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〃My lord；〃 said D'Artagnan； no longer able to contain himself； 〃allow me to introduce to you the Chevalier d'Herblay； who wishes as you may have heard to offer his congratulations to your eminence。〃
And he retired； discovering Mazarin； who was in great confusion； to the astonished gaze of Aramis。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 exclaimed the latter； 〃the cardinal！ a glorious prize！ Halloo！ halloo！ friends！ to horse！ to horse！〃
Several horsemen ran quickly to him。
〃Zounds！〃 cried Aramis； 〃I may have done some good； so； my lord； deign to receive my most respectful homage！ I will lay a wager that 'twas that Saint Christopher； Porthos； who performed this feat！ Apropos！ I forgot 〃 and he gave some orders in a low voice to one of the horsemen。
〃I think it will be wise to set off；〃 said D'Artagnan。
〃Yes； but I am expecting some one； a friend of Athos。〃
〃A friend！〃 exclaimed the count。
〃And here he es； by Jupiter！ galloping through the bushes。〃
〃The count！ the count！〃 cried a young voice that made Athos start。
〃Raoul！ Raoul！〃 he ejaculated。
For one moment the young man forgot his habitual respect he threw himself on his father's neck。
〃Look； my lord cardinal；〃 said Aramis； 〃would it not have been a pity to have separated men who love each other as we love？ Gentlemen；〃 he continued； addressing the cavaliers； who became more and more numerous every instant； 〃gentlemen； encircle his eminence； that you may show him the greater honor。 He will； indeed give us the favor of his pany； you will； I hope； be grateful for it； Porthos； do not lose sight of his eminence。〃
Aramis then joined Athos and D'Artagnan； who were consulting together。
〃e；〃 said D'Artagnan； after a conference of five minutes' duration； 〃let us begin our journey。〃
〃Where are we to go？〃 asked Porthos。
〃To your house； dear Porthos； at Pierrefonds； your fine chateau is worthy of affording its princely hospitality to his eminence； it is； likewise； well situated neither too near Paris； nor too far from it； we can establish a munication between it and the capital with great facility。 e； my lord； you shall be treated like a prince； as you are。〃
〃A fallen prince！〃 exclaimed Mazarin； piteously。
〃The chances of war；〃 said Athos； 〃are many； but be assured we shall take no improper advantage of them。〃
〃No； but we shall make use of them；〃 said D'Artagnan。
The rest of the night was employed by these cavaliers in traveling with the wonderful rapidity of former days。 Mazarin； still sombre and pensive； permitted himself to be dragged along in this way； it looked a race of phantoms。 At dawn twelve leagues had been passed without drawing rein； half the escort were exhausted and several horses fell down。
〃Horses； nowadays； are not what they were formerly；〃 observed Porthos； 〃everything degenerates。〃
〃I have sent Grimaud to Dammartin；〃 said Aramis。 〃He is to bring us five fresh horses one for his eminence； four for us。 We； at least； must keep close to monseigneur； the rest of the start will rejoin us later。 Once beyond Saint Denis we shall have nothing to fear。〃
Grimaud； in fact； brought back five horses。 The nobleman to whom he applied； being a friend of Porthos； was very ready； not to sell them； as was proposed； but to lend them。 Ten minutes later the escort stopped at Ermenonville； but the four friends went on with well sustained ardor； guarding Mazarin carefully。 At noon they rode into the avenue of Pierrefonds。
〃Ah！〃 said Musqueton； who had ridden by the side of D'Artagnan without speaking a word on the journey； 〃you may think what you will； sir； but I can breathe now for the first time since my departure from Pierrefonds；〃 and he put his horse to a gallop to announce to the other servants the arrival of Monsieur du Vallon and his friends。
〃We are four of us；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃we must relieve each other in mounting guard over my lord and each of us must watch three hours at a time。 Athos is going to examine the castle； which it will be necessary to render impregnable in case of siege； Porthos will see to the provisions and Aramis to the troops of the garrison。 That is to say； Athos will be chief engineer； Porthos purveyor…in…general； and Aramis governor of the fortress。〃
Meanwhile； they gave up to Mazarin the handsomest room in the chateau。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； when he was in his room； 〃you do not expect； I presume； to keep me here a long time incognito？〃
〃No； my lord；〃 replied the Gascon； 〃on the contrary； we think of announcing very soon that we have you here。〃
〃Then you will be besieged。〃
〃We expect it。〃
〃And what shall you do？〃
〃Defend ourselves。 Were the late Cardinal Richelieu alive he would tell you a certain story of the Bastion Saint Gervais； which we four； with our four lackeys and twelve dead men； held out against a whole army。〃
〃Such feats； sir； are done once and never repeated。〃
〃However； nowadays there's no need of so much heroism。 To…morrow the army of Paris will be summoned； the day after it will be here！ The field of battle； instead； therefore； of being at Saint Denis or at Charenton； will be near piegne or Villars…Cotterets。〃
〃The prince will vanquish you； as he has always done。〃
〃'Tis possible； my lord； but before an engagement ensues we shall move your eminence to another castle belonging to our friend Du Vallon； who has three。 We will not expose your eminence to the chances of war。〃
〃e；〃 answered Mazarin； 〃I see it will be necessary for me to capitulate。〃
〃Before a siege？〃
〃Yes； the conditions will be better than afterward。〃
〃Ah； my lord！ as to conditions； you would soon see how moderate and reasonable we are！〃
〃e； now； what are your conditions？〃
〃Rest yourself first； my lord； and we we will reflect。〃
〃I do not need rest； gentlemen； I need to know whether I am among enemies or friends。〃
〃Friends； my lord！ friends！〃
〃Well； then； tell me at once what you want； that I may see if any arrangement be possible。 Speak； te de la Fere！〃
〃My lord；〃 replied Athos； 〃for myself I have nothing to demand。 For France； were I to specify my wishes； I should have too much。 I beg you to excuse me and propose to the chevalier。〃
And Athos； bowing； retired and remained leaning against the mantelpiece； a spectator of the scene。
〃Speak； then； chevalier！〃 said the cardinal。 〃What do you want？ Nothing ambiguous； if you please。 Be clear； short and precise。〃
〃As for me；〃 replied Aramis； 〃I have in my pocket the very programme of the conditions which the deputation of which I formed one went yesterday to Saint Germain to impose on you。 Let us consider first the ancient rights。 The demands in that programme must be granted。〃
〃We were almost agreed on those；〃 replied Mazarin； 〃let us pass on to private and personal stipulations。〃
〃You suppose； then； that there are some？〃 said Aramis； smiling。
〃I do not suppose that you will all be quite so disinterested as Monsieur de la Fere；〃 replied the cardinal； bowing to Athos。
〃My lord； you are right； and I am glad to see that you do justice to the count at last。 The count has a mind above vulgar desires and earthly