As they rode along, the duke endeavored to draw from D'Artagnan,not all that had happened, but what D'Artagnan himself knew. Byadding all that he heard from the mouth of the young man to hisown remembrances, he was enabled to form a pretty exact idea of aposition of the seriousness of which, for the rest, the queen'sletter, short but explicit, gave him the clue. But that whichastonished him most was that the cardinal, so deeply interestedin preventing this young man from setting his foot in England,had not succeeded in arresting him on the road. It was then,upon the manifestation of this astonishment, that D'Artagnanrelated to him the precaution taken, and how, thanks to thedevotion of his three friends, whom he had left scattered andbleeding on the road, he had succeeded in coming off with asingle sword thrust, which had pierced the queen's letter and forwhich he had repaid M. de Wardes with such terrible coin. Whilehe was listening to this recital, delivered with the greatestsimplicity, the duke looked from time to time at the young manwith astonishment, as if he could not comprehend how so muchprudence, courage, and devotedness could be allied with acountenance which indicated not more than twenty years.

The horses went like the wind, and in a few minutes they were atthe gates of London. D'Artagnan imagined that on arriving intown the duke would slacken his pace, but it was not so. He kepton his way at the same rate, heedless about upsetting those whomhe met on the road. In fact, in crossing the city two or threeaccidents of this kind happened; but Buckingham did not even turnhis head to see what became of those he had knocked down.D'Artagnan followed him amid cries which strongly resembledcurses.

On entering the court of his hotel, Buckingham sprang from hishorse, and without thinking what became of the animal, threw thebridle on his neck, and sprang toward the vestibule. D'Artagnandid the same, with a little more concern, however, for the noblecreatures, whose merits he fully appreciated; but he had thesatisfaction of seeing three or four grooms run from the kitchensand the stables, and busy themselves with the steeds.

The duke walked so fast that D'Artagnan had some trouble inkeeping up with him. He passed through several apartments, of anelegance of which even the greatest nobles of France had not evenan idea, and arrived at length in a bedchamber which was at oncea miracle of taste and of richness. In the alcove of thischamber was a door concealed in the tapestry which the dukeopened with a little gold key which he wore suspended from hisneck by a chain of the same metal. With discretion D'Artagnanremained behind; but at the moment when Buckingham crossed thethreshold, he turned round, and seeing the hesitation of theyoung man, "Come in!" cried he, "and if you have the good fortuneto be admitted to her Majesty's presence, tell her what you haveseen."

Encouraged by this invitation, D'Artagnan followed the duke, whoclosed the door after them. The two found themselves in a smallchapel covered with a tapestry of Persian silk worked with gold,and brilliantly lighted with a vast number of candles. Over aspecies of altar, and beneath a canopy of blue velvet, surmountedby white and red plumes, was a full-length portrait of Anne ofAustria, so perfect in its resemblance that D'Artagnan uttered acry of surprise on beholding it. One might believe the queen wasabout to speak. On the altar, and beneath the portrait, was thecasket containing the diamond studs.

The duke approached the altar, knelt as a priest might have donebefore a crucifix, and opened the casket. "There, said he,drawing from the casket a large bow of blue ribbon all sparklingwith diamonds, "there are the precious studs which I have takenan oath should be buried with me. The queen have them to me, thequeen requires them again. Her will be done, like that of God,in all things."

Then, he began to kiss, one after the other, those dear studswith which he was about to part. All at once he uttered aterrible cry.

"What is the matter?" exclaimed D'Artagnan, anxiously; "what hashappened to you, my Lord?"

"All is lost!" cried Buckingham, becoming as pale as a corpse;"two of the studs are wanting, there are only ten."

"Can you have lost them, my Lord, or do you think they have beenstolen?"

"They have been stolen," replied the duke, "and it is thecardinal who has dealt this blow. Hold; see! The ribbons whichheld them have been cut with scissors."

"If my Lord suspects they have been stolen, perhaps the personwho stole them still has them in his hands."

"Wait, wait!" said the duke. "The only time I have worn thesestuds was at a ball given by the king eight days ago at Windsor.The Comtesse de Winter, with whom I had quarreled, becamereconciled to me at that ball. That reconciliation was nothingbut the vengeance of a jealous woman. I have never seen her fromthat day. The woman is an agent of the cardinal."

