During the six weeks that Athos and Aramis had been absentfrom France, the Parisians, finding themselves one morningwithout either queen or king, were greatly annoyed at beingthus deserted, and the absence of Mazarin, a thing so longdesired, did not compensate for that of the two augustfugitives.

The first feeling that pervaded Paris on hearing of theflight to Saint Germain, was that sort of affright whichseizes children when they awake in the night and findthemselves alone. A deputation was therefore sent to thequeen to entreat her to return to Paris; but she not onlydeclined to receive the deputies, but sent an intimation byChancellor Seguier, implying that if the parliament did nothumble itself before her majesty by negativing all thequestions that had been the cause of the quarrel, Pariswould be besieged the very next day.

This threatening answer, unluckily for the court, producedquite a different effect to that which was intended. Itwounded the pride of the parliament, which, supported by thecitizens, replied by declaring that Cardinal Mazarin was thecause of all the discontent; denounced him as the enemy bothof the king and the state, and ordered him to retire fromthe court that same day and from France within a weekafterward; 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 protectionof the law, preparations on both sides were commenced - bythe queen, to attack Paris, by the citizens, to defend it.The latter were occupied in breaking up the pavement andstretching chains across the streets, when, headed by thecoadjutor, appeared the Prince de Conti (the brother of thePrince de Conde) and the Duc de Longueville, hisbrother-in-law. This unexpected band of auxiliaries arrivedin Paris on the tenth of January and the Prince of Conti wasnamed, 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 hishigh bearing and his long and beautiful hair, qualificationswhich gained him the sovereignty of the marketplaces.

The Parisian army had organized with the promptnesscharacteristic of the bourgeois whenever they are moved byany 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 existencethan with any more serious intention. They carried a banner,on which could be read this strange device: "We are seekingour king."

The next following days were occupied in trivial movementswhich resulted only in the carrying off of a few herds ofcattle and the burning of two or three houses.

That was still the situation of affairs up to the early daysof February. On the first day of that month our fourcompanions had landed at Boulogne, and, in two parties, hadset out for Paris. Toward the end of the fourth day of thejourney Athos and Aramis reached Nanterre, which place theycautiously passed by on the outskirts, fearing that theymight 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 hadno right to be imprudent, that they had been charged by KingCharles with a supreme and sacred mission, which, receivedat the foot of the scaffold, could be accomplished only atthe 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, andcalled his sergeant.

The sergeant, with the air of importance which such peopleassume when they are clad with military dignity, said:

"Who are you, gentlemen?"

"Two gentlemen."

"And where do you come from?"

"From London."

"And what are you going to do in Paris?"

"We are going with a mission to Her Majesty, the Queen ofEngland."

"Ah, every one seems to be going to see the queen ofEngland. We have already at the station three gentlemenwhose passports are under examination, who are on their wayto her majesty. Where are your passports?"

"We have none; we left England, ignorant of the state ofpolitics here, having left Paris before the departure of theking."

"Ah!" said the sergeant, with a cunning smile, "you areMazarinists, who are sent as spies."

"My dear friend," here Athos spoke, "rest assured, if wewere Mazarinists we should come well prepared with everysort of passport. In your situation distrust those who arewell provided with every formality."

"Enter the guardroom," said the sergeant; "we will lay yourcase before the commandant of the post."

The guardroom was filled with citizens and common people,some playing, some drinking, some talking. In a corner,almost hidden from view, were three gentlemen, who hadpreceded Athos and Aramis, and an officer was examiningtheir passports. The first impulse of these three, and ofthose who last entered, was to cast an inquiring glance ateach other. The first arrivals wore long cloaks, in whosedrapery they were carefully enveloped; one of them, shorterthan the rest, remained pertinaciously in the background.

When the sergeant on entering the room announced that in allprobability he was bringing in two Mazarinists, it appearedto be the unanimous opinion of the officers on guard thatthey ought not to pass.

