"I will love you as much as you have loved; I will suffer as keenly as you have suffered; this shall be my expiation in your eyes.

Come, mademoiselle, put aside these paltry considerations; let us show ourselves as great as our sufferings, as strong as our affection for each other." And, as he said this, he took her in his arms, and encircled her waist with both his hands, saying, "My own love! my own dearest and best beloved, follow me." She made a final effort, in which she concentrated, no longer all of her firmness of will, for that had long since been overcome, but all her physical strength.

"No!" she replied, weakly, "no! no! I should die from shame." "No! you shall return like a queen.

No one knows of your having left--except, indeed, D'Artagnan." "He has betrayed me, then ?" "In what way ?" "He promised faithfully--" "I promised not to say anything to the king," said D'Artagnan, putting his head through the half-opened door, "and I kept my word; I was speaking to M.de Saint-Aignan, and it was not my fault if the king overheard me; was it, sire ?" "It is quite true," said the king; "forgive him." La Valliere smiled, and held out her small white hand to the musketeer.
"Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the king, "be good enough to see if you can find a carriage for Mademoiselle de la Valliere." "Sire," said the captain, "the carriage is waiting at the gate." "You are a magic mould of forethought," exclaimed the king.
"You have taken a long time to find it out," muttered D'Artagnan, notwithstanding he was flattered by the praise bestowed upon him.
La Valliere was overcome: after a little further hesitation, she allowed herself to be led away, half fainting, by her royal lover.

But, as she was on the point of leaving the room, she tore herself from the king's grasp, and returned to the stone crucifix, which she kissed, saying, "Oh, Heaven! it was thou who drewest me hither! thou, who has rejected me; but thy grace is infinite.