"He has agents, then, throughout the world?" cried D'Artagnan.

"Oh, yes," said Buckingham, grating his teeth with rage. "Yes,he is a terrible antagonist. But when is this ball to takeplace?"

"Monday next."

"Monday next! Still five days before us. That's more time thanwe want. Patrick!" cried the duke, opening the door of thechapel, "Patrick!" His confidential valet appeared.

"My jeweler and my secretary."

The valet went out with a mute promptitude which showed himaccustomed to obey blindly and without reply.

But although the jeweler had been mentioned first, it was thesecretary who first made his appearance. This was simply becausehe lived in the hotel. He found Buckingham seated at a table inhis bedchamber, writing orders with his own hand.

"Mr. Jackson," said he, "go instantly to the Lord Chancellor, andtell him that I charge him with the execution of these orders. Iwish them to be promulgated immediately."

"But, my Lord, if the Lord Chancellor interrogates me upon themotives which may have led your Grace to adopt such anextraordinary measure, what shall I reply?"

"That such is my pleasure, and that I answer for my will to noman."

"Will that be the answer," replied the secretary, smiling, "whichhe must transmit to his Majesty if, by chance, his Majesty shouldhave the curiosity to know why no vessel is to leave any of theports of Great Britain?"

"You are right, Mr. Jackson," replied Buckingham. "He will say,in that case, to the king that I am determined on war, and thatthis measure is my first act of hostility against France."

The secretary bowed and retired.

"We are safe on that side," said Buckingham, turning towardD'Artagnan. "If the studs are not yet gone to Paris, they willnot arrive till after you."

"How so?"

"I have just placed an embargo on all vessels at present in hisMajesty's ports, and without particular permission, not one darelife an anchor."

D'Artagnan looked with stupefaction at a man who thus employedthe unlimited power with which he was clothed by the confidenceof a king in the prosecution of his intrigues. Buckingham saw bythe expression of the young man's face what was passing in hismind, and he smiled.

"Yes," said he, "yes, Anne of Austria is my true queen. Upon aword from her, I would betray my country, I would betray my king,I would betray my God. She asked me not to send the Protestantsof La Rochelle the assistance I promised them; I have not doneso. I broke my word, it is true; but what signifies that? Iobeyed my love; and have I not been richly paid for thatobedience? It was to that obedience I owe her portrait."

D'Artagnan was amazed to note by what fragile and unknown threadsthe destinies of nations and the lives of men are suspended. Hewas lost in these reflections when the goldsmith entered. He wasan Irishman - one of the most skillful of his craft, and whohimself confessed that he gained a hundred thousand livres a yearby the Duke of Buckingham.

"Mr. O'Reilly," said the duke, leading him into the chapel, "lookat these diamond studs, and tell me what they are worth apiece."

The goldsmith cast a glance at the elegant manner in which theywere set, calculated, one with another, what the diamonds wereworth, and without hesitation said, "Fifteen hundred pistoleseach, my Lord."

"How many days would it require to make two studs exactly likethem? You see there are two wanting."

"Eight days, my Lord."

"I will give you three thousand pistoles apiece if I can havethem by the day after tomorrow."

"My Lord, they shall be yours."

"You are a jewel of a man, Mr. O'Reilly; but that is not all.These studs cannot be trusted to anybody; it must be done in thepalace."

"Impossible, my Lord! There is no one but myself can so executethem that one cannot tell the new from the old."

"Therefore, my dear Mr. O'Reilly, you are my prisoner. And ifyou wish ever to leave my palace, you cannot; so make the best ofit. Name to me such of your workmen as you need, and point outthe tools they must bring."

The goldsmith knew the duke. He knew all objection would beuseless, and instantly determined how to act.

"May I be permitted to inform my wife?" said he.

"Oh, you may even see her if you like, my dear Mr. O'Reilly.Your captivity shall be mild, be assured; and as everyinconvenience deserves its indemnification, here is, in additionto the price of the studs, an order for a thousand pistoles, tomake you forget the annoyance I cause you."

