He has not recovered the blow?" said he to Athos.

He is struck to death."

Oh! your fears exaggerate, I hope. Raoul is of a tempered nature. Around all hearts as noble as his, there is a second envelope that forms a cuirass. The first bleeds, the second resists."

No," replied Athos, "Raoul will die of it."

_Mordioux!_" said D'Artagnan, in a melancholy tone. And he did not add a word to this exclamation. Then, a minute after, "Why do you let him go?"

Because he insists on going."

And why do you not go with him?"

Because I could not bear to see him die.

Auteur: Alexandre Dumas