At the extremity of the village Planchet turned to the leftin obedience to the orders of Aramis, and stopped underneaththe window which had light in it. Aramis alighted andclapped his hands three times. Immediately the window wasopened and a ladder of rope was let down from it.

"My friend," said Aramis, "if you like to ascend I shall bedelighted to receive you."

"Ah," said D'Artagnan, "is that the way you return to yourapartment?"

"After nine at night, pardieu!" said Aramis, "the rule ofthe convent is very severe."

"Pardon me, my dear friend," said D'Artagnan, "I think yousaid `pardieu!'"

"Do you think so?" said Aramis, smiling; "it is possible.You have no idea, my dear fellow, how one acquires badhabits in these cursed convents, or what evil ways all thesemen of the church have, with whom I am obliged to live. Butwill you not go up?"

"Pass on before me, I beg of you."

"As the late cardinal used to say to the late king, `only toshow you the way, sire.'" And Aramis ascended the ladderquickly and reached the window in an instant.

D'Artagnan followed, but less nimbly, showing plainly thatthis mode of ascent was not one to which he was accustomed.

"I beg your pardon," said Aramis, noticing his awkwardness;"if I had known that I was to have the honor of your visit Ishould have procured the gardener's ladder; but for me alonethis is good enough."

"Sir," said Planchet when he saw D'Artagnan on the summit ofthe ladder, "this way is easy for Monsieur Aramis and evenfor you; in case of necessity I might also climb up, but mytwo horses cannot mount the ladder."

"Take them to yonder shed, my friend," said Aramis, pointingto a low building on the plain; "there you will find hay andstraw for them; then come back here and clap your handsthree times, and we will give you wine and food. Marry,forsooth, people don't die of hunger here.'

And Aramis, drawing in the ladder, closed the window.D'Artagnan then looked around attentively.

Never was there an apartment at the same time more warlikeand more elegant. At each corner were arranged trophies,presenting to view swords of all sorts, and on the wallshung four great pictures representing in their ordinarymilitary costume the Cardinal de Lorraine, the Cardinal deRichelieu, the Cardinal de la Valette, and the Archbishop ofBordeaux. Exteriorly, nothing in the room showed that it wasthe habitation of an abbe. The hangings were of damask, thecarpets from Alencon, and the bed, especially, had more thelook of a fine lady's couch, with its trimmings of fine laceand its embroidered counterpane, than that of a man who hadmade a vow that he would endeavor to gain Heaven by fastingand mortification.

"You are examining my den," said Aramis. "Ah, my dearfellow, excuse me; I am lodged like a Chartreux. But whatare you looking for?"

"I am looking for the person who let down the ladder. I seeno one and yet the ladder didn't come down of itself."

"No, it is Bazin."

"Ah! ah!" said D'Artagnan.

"But," continued Aramis, "Bazin is a well trained servant,and seeing that I was not alone he discreetly retired. Sitdown, my dear friend, and let us talk." And Aramis pushedforward a large easy-chair, in which D'Artagnan stretchedhimself out.

"In the first place, you will sup with me, will you not?"asked Aramis.

"Yes, if you really wish it," said D'Artagnan, "and evenwith great pleasure, I confess; the journey has given me adevil of an appetite."

"Ah, my poor friend!" said Aramis, "you will find meagrefare; you were not expected."

"Am I then threatened with the omelet of Crevecoeur?"

"Oh, let us hope," said Aramis, "that with the help of Godand of Bazin we shall find something better than that in thelarder of the worthy Jesuit fathers. Bazin, my friend, comehere."

The door opened and Bazin entered; on perceiving themusketeer he uttered an exclamation that was almost a cry ofdespair.

"My dear Bazin," said D'Artagnan, "I am delighted to seewith what wonderful composure you can tell a lie even inchurch!"

"Sir," replied Bazin, "I have been taught by the good Jesuitfathers that it is permitted to tell a falsehood when it istold in a good cause."

"So far well," said Aramis; "we are dying of hunger. Serveus up the best supper you can, and especially give us somegood wine."

Bazin bowed low, sighed, and left the room.

"Now we are alone, dear Aramis," said D'Artagnan, "tell mehow the devil you managed to alight upon the back ofPlanchet's horse."

"I'faith!" answered Aramis, "as you see, from Heaven."

