“No.”
“Well, search, my friend, search; and when you have found, you will tell me, will you not?”
“Pardieu!” said Porthos.
Chapter XC.
Conclusion.
On going home, the two friends found a letter from Athos, who desired them to meet him at the Grand Charlemagne on the following day.
The friends went to bed early, but neither of them slept. When we arrive at the summit of our wishes, success has usually the power to drive away sleep on the first night after the fulfilment of long cherished hopes.
The next day at the appointed hour they went to see Athos and found him and Aramis in traveling costume.
“What!” cried Porthos, “are we all going away, then? I also have made my preparations this morning.”
“Oh, heavens! yes,” said Aramis. “There’s nothing to do in Paris now there’s no Fronde. The Duchess de Longueville has invited me to pass a few days in Normandy, and has deputed me, while her son is being baptized, to go and prepare her residence at Rouen; after which, if nothing new occurs, I shall go and bury myself in my convent at Noisy-le-Sec.”
“And I,” said Athos, “am returning to Bragelonne. You know, dear D’Artagnan, I am nothing more than a good honest country gentleman. Raoul has no fortune other than I possess, poor child! and I must take care of it for him, since I only lend him my name.”