Whilst these projects were being formed by the Duc deBeaufort and Grimaud, the Comte de la Fere and the Vicomtede Bragelonne were entering Paris by the Rue du FaubourgSaint Marcel.

They stopped at the sign of the Fox, in the Rue du VieuxColombier, a tavern known for many years by Athos, and askedfor two bedrooms.

"You must dress yourself, Raoul," said Athos, "I am going topresent you to some one."

"To-day, monsieur?" asked the young man.

"In half an hour."

The young man bowed. Perhaps, not being endowed with theendurance of Athos, who seemed to be made of iron, he wouldhave preferred a bath in the river Seine of which he hadheard so much, and afterward his bed; but the Comte de laFere had spoken and he had no thought but to obey.

"By the way," said Athos, "take some pains with your toilet,Raoul; I want you to be approved."

"I hope, sir," replied the youth, smiling, "that there's noidea of a marriage for me; you know of my engagement toLouise?"

Athos, in his turn, smiled also.

"No, don't be alarmed, although it is to a lady that I amgoing to present you, and I am anxious that you should loveher - - "

The young man looked at the count with a certain uneasiness,but at a smile from Athos he was quickly reassured.

"How old is she?" inquired the Vicomte de Bragelonne.

"My dear Raoul, learn, once for all, that that is a questionwhich is never asked. When you can find out a woman's age byher face, it is useless to ask it; when you cannot do so, itis indiscreet."

"Is she beautiful?"

"Sixteen years ago she was deemed not only the prettiest,but the most graceful woman in France."

This reply reassured the vicomte. A woman who had been areigning beauty a year before he was born could not be thesubject of any scheme for him. He retired to his toilet.When he reappeared, Athos received him with the samepaternal smile as that which he had often bestowed onD'Artagnan, but a more profound tenderness for Raoul was nowvisibly impressed upon his face.

Athos cast a glance at his feet, hands and hair - thosethree marks of race. The youth's dark hair was neatly partedand hung in curls, forming a sort of dark frame around hisface; such was the fashion of the day. Gloves of gray kid,matching the hat, well displayed the form of a slender andelegant hand; whilst his boots, similar in color to the hatand gloves, confined feet small as those of a boy twelveyears old.

"Come," murmured Athos, "if she is not proud of him, shemust be hard to please."

It was three o'clock in the afternoon. The two travelersproceeded to the Rue Saint Dominique and stopped at the doorof a magnificent hotel, surmounted with the arms of DeLuynes.

"'Tis here," said Athos.

He entered the hotel and ascended the front steps, andaddressing a footman who waited there in a grand livery,asked if the Duchess de Chevreuse was visible and if shecould receive the Comte de la Fere?

The servant returned with a message to say, that, though theduchess had not the honor of knowing Monsieur de la Fere,she would receive him.

Athos followed the footman, who led him through a longsuccession of apartments and paused at length before aclosed door. Athos made a sign to the Vicomte de Bragelonneto remain where he was.

The footman opened the door and announced Monsieur le Comtede la Fere.

Madame de Chevreuse, whose name appears so often in ourstory "The Three Musketeers," without her actually havingappeared in any scene, was still a beautiful woman. Althoughabout forty-four or forty-five years old, she might havepassed for thirty-five. She still had her rich fair hair;her large, animated, intelligent eyes, so often opened byintrigue, so often closed by the blindness of love. She hadstill her nymph-like form, so that when her back was turnedshe still was not unlike the girl who had jumped, with Anneof Austria, over the moat of the Tuileries in 1563. In allother respects she was the same mad creature who threw overher amours such an air of originality as to make themproverbial for eccentricity in her family.

She was in a little boudoir, hung with blue damask, adornedby red flowers, with a foliage of gold, looking upon agarden; and reclined upon a sofa, her head supported on therich tapestry which covered it. She held a book in her handand her arm was supported by a cushion.

At the footman's announcement she raised herself a littleand peeped out, with some curiosity.

Athos appeared.

