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would never be granted。 e； Athos and Aramis； go to the right； Porthos； e with me to the left； these gentlemen should file off into Normandy； whilst we； by the nearest road； reach Paris。〃
He then gave his friends minute directions as to their route。
〃Ah！ my dear friend；〃 exclaimed Athos； 〃how I should admire the resources of your mind did I not stop to adore those of your heart。〃
And he gave him his hand。
〃Isn't this fox a genius； Athos？〃 asked the Gascon。 〃No！ he knows how to crunch fowls； to dodge the huntsman and to find his way home by day or by night； that's all。 Well； is all said？〃
〃All。〃
〃Then let's count our money and divide it。 Ah！ hurrah！ there's the sun！ A merry morning to you； Sunshine。 'Tis a long time since I saw thee！〃
〃e； e； D'Artagnan；〃 said Athos； 〃do not affect to be strong…minded； there are tears in your eyes。 Let us be open with each other and sincere。〃
〃What！〃 cried the Gascon； 〃do you think； Athos； we can take leave； calmly； of two friends at a time not free from danger to you and Aramis？〃
〃No；〃 answered Athos； 〃embrace me； my son。〃
〃Zounds！〃 said Porthos； sobbing； 〃I believe I'm crying； but how foolish all this is！〃
Then they embraced。 At that moment their fraternal bond of union was closer than ever； and when they parted； each to take the route agreed on； they turned back to utter affectionate expressions； which the echoes of the Dunes repeated。 At last they lost sight of each other。
〃Sacrebleu！ D'Artagnan；〃 said Porthos； 〃I must out with it at once； for I can't keep to myself anything I have against you； I haven't been able to recognize you in this matter。〃
〃Why not？〃 said D'Artagnan； with his wise smile。
〃Because if； as you say； Athos and Aramis are in real danger； this is not the time to abandon them。 For my part； I confess to you that I was all ready to follow them and am still ready to rejoin them； in spite of all the Mazarins in the world。〃
〃You would be right； Porthos； but for one thing； which may change the current of your ideas； and that is； that it is not those gentlemen who are in the greatest danger； it is ourselves； it is not to abandon them that we have separated； but to avoid promising them。〃
〃Really？〃 said Porthos； opening his eyes in astonishment。
〃Yes； no doubt。 If they are arrested they will only be put in the Bastile； if we are arrested it is a matter of the Place de Greve。〃
〃Oh！ oh！〃 said Porthos； 〃there is quite a gap between that fate and the baronial coronet you promised me； D'Artagnan。〃
〃Bah！ perhaps not so great as you think； Porthos； you know the proverb； ‘All roads lead to Rome。'〃
〃But how is it that we are incurring greater risks than Athos and Aramis？〃 asked Porthos。
〃Because they have but fulfilled the mission confided to them by Queen Henrietta and we have betrayed that confided to us by Mazarin； because； going hence as emissaries to Cromwell； we became partisans of King Charles； because； instead of helping cut off the royal head condemned by those fellows called Mazarin； Cromwell； Joyce； Bridge； Fairfax； etc。； we very nearly succeeded in saving it。〃
〃Upon my word that is true；〃 said Porthos； 〃but how can you suppose； my dear friend； that in the midst of his great preoccupations General Cromwell has had time to think 〃
〃Cromwell thinks of everything； Cromwell has time for everything； and believe me； dear friend； we ought not to lose our time it is precious。 We shall not be safe till we have seen Mazarin； and then 〃
〃The devil！〃 said Porthos； 〃what can we say to Mazarin？〃
〃Leave that to me I have my plan。 He laughs best who laughs last。 Cromwell is mighty； Mazarin is tricky； but I would rather have to do with them than with the late Monsieur Mordaunt。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Porthos； 〃it is very pleasant to be able to say
‘the late Monsieur Mordaunt。'〃
〃My faith； yes；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃But we must be going。〃
The two immediately started across country toward the road to Paris； followed by Musqueton； who； after being too cold all night； at the end of a quarter of an hour found himself too warm。
The Return
During the six weeks that Athos and Aramis had been absent from France； the Parisians； finding themselves one morning without either queen or king； were greatly annoyed at being thus deserted； and the absence of Mazarin； a thing so long desired； did not pensate for that of the two august fugitives。
The first feeling that pervaded Paris on hearing of the flight to Saint Germain； was that sort of affright which seizes children when they awake in the night and find themselves alone。 A deputation was therefore sent to the queen to entreat her to return to Paris； but she not only declined to receive the deputies； but sent an intimation by Chancellor Seguier； implying that if the parliament did not humble itself before her majesty by negativing all the questions that had been the cause of the quarrel； Paris would be besieged the very next day。
This threatening answer； unluckily for the court； produced quite a different effect to that which was intended。 It wounded the pride of the parliament； which； supported by the citizens； replied by declaring that Cardinal Mazarin was the cause of all the discontent； denounced him as the enemy both of the king and the state； and ordered him to retire from the court that same day and from France within a week afterward； enjoining； in case of disobedience on his part； all the subjects of the king to pursue and take him。
Mazarin being thus placed beyond the pale of the protection of the law； preparations on both sides were menced by the queen； to attack Paris； by the citizens； to defend it。 The latter were occupied in breaking up the pavement and stretching chains across the streets； when； headed by the coadjutor； appeared the Prince de Conti （the brother of the Prince de Conde） and the Duc de Longueville； his brother…in…law。 This unexpected band of auxiliaries arrived in Paris on the tenth of January and the Prince of Conti was named； but not until after a stormy discussion； generalissimo of the army of the king； out of Paris。
As for the Duc de Beaufort； he arrived from Vendome； according to the annals of the day； bringing with him his high bearing and his long and beautiful hair； qualifications which gained him the sovereignty of the marketplaces。
The Parisian army had organized with the promptness characteristic of the bourgeois whenever they are moved by any sentiment whatever to disguise themselves as soldiers。 On the nineteenth the impromptu army had attempted a sortie； more to assure itself and others of its actual existence than with any more serious intention。 They carried a banner； on which could be read this strange device： 〃We are seeking our king。〃
The next following days were occupied in trivial movements which resulted only in the carrying off of a few herds of cattle and the burning of two or three houses。
That was still the situation of affairs up to the early days of February。 On the first day of that month our four panions had landed at Boulogne； and； in two parties； had set out for Paris。 Toward the end of the fourth day of the journey Athos and Ara