"Ah! monsieur," said he, in a low voice, to the officer, to whom, for an hour, he had ceased speaking, "what would I give to know the instructions for the new commander! They are all pacific, are they not? and—"
He did not finish; the sound of a distant cannon rolled over the waters, then another, and two or three still louder. D'Artagnan shuddered.
"The fire is opened upon Belle-Isle," replied the officer. The canoe had just touched the soil of France.
CHAPTER CXIX.
THE ANCESTORS OF PORTHOS.
When D'Artagnan had quitted Aramis and Porthos, the latter returned to the principal fort to converse with the greater liberty. Porthos, still thoughtful, was a constraint upon Aramis, whose mind had never felt itself more free.
"Dear Porthos," said he, suddenly, "I will explain D'Artagnan's idea to you."
"What idea, Aramis?"
"An idea to which we shall owe our liberty within twelve hours."