He was dressed in violet-tinted velvet, trimmed with silk ofthe same color. His shoulder-knots were of burnished silver,his mantle had no gold nor embroidery on it; a simple plumeof violet feathers adorned his hat; his boots were of blackleather, and at his girdle hung that sword with amagnificent hilt that Porthos had so often admired in theRue Feron. Splendid lace adorned the falling collar of hisshirt, and lace fell also over the top of his boots.

In his whole person he bore such an impress of high degree,that Madame de Chevreuse half rose from her seat when shesaw him and made him a sign to sit down near her.

Athos bowed and obeyed. The footman was withdrawing, butAthos stopped him by a sign.

"Madame," he said to the duchess, "I have had the boldnessto present myself at your hotel without being known to you;it has succeeded, since you deign to receive me. I have nowthe boldness to ask you for an interview of half an hour."

"I grant it, monsieur," replied Madame de Chevreuse with hermost gracious smile.

"But that is not all, madame. Oh, I am very presuming, I amaware. The interview for which I ask is of us two alone, andI very earnestly wish that it may not be interrupted."

"I am not at home to any one," said the Duchess de Chevreuseto the footman. "You may go."

The footman went out

There ensued a brief silence, during which these twopersons, who at first sight recognized each other so clearlyas of noble race, examined each other without embarrassmenton either side.

The duchess was the first to speak.

"Well, sir, I am waiting with impatience to hear what youwish to say to me."

"And I, madame," replied Athos, "am looking withadmiration."

"Sir," said Madame de Chevreuse, "you must excuse me, but Ilong to know to whom I am talking. You belong to the court,doubtless, yet I have never seen you at court. Have you, byany chance, been in the Bastile?"

"No, madame, I have not; but very likely I am on the road toit."

"Ah! then tell me who you are, and get along with you uponyour journey," replied the duchess, with the gayety whichmade her so charming, "for I am sufficiently in bad odoralready, without compromising myself still more."

"Who I am, madame? My name has been mentioned to you - theComte de la Fere; you do not know that name. I once boreanother, which you knew, but you have certainly forgottenit."

"Tell it me, sir."

"Formerly," said the count, "I was Athos."

Madame de Chevreuse looked astonished. The name was notwholly forgotten, but mixed up and confused with ancientrecollections.

"Athos?" said she; "wait a moment."

And she placed her hands on her brow, as if to force thefugitive ideas it contained to concentration in a moment.

"Shall I help you, madame?" asked Athos.

"Yes, do," said the duchess.

"This Athos was connected with three young musketeers, namedPorthos, D'Artagnan, and - - "

He stopped short.

"And Aramis," said the duchess, quickly.

"And Aramis; I see you have not forgotten the name."

"No," she said; "poor Aramis; a charming man, elegant,discreet, and a writer of poetical verses. I am afraid hehas turned out ill," she added.

"He has; he is an abbe."

"Ah, what a misfortune!" exclaimed the duchess, playingcarelessly with her fan. "Indeed, sir, I thank you; you haverecalled one of the most agreeable recollections of myyouth."

"Will you permit me, then, to recall another to you?"

"Relating to him?"

"Yes and no."

"Faith!" said Madame de Chevreuse, "say on. With a man likeyou I fear nothing."

Athos bowed. "Aramis," he continued, "was intimate with ayoung needlewoman from Tours, a cousin of his, named MarieMichon."

"Ah, I knew her!" cried the duchess. "It was to her he wrotefrom the siege of Rochelle, to warn her of a plot againstthe Duke of Buckingham."

"Exactly so; will you allow me to speak to you of her?"

"If," replied the duchess, with a meaning look, "you do notsay too much against her."

"I should be ungrateful," said Athos, "and I regardingratitude, not as a fault or a crime, but as a vice, whichis much worse."

"You ungrateful to Marie Michon, monsieur?" said Madame deChevreuse, trying to read in Athos's eyes. "But how can thatbe? You never knew her."

