickitup。？Itdoesnottakelongtounderstandthis。？Iunderstoodit，andIthoughtyouinintelligencewithmyprisoner。？Andthen—"
　　"Andthen—youcommandedustobeshot。"
　　"Mafoi！？Iadmitit;but，ifIwasthefirsttoseizeamusket，fortunately，I
　　wasthelasttotakeaimatyou。"
　　"Ifyouhadkilledme，D'Artagnan，IshouldhavehadthegoodfortunetodiefortheroyalhouseofFrance，anditwouldbeanhonortodiebyyourhand—you，itsnoblestandmostloyaldefender。"
　　"Whatthedevil，Athos，doyoumeanbytheroyalhouse？"stammeredD'Artagnan。？"Youdon'tmeanthatyou，awell—informedandsensibleman，canplaceanyfaithinthenonsensewrittenbyanidiot？"
　　"I
　　dobelieveinit。"
　　"Withsomuchthemorereason，mydearchevalier，fromyourhavingorderstokillallthosewhodobelieveinit，"saidRaoul。
　　"Thatisbecause，"repliedthecaptainofthemusketeers—"becauseeverycalumny，howeverabsurditmaybe，hasthealmostcertainchanceofbecomingpopular。"
　　"No，D'Artagnan，"repliedAthos，promptly;"butbecausethekingisnotwillingthatthesecretofhisfamilyshouldtranspireamongthepeople，andcoverwithshametheexecutionersofthesonofLouisXIII。"
　　"Donottalkinsuchachildishmanner，Athos，orIshallbegintothinkyouhavelostyoursenses。？Besides，explaintomehowitispossibleLouisXIII。shouldhaveasonintheIsleofSainte—Marguerite。"
　　"A
　　sonwhomyouhavebroughthithermasked，inafishing—boat，"saidAthos。？"Whynot？"
　　D'Artagnanwasbroughttoapause。
　　"Oh！"
　　saidhe;"whencedoyouknowthatafishing—boat—？"
　　"BroughtyoutoSainte—Marguerite'swiththecarriagecontainingtheprisoner—withaprisonerwhomyoustyledmonseigneur。？Oh！？Iamacquaintedwithallthat，"resumedthecomte。？D'Artagnanbithismustache。
　　"Ifitweretrue，"saidhe，"thatIhadbroughthitherinaboatandwithacarriageamaskedprisoner，nothingprovesthatthisprisonermustbeaprince—aprinceofthehouseofFrance。"
　　"AskAramissuchriddles，"repliedAthos，coolly。
　　"Aramis，"
　　criedthemusketeer，quiteatastand。？"HaveyouseenAramis？"
　　"AfterhisdiscomfitureatVaux，yes;IhaveseenAramis，afugitive，pursued，bewildered，ruined;andAramishastoldmeenoughtomakemebelieveinthecomplaintsthisunfortunateyoungprincecutuponthebottomoftheplate。"
　　D'Artagnan'sheadsunkonhisbreastinsomeconfusion。？"Thisistheway，"saidhe，"inwhichGodturnstonothingthatwhichmencallwisdom！？A
　　finesecretmustthatbeofwhichtwelveorfifteenpersonsholdthetatteredfragments！？Athos，cursedbethechancewhichhasbroughtyoufacetofacewithmeinthisaffair！fornow—"
　　"Well，"
　　saidAthos，withhiscustomarymildseverity，"isyoursecretlostbecauseIknowit？？Consultyourmemory，myfriend。？HaveInotbornesecretsheavierthanthis？"
　　"Youhaveneverborneonesodangerous，"repliedD'Artagnan，inatoneofsadness。？"Ihavesomethinglikeasinisterideathatallwhoareconcernedwiththissecretwilldie，anddieunhappily。"
　　"ThewillofGodbedone！"saidAthos，"buthereisyourgovernor。"
　　D'Artagnanandhisfriendsimmediatelyresumedtheirparts。？Thegovernor，suspiciousandhard，behavedtowardsD'Artagnanwithapolitenessalmostamountingtoobsequiousness。？Withrespecttothetravelers，hecontentedhimselfwithofferinggoodcheer，andnevertakinghiseyefromthem。？AthosandRaoulobservedthatheoftentriedtoembarrassthembysuddenattacks，ortocatchthemofftheirguard;butneithertheonenortheothergavehimtheleastadvantage。？WhatD'Artagnanhadsaidwasprobable，ifthegovernordidnotbelieveittobequitetrue。？Theyrosefromthetabletoreposeawhile。
　　"Whatisthisman'sname？？Idon'tlikethelooksofhim，"saidAthostoD'ArtagnaninSpanish。
　　"DeSaint—Mars，"repliedthecaptain。
　　"Heis，then，Isuppose，theprince'sjailer？"
　　"Eh！
　　howcanItell？？ImaybekeptatSainte—Margueriteforever。"
