The Three Musketeers

Athos smiled with one of his sweet and expressive smiles. "Friend," said he, "for Athos this is too much; for the Comte de la Fere it is too little. Keep the commission; it is yours. Alas! you have purchased it dearly enough."

"I pardon you," said he, "the ill you have done me. I pardon you for my blasted future, my lost honor, my defiled love, and my salvation forever compromised by the despair into which you have cast me. Die in peace!"

"You are young," replied Athos; "and your bitter recollections have time to change themselves into sweet remembrances."

de la Fere—" All eyes were turned towards Athos, whose real name that was,

Athos, like the spectre of vengeance, leaped into the room.

"Capital! Adieu, Chevalier." "Adieu, Countess."

NACHRICHTER,

And she greedily read the following few lines:

sustained as she was by all the excitements which a new adventure awakened in her heart,