"From Heaven," replied D'Artagnan, shaking his head; "youhave no more the appearance of coming from thence than youhave of going there."

"My friend," said Aramis, with a look of imbecility on hisface which D'Artagnan had never observed whilst he was inthe musketeers, "if I did not come from Heaven, at least Iwas leaving Paradise, which is almost the same."

"Here, then, is a puzzle for the learned," observedD'Artagnan, "until now they have never been able to agree asto the situation of Paradise; some place it on Mount Ararat,others between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates; it seemsthat they have been looking very far away for it, while itwas actually very near. Paradise is at Noisy le Sec, uponthe site of the archbishop's chateau. People do not go outfrom it by the door, but by the window; one doesn't descendhere by the marble steps of a peristyle, but by the branchesof a lime-tree; and the angel with a flaming sword whoguards this elysium seems to have changed his celestial nameof Gabriel into that of the more terrestrial one of thePrince de Marsillac."

Aramis burst into a fit of laughter.

"You were always a merry companion, my dear D'Artagnan," hesaid, "and your witty Gascon fancy has not deserted you.Yes, there is something in what you say; nevertheless, donot believe that it is Madame de Longueville with whom I amin love."

"A plague on't! I shall not do so. After having been so longin love with Madame de Chevreuse, you would hardly lay yourheart at the feet of her mortal enemy!"

"Yes," replied Aramis, with an absent air; "yes, that poorduchess! I once loved her much, and to do her justice, shewas very useful to us. Eventually she was obliged to leaveFrance. He was a relentless enemy, that damned cardinal,"continued Aramis, glancing at the portrait of the oldminister. "He had even given orders to arrest her and wouldhave cut off her head had she not escaped with herwaiting-maid - poor Kitty! I have heard that she met with astrange adventure in I don't know what village, with I don'tknow what cure, of whom she asked hospitality and who,having but one chamber, and taking her for a cavalier,offered to share it with her. For she had a wonderful way ofdressing as a man, that dear Marie; I know only one otherwoman who can do it as well. So they made this song abouther: `Laboissiere, dis moi.' You know it, don't you?"

"No, sing it, please."

Aramis immediately complied, and sang the song in a verylively manner.

"Bravo!" cried D'Artagnan, "you sing charmingly, dearAramis. I do not perceive that singing masses has spoiledyour voice."

"My dear D'Artagnan," replied Aramis, "you understand, whenI was a musketeer I mounted guard as seldom as I could; nowwhen I am an abbe I say as few masses as I can. But toreturn to our duchess."

"Which - the Duchess de Chevreuse or the Duchess deLongueville?"

"Have I not already told you that there is nothing betweenme and the Duchess de Longueville? Little flirtations,perhaps, and that's all. No, I spoke of the Duchess deChevreuse; did you see her after her return from Brussels,after the king's death?"

"Yes, she is still beautiful."

"Yes," said Aramis, "I saw her also at that time. I gave hergood advice, by which she did not profit. I ventured to tellher that Mazarin was the lover of Anne of Austria. Shewouldn't believe me, saying that she knew Anne of Austria,who was too proud to love such a worthless coxcomb. Afterthat she plunged into the cabal headed by the Duke ofBeaufort; and the `coxcomb' arrested De Beaufort andbanished Madame de Chevreuse."

"You know," resumed D'Artagnan, "that she has had leave toreturn to France?"

"Yes she is come back and is going to commit some freshfolly or another."

"Oh, but this time perhaps she will follow your advice."

"Oh, this time," returned Aramis, "I haven't seen her; sheis much changed."

"In that respect unlike you, my dear Aramis, for you arestill the same; you have still your beautiful dark hair,still your elegant figure, still your feminine hands, whichare admirably suited to a prelate."

"Yes," replied Aramis, "I am extremely careful of myappearance. Do you know that I am growing old? I am nearlythirty-seven."

"Mind, Aramis" - D'Artagnan smiled as he spoke - "since weare together again, let us agree on one point: what ageshall we be in future?"

"How?"

"Formerly I was your junior by two or three years, and if Iam not mistaken I am turned forty years old."

"Indeed! Then 'tis I who am mistaken, for you have alwaysbeen a good chronologist. By your reckoning I must beforty-three at least. The devil I am! Don't let it out atthe Hotel Rambouillet; it would ruin me," replied the abbe.