　　"Oh！
　　no，notyou！"
　　"Myfriend，Iaminthesituationofamanwhofindsatreasureinthemidstofadesert。？Hewouldliketocarryitaway，buthecannot;hewouldliketoleaveit，buthedaresnot。？Thekingwillnotdaretorecallme，fornooneelsewouldservehimasfaithfullyasIdo;heregretsnothavingmenearhim，frombeingawarethatnoonewouldbeofsomuchservicenearhispersonasmyself。？ButitwillhappenasitmaypleaseGod。"
　　"But，"
　　observedRaoul，"yournotbeingcertainprovesthatyoursituationhereisprovisional，andyouwillreturntoParis？"
　　"Askthesegentlemen，"interruptedthegovernor，"whatwastheirpurposeincomingtoSaint—Marguerite？"
　　"TheycamefromlearningtherewasaconventofBenedictinesatSainte—Honnoratwhichisconsideredcurious;andfrombeingtoldtherewasexcellentshootingintheisland。"
　　"Thatisquiteattheirservice，aswellasyours，"repliedSaint—Mars。
　　D'Artagnanpolitelythankedhim。
　　"Whenwilltheydepart？"addedthegovernor。
　　"To—morrow，"
　　repliedD'Artagnan。
　　M。
　　deSaint—Marswenttomakehisrounds，andleftD'ArtagnanalonewiththepretendedSpaniards。
　　"Oh！"
　　exclaimedthemusketeer，"hereisalifeandasocietythatsuitsmeverylittle。？Icommandthisman，andheboresme，mordioux！？Come，letushaveashotortwoattherabbits;thewalkwillbebeautiful，andnotfatiguing。？Thewholeislandisbutaleagueandahalfinlength，withthebreadthofaleague;arealpark。？Letustrytoamuseourselves。"
　　"Asyouplease，D'Artagnan;notforthesakeofamusingourselves，buttogainanopportunityfortalkingfreely。"
　　D'Artagnanmadeasigntoasoldier，whobroughtthegentlemensomeguns，andthenreturnedtothefort。
　　"Andnow，"saidthemusketeer，"answermethequestionputtoyoubythatblack—lookingSaint—Mars:whatdidyoucometodoattheLerinIsles？"
　　"Tobidyoufarewell。"
　　"Bidmefarewell！？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？？IsRaoulgoinganywhere？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"ThenIwilllayawageritiswithM。deBeaufort。"
　　"WithM。deBeaufortitis，mydearfriend。？Youalwaysguesscorrectly。"
　　"Fromhabit。"
　　Whilstthetwofriendswerecommencingtheirconversation，Raoul，withhisheadhangingdownandhisheartoppressed，seatedhimselfonamossyrock，hisgunacrosshisknees，lookingatthesea—lookingattheheavens，andlisteningtothevoiceofhissoul;heallowedthesportsmentoattainaconsiderabledistancefromhim。？D'Artagnanremarkedhisabsence。
　　"Hehasnotrecoveredtheblow？"saidhetoAthos。
　　"Heisstrucktodeath。"
　　"Oh！
　　yourfearsexaggerate，Ihope。？Raoulisofatemperednature。？Aroundallheartsasnobleashis，thereisasecondenvelopethatformsacuirass。？Thefirstbleeds，thesecondresists。"
　　"No，"
　　repliedAthos，"Raoulwilldieofit。"
　　"Mordioux！"saidD'Artagnan，inamelancholytone。？Andhedidnotaddawordtothisexclamation。？Then，aminuteafter，"Whydoyoulethimgo？"
　　"Becauseheinsistsongoing。"
　　"Andwhydoyounotgowithhim？"
　　"BecauseIcouldnotbeartoseehimdie。"
　　D'Artagnanlookedhisfriendearnestlyintheface。？"Youknowonething，"continuedthecomte，leaninguponthearmofthecaptain;"youknowthatinthecourseofmylifeIhavebeenafraidofbutfewthings。？Well！？Ihaveanincessantgnawing，insurmountablefearthatanhourwillcomeinwhichIshallholdthedeadbodyofthatboyinmyarms。"
　　"Oh！"
　　murmuredD'Artagnan;"oh！"
　　"Hewilldie，Iknow，Ihaveaperfectconvictionofthat;butIwouldnotseehimdie。"
　　"Howisthis，Athos？youcomeandplaceyourselfinthepresenceofthebravestman，yousayyouhaveeverseen，ofyourownD'Artagnan，ofthatmanwithoutanequal，asyouformerlycalledhim，andyoucomeandtellhim，withyourarmsfolded，thatyouareafraidofwitnessingthedeathofyourson，youwhohaveseenallthatcanbeseeninthisworld！？Whyhaveyouthisfear，Athos？？Manuponthisearthmustexpecteverything，andoughttofaceeverything。"
