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Rh LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. 363 must know anything of this meeting." ''People always find these things out," said Porthos, "when a dead body is discovered in a wood. But I promise you everything, my dear friend, except concealing the dead body. There it is, and it must be seen, as a matter of course. It is a principle of mine not to bury bodies. That has a smack of the assassin about it. Every risk must run its own risk." "To work, then, my dear friend." "Rely upon me," said the giant, finishing the bottle, while a servant spread out upon a sofa the gorgeously decorated dress trimmed with lace. Raoul left the room, saying to himself, with a secret de- light, "Perfidious king! traitorous monarch! I cannot reach thee. I do not wish it; for kings are sacred objects. But your friend, your accomplice, your panderer — the coward who represents you — shall pay for your crime. I will kill him in thy name, and afterward we will think of Louise." CHAPTER LV. THE CHANGE OF RESIDEN^CE, THE TEAPDOOB, AND THE PORTRAIT. Porthos, intrusted, to his great delight, with this mis- sion, which made him feel young again, took half an hour less than his usual time to put on his court suit. To show that he was a man acquainted with the usages of the high- est society, he had begun by sending his lackey to inquire if M. de St. Aignan were at home, and received, in answer, that M. le Comte de St. Aignan had had the honor of accompanying the king to St. Germain, as well as the whole court; but that M. le Comte had just that moment returned. Immediately upon this reply, Porthos made as much haste as possible, and reached St. Aignan's apart- ments just as the latter was having his boots taken off. The promenade had been delightful. The king, who was in love more than ever, and of course happier than ever, behaved in the most charming manner to every one. Noth- ing could possibly equal his kindness. M. de St. Aignan, it may be remembered, was a poet, and fancied that he had proved that he was so, under too many a memorable cir-
 * Do not forget, either, that, except ourselves, no one