of our visit?”
“You did well; you would have caused him an access of his
disease. Let us go to Monsieur de Beaufort.”
The two friends went to the Hotel de Vendome. It was ten
o’clock when they arrived. The Hotel de Vendome was not less
guarded than the Hotel de Bouillon, and presented as warlike
an appearance. There were sentinels, a guard in the court,
stacks of arms, and horses saddled. Two horsemen going out
as Athos and Aramis entered were obliged to give place to
them.
“Ah! ah! gentlemen,” said Aramis, “decidedly it is a night
for meetings. We shall be very unfortunate if, after meeting
so often this evening, we should not succeed in meeting
to-morrow.”
“Oh, as to that, sir,” replied Chatillon (for it was he who,
with Flamarens, was leaving the Duc de Beaufort), “you may
be assured; for if we meet by night without seeking each
other, much more shall we meet by day when wishing it.”
“I hope that is true,” said Aramis.
“As for me, I am sure of it,” said the duke.
De Flamarens and De Chatillon continued on their way and
Athos and Aramis dismounted.
Hardly had they given the bridles of their horses to their
lackeys and rid themselves of their cloaks when a man
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approached them, and after looking at them for an instant by
the doubtful light of the lantern hung in the centre of the
courtyard he uttered an exclamation of joy and ran to
embrace them.
“Comte de la Fere!” the man cried out; “Chevalier d’Herblay!
How does it happen that you are in Paris?”
“Rochefort!” cried the two friends.
“Yes! we arrived four or five days ago from the Vendomois,
as you know, and we are going to give Mazarin something to
do. You are still with us, I presume?”
“More than ever. And the duke?”
“Furious against the cardinal. You know his success — our
dear duke? He is really king of Paris; he can’t go out
without being mobbed by his admirers.”
“Ah! so much the better! Can we have the honor of seeing his
highness?”
“I shall be proud to present you,” and Rochefort walked on.
Every door was opened to him. Monsieur de Beaufort was at
supper, but he rose quickly on hearing the two friends
announced.
“Ah!” he cried, “by Jove! you’re welcome, sirs. You are
coming to sup with me, are you not? Boisgoli, tell Noirmont
that I have two guests. You know Noirmont, do you not? The
successor of Father Marteau who makes the excellent pies you
know of. Boisgoli, let him send one of his best, but not
such a one as he made for La Ramee. Thank God! we don’t want
either rope ladders or gag-pears now.”
“My lord,” said Athos, “do not let us disturb you. We came
merely to inquire after your health and to take your
orders.”
“As to my health, since it has stood five years of prison,
with Monsieur de Chavigny to boot, ’tis excellent! As to my
orders, since every one gives his own commands in our party,
I shall end, if this goes on, by giving none at all.”
“In short, my lord,” said Athos, glancing at Aramis, “your
highness is discontented with your party?”
“Discontented, sir! say my highness is furious! To such a
degree, I assure you, though I would not say so to others,
that if the queen, acknowledging the injuries she has done
me, would recall my mother and give me the reversion of the
admiralty, which belonged to my father and was promised me
at his death, well! it would not be long before I should be
training dogs to say that there were greater traitors in
France than the Cardinal Mazarin!”
At this Athos and Aramis could not help exchanging not only
a look but a smile; and had they not known it for a fact,
this would have told them that De Chatillon and De Flamarens
had been there.
“My lord,” said Athos, “we are satisfied; we came here only
to express our loyalty and to say that we are at your
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