Therefore, if you serve on board my vessels, there can be nothing equivocal about it, my dear vicomte; it will be the king you will serve." Athos waited with a kind of impatient joy for the reply about to be made to this embarrassing question by Raoul, the intractable enemy of the king, his rival.

The father hoped that the obstacle would overcome the desire.

He was thankful to M.de Beaufort, whose lightness or generous reflection had thrown an impediment in the way of the departure of a son, now his only joy.

But Raoul, still firm and tranquil, replied: "Monsieur le duc, the objection you make I have already considered in my mind.

I will serve on board your vessels, because you do me the honor to take me with you; but I shall there serve a more powerful master than the king: I shall serve God!" "God! how so ?" said the duke and Athos together.
"My intention is to make profession, and become a knight of Malta," added Bragelonne, letting fall, one by one, words more icy than the drops which fall from the bare trees after the tempests of winter.