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journey Athos and Aramis reached Nanterre； which place they
cautiously passed by on the outskirts； fearing that they
might encounter some troop from the queen's army。
It was against his will that Athos took these precautions；
but Aramis had very judiciously reminded him that they had
no right to be imprudent； that they had been charged by King
Charles with a supreme and sacred mission； which； received
at the foot of the scaffold； could be accomplished only at
the feet of Queen Henrietta。 Upon that； Athos yielded。
On reaching the capital Athos and Aramis found it in arms。
The sentinel at the gate refused even to let them pass； and
called his sergeant。
The sergeant； with the air of importance which such people
assume when they are clad with military dignity； said：
〃Who are you； gentlemen？〃
〃Two gentlemen。〃
〃And where do you come from？〃
〃From London。〃
〃And what are you going to do in Paris？〃
〃We are going with a mission to Her Majesty； the Queen of
England。〃
〃Ah； every one seems to be going to see the queen of
England。 We have already at the station three gentlemen
whose passports are under examination； who are on their way
to her majesty。 Where are your passports？〃
〃We have none； we left England； ignorant of the state of
politics here； having left Paris before the departure of the
king。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the sergeant； with a cunning smile； 〃you are
Mazarinists； who are sent as spies。〃
〃My dear friend；〃 here Athos spoke； 〃rest assured； if we
were Mazarinists we should come well prepared with every
sort of passport。 In your situation distrust those who are
well provided with every formality。〃
〃Enter the guardroom；〃 said the sergeant； 〃we will lay your
case before the commandant of the post。〃
The guardroom was filled with citizens and common people；
some playing； some drinking； some talking。 In a corner；
almost hidden from view； were three gentlemen； who had
preceded Athos and Aramis； and an officer was examining
their passports。 The first impulse of these three； and of
those who last entered； was to cast an inquiring glance at
each other。 The first arrivals wore long cloaks； in whose
drapery they were carefully enveloped； one of them； shorter
than the rest； remained pertinaciously in the background。
When the sergeant on entering the room announced that in all
probability he was bringing in two Mazarinists； it appeared
to be the unanimous opinion of the officers on guard that
they ought not to pass。
〃Be it so；〃 said Athos； 〃yet it is probable； on the
contrary； that we shall enter； because we seem to have to do
with sensible people。 There seems to be only one thing to
do； which is； to send our names to Her Majesty the Queen of
England； and if she engages to answer for us I presume we
shall be allowed to enter。〃
On hearing these words the shortest of the other three men
seemed more attentive than ever to what was going on；
wrapping his cloak around him more carefully than before。
〃Merciful goodness！〃 whispered Aramis to Athos； 〃did you
see？〃
〃What？〃 asked Athos。
〃The face of the shortest of those three gentlemen？〃
〃No。〃
〃He looked to me but 'tis impossible。〃
At this instant the sergeant； who had been for his orders；
returned； and pointing to the three gentlemen in cloaks；
said：
〃The passports are in order； let these three gentlemen
pass。〃
The three gentlemen bowed and hastened to take advantage of
this permission。
Aramis looked after them； and as the last of them passed
close to him he pressed the hand of Athos。
〃What is the matter with you； my friend？〃 asked the latter。
〃I have doubtless I am dreaming； tell me； sir；〃 he said
to the sergeant； 〃do you know those three gentlemen who are
just gone out？〃
〃Only by their passports； they are three Frondists； who are
gone to rejoin the Duc de Longueville。〃
〃'Tis strange；〃 said Aramis； almost involuntarily； 〃I
fancied that I recognized Mazarin himself。〃
The sergeant burst into a fit of laughter。
〃He！〃 he cried； 〃he venture himself amongst us； to be hung！
Not so foolish as all that。〃
〃Ah！〃 muttered Athos； 〃I may be mistaken； I haven't the
unerring eye of D'Artagnan。〃
〃Who is speaking of Monsieur D'Artagnan？〃 asked an officer
who appeared at that moment upon the threshold of the room。
〃What！〃 cried Aramis and Athos； 〃what！ Planchet！〃
〃Planchet；〃 added Grimaud； 〃Planchet； with a gorget；
indeed！〃
〃Ah； gentlemen！〃 cried Planchet； 〃so you are back again in
Paris。 Oh； how happy you make us！ no doubt you come to join
the princes！〃
〃As thou seest； Planchet；〃 said Aramis； whilst Athos smiled
on seeing what important rank was held in the city militia
by the former comrade of Musqueton； Bazin and Grimaud。
〃And Monsieur d'Artagnan； of whom you spoke just now；
Monsieur d'Herblay； may I ask if you have any news of him？〃
〃We parted from him four days ago and we have reason to
believe that he has reached Paris before us。〃
〃No； sir； I am sure he hasn't yet arrived。 But then he may
have stopped at Saint Germain。〃
〃I don't think so； we appointed to meet at La Chevrette。〃
〃I was there this very day。〃
〃And had the pretty Madeleine no news？〃 asked Aramis；
smiling。
〃No； sir； and it must be admitted that she seemed very
anxious。〃
〃In fact；〃 said Aramis； 〃there is no time lost and we made
our journey quickly。 Permit me； then； my dear Athos； without
inquiring further about our friend； to pay my respects to M。
Planchet。〃
〃Ah； monsieur le chevalier；〃 said Planchet； bowing。
〃Lieutenant？〃 asked Aramis。
〃Lieutenant； with a promise of becoming captain。〃
〃'Tis capital； and pray； how did you acquire all these
honors？〃
〃In the first place； gentlemen； you know that I was the
means of Monsieur de Rochefort's escape； well； I was very
near being hung by Mazarin and that made me more popular
than ever。〃
〃So； owing to your popularity 〃
〃No； thanks to something better。 You know； gentlemen； that I
served the Piedmont regiment and had the honor of being a
sergeant？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； one day when no one could drill a mob of citizens；
who began to march； some with the right foot； others with
the left； I succeeded； I did； in making them all begin with
the same foot； and I was made lieutenant on the spot。〃
〃So I presume；〃 said Athos； 〃that you have a large number of
the nobles with you？〃
〃Certainly。 There are the Prince de Conti； the Duc de
Longueville； the Duc de Beaufort； the Duc de Bouillon； the
Marechal de la Mothe； the Marquis de Sevigne； and I don't
know who； for my part。〃
〃And the Vicomte Raoul de Bragelonne？〃 inquired Athos； in a
tremulous voice。 〃D'Artagnan told me that he had recommended
him to your care； in parting。〃
〃Yes； count； nor have I lost sight of him for a single
instant since。〃
〃Then；〃 said Athos in a tone of delight； 〃he is well？ no
accident has happened to him？〃
〃None； sir。〃
〃And he lives？〃
〃Still at the Hotel of the Great Charlemagne。〃
〃And passes his time？〃
〃Sometimes with the queen of England； sometimes with Madame
de Chevreuse。 He and the Count de Guiche are like each
other's shadows。〃
〃Thanks； Planchet； thanks！〃 cried Athos； extending his hand
to the lieutenant。
〃Oh； sir！〃 Planchet only touched the tips of the count's
fingers。
〃Well； what are you doing； count to a former