I will wait till you change your opinion." "I should wish to put the matter to a test, Raoul; I should like to see if Mademoiselle de la Valliere will wait as you do." "I hope so, monsieur." "But, take care, Raoul! suppose she did not wait?
Ah, you are young, so confiding, so loyal! Women are changeable." "You have never spoken ill to me of women, monsieur; you have never had to complain of them; why should you doubt of Mademoiselle de la Valliere ?" "That is true," said Athos, casting down his eyes; "I have never spoken ill to you of women; I have never had to complain of them; Mademoiselle de la Valliere never gave birth to a suspicion; but when we are looking forward, we must go even to exceptions, even to improbabilities! _If_, I say, Mademoiselle de la Valliere should not wait for you ?" "How, monsieur ?" "If she turned her eyes another way." "If she looked favorably upon another, do you mean, monsieur ?" said Raoul, pale with agony.
"Exactly." "Well, monsieur, I would kill him," said Raoul, simply, "and all the men whom Mademoiselle de la Valliere should choose, until one of them had killed me, or Mademoiselle de la Valliere had restored me her heart." Athos started.

"I thought," resumed he, in an agitated voice, "that you called my just now your god, your law in this world." "Oh!" said Raoul, trembling, "you would forbid me the duel ?" "Suppose I _did_ forbid it, Raoul ?" "You would not forbid me to hope, monsieur; consequently you would not forbid me to die." Athos raised his eyes toward the vicomte.

He had pronounced these words with the most melancholy look.

"Enough," said Athos, after a long silence, "enough of this subject, upon which we both go too far.

Live as well as you are able, Raoul, perform your duties, love Mademoiselle de la Valliere; in a word, act like a man, since you have attained the age of a man; only do not forget that I love you tenderly, and that you profess to love me." "Ah! monsieur le comte!" cried Raoul, pressing the hand of Athos to his heart.
"Enough, dear boy, leave me; I want rest.