Louise lost! Louise infamous! Ah! monseigneur, that idea is much more cruel to me than Raoul abandoned--Raoul unhappy!" Athos then employed the heroic remedy.

He defended Louise against Raoul, and justified her perfidy by her love.

"A woman who would have yielded to a king because he is a king," said he, "would deserve to be styled infamous; but Louise loves Louis.

Young, both, they have forgotten, he his rank, she her vows.

Love absolves everything, Raoul.