But it was really the return of the horseman.

They uttered a cry of joyous surprise; and the captain, springing to the ground like a young man, seized within his arms the two beloved heads of Athos and Raoul.

He held them long embraced thus, without speaking a word, or suffering the sigh which was bursting his breast to escape him.

Then, as rapidly as he had come back, he set off again, with a sharp application of his spurs to the sides of his fiery horse.
"Alas!" said the comte, in a low voice, "alas! alas!" "An evil omen!" on his side, said D'Artagnan to himself, making up for lost time.

"I could not smile upon them.