"Don't be afraid," said D'Artagnan. "I never go there."

"Why, what in the world," cried Aramis, "is that animalBazin doing? Bazin! Hurry up there, you rascal; we are madwith hunger and thirst!"

Bazin entered at that moment carrying a bottle in each hand.

"At last," said Aramis, "we are ready, are we?

"Yes, monsieur, quite ready," said Bazin; "but it took mesome time to bring up all the - - "

"Because you always think you have on your shoulders yourbeadle's robe, and spend all your time reading yourbreviary. But I give you warning that if in polishing yourchapel utensils you forget how to brighten up my sword, Iwill make a great fire of your blessed images and will seethat you are roasted on it."

Bazin, scandalized, made a sign of the cross with the bottlein his hand. D'Artagnan, more surprised than ever at thetone and manners of the Abbe d'Herblay, which contrasted sostrongly with those of the Musketeer Aramis, remainedstaring with wide-open eyes at the face of his friend.

Bazin quickly covered the table with a damask cloth andarranged upon it so many things, gilded, perfumed,appetizing, that D'Artagnan was quite overcome.

"But you expected some one then?" asked the officer.

"Oh," said Aramis, "I always try to be prepared; and then Iknew you were seeking me."

"From whom?"

"From Master Bazin, to be sure; he took you for the devil,my dear fellow, and hastened to warn me of the danger thatthreatened my soul if I should meet again a companion sowicked as an officer of musketeers."

"Oh, monsieur!" said Bazin, clasping his handssupplicatingly.

"Come, no hypocrisy! you know that I don't like it. You willdo much better to open the window and let down some bread, achicken and a bottle of wine to your friend Planchet, whohas been this last hour killing himself clapping his hands."

Planchet, in fact, had bedded and fed his horses, and thencoming back under the window had repeated two or three timesthe signal agreed upon.

Bazin obeyed, fastened to the end of a cord the threearticles designated and let them down to Planchet, who thenwent satisfied to his shed.

"Now to supper," said Aramis.

The two friends sat down and Aramis began to cut up fowls,partridges and hams with admirable skill.

"The deuce!" cried D'Artagnan; "do you live in this wayalways?"

"Yes, pretty well. The coadjutor has given me dispensationsfrom fasting on the jours maigres, on account of my health;then I have engaged as my cook the cook who lived withLafollone - you know the man I mean? - the friend of thecardinal, and the famous epicure whose grace after dinnerused to be, `Good Lord, do me the favor to cause me todigest what I have eaten.'"

"Nevertheless he died of indigestion, in spite of hisgrace," said D'Artagnan.

"What can you expect?" replied Aramis, in a tone ofresignation. "Every man that's born must fulfil hisdestiny."

"If it be not an indelicate question," resumed D'Artagnan,"have you grown rich?"

"Oh, Heaven! no. I make about twelve thousand francs a year,without counting a little benefice of a thousand crowns theprince gave me."

"And how do you make your twelve thousand francs? By yourpoems?"

"No, I have given up poetry, except now and then to write adrinking song, some gay sonnet or some innocent epigram; Icompose sermons, my friend."

"What! sermons? Do you preach them?"

"No; I sell them to those of my cloth who wish to becomegreat orators."

"Ah, indeed! and you have not been tempted by the hopes ofreputation yourself?"

"I should, my dear D'Artagnan, have been so, but nature said`No.' When I am in the pulpit, if by chance a pretty womanlooks at me, I look at her again: if she smiles, I smiletoo. Then I speak at random; instead of preaching about thetorments of hell I talk of the joys of Paradise. An eventtook place in the Church of St. Louis au Marais. A gentlemanlaughed in my face. I stopped short to tell him that he wasa fool; the congregation went out to get stones to stone mewith, but whilst they were away I found means to conciliatethe priests who were present, so that my foe was peltedinstead of me. 'Tis true that he came the next morning to myhouse, thinking that he had to do with an abbe - like allother abbes."

"And what was the end of the affair?"

"We met in the Place Royale - Egad! you know about it."

"Was I not your second?" cried D'Artagnan.

"You were; you know how I settled the matter."

"Did he die?"

"I don't know. But, at all events, I gave him absolution inarticulo mortis. 'Tis enough to kill the body, withoutkilling the soul."

