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coadjutor。 He is a priest； learned in cases of conscience；
and we will tell him ours。〃
It was then agreed that they were to go first to Monsieur de
Bouillon； as his house came first； but first of all Athos
begged that he might go to the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne；
to see Raoul。
They re…entered the boat which had brought them to the
Louvre and thence proceeded to the Halles； and taking up
Grimaud and Blaisois； they went on foot to the Rue
Guenegaud。
But Raoul was not at the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne。 He had
received a message from the prince； to whom he had hastened
with Olivain the instant he had received it。
77
The three Lieutenants of the Generalissimo。
The night was dark； but still the town resounded with those
noises that disclose a city in a state of siege。 Athos and
Aramis did not proceed a hundred steps without being stopped
by sentinels placed before the barricades； who demanded the
watchword； and on their saying that they were going to
Monsieur de Bouillon on a mission of importance a guide was
given them under pretext of conducting them； but in fact as
a spy over their movements。
On arriving at the Hotel de Bouillon they came across a
little troop of three cavaliers； who seemed to know every
possible password； for they walked without either guide or
escort； and on arriving at the barricades had nothing to do
but to speak to those who guarded them； who instantly let
them pass with evident deference； due probably to their high
birth。
On seeing them Athos and Aramis stood still。
〃Oh！〃 cried Aramis； 〃do you see； count？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Athos。
〃Who do these three cavaliers appear to you to be？〃
〃What do you think； Aramis？〃
〃Why； they are our men。〃
〃You are not mistaken； I recognize Monsieur de Flamarens。〃
〃And I； Monsieur de Chatillon。〃
〃As to the cavalier in the brown cloak 〃
〃It is the cardinal。〃
〃In person。〃
〃How the devil do they venture so near the Hotel de
Bouillon？〃
Athos smiled； but did not reply。 Five minutes afterward they
knocked at the prince's door。
This door was guarded by a sentinel and there was also a
guard placed in the courtyard； ready to obey the orders of
the Prince de Conti's lieutenant。
Monsieur de Bouillon had the gout； but notwithstanding his
illness； which had prevented his mounting on horseback for
the last month …that is； since Paris had been besieged
he was ready to receive the Comte de la Fere and the
Chevalier d'Herblay。
He was in bed； but surrounded with all the paraphernalia of
war。 Everywhere were swords； pistols； cuirasses； and
arquebuses； and it was plain that as soon as his gout was
better Monsieur de Bouillon would give a pretty tangle to
the enemies of the parliament to unravel。 Meanwhile； to his
great regret； as he said； he was obliged to keep his bed。
〃Ah； gentlemen；〃 he cried； as the two friends entered； 〃you
are very happy！ you can ride； you can go and come and fight
for the cause of the people。 But I； as you see； am nailed to
my bed ah！ this demon； gout this demon； gout！〃
〃My lord；〃 said Athos； 〃we are just arrived from England and
our first concern is to inquire after your health。〃
〃Thanks； gentlemen； thanks！ As you see； my health is but
indifferent。 But you come from England。 And King Charles is
well； as I have just heard？〃
〃He is dead； my lord！〃 said Aramis。
〃Pooh！〃 said the duke； too much astonished to believe it
true。
〃Dead on the scaffold； condemned by parliament。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃And executed in our presence。〃
〃What； then； has Monsieur de Flamarens been telling me？〃
〃Monsieur de Flamarens？〃
〃Yes； he has just gone out。〃
Athos smiled。 〃With two companions？〃 he said。
〃With two companions； yes；〃 replied the duke。 Then he added
with a certain uneasiness； 〃Did you meet them？〃
〃Why； yes； I think so in the street；〃 said Athos； and he
looked smilingly at Aramis； who looked at him with an
expression of surprise。
〃The devil take this gout！〃 cried Monsieur de Bouillon；
evidently ill at ease。
〃My lord；〃 said Athos； 〃we admire your devotion to the cause
you have espoused； in remaining at the head of the army
whilst so ill； in so much pain。〃
〃One must；〃 replied Monsieur de Bouillon； 〃sacrifice one's
comfort to the public good； but I confess to you I am now
almost exhausted。 My spirit is willing； my head is clear；
but this demon； the gout； o'ercrows me。 I confess； if the
court would do justice to my claims and give the head of my
house the title of prince； and if my brother De Turenne were
reinstated in his command I would return to my estates and
leave the court and parliament to settle things between
themselves as they might。〃
〃You are perfectly right； my lord。〃
〃You think so？ At this very moment the court is making
overtures to me； hitherto I have repulsed them； but since
such men as you assure me that I am wrong in doing so； I've
a good mind to follow your advice and to accept a
proposition made to me by the Duc de Chatillon just now。〃
〃Accept it； my lord； accept it；〃 said Aramis。
〃Faith！ yes。 I am even sorry that this evening I almost
repulsed but there will be a conference to…morrow and we
shall see。〃
The two friends saluted the duke。
〃Go； gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃you must be much fatigued after
your voyage。 Poor King Charles！ But； after all； he was
somewhat to blame in all that business and we may console
ourselves with the reflection that France has no cause of
reproach in the matter and did all she could to serve him。〃
〃Oh！ as to that；〃 said Aramis； 〃we are witnesses。 Mazarin
especially 〃
〃Yes； do you know； I am very glad to hear you give that
testimony； the cardinal has some good in him； and if he were
not a foreigner well； he would be more justly estimated。
Oh！ the devil take this gout！〃
Athos and Aramis took their leave； but even in the
ante…chamber they could still hear the duke's cries； he was
evidently suffering the tortures of the damned。
When they reached the street； Aramis said：
〃Well； Athos； what do you think？〃
〃Of whom？〃
〃Pardieu！ of Monsieur de Bouillon。〃
〃My friend； I think that he is much troubled with gout。〃
〃You noticed that I didn't breathe a word as to the purpose
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。
Ha