it were for some enterprise like that undertaken against
Monsieur Broussel that you should ask me to take my carbine
—- ”
“No, don’t be alarmed; but where did you get all these
details?”
“From a good source, sir; I heard it from Friquet.”
“From Friquet? I know that name —- ”
“A son of Monsieur de Broussel’s servant, and a lad that, I
promise you, in a revolt will not give away his share to the
dogs.”
“Is he not a singing boy at Notre Dame?” asked D’Artagnan.
“Yes, that is the very boy; he’s patronized by Bazin.”
“Ah, yes, I know.”
“Of what importance is this little reptile to you?” asked
Porthos.
“Gad!” replied D’Artagnan; “he has already given me good
information and he may do the same again.”
Whilst all this was going on, Athos and Aramis were entering
Paris by the Faubourg St. Antoine. They had taken some
refreshment on the road and hastened on, that they might not
fail at the appointed place. Bazin was their only attendant,
for Grimaud had stayed behind to take care of Mousqueton. As
they were passing onward, Athos proposed that they should
lay aside their arms and military costume, and assume a
dress more suited to the city.
“Oh, no, dear count!” cried Aramis, “is it not a warlike
encounter that we are going to?”
“What do you mean, Aramis?”
“That the Place Royale is the termination to the main road
to Vendomois, and nothing else.”
“What! our friends?”
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“Are become our most dangerous enemies, Athos. Let us be on
our guard.”
“Oh! my dear D’Herblay!”
“Who can say whether D’Artagnan may not have betrayed us to
the cardinal? who can tell whether Mazarin may not take
advantage of this rendezvous to seize us?”
“What! Aramis, you think that D’Artagnan, that Porthos,
would lend their hands to such an infamy?”
“Among friends, my dear Athos, no, you are right; but among
enemies it would be only a stratagem.”
Athos crossed his arms and bowed his noble head.
“What can you expect, Athos? Men are so made; and we are not
always twenty years old. We have cruelly wounded, as you
know, that personal pride by which D’Artagnan is blindly
governed. He has been beaten. Did you not observe his
despair on the journey? As to Porthos, his barony was
perhaps dependent on that affair. Well, he found us on his
road and will not be baron this time. Perhaps that famous
barony will have something to do with our interview this
evening. Let us take our precautions, Athos.”
“But suppose they come unarmed? What a disgrace to us.”
“Oh, never fear! besides, if they do, we can easily make an
excuse; we came straight off a journey and are insurgents,
too.”
“An excuse for us! to meet D’Artagnan with a false excuse!
to have to make a false excuse to Porthos! Oh, Aramis!”
continued Athos, shaking his head mournfully, “upon my soul,
you make me the most miserable of men; you disenchant a
heart not wholly dead to friendship. Go in whatever guise
you choose; for my part, I shall go unarmed.”
“No, for I will not allow you to do so. ‘Tis not one man,
not Athos only, not the Comte de la Fere whom you will ruin
by this amiable weakness, but a whole party to whom you
belong and who depend upon you.”
“Be it so then,” replied Athos, sorrowfully.
And they pursued their road in mournful silence.
Scarcely had they reached by the Rue de la Mule the iron
gate of the Place Royale, when they perceived three
cavaliers, D’Artagnan, Porthos, and Planchet, the two former
wrapped up in their military cloaks under which their swords
were hidden, and Planchet, his musket by his side. They were
waiting at the entrance of the Rue Sainte Catharine, and
their horses were fastened to the rings of the arcade.
Athos, therefore, commanded Bazin to fasten up his horse and
that of Aramis in the same manner.
They then advanced two and two, and saluted each other
politely.
“Now where will it be agreeable to you that we hold our
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