Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/340

 "I left orders with Blaisois to pay you a hundred pistoles, if you should stand in need of money."

"Monsieur, I have not seen Blaisois."

"You have been without money, then?"

"Monsieur, I had thirty pistoles left from the sale of the horses I took in my last campaign, and Monsieur le Prince had the kindness to make me win two hundred pistoles at his play-table three months ago."

"Do you play? I don't like that, Raoul."

"I never play, monsieur; it was Monsieur le Prince who ordered me to hold his cards at Chantilly — one night when a courier came to him from the king. I won, and Monsieur le Prince commanded me to take the stakes."

"Is that a practice of the household, Raoul?" asked Athos, with a frown.

"Yes, monsieur; every week Monsieur le Prince affords, upon one occasion or another, a similar advantage to one of his gentlemen. There are fifty gentlemen in his highness' household; it was my turn that time."

"Very well. You went into Spain, then?"

"Yes, monsieur; I made a very delightful and interesting journey."

"You have been back a month, have you not?"

"Yes, monsieur."

"And in the course of that month?"

"In that month "

"What have you done?"

"My duties, monsieur."

"Have you not been home, to La Fere?"

Raoul colored. Athos looked at him with a fixed but tranquil expression.

"You would be wrong not to believe me," said Raoul. "I feel that I colored, and in spite of myself. The question you did me the honor to ask me is of a nature to raise in me much emotion. I color, then, because I am agitated, not because I meditate a falsehood."

"I know, Raoul, that you never lie."

"No, monsieur."

"Besides, my young friend, you would be wrong; what I wanted to say--"

"I know quite well, monsieur. You would ask me if I have not been to Blois?"

"Exactly so."

"I have not been there; I have not even seen the person with whom you would speak to me,"