"Eh, madame, who knows?" said Athos. "There is a popularproverb to the effect that it is only mountains that nevermeet; and popular proverbs contain sometimes a wonderfulamount of truth."

"Oh, go on, monsieur, go on!" said Madame de Chevreuseeagerly; "you can't imagine how much this conversationinterests me."

"You encourage me," said Athos, "I will continue, then. Thatcousin of Aramis, that Marie Michon, that needlewoman,notwithstanding her low condition, had acquaintances in thehighest rank; she called the grandest ladies of the courther friend, and the queen - proud as she is, in her doublecharacter as Austrian and as Spaniard - called her hersister."

"Alas!" said Madame de Chevreuse, with a slight sigh and alittle movement of her eyebrows that was peculiarly her own,"since that time everything has changed."

"And the queen had reason for her affection, for Marie wasdevoted to her - devoted to that degree that she served heras medium of intercourse with her brother, the king ofSpain."

"Which," interrupted the duchess, "is now brought up againsther as a great crime."

"And therefore," continued Athos, "the cardinal - the truecardinal, the other one - determined one fine morning toarrest poor Marie Michon and send her to the Chateau deLoches. Fortunately the affair was not managed so secretlybut that it became known to the queen. The case had beenprovided for: if Marie Michon should be threatened with anydanger the queen was to send her a prayer-book bound ingreen velvet."

"That is true, monsieur, you are well informed."

"One morning the green book was brought to her by the Princede Marsillac. There was no time to lose. Happily Marie and afollower of hers named Kitty could disguise themselvesadmirably in men's clothes. The prince procured for MarieMichon the dress of a cavalier and for Kitty that of alackey; he sent them two excellent horses, and the fugitiveswent out hastily from Tours, shaping their course towardSpain, trembling at the least noise, following unfrequentedroads, and asking for hospitality when they found themselveswhere there was no inn."

"Why, really, it was all exactly as you say!" cried Madamede Chevreuse, clapping her hands. "It would indeed bestrange if - - " she checked herself.

"If I should follow the two fugitives to the end of theirjourney?" said Athos. "No, madame, I will not thus wasteyour time. We will accompany them only to a little villagein Limousin, lying between Tulle and Angouleme - a littlevillage called Roche-l'Abeille."

Madame de Chevreuse uttered a cry of surprise, and looked atAthos with an expression of astonishment that made the oldmusketeer smile.

"Wait, madame," continued Athos, "what remains for me totell you is even more strange than what I have narrated."

"Monsieur," said Madame de Chevreuse, "I believe you are asorcerer; I am prepared for anything. But really - Nomatter, go on."

"The journey of that day had been long and wearing; it was acold day, the eleventh of October, there was no inn orchateau in the village and the homes of the peasants werepoor and unattractive. Marie Michon was a very aristocraticperson; like her sister the queen, she had been accustomedto pleasing perfumes and fine linen; she resolved,therefore, to seek hospitality of the priest."

Athos paused.

"Oh, continue!" said the duchess. "I have told you that I amprepared for anything."

"The two travelers knocked at the door. It was late; thepriest, who had gone to bed, cried out to them to come in.They entered, for the door was not locked - there is muchconfidence among villagers. A lamp burned in the chamberoccupied by the priest. Marie Michon, who made the mostcharming cavalier in the world, pushed open the door, puther head in and asked for hospitality. `Willingly, my youngcavalier,' said the priest, `if you will be content with theremains of my supper and with half my chamber.'

"The two travelers consulted for a moment. The priest hearda burst of laughter and then the master, or rather, themistress, replied: `Thank you, monsieur le cure, I accept.'`Sup, then, and make as little noise as possible,' said thepriest, `for I, too, have been on the go all day and shallnot be sorry to sleep to-night.'"

Madame de Chevreuse evidently went from surprise toastonishment, and from astonishment to stupefaction. Herface, as she looked at Athos, had taken on an expressionthat cannot be described. It could be seen that she hadwished to speak, but she had remained silent through fear oflosing one of her companion's words.

