"In that case, monsieur, be kind enough to put me in the right way, and to go with me a short distance." "Most willingly." "But how does it happen that I have found you here? By what merciful direction were you so near at hand to come to my assistance? I almost seem to be dreaming, or to be losing my senses." "I happened to be here, mademoiselle, because I have a house in the Place de Greve, at the sign of the 'Notre-Dame,' the rent of which I went to receive yesterday, and where I, in fact, passed the night. And I also wished to be at the palace early, for the purpose of inspecting my posts." "Thank you," said La Valliere. "That is what _I_ was doing," said D'Artagnan to himself; "but what was _she_ doing, and why was she going to Chaillot at such an hour?" And he offered her his arm, which she took, and began to walk with increased precipitation, which concealed, however, a great weakness. D'Artagnan perceived it, and proposed to La Valliere that she should take a little rest, which she refused. "You are ignorant, perhaps, where Chaillot is?" inquired D'Artagnan. "Quite so." "It is a great distance." "That matters very little." "It is at least a league." "I can walk it." D'Artagnan did not reply; he could tell, merely by the tone of a voice, when a resolution was real or not. He rather bore along than accompanied La Valliere, until they perceived the elevated ground of Chaillot. "What house are you going to, mademoiselle?" inquired D'Artagnan. "To the Carmelites, monsieur." "To the Carmelites?" repeated D'Artagnan, in amazement. "Yes; and since Heaven has directed you toward me to give me your support on my road, accept both my thanks and my adieux." "To the Carmelites! Your adieux! Are you going to become a nun?" exclaimed D'Artagnan. "Yes, monsieur." "What, you!!!" There was in this "you," which we have marked by three notes of exclamation in order to render it as expressive as possible--there was, we repeat, in this "you" a complete poem. It recalled to La Valliere her old recollections of Blois, and her new recollections of Fontainebleau; it said to her, "_You_, who might be happy with Raoul--_you_, who might be powerful with Louis, _you_ about to become a nun!" "Yes, monsieur," she said; "I am going to devote myself to the service of Heaven, and to renounce the world altogether." "But are you not mistaken with regard to your vocation--are you not mistaken in supposing it to be the will of Heaven?" "No; since Heaven has been pleased to throw you in my way. Had it not been for you, I should certainly have sunk from fatigue on the road; and since Heaven, I repeat, has thrown you in my way, it is because it has willed that I should carry out my intention." "Oh!" said D'Artagnan, doubtingly, "that is a rather subtle distinction, I think."