Bazin made a despairing sign which meant that while perhapshe approved the moral he altogether disapproved the tone inwhich it was uttered.

"Bazin, my friend," said Aramis, "you don't seem to be awarethat I can see you in that mirror, and you forget that oncefor all I have forbidden all signs of approbation ordisapprobation. You will do me the favor to bring us someSpanish wine and then to withdraw. Besides, my friendD'Artagnan has something to say to me privately, have younot, D'Artagnan?"

D'Artagnan nodded his head and Bazin retired, after placingon the table the Spanish wine.

The two friends, left alone, remained silent, face to face.Aramis seemed to await a comfortable digestion; D'Artagnan,to be preparing his exordium. Each of them, when the otherwas not looking, hazarded a sly glance. It was Aramis whobroke the silence.

"What are you thinking of, D'Artagnan?" he began.

"I was thinking, my dear old friend, that when you were amusketeer you turned your thoughts incessantly to thechurch, and now that you are an abbe you are perpetuallylonging to be once more a musketeer."

"'Tis true; man, as you know," said Aramis, "is a strangeanimal, made up of contradictions. Since I became an abbe Idream of nothing but battles."

"That is apparent in your surroundings; you have rapiershere of every form and to suit the most exacting taste. Doyou still fence well?"

"I - I fence as well as you did in the old time - betterstill, perhaps; I do nothing else all day."

"And with whom?"

"With an excellent master-at-arms that we have here."

"What! here?"

Yes, here, in this convent, my dear fellow. There iseverything in a Jesuit convent."

"Then you would have killed Monsieur de Marsillac if he hadcome alone to attack you, instead of at the head of twentymen?"

"Undoubtedly," said Aramis, "and even at the head of histwenty men, if I could have drawn without being recognized."

"God pardon me!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "I believe hehas become more Gascon than I am!" Then aloud: "Well, mydear Aramis, do you ask me why I came to seek you?"

"No, I have not asked you that," said Aramis, with hissubtle manner; "but I have expected you to tell me."

"Well, I sought you for the single purpose of offering you achance to kill Monsieur de Marsillac whenever you please,prince though he is."

"Hold on! wait!" said Aramis; "that is an idea!"

"Of which I invite you to take advantage, my friend. Let ussee; with your thousand crowns from the abbey and the twelvethousand francs you make by selling sermons, are you rich?Answer frankly."

"I? I am as poor as Job, and were you to search my pocketsand my boxes I don't believe you would find a hundredpistoles."

"Peste! a hundred pistoles!" said D'Artagnan to himself; "hecalls that being as poor as Job! If I had them I shouldthink myself as rich as Croesus." Then aloud: "Are youambitious?"

"As Enceladus."

"Well, my friend, I bring you the means of becoming rich,powerful, and free to do whatever you wish."

The shadow of a cloud passed over Aramis's face as quicklyas that which in August passes over the field of grain; butquick as it was, it did not escape D'Artagnan's observation.

"Speak on," said Aramis.

"One question first. Do you take any interest in politics?"

A gleam of light shone in Aramis's eyes, as brief as theshadow that had passed over his face, but not so brief butthat it was seen by D'Artagnan.

"No," Aramis replied.

"Then proposals from any quarter will be agreeable to you,since for the moment you have no master but God?"

"It is possible."

"Have you, my dear Aramis, thought sometimes of those happy,happy, happy days of youth we passed laughing, drinking, andfighting each other for play?"

"Certainly, and more than once regretted them; it was indeeda glorious time."

"Well, those splendidly wild days may chance to come again;I am commissioned to find out my companions and I began byyou, who were the very soul of our society."

Aramis bowed, rather with respect than pleasure at thecompliment.

"To meddle in politics," he exclaimed, in a languid voice,leaning back in his easy-chair. "Ah! dear D'Artagnan! seehow regularly I live and how easy I am here. We haveexperienced the ingratitude of `the great,' as you wellknow."

"'Tis true," replied D'Artagnan. "Yet the great sometimesrepent of their ingratitude."

"In that case it would be quite another thing. Come! let'sbe merciful to every sinner! Besides, you are right inanother respect, which is in thinking that if we were tomeddle in politics there could not be a better time than thepresent."

"How can you know that? You who never interest yourself inpolitics?"

