“But,” observed Raoul, who was anxious to make the comte converse, “when you return to Paris, there will not be a single thing there for you — which will be very inconvenient.”

“I think it will be a very long time, Raoul, ere I return to Paris.

The last sojourn we have made there has not been of a nature to encourage me to repeat it.”

Raoul hung down his head and said not a word more. Athos descended from the carriage and mounted the horse which had brought Porthos, and which seemed no little pleased at the exchange. Then they embraced, and clasped each other’s hands, and interchanged a thousand pledges of eternal friendship. Porthos promised to spend a month with Athos at the first opportunity.