Raoul appeared to him to the last moment; and the imperceptible atom, passing from black to pale, from pale to white, from white to nothing, disappeared for Athos--disappeared very long after, to all the eyes of the spectators, had disappeared both gallant ships and swelling sails.

Towards midday, when the sun devoured space, and scarcely the tops of the masts dominated the incandescent limit of the sea, Athos perceived a soft aerial shadow rise, and vanish as soon as seen.

This was the smoke of a cannon, which M.de Beaufort ordered to be fired as a last salute to the coast of France.

The point was buried in its turn beneath the sky, and Athos returned with slow and painful step to his deserted hostelry..