"Ah! without caring about them myself, I live among thosewho are much occupied in them. Poet as I am, I am intimatewith Sarazin, who is devoted to the Prince de Conti, andwith Monsieur de Bois-Robert, who, since the death ofCardinal Richelieu, is of all parties or any party; so thatpolitical discussions have not altogether been uninterestingto me."

"I have no doubt of it," said D'Artagnan.

"Now, my dear friend, look upon all I tell you as merely thestatement of a monk - of a man who resembles an echo - repeating simply what he hears. I understand that Mazarin isat this very moment extremely uneasy as to the state ofaffairs; that his orders are not respected like those of ourformer bugbear, the deceased cardinal, whose portrait as yousee hangs yonder - for whatever may be thought of him, itmust be allowed that Richelieu was great."

"I will not contradict you there," said D'Artagnan.

"My first impressions were favorable to the minister; I saidto myself that a minister is never loved, but that with thegenius this one was said to have he would eventually triumphover his enemies and would make himself feared, which in myopinion is much more to be desired than to be loved - - "

D'Artagnan made a sign with his head which indicated that heentirely approved that doubtful maxim.

"This, then," continued Aramis, "was my first opinion; butas I am very ignorant in matters of this kind and as thehumility which I profess obliges me not to rest on my ownjudgment, but to ask the opinion of others, I have inquired- Eh! - my friend - - "

Aramis paused.

"Well? what?" asked his friend.

"Well, I must mortify myself. I must confess that I wasmistaken. Monsieur de Mazarin is not a man of genius, as Ithought, he is a man of no origin - once a servant ofCardinal Bentivoglio, and he got on by intrigue. He is anupstart, a man of no name, who will only be the tool of aparty in France. He will amass wealth, he will injure theking's revenue and pay to himself the pensions whichRichelieu paid to others. He is neither a gentleman inmanner nor in feeling, but a sort of buffoon, a punchinello,a pantaloon. Do you know him? I do not."

"Hem!" said D'Artagnan, "there is some truth in what yousay."

"Ah! it fills me with pride to find that, thanks to a commonsort of penetration with which I am endowed, I am approvedby a man like you, fresh from the court."

"But you speak of him, not of his party, his resources."

"It is true - the queen is for him."

"Something in his favor."

"But he will never have the king."

"A mere child."

"A child who will be of age in four years. Then he hasneither the parliament nor the people with him - theyrepresent the wealth of the country; nor the nobles nor theprinces, who are the military power of France."

D'Artagnan scratched his ear. He was forced to confess tohimself that this reasoning was not only comprehensive, butjust.

"You see, my poor friend, that I am sometimes bereft of myordinary thoughtfulness; perhaps I am wrong in speaking thusto you, who have evidently a leaning to Mazarin."

"I!" cried D'Artagnan, "not in the least."

"You spoke of a mission."

"Did I? I was wrong then, no, I said what you say - thereis a crisis at hand. Well! let's fly the feather before thewind; let us join with that side to which the wind willcarry it and resume our adventurous life. We were once fourvaliant knights - four hearts fondly united; let us uniteagain, not our hearts, which have never been severed, butour courage and our fortunes. Here's a good opportunity forgetting something better than a diamond."

"You are right, D'Artagnan; I held a similar project, but asI had not nor ever shall have your fruitful, vigorousimagination, the idea was suggested to me. Every onenowadays wants auxiliaries; propositions have been made tome and I confess to you frankly that the coadjutor has mademe speak out."

"Monsieur de Gondy! the cardinal's enemy?"

"No; the king's friend," said Aramis; "the king's friend,you understand. Well, it is a question of serving the king,the gentleman's duty."

"But the king is with Mazarin."

"He is, but not willingly; in appearance, not heart; andthat is exactly the snare the king's enemies are preparingfor the poor child."

"Ah! but this is, indeed, civil war which you propose to me,dear Aramis."

"War for the king."

"Yet the king will be at the head of the army on Mazarin'sside."

"But his heart will be in the army commanded by the Duc deBeaufort."

"Monsieur de Beaufort? He is at Vincennes."

"Did I say Monsieur de Beaufort? Monsieur de Beaufort oranother. Monsieur de Beaufort or Monsieur le Prince."

"But Monsieur le Prince is to set out for the army; he isentirely devoted to the cardinal."