D'Artagnan could not get over the surprise created in him by thisminister, who thus open-handed, sported with men and millions.

As to the goldsmith, he wrote to his wife, sending her the orderfor the thousand pistoles, and charging her to send him, inexchange, his most skillful apprentice, an assortment ofdiamonds, of which he gave the names and the weight, and thenecessary tools.

Buckingham conducted the goldsmith to the chamber destined forhim, and which, at the end of half an hour, was transformed intoa workshop. Then he placed a sentinel at each door, with anorder to admit nobody upon any pretense but his VALET DE CHAMBRE,Patrick. We need not add that the goldsmith, O'Reilly, and hisassistant, were prohibited from going out under any pretext.This point, settled, the duke turned to D'Artagnan. "Now, myyoung friend," said he, "England is all our own. What do youwish for? What do you desire?"

"A bed, my Lord," replied D'Artagnan. "At present, I confess,that is the thing I stand most in need of."

Buckingham gave D'Artagnan a chamber adjoining his own. Hewished to have the young man at hand - not that he at allmistrusted him, but for the sake of having someone to whom hecould constantly talk of the queen.

In one hour after, the ordinance was published in London that novessel bound for France should leave port, not even the packetboat with letters. In the eyes of everybody this was adeclaration of war between the two kingdoms.

On the day after the morrow, by eleven o'clock, the two diamondstuds were finished, and they were so completely imitated, soperfectly alike, that Buckingham could not tell the new ones fromthe old ones, and experts in such matters would have beendeceived as he was. He immediately called D'Artagnan. "Here,"said he to him, "are the diamond studs that you came to bring;and be my witness that I have done all that human power coulddo."

"Be satisfied, my Lord, I will tell all that I have seen. Butdoes your Grace mean to give me the studs without the casket?"

"The casket would encumber you. Besides, the casket is the moreprecious from being all that is left to me. You will say that Ikeep it."

"I will perform your commission, word for word, my Lord."

"And now," resumed Buckingham, looking earnestly at the youngman, "how shall I ever acquit myself of the debt I owe you?"

D'Artagnan blushed up to the whites of his eyes. He saw that theduke was searching for a means of making him accept something andthe idea that the blood of his friends and himself was about tobe paid for with English gold was strangely repugnant to him.

"Let us understand each other, my Lord," replied D'Artagnan, "andlet us make things clear beforehand in order that there may be nomistake. I am in the service of the King and Queen of France,and form part of the company of Monsieur Dessessart, who, as wellas his brother-in-law, Monsieur de Treville, is particularlyattached to their Majesties. What I have done, then, has beenfor the queen, and not at all for your Grace. And still further,it is very probable I should not have done anything of this, ifit had not been to make myself agreeable to someone who is mylady, as the queen is yours."

"Yes," said the duke, smiling, "and I even believe that I knowthat other person; it is - "

"My Lord, I have not named her!" interrupted the young man,warmly.

"That is true," said the duke; "and it is to this person I ambound to discharge my debt of gratitude."

"You have said, my Lord; for truly, at this moment when there isquestion of war, I confess to you that I see nothing in yourGrace but an Englishman, and consequently an enemy whom I shouldhave much greater pleasure in meeting on the field of battle thanin the park at Windsor of the corridors of the Louvre - all which,however, will not prevent me from executing to the very point mycommission or from laying down my life, if there be need of it,to accomplish it; but I repeat it to your Grace, without yourhaving personally on that account more to thank me for in thissecond interview than for what I did for you in the first."

"We say, 'Proud as a Scotsman,'" murmured the Duke of Buckingham.

"And we say, 'Proud as a Gascon,'" replied D'Artagnan. "TheGascons are the Scots of France."

D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and was retiring.

"Well, are you going away in that manner? Where, and how?"

"That's true!"

"Fore Gad, these Frenchmen have no consideration!"

"I had forgotten that England was an island, and that you werethe king of it."

"Go to the riverside, ask for the brig SUND, and give this letterto the captain; he will convey you to a little port, wherecertainly you are not expected, and which is ordinarily onlyfrequented by fishermen."