"What happened then?" she asked.

"Then?" said Athos. "Ah, I have come now to what is mostdifficult."

"Speak, speak! One can say anything to me. Besides, itdoesn't concern me; it relates to Mademoiselle MarieMichon."

"Ah, that is true," said Athos. "Well, then, Marie Michonhad supper with her follower, and then, in accordance withthe permission given her, she entered the chamber of herhost, Kitty meanwhile taking possession of an armchair inthe room first entered, where they had taken their supper."

"Really, monsieur," said Madame de Chevreuse, "unless youare the devil in person I don't know how you could becomeacquainted with all these details."

"A charming woman was that Marie Michon," resumed Athos,"one of those wild creatures who are constantly conceivingthe strangest ideas. Now, thinking that her host was apriest, that coquette took it into her head that it would bea happy souvenir for her old age, among the many happysouvenirs she already possessed, if she could win that ofhaving damned an abbe."

"Count," said the duchess, "upon my word, you frighten me."

"Alas!" continued Athos, "the poor abbe was not a St.Ambroise, and I repeat, Marie Michon was an adorablecreature."

"Monsieur!" cried the duchess, seizing Athos's hands, "tellme this moment how you know all these details, or I willsend to the convent of the Vieux Augustins for a monk tocome and exorcise you."

Athos laughed. "Nothing is easier, madame. A cavalier,charged with an important mission, had come an hour beforeyour arrival, seeking hospitality, at the very moment thatthe cure, summoned to the bedside of a dying person, leftnot only his house but the village, for the entire night.The priest having all confidence in his guest, who, besides,was a nobleman, had left to him his house, his supper andhis chamber. And therefore Marie came seeking hospitalityfrom the guest of the good abbe and not from the good abbehimself."

"And that cavalier, that guest, that nobleman who arrivedbefore she came?"

"It was I, the Comte de la Fere," said Athos, rising andbowing respectfully to the Duchess de Chevreuse.

The duchess remained a moment stupefied; then, suddenlybursting into laughter:

"Ah! upon my word," said she, "it is very droll, and thatmad Marie Michon fared better than she expected. Sit down,dear count, and go on with your story."

"At this point I have to accuse myself of a fault, madame. Ihave told you that I was traveling on an important mission.At daybreak I left the chamber without noise, leaving mycharming companion asleep. In the front room the followerwas also still asleep, her head leaning back on the chair,in all respects worthy of her mistress. Her pretty facearrested my attention; I approached and recognized thatlittle Kitty whom our friend Aramis had placed with her. Inthat way I discovered that the charming traveler was - - "

"Marie Michon!" said Madame de Chevreuse, hastily.

"Marie Michon," continued Athos. "Then I went out of thehouse; I proceeded to the stable and found my horse saddledand my lackey ready. We set forth on our journey."

"And have you never revisited that village?" eagerly askedMadame de Chevreuse.

"A year after, madame."

"Well?"

"I wanted to see the good cure again. I found him muchpreoccupied with an event that he could not at allcomprehend. A week before he had received, in a cradle, abeautiful little boy three months old, with a purse filledwith gold and a note containing these simple words: `11October, 1633.'"

"It was the date of that strange adventure," interruptedMadame de Chevreuse.

"Yes, but he couldn't understand what it meant, for he hadspent that night with a dying person and Marie Michon hadleft his house before his return."

"You must know, monsieur, that Marie Michon, when shereturned to France in 1643, immediately sought forinformation about that child; as a fugitive she could nottake care of it, but on her return she wished to have itnear her."

"And what said the abbe?" asked Athos.

"That a nobleman whom he did not know had wished to takecharge of it, had answered for its future, and had taken itaway."

"That was true."

"Ah! I see! That nobleman was you; it was his father!"

"Hush! do not speak so loud, madame; he is there."

"He is there! my son! the son of Marie Michon! But I mustsee him instantly."

"Take care, madame," said Athos, "for he knows neither hisfather nor his mother."

