"M.
de Bragelonne," he said, "is it, indeed, a gentleman who is speaking to me ?" "Yes; only the gentleman is speaking to a madman.

Get cured, my lord, and he will hold quite another language to you." "But, M.de Bragelonne," murmured the duke, in a voice, half-choked, and putting his hand to his neck,--"Do you not see I am choking ?" "If your death were to take place at this moment, my lord," replied Raoul, with unruffled composure, "I should, indeed, regard it as a great happiness, for this circumstance would prevent all kinds of evil remarks; not alone about yourself, but also about those illustrious persons whom your devotion is compromising in so absurd a manner." "You are right, you are right," said the young man, almost beside himself.

"Yes, yes; better to die, than to suffer as I do at this moment." And he grasped a beautiful dagger, the handle of which was inlaid with precious stones; and which he half drew from his breast.
Raoul thrust his hand aside.

"Be careful what you do," he said; "if you do not kill yourself, you commit a ridiculous action; and if you were to kill yourself, you sprinkle blood upon the nuptial robe of the princess of England." Buckingham remained a minute gasping for breath; during this interval, his lips quivered, his fingers worked convulsively, and his eyes wandered, as though in delirium.

Then suddenly, he said, "M.