He did not go a hundred paces; a shivering seized him again at the turning of the road.
"This is very strange!" said he to his _valet de chambre_, who accompanied him.
"Let us stop, monsieur--I conjure you!" replied the faithful servant; "how pale you are getting!" "That will not prevent my pursuing my route, now I have once started," replied the comte.

And he gave his horse his head again.

But suddenly, the animal, instead of obeying the thought of his master, stopped.

A movement, of which Athos was unconscious, had checked the bit.
"Something," said Athos, "wills that I should go no further.

Support me," added he, stretching out his arms; "quick! come closer! I feel my muscles relax--I shall fall from my horse." The valet had seen the movement made by his master at the moment he received the order.