　　"Listentome，myfriend。？Afterhavingwornmyselfoutuponthisearthofwhichyouspeak，Ihavepreservedbuttworeligions:thatoflife，friendship，mydutyasafather—thatofeternity，love，andrespectforGod。？Now，IhavewithinmetherevelationthatifGodshoulddecreethatmyfriendormysonshouldrenderuphislastsighinmypresence—oh！no，Icannoteventellyou，D'Artagnan！"
　　"Speak，speak，tellme！"
　　"I
　　amstrongagainsteverything，exceptagainstthedeathofthoseIlove。？Forthatonlythereisnoremedy。？Hewhodies，gains;hewhoseesothersdie，loses。？No，thisisit—toknowthatI
　　shouldnomoremeetonearthhimwhomInowbeholdwithjoy;toknowthattherewouldnowherebea？D'Artagnananymore，nowhereagainbeaRaoul，oh！？Iamold，lookyou，Ihavenolongercourage;IprayGodtosparemeinmyweakness;butifhestruckmesoplainlyandinthatfashion，Ishouldcursehim。？AChristiangentlemanoughtnottocursehisGod，D'Artagnan;itisenoughtooncehavecursedaking！"
　　"Humph！"
　　sighedD'Artagnan，alittleconfusedbythisviolenttempestofgrief。
　　"Letmespeaktohim，Athos。？Whoknows？"
　　"Try，ifyouplease，butIamconvincedyouwillnotsucceed。"
　　"I
　　willnotattempttoconsolehim。？Iwillservehim。"
　　"Youwill？"
　　"Doubtless，Iwill。？Doyouthinkthiswouldbethefirsttimeawomanhadrepentedofaninfidelity？？Iwillgotohim，Itellyou。"
　　Athosshookhishead，andcontinuedhiswalkalone，D'Artagnan，cuttingacrossthebrambles，rejoinedRaoulandheldouthishandtohim。？"Well，Raoul！？Youhavesomethingtosaytome？"
　　"I
　　haveakindnesstoaskofyou，"repliedBragelonne。
　　"Askit，then。"
　　"YouwillsomedayreturntoFrance？"
　　"Ihopeso。"
　　"OughtItowritetoMademoiselledelaValli鑢e？"
　　"No，youmustnot。"
　　"ButIhavemanythingstosaytoher。"
　　"Goandsaythemtoher，then。"
　　"Never！"
　　"Pray，whatvirtuedoyouattributetoaletter，whichyourspeechmightnotpossess？"
　　"Perhapsyouareright。"
　　"Shelovestheking，"saidD'Artagnan，bluntly;"andsheisanhonestgirl。"？Raoulstarted。？"Andyou，youwhomsheabandons，she，perhaps，lovesbetterthanshedoestheking，butafteranotherfashion。"
　　"D'Artagnan，doyoubelieveshelovestheking？"
　　"Toidolatry。？Herheartisinaccessibletoanyotherfeeling。？Youmightcontinuetolivenearher，andwouldbeherbestfriend。"
　　"Ah！"
　　exclaimedRaoul，withapassionateburstofrepugnanceatsuchahideoushope。
　　"Willyoudoso？"
　　"Itwouldbebase。"
　　"Thatisaveryabsurdword，whichwouldleadmetothinkslightlyofyourunderstanding。？Pleasetounderstand，Raoul，thatitisneverbasetodothatwhichisimposeduponusbyasuperiorforce。？Ifyourheartsaystoyou，'Gothere，ordie，'whygo，Raoul。？Wasshebaseorbrave，shewhomyouloved，inpreferringthekingtoyou，thekingwhomherheartcommandedherimperiouslytoprefertoyou？？No，shewasthebravestofwomen。？Do，then，asshehasdone。？Obligeyourself。？DoyouknowonethingofwhichIamsure，Raoul？"
　　"Whatisthat？"
　　"Why，thatbyseeinghercloselywiththeeyesofajealousman—"
　　"Well？"
　　"Well！
　　youwouldceasetoloveher。"
　　"ThenIamdecided，mydearD'Artagnan。"
　　"Tosetofftoseeheragain？"
　　"No;tosetoffthatImayneverseeheragain。？Iwishtoloveherforever。"
　　"Ha！？Imustconfess，"repliedthemusketeer，"thatisaconclusionwhichIwasfarfromexpecting。"
　　"ThisiswhatIwish，myfriend。？Youwillseeheragain，andyouwillgiveheraletterwhich，ifyouthinkproper，willexplaintoher，astoyourself，whatispassinginmyheart。？Readit;Idrewituplastnight。？SomethingtoldmeIshouldseeyouto—day。"？Heheldtheletterout，andD'Artagnanread:
