Two hours had scarcely elapsed since the departure of themaster of the house, who, in Blaisois's sight, had taken theroad to Paris, when a horseman, mounted on a good piedhorse, stopped before the gate, and with a sonorous "hola!"called the stable-boys who, with the gardeners, had formed acircle round Blaisois, the historian-in-ordinary to thehousehold of the chateau. This "hola," doubtless well knownto Master Blaisois, made him turn his head and exclaim - "Monsieur d'Artagnan! run quickly, you chaps, and open thegate."

A swarm of eight brisk lads flew to the gate, which wasopened as if it had been made of feathers; and every oneloaded him with attentions, for they knew the welcome thisfriend was accustomed to receive from their master; and forsuch remarks the eye of the valet may always be dependedupon.

"Ah!" said M. d'Artagnan, with an agreeable smile, balancinghimself upon his stirrup to jump to the ground, "where isthat dear count?"

"Ah! how unfortunate you are, monsieur!" said Blaisois: "andhow unfortunate will monsieur le comte our master, thinkhimself when he hears of your coming! As ill luck will haveit, monsieur le comte left home two hours ago."

D'Artagnan did not trouble himself about such trifles. "Verygood!" said he. "You always speak the best French in theworld; you shall give me a lesson in grammar and correctlanguage, whilst I wait the return of your master."

"That is impossible, monsieur," said Blaisois; "you wouldhave to wait too long."

"Will he not come back to-day, then?"

"No, nor to-morrow, nor the day after to-morrow. Monsieur lecomte has gone on a journey."

"A journey!" said D'Artagnan, surprised; "that's a fable,Master Blaisois."

"Monsieur, it is no more than the truth. Monsieur has doneme the honor to give me the house in charge; and he added,with his voice so full of authority and kindness - that isall one to me: `You will say I have gone to Paris.'"

"Well!" cried D'Artagnan, "since he is gone towards Paris,that is all I wanted to know! you should have told me so atfirst, booby! He is then two hours in advance?"

"Yes, monsieur."

"I shall soon overtake him. Is he alone?"

"No, monsieur."

"Who is with him, then?"

"A gentleman whom I don't know, an old man, and M. Grimaud."

"Such a party cannot travel as fast as I can - I willstart."

"Will monsieur listen to me an instant?" said Blaisois,laying his hand gently on the reins of the horse.

"Yes, if you don't favor me with fine speeches, and makehaste."

"Well, then, monsieur, that word Paris appears to me to beonly an excuse."

"Oh, oh!" said D'Artagnan, seriously, "an excuse, eh?"

"Yes, monsieur; and monsieur le comte is not going to Paris,I will swear."

"What makes you think so?"

"This - M. Grimaud always knows where our master is going;and he had promised me that the first time he went to Paris,he would take a little money for me to my wife."

"What, have you a wife, then?"

"I had one - she was of this country; but monsieur thoughther a noisy scold, and I sent her to Paris; it is sometimesinconvenient, but very agreeable at others."

"I understand; but go on. You do not believe the count goneto Paris?"

"No, monsieur; for then M. Grimaud would have broken hisword; he would have perjured himself, and that isimpossible."

"That is impossible," repeated D'Artagnan, quite in a study,because he was quite convinced. "Well, my brave Blaisois,many thanks to you."

Blaisois bowed.

"Come, you know I am not curious - I have serious businesswith your master. Could you not, by a little bit of a word- you who speak so well - give me to understand - onesyllable, only - I will guess the rest."

"Upon my word, monsieur, I cannot. I am quite ignorant wheremonsieur le comte is gone. As to listening at doors, that iscontrary to my nature; and besides it is forbidden here."

"My dear fellow," said D'Artagnan, "this is a very badbeginning for me. Never mind, you know when monsieur lecomte will return, at least?"

"As little, monsieur, as the place of his destination."

"Come, Blaisois, come, search."

"Monsieur doubts my sincerity? Ah, monsieur, that grieves memuch."

"The devil take his gilded tongue!" grumbled D'Artagnan. "Aclown with a word would be worth a dozen of him. Adieu!"

"Monsieur, I have the honor to present you my respects."

"Cuistre!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "the fellow isunbearable." He gave another look up to the house, turnedhis horse's head, and set off like a man who has nothingeither annoying or embarrassing in his mind. When he was atthe end of the wall, and out of sight, - "Well, now, Iwonder," said he, breathing quickly, "whether Athos was athome. No; all those idlers, standing with their armscrossed, would have been at work if the eye of the masterwas near. Athos gone a journey? - that is incomprehensible.Bah! it is all devilish mysterious! And then - no - he isnot the man I want. I want one of a cunning, patient mind.My business is at Melun, in a certain presbytery I amacquainted with. Forty-five leagues - four days and a half!Well, it is fine weather, and I am free. Never mind thedistance!"

And he put his horse into a trot, directing his coursetowards Paris. On the fourth day he alighted at Melun as hehad intended.

D'Artagnan was never in the habit of asking any one on theroad for any common information. For these sorts of details,unless in very serious circumstances, he confided in hisperspicacity, which was so seldom at fault, in hisexperience of thirty years, and in a great habit of readingthe physiognomies of houses, as well as those of men. AtMelun, D'Artagnan immediately found the presbytery - acharming house, plastered over red brick, with vinesclimbing along the gutters, and a cross, in carved stone,surmounting the ridge of the roof. From the ground-floor ofthis house came a noise, or rather a confusion of voices,like the chirping of young birds when the brood is justhatched under the down. One of these voices was spelling thealphabet distinctly. A voice, thick, yet pleasant, at thesame time scolded the talkers and corrected the faults ofthe reader. D'Artagnan recognized that voice, and as thewindow of the ground-floor was open, he leant down from hishorse under the branches and red fibers of the vine andcried "Bazin, my dear Bazin! good-day to you."

A short, fat man, with a flat face, a craniun ornamentedwith a crown of gray hairs, cut short, in imitation of atonsure, and covered with an old black velvet cap, arose assoon as he heard D'Artagnan - we ought not to say arose,but bounded up. In fact, Bazin bounded up, carrying with himhis little low chair, which the children tried to take away,with battles more fierce than those of the Greeksendeavoring to recover the body of Patroclus from the handsof the Trojans. Bazin did more than bound; he let fall bothhis alphabet and his ferule. "You!" said he, "you, Monsieurd'Artagnan?"

"Yes, myself! Where is Aramis - no, M. le Chevalierd'Herblay - no, I am still mistaken - Monsieur leVicaire-General?"

"Ah, monsieur," said Bazin, with dignity, "monseigneur is athis diocese."

"What did you say?" said D'Artagnan. Bazin repeated thesentence.

"Ah, ah! but has Aramis a diocese?"

"Yes, monsieur. Why not?"

"Is he a bishop, then?"

"Why, where can you come from," said Bazin, ratherirreverently, "that you don't know that?"

"My dear Bazin, we pagans, we men of the sword, know verywell when a man is made a colonel, or maitre-de-camp, ormarshal of France; but if he be made a bishop, archbishop,or pope - devil take me if the news reaches us before thethree quarters of the earth have had the advantage of it!"

"Hush! hush!" said Bazin, opening his eyes: "do not spoilthese poor children, in whom I am endeavoring to inculcatesuch good principles." In fact, the children had surroundedD'Artagnan, whose horse, long sword, spurs, and martial airthey very much admired. But above all, they admired hisstrong voice; so that, when he uttered his oath, the wholeschool cried out, "The devil take me!" with fearful burstsof laughter, shouts, and bounds, which delighted themusketeer, and bewildered the old pedagogue.

"There!" said he, "hold your tongues, you brats! You havecome, M. d'Artagnan, and all my good principles fly away.With you, as usual, comes disorder. Babel is revived. Ah!Good Lord! Ah! the wild little wretches!" And the worthyBazin distributed right and left blows which increased thecries of his scholars by changing the nature of them.

"At least," said he, "you will no longer decoy any onehere."

"Do you think so?" said D'Artagnan, with a smile which madea shudder creep over the shoulders of Bazin.

"He is capable of it," murmured he.

"Where is your master's diocese?"

"Monseigneur Rene is bishop of Vannes."

"Who had him nominated?"

"Why, monsieur le surintendant, our neighbor."

"What! Monsieur Fouquet?"

"To be sure he did."

"Is Aramis on good terms with him, then?"

"Monseigneur preached every Sunday at the house of monsieurle surintendant at Vaux; then they hunted together."

"Ah!"

"And monseigneur composed his homilies - no, I mean hissermons - with monsieur le surintendant."

"Bah! he preached in verse, then, this worthy bishop?"

"Monsieur, for the love of heaven, do not jest with sacredthings."

"There, Bazin, there! So, then, Aramis is at Vannes?"

"At Vannes, in Bretagne."

"You are a deceitful old hunks, Bazin; that is not true."

"See, monsieur, if you please; the apartments of thepresbytery are empty."

"He is right there," said D'Artagnan, looking attentively atthe house, the aspect of which announced solitude.

"But monseigneur must have written you an account of hispromotion."

"When did it take place?"

"A month back."

"Oh! then there is no time lost. Aramis cannot yet havewanted me. But how is it, Bazin, you do not follow yourmaster?"

"Monsieur, I cannot; I have occupations."

"Your alphabet?"

"And my penitents."

"What, do you confess, then? Are you a priest?"

"The same as one. I have such a call."

"But the orders?"

"Oh," said Bazin, without hesitation, "now that monseigneuris a bishop, I shall soon have my orders, or at least mydispensations." And he rubbed his hands.

"Decidedly," said D'Artagnan to himself, "there will be nomeans of uprooting these people. Get me some supