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two friends continued their road and a quarter of an hour
later they had joined De Winter at the Porte Saint Denis。
43
In which it is proved that first Impulses are oftentimes the
best。
The three gentlemen took the road to Picardy； a road so well
known to them and which recalled to Athos and Aramis some of
the most picturesque adventures of their youth。
〃If Musqueton were with us；〃 observed Athos； on reaching the
spot where they had had a dispute with the paviers； 〃how he
would tremble at passing this！ Do you remember； Aramis； that
it was here he received that famous bullet wound？〃
〃By my faith； 'twould be excusable in him to tremble；〃
replied Aramis； 〃for even I feel a shudder at the
recollection； hold； just above that tree is the little spot
where I thought I was killed。〃
It was soon time for Grimaud to recall the past。 Arriving
before the inn at which his master and himself had made such
an enormous repast； he approached Athos and said； showing
him the airhole of the cellar：
〃Sausages！〃
Athos began to laugh； for this juvenile escapade of his
appeared to be as amusing as if some one had related it of
another person。
At last； after traveling two days and a night； they arrived
at Boulogne toward the evening； favored by magnificent
weather。 Boulogne was a strong position； then almost a
deserted town； built entirely on the heights； what is now
called the lower town did not then exist。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said De Winter； on reaching the gate of the
town； 〃let us do here as at Paris let us separate to
avoid suspicion。 I know an inn； little frequented； but of
which the host is entirely devoted to me。 I will go there；
where I expect to find letters； and you go to the first
tavern in the town； to L'Epee du Grand Henri for instance；
refresh yourselves； and in two hours be upon the jetty； our
boat is waiting for us there。〃
The matter being thus decided； the two friends found； about
two hundred paces further； the tavern indicated。 Their
horses were fed； but not unsaddled； the grooms supped； for
it was already late； and their two masters； impatient to
return； appointed a place of meeting with them on the jetty
and desired them on no account to exchange a word with any
one。 It is needless to say that this caution concerned
Blaisois alone long enough since it had been a useless
one to Grimaud。
Athos and Aramis walked down toward the port。 From their
dress； covered with dust； and from a certain easy manner by
means of which a man accustomed to travel is always
recognizable； the two friends excited the attention of a few
promenaders。 There was more especially one upon whom their
arrival had produced a decided impression。 This man； whom
they had noticed from the first for the same reason they had
themselves been remarked by others； was walking in a
listless way up and down the jetty。 From the moment he
perceived them he did not cease to look at them and seemed
to burn with the wish to speak to them。
On reaching the jetty Athos and Aramis stopped to look at a
little boat made fast to a pile and ready rigged as if
waiting to start。
〃That is doubtless our boat；〃 said Athos。
〃Yes；〃 replied Aramis； 〃and the sloop out there making ready
to sail must be that which is to take us to our destination；
now；〃 continued he； 〃if only De Winter does not keep us
waiting。 It is not at all amusing here； there is not a
single woman passing。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Athos； 〃we are overheard。〃
In truth； the walker； who； during the observations of the
two friends； had passed and repassed behind them several
times； stopped at the name of De Winter； but as his face
betrayed no emotion at mention of this name； it might have
been by chance he stood so still。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the man； who was young and pale； bowing
with ease and courtesy； 〃pardon my curiosity； but I see you
come from Paris； or at least that you are strangers at
Boulogne。〃
〃We come from Paris； yes；〃 replied Athos； with the same
courtesy； 〃what is there we can do for you？〃
〃Sir；〃 said the young man； 〃will you be so good as to tell
me if it be true that Cardinal Mazarin is no longer
minister？〃
〃That is a strange question；〃 said Aramis。
〃He is and he is not；〃 replied Athos； 〃that is to say； he is
dismissed by one…half of France； but by intrigues and
promises he makes the other half sustain him； you will
perceive that this may last a long time。〃
〃However； sir；〃 said the stranger； 〃he has neither fled nor
is in prison？〃
〃No； sir； not at this moment at least。〃
〃Sirs； accept my thanks for your politeness；〃 said the young
man； retreating。
〃What do you think of that interrogator？〃 asked Aramis。
〃I think he is either a dull provincial person or a spy in
search of information。〃
〃And you replied to him with that notion？〃
〃Nothing warranted me to answer him otherwise； he was polite
to me and I was so to him。〃
〃But if he be a spy 〃
〃What do you think a spy would be about here？ We are not
living in the time of Cardinal Richelieu； who would have
closed the ports on bare suspicion。〃
〃It matters not； you were wrong to reply to him as you did；〃
continued Aramis； following with his eyes the young man； now
vanishing behind the cliffs。
〃And you；〃 said Athos； 〃you forget that you committed a very
different kind of imprudence in pronouncing Lord de Winter's
name。 Did you not see that at that name the young man
stopped？〃
〃More reason； then； when he spoke to you； for sending him
about his business。〃
〃A quarrel？〃 asked Athos。
〃And since when have you become afraid of a quarrel？〃
〃I am always afraid of a quarrel when I am expected at any
place and when such a quarrel might possibly prevent my
reaching it。 Besides； let me own something to you。 I am
anxious to see that young man nearer。〃
〃And wherefore？〃
〃Aramis； you will certainly laugh at me； you will say that I
am always repeating the same thing； you will call me the
most timorous of visionaries； but to whom do you see a
resemblance in that young man？〃
〃In beauty or on the contrary？〃 asked Aramis； laughing。
〃In ugliness； in so far as a man can resemble a woman。〃
〃Ah！ Egad！〃 cried Aramis； 〃you set me thinking。 No； in truth
you are no visionary； my dear friend； and now I think of it
you yes； i'faith； you're right those delicate； yet
firm…set lips； those eyes which seem always at the command
of the intellect and never of the heart！ Yes； it is one of
Milady's bastards！〃
〃You laugh Aramis。〃
〃From habit； that is all。 I swear to you； I like no better
than yourself to meet that viper in my path。〃
〃Ah！ here is De Winter coming；〃 said Athos。
〃Good！ one thing now is only awanting and that is； that our
grooms should not keep us waiting。〃
〃No；〃 said Athos。 〃I see them about twenty paces behind my
lord。 I recognize Grimaud by his long legs and his
determined slouch。 Tony carries our muskets。〃
〃Then we set sail to…night？〃 asked Aramis； glancing toward
the west； where the sun had left a single golden cloud；
which； dipping into the ocean； appeared by degrees to be
extinguished。
〃Probably；〃 said Athos。
〃Diable！〃 resumed Aramis； 〃I have little fancy for the sea
by day； still less at night； the sounds of wind and wave；
the frightful movements of the vessel； I confess I