"Be it so," said Athos; "yet it is probable, on thecontrary, that we shall enter, because we seem to have to dowith sensible people. There seems to be only one thing todo, which is, to send our names to Her Majesty the Queen ofEngland, and if she engages to answer for us I presume weshall be allowed to enter."

On hearing these words the shortest of the other three menseemed 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 yousee?"

"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 gentlemenpass."

The three gentlemen bowed and hastened to take advantage ofthis permission.

Aramis looked after them, and as the last of them passedclose 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 saidto the sergeant, "do you know those three gentlemen who arejust gone out?"

"Only by their passports; they are three Frondists, who aregone to rejoin the Duc de Longueville."

"'Tis strange," said Aramis, almost involuntarily; "Ifancied 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 theunerring eye of D'Artagnan."

"Who is speaking of Monsieur D'Artagnan?" asked an officerwho 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 inParis. Oh, how happy you make us! no doubt you come to jointhe princes!"

"As thou seest, Planchet," said Aramis, whilst Athos smiledon seeing what important rank was held in the city militiaby the former comrade 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 tobelieve that he has reached Paris before us."

"No, sir; I am sure he hasn't yet arrived. But then he mayhave 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 veryanxious."

"In fact," said Aramis, "there is no time lost and we madeour journey quickly. Permit me, then, my dear Athos, withoutinquiring 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 becoming captain."

"'Tis capital; and pray, how did you acquire all thesehonors?"

"In the first place, gentlemen, you know that I was themeans of Monsieur de Rochefort's escape; well, I was verynear being hung by Mazarin and that made me more popularthan ever."

"So, owing to your popularity - - "

"No; thanks to something better. You know, gentlemen, that Iserved the Piedmont regiment and had the honor of being asergeant?"

"Yes."

"Well, one day when no one could drill a mob of citizens,who began to march, some with the right foot, others withthe left, I succeeded, I did, in making them all begin withthe same foot, and I was made lieutenant on the spot."

"So I presume," said Athos, "that you have a large number ofthe nobles with you?"

"Certainly. There are the Prince de Conti, the Duc deLongueville, the Duc de Beaufort, the Duc de Bouillon, theMarechal de la Mothe, the Marquis de Sevigne, and I don'tknow who, for my part."

"And the Vicomte Raoul de Bragelonne?" inquired Athos, in atremulous voice. "D'Artagnan told me that he had recommendedhim to your care, in parting."

"Yes, count; nor have I lost sight of him for a singleinstant since."

"Then," said Athos in a tone of delight, "he is well? noaccident 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 Madamede Chevreuse. He and the Count de Guiche are like eachother's shadows."

"Thanks, Planchet, thanks!" cried Athos, extending his handto the lieutenant.

"Oh, sir!" Planchet only touched the tips of the count'sfingers.

"Well, what are you doing, count - to a former lackey?

"My friend," said Athos, "he has given me news of Raoul."

"And now, gentlemen," said Planchet, who had not heard whatthey were saying, "what do you intend to do?"

"Re-enter Paris, if you will let us, my good Planchet."

"Let you. sir? Now, as ever, I am nothing but your servant."Then turning to his men:

"Allow these gentlemen to pass," he said; "they are friendsof the Duc de Beaufort."

"Long live the Duc de Beaufort!" cried the sentinels.

The sergeant drew near to Planchet.

"What! without passports?" he murmured.

"Without passports," said Planchet.

"Take notice, captain," he continued, giving Planchet hisexpected title, "take notice that one of the three men whojust now went out from here told me privately to distrustthese gentlemen."

"And I," said Planchet, with dignity, "I know them and Ianswer for them."

As he said this, he pressed Grimaud's hand, who seemedhonored by the distinction.

"Farewell till we meet again," said Aramis, as they tookleave of Planchet; "if anything happens to us we shall blameyou for it."

"Sir," said Planchet, "I am in all things at your service."

"That fellow is no fool," said Aramis, as he got on hishorse.

"How should he be?" replied Athos, whilst mounting also,"seeing he was used so long to brush your hats."