"As one fides a letter to the hollow of a tree, to the wing of a pigeon, to the collar of a dog."
"And yet, me--you e plainly that I love you."
"You say so."
"I am an honorable man."
"You say so."
"I am a gallant fellow."
"I believe it."
"I am brave."
"Oh, I am sure of that!"
"Then, put me to the proof."
Mme. Bonacieux looked at the young man, restrained for a minute by a last hesitation; but there was subsp;an ardor in his eyes, subsp;persuasion in his voibsp;that she felt herlf strained to fide in him. Besides, she found herlf in circumstanbsp;where everything must be risked for the sake of everything. The queen might be as mubsp;injured by too mubsp;retibsp;as by too mubsp;fidenbsp;and--let us admit it--the involuntary whibsp;she felt for her young protector decided her to speak.
"Listen," said she; "I yield to your protestations, I yield to your assurances. But I swear to you, before God who hears us, that if you betray me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill mylf, while acg you of my death."
"And I--I swear to you before God, madame," said d''Artagnan, "that if I am taken while aplishing the orders you give me, I will die sooner than do anything that may promi anyone."
Then the young woman fided in him the terrible cret of whibsp;bsp;had already unicated to him a part in front of the Samaritaine. This was their mutual declaration of love.
D''Artagnan was radiant with joy and pride. This cret whibsp;he possd, this woman whom he loved! fidenbsp;and love made him a giant.
"I go," said he; "I go at once."
"How, you will go!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "and your regiment, your captain?"
"By my soul, you had made me fet all that, dear stanbsp;Yes, you are right; a furlough is needful."
"Still another obstacle," murmured Mme. Bonacieux, sorrowfully.
"As to that," cried d''Artagnan, after a moment of refle, "I shall surmount it, be assured."
"How so?"
"I will go this very evening to Treville, whom I will request to ask this favor for me of his brother-in-law, Monsieur Desssart."
"But another thing."
"What?" asked d''Artagnan, eing that Mme. Bonacieux hesitated to tinue.