　　"MADEMOISELLE，—Youarenotwronginmyeyesinnotlovingme。？Youhaveonlybeenguiltyofonefaulttowardsme，thatofhavingleftmetobelieveyoulovedme。？Thiserrorwillcostmemylife。？Ipardonyou，butIcannotpardonmyself。？Itissaidthathappyloversaredeaftothesorrowsofrejectedlovers。？Itwillnotbesowithyou，whodidnotloveme，savewithanxiety。？IamsurethatifIhadpersistedinendeavoringtochangethatfriendshipintolove，youwouldhaveyieldedoutofafearofbringingaboutmydeath，orlesseningtheesteemIhadforyou。？Itismuchmoredelightfultometodie，knowingthatyouarefreeandsatisfied。？Howmuch，then，willyouloveme，whenyouwillnolongerfeareithermypresenceorreproaches？？Youwillloveme，because，howevercharminganewlovemayappeartoyou，Godhasnotmademeinanythinginferiortohimyouhavechosen，andbecausemydevotedness，mysacrifice，andmypainfulendwillassureme，inyoureyes，acertainsuperiorityoverhim。？Ihaveallowedtoescape，inthecandidcredulityofmyheart，thetreasureIpossessed。？Manypeopletellmethatyoulovedmeenoughtoleadmetohopeyouwouldhavelovedmemuch。？Thatideatakesfrommymindallbitterness，andleadsmeonlytoblamemyself。？Youwillacceptthislastfarewell，andyouwillblessmeforhavingtakenrefugeintheinviolableasylumwherehatredisextinguished，andwhereallloveenduresforever。？Adieu，mademoiselle。？Ifyourhappinesscouldbepurchasedbythelastdropofmyblood，Iwouldshedthatdrop。？Iwillinglymakethesacrificeofittomymisery！
　　"RAOUL，VICOTMEDEBRAGELONNE。"
　　"Theletterreadsverywell，"saidthecaptain。？"Ihaveonlyonefaulttofindwithit。"
　　"Tellmewhatthatis！"saidRaoul。
　　"Why，itisthatittellseverything，exceptthethingwhichexhales，likeamortalpoisonfromyoureyesandfromyourheart;exceptthesenselesslovewhichstillconsumesyou。"？Raoulgrewpaler，butremainedsilent。
　　"Whydidyounotwritesimplythesewords:
　　"'MADEMOISELLE，—Insteadofcursingyou，IloveyouandIdie。'"
　　"Thatistrue，"exclaimedRaoul，withasinisterkindofjoy。
　　Andtearingtheletterhehadjusttakenback，hewrotethefollowingwordsuponaleafofhistablets:
　　"ToprocurethehappinessofoncemoretellingyouIloveyou，Icommitthebasenessofwritingtoyou;andtopunishmyselfforthatbaseness，Idie。"？Andhesignedit。
　　"Youwillgiveherthesetablets，captain，willyounot？"
　　"When？"askedthelatter。
　　"Ontheday，"saidBragelonne，pointingtothelastsentence，"onthedaywhenyoucanplaceadateunderthesewords。"？AndhesprangawayquicklytojoinAthos，whowasreturningwithslowsteps。
　　Astheyre—enteredthefort，thesearosewiththatrapid，gustyvehemencewhichcharacterizestheMediterranean;theill—humoroftheelementbecameatempest。？Somethingshapeless，andtossedaboutviolentlybythewaves，appearedjustoffthecoast。
　　"Whatisthat？"saidAthos，—"awreckedboat？"
　　"No，itisnotaboat，"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"Pardonme，"saidRaoul，"thereisabarkgainingtheportrapidly。"
　　"Yes，thereisabarkinthecreek，whichisprudentlyseekingshelterhere;butthatwhichAthospointstointhesandisnotaboatatall—ithasrunaground。"
　　"Yes，yes，Iseeit。"
　　"Itisthecarriage，whichIthrewintotheseaafterlandingtheprisoner。"
　　"Well！"saidAthos，"ifyoutakemyadvice，D'Artagnan，youwillburnthatcarriage，inorderthatnovestigeofitmayremain，withoutwhichthefishermenofAntibes，whohavebelievedtheyhadtodowiththedevil，willendeavortoprovethatyourprisonerwasbutaman。"
　　"Youradviceisgood，Athos，andIwillthisnighthaveitcarriedout，orrather，I
　　willcarryitoutmyself;butletusgoin，fortherainfallsheavily，andthelightningisterrific。"
　　AstheywerepassingovertherampartstoagalleryofwhichD'Artagnanhadthekey，theysawM。deSaint—Marsdirectinghisstepstowardsthechamberinhabitedbytheprisoner。？UponasignfromD'Artagnan，theyconcealedthemselvesinanangleofthestaircase。
　　"Whatisit？"saidAthos。