"You have kept the secret! you have brought him to see me,thinking to make me happy. Oh, thanks! sir, thanks!" criedMadame de Chevreuse, seizing his hand and trying to put itto her lips; "you have a noble heart."

"I bring him to you, madame," said Athos, withdrawing hishand, "hoping that in your turn you will do something forhim; till now I have watched over his education and I havemade him, I hope, an accomplished gentleman; but I am nowobliged to return to the dangerous and wandering life ofparty faction. To-morrow I plunge into an adventurous affairin which I may be killed. Then it will devolve on you topush him on in that world where he is called on to occupy aplace."

"Rest assured," cried the duchess, "I shall do what I can. Ihave but little influence now, but all that I have shallmost assuredly be his. As to his title and fortune - - "

"As to that, madame, I have made over to him the estate ofBragelonne, my inheritance, which will give him ten thousandfrancs a year and the title of vicomte."

"Upon my soul, monsieur," said the duchess, "you are a truenobleman! But I am eager to see our young vicomte. Where ishe?"

"There, in the salon. I will have him come in, if you reallywish it."

Athos moved toward the door; the duchess held him back.

"Is he handsome?" she asked.

Athos smiled.

"He resembles his mother."

So he opened the door and beckoned the young man in.

The duchess could not restrain a cry of joy on seeing sohandsome a young cavalier, so far surpassing all that hermaternal pride had been able to conceive.

"Vicomte, come here," said Athos; "the duchess permits youto kiss her hand."

The youth approached with his charming smile and his headbare, and kneeling down, kissed the hand of the Duchess deChevreuse.

"Sir," he said, turning to Athos, "was it not in compassionto my timidity that you told me that this lady was theDuchess de Chevreuse, and is she not the queen?"

"No, vicomte," said Madame de Chevreuse, taking his hand andmaking him sit near her, while she looked at him with eyessparkling with pleasure; "no, unhappily, I am not the queen.If I were I should do for you at once the most that youdeserve. But let us see; whatever I may be," she added,hardly restraining herself from kissing that pure brow, "letus see what profession you wish to follow."

Athos, standing, looked at them both with indescribablepleasure.

"Madame," answered the youth in his sweet voice, "it seemsto me that there is only one career for a gentleman - thatof the army. I have been brought up by monsieur le comtewith the intention, I believe, of making me a soldier; andhe gave me reason to hope that at Paris he would present meto some one who would recommend me to the favor of theprince."

"Yes, I understand it well. Personally, I am on bad termswith him, on account of the quarrels between Madame deMontbazon, my mother-in-law, and Madame de Longueville. Butthe Prince de Marsillac! Yes, indeed, that's the rightthing. The Prince de Marsillac - my old friend - willrecommend our young friend to Madame de Longueville, whowill give him a letter to her brother, the prince, who lovesher too tenderly not to do what she wishes immediately."

"Well, that will do charmingly," said the count; "but may Ibeg that the greatest haste may be made, for I have reasonsfor wishing the vicomte not to sleep longer than to-morrownight in Paris!"

"Do you wish it known that you are interested about him,monsieur le comte?"

"Better for him in future that he should be supposed neverto have seen me."

"Oh, sir!" cried Raoul.

"You know, Bragelonne," said Athos, "I never speak withoutreflection."

"Well, comte, I am going instantly," interrupted theduchess, "to send for the Prince de Marsillac, who ishappily, in Paris just now. What are you going to do thisevening?"

"We intend to visit the Abbe Scarron, for whom I have aletter of introduction and at whose house I expect to meetsome of my friends."

"'Tis well; I will go there also, for a few minutes," saidthe duchess; "do not quit his salon until you have seen me."

Athos bowed and prepared to leave.

"Well, monsieur le comte," said the duchess, smiling, "doesone leave so solemnly his old friends?"

"Ah," murmured Athos, kissing her hand, "had I only soonerknown that Marie Michon was so charming a creature!" And hewithdrew, sighing.