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in two parties； had set out for Paris。 Toward the end of the fourth day of the 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 acplished 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 e 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 e 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 mandant of the post。〃
The guardroom was filled with citizens and mon 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 e 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 rade 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 being 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 Vite Raoul de Bragelonne？〃 inquired Athos； in a tremulous voice。 〃D'Artagnan told me that he had remended 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 Guich