"Oh oh!" said Aramis, "there are questions between them atthis very moment. And besides, if it is not the prince, thenMonsieur de Gondy - - "

"But Monsieur de Gondy is to be made a cardinal; they aresoliciting the hat for him."

"And are there no cardinals that can fight? Come now, recallthe four cardinals that at the head of armies have equalledMonsieur de Guebriant and Monsieur de Gassion."

"But a humpbacked general!

"Under the cuirass the hump will not be seen. Besides,remember that Alexander was lame and Hannibal had but oneeye."

"Do you see any great advantage in adhering to this party?"asked D'Artagnan.

"I foresee in it the aid of powerful princes."

"With the enmity of the government."

"Counteracted by parliament and insurrections."

"That may be done if they can separate the king from hismother."

"That may be done," said Aramis.

"Never!" cried D'Artagnan. "You, Aramis, know Anne ofAustria better than I do. Do you think she will ever forgetthat her son is her safeguard, her shield, the pledge forher dignity, for her fortune and her life? Should sheforsake Mazarin she must join her son and go over to theprinces' side; but you know better than I do that there arecertain reasons why she can never abandon Mazarin."

"Perhaps you are right," said Aramis, thoughtfully;"therefore I shall not pledge myself."

"To them or to us, do you mean, Aramis?"

"To no one. I am a priest," resumed Aramis. "What have I todo with politics? I am not obliged to read any breviary. Ihave a jolly little circle of witty abbes and pretty women;everything goes on smoothly, so certainly, dear friend, Ishall not meddle in politics."

"Well, listen, my dear Aramis," said D'Artagnan; "yourphilosophy convinces me, on my honor. I don't know whatdevil of an insect stung me and made me ambitious. I have apost by which I live; at the death of Monsieur de Treville,who is old, I may be a captain, which is a very snug berthfor a once penniless Gascon. Instead of running afteradventures I shall accept an invitation from Porthos; Ishall go and shoot on his estate. You know he has estates - Porthos?"

"I should think so, indeed. Ten leagues of wood, of marshland and valleys; he is lord of the hill and the plain andis now carrying on a suit for his feudal rights against theBishop of Noyon!"

"Good," said D'Artagnan to himself. "That's what I wanted toknow. Porthos is in Picardy."

Then aloud:

"And he has taken his ancient name of Vallon?"

"To which he adds that of Bracieux, an estate which has beena barony, by my troth."

"So that Porthos will be a baron."

"I don't doubt it. The `Baroness Porthos' will soundparticularly charming."

And the two friends began to laugh.

"So," D'Artagnan resumed, "you will not become a partisan ofMazarin's?"

"Nor you of the Prince de Conde?"

"No, let us belong to no party, but remain friends; let usbe neither Cardinalists nor Frondists."

"Adieu, then." And D'Artagnan poured out a glass of wine.

"To old times," he said.

"Yes," returned Aramis. "Unhappily, those times are past."

"Nonsense! They will return," said D'Artagnan. "At allevents, if you want me, remember the Rue Tiquetonne, Hotelde la Chevrette."

"And I shall be at the convent of Jesuits; from six in themorning to eight at night come by the door. From eight inthe evening until six in the morning come in by the window."

"Adieu, dear friend."

"Oh, I can't let you go so! I will go with you." And he tookhis sword and cloak.

"He wants to be sure that I go away," said D'Artagnan tohimself.

Aramis whistled for Bazin, but Bazin was asleep in theante-chamber, and Aramis was obliged to shake him by the earto awake him.

Bazin stretched his arms, rubbed his eyes, and tried to goto sleep again.

"Come, come, sleepy head; quick, the ladder!"

"But," said Bazin, yawning portentously, "the ladder isstill at the window."

"The other one, the gardener's. Didn't you see that Monsieurd'Artagnan mounted with difficulty? It will be even moredifficult to descend."

D'Artagnan was about to assure Aramis that he could descendeasily, when an idea came into his head which silenced him.

Bazin uttered a profound sigh and went out to look for theladder. Presently a good, solid, wooden ladder was placedagainst the window.

"Now then," said D'Artagnan, "this is something like; thisis a means of communication. A woman could go up a ladderlike that."

Aramis's searching look seemed to seek his friend's thoughteven at the bottom of his heart, but D'Artagnan sustainedthe inquisition with an air of admirable simplicity.Besides, at that moment he put his foot on the first step ofthe ladder and began his descent. In a moment he was on theground. Bazin remained at the window.

"Stay there," said Aramis; "I shall return immediately."

The two friends went toward the shed. At their approachPlanchet came out leading the two horses.

"That is good to see," said Aramis. "There is a servantactive and vigilant, not like that lazy fellow Bazin, who isno longer good for anything since he became connected withthe church. Follow us, Planchet; we shall continue ourconversation to the end of the village."

They traversed the width of the village, talking ofindifferent things, then as they reached the last houses:

"Go, then, dear friend," said Aramis, "follow your owncareer. Fortune lavishes her smiles upon you; do not let herflee from your embrace. As for me, I remain in my humilityand indolence. Adieu!"

"Thus 'tis quite decided," said D'Artagnan, "that what Ihave to offer to you does not tempt you?"

"On the contrary, it would tempt me were I any other man,"rejoined Aramis; "but I repeat, I am made up ofcontradictions. What I hate to-day I adore to-morrow, andvice versa. You see that I cannot, like you, for instance,settle on any fixed plan."

"Thou liest, subtile one," said D'Artagnan to himself. "Thoualone, on the contrary, knowest how to choose thy object andto gain it stealthily."

The friends embraced. They descended into the plain by theladder. Planchet met them hard by the shed. D'Artagnanjumped into the saddle, then the old companions in armsagain shook hands. D'Artagnan and Planchet spurred theirsteeds and took the road to Paris.

But after he had gone about two hundred steps D'Artagnanstopped short, alighted, threw the bridle of his horse overthe arm of Planchet and took the pistols from his saddle-bowto fasten them to his girdle.

"What's the matter?" asked Planchet.

"This is the matter: be he ever so cunning he shall neversay I was his dupe. Stand here, don't stir, turn your backto the road and wait for me."

Having thus spoken, D'Artagnan cleared the ditch by theroadside and crossed the plain so as to wind around thevillage. He had observed between the house that Madame deLongueville inhabited and the convent of the Jesuits, anopen space surrounded by a hedge.

The moon had now risen and he could see well enough toretrace his road.

He reached the hedge and hid himself behind it; in passingby the house where the scene which we have related tookplace, he remarked that the window was again lighted up andhe was convinced that Aramis had not yet returned to his ownapartment and that when he did it would not be alone.

In truth, in a few minutes he heard steps approaching andlow whispers.

Close to the hedge the steps stopped.

D'Artagnan knelt down near the thickest part of the hedge.

Two men, to the astonishment of D'Artagnan, appearedshortly; soon, however, his surprise vanished, for he heardthe murmurs of a soft, harmonious voice; one of these twomen was a woman disguised as a cavalier.

"Calm yourself, dear Rene," said the soft voice, "the samething will never happen again. I have discovered a sort ofsubterranean passage which runs beneath the street and weshall only have to raise one of the marble slabs before thedoor to open you an entrance and an outlet."

"Oh!" answered another voice, which D'Artagnan instantlyrecognized as that of Aramis. "I swear to you, princess,that if your reputation did not depend on precautions and ifmy life alone were jeopardized - - "

"Yes, yes! I know you are as brave and venturesome as anyman in the world, but you do not belong to me alone; youbelong to all our party. Be prudent! sensible!"

"I always obey, madame, when I am commanded by so gentle avoice."

He kissed her hand tenderly.

"Ah!" exclaimed the cavalier with a soft voice.

"What's the matter?" asked Aramis.

"Do you not see that the wind has blown off my hat?"

Aramis rushed after the fugitive hat. D'Artagnan tookadvantage of the circumstance to find a place in the hedgenot so thick, where his glance could penetrate to thesupposed cavalier. At that instant, the moon, inquisitive,perhaps, like D'Artagnan, came from behind a cloud and byher light D'Artagnan recognized the large blue eyes, thegolden hair and the classic head of the Duchess deLongueville.

Aramis returned, laughing, one hat on his head and the otherin his hand; and he and his companion resumed their walktoward the convent.

"Good!" said D'Artagnan, rising and brushing his knees; "nowI have thee - thou art a Frondeur and the lover of Madamede Longueville."