Each of them given up to his personal reflections, and constructing his future after his own fashion, was, above all, anxious to abridge the distance by speed.

Athos and D'Artagnan arrived at the gates of Paris on the evening of the fourth day after leaving Boulogne.
"Where are you going, my friend ?" asked Athos.

"I shall direct my course straight to my hotel." "And I straight to my partner's." "To Planchet's ?" "Yes; at the Pilon d'Or." "Well, but shall we not meet again ?" "If you remain in Paris, yes; for I shall stay here." "No: after having embraced Raoul, with whom I have appointed a meeting at my hotel, I shall set out immediately for La Fere." "Well, adieu, then, dear and true friend." "_Au revoir!_ I should rather say, for why can you not come and live with me at Blois?
You are free, you are rich, I shall purchase for you, if you like, a handsome estate in the vicinity of Cheverny or of Bracieux.

On the one side you will have the finest woods in the world, which join those of Chambord; on the other, admirable marshes.

You who love sporting, and who, whether you admit it or not, are a poet, my dear friend, you will find pheasants, rail and teal, without counting sunsets and excursions on the water, to make you fancy yourself Nimrod and Apollo themselves.