"The name of that port?"

"St. Valery; but listen. When you have arrived there you will goto a mean tavern, without a name and without a sign - a merefisherman's hut. You cannot be mistaken; there is but one."

"Afterward?"

"You will ask for the host, and will repeat to him the word'Forward!'"

"Which means?"

"In French, EN AVANT. It is the password. He will give you ahorse all saddled, and will point out to you the road you oughtto take. You will find, in the same way, four relays on yourroute. If you will give at each of these relays your address inParis, the four horses will follow you thither. You already knowtwo of them, and you appeared to appreciate them like a judge.They were those we rode on; and you may rely upon me for theothers not being inferior to them. These horses are equipped forthe field. However proud you may be, you will not refuse toaccept one of them, and to request your three companions toaccept the others - that is, in order to make war against us.Besides, the end justified the means, as you Frenchmen say, doesit not?"

"Yes, my Lord, I accept them," said D'Artagnan; "and if it pleaseGod, we will make a good use of your presents."

"Well, now, your hand, young man. Perhaps we shall soon meet onthe field of battle; but in the meantime we shall part goodfriends, I hope."

"Yes, my Lord; but with the hope of soon becoming enemies."

"Be satisfied; I promise you that."

"I depend upon your word, my Lord."

D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and made his way as quickly aspossible to the riverside. Opposite the Tower of London he foundthe vessel that had been named to him, delivered his letter tothe captain, who after having it examined by the governor of theport made immediate preparations to sail.

Fifty vessels were waiting to set out. Passing alongside one ofthem, D'Artagnan fancied he perceived on board it the woman ofMeung - the same whom the unknown gentleman had called Milady, andwhom D'Artagnan had thought so handsome; but thanks to thecurrent of the stream and a fair wind, his vessel passed soquickly that he had little more than a glimpse of her.

The next day about nine o'clock in the morning, he landed at St.Valery. D'Artagnan went instantly in search of the inn, andeasily discovered it by the riotous noise which resounded fromit. War between England and France was talked of as near andcertain, and the jolly sailors were having a carousal.

D'Artagnan made his way through the crowd, advanced toward thehost, and pronounced the word "Forward!" The host instantly madehim a sign to follow, went out with him by a door which openedinto a yard, led him to the stable, where a saddled horse awaitedhim, and asked him if he stood in need of anything else.

"I want to know the route I am to follow," said D'Artagnan.

"Go from hence to Blangy, and from Blangy to Neufchatel. AtNeufchatel, go to the tavern of the Golden Harrow, give thepassword to the landlord, and you will find, as you have here, ahorse ready saddled."

"Have I anything to pay?" demanded D'Artagnan.

"Everything is paid," replied the host, "and liberally. Begone,and may God guide you!"

"Amen!" cried the young man, and set off at full gallop.

Four hours later he was in Neufchatel. He strictly followed theinstructions he had received. At Neufchatel, as at St. Valery,he found a horse quite ready and awaiting him. He was about toremove the pistols from the saddle he had quit to the one he wasabout to fill, but he found the holsters furnished with similarpistols.

"Your address at Paris?"

"Hotel of the Guards, company of Dessessart."

"Enough," replied the questioner.

"Which route must I take?" demanded D'Artagnan, in his turn.

"That of Rouen; but you will leave the city on your right. Youmust stop at the little village of Eccuis, in which there is butone tavern - the Shield of France. Don't condemn it fromappearances; you will find a horse in the stables quite as goodas this."

"The same password?"

"Exactly."

"Adieu, master!"

"A good journey, gentlemen! Do you want anything?"

D'Artagnan shook his head, and set off at full speed. At Eccuis,the same scene was repeated. He found as provident a host and afresh horse. He left his address as he had done before, and setoff again at the same pace for Pontoise. At Pontoise he changedhis horse for the last time, and at nine o'clock galloped intothe yard of Treville's hotel. He had made nearly sixty leaguesin little more than twelve hours.

M. de Treville received him as if he had seen him that samemorning; only, when pressing his hand a little more warmly thanusual, he informed him that the company of Dessessart was on dutyat the Louvre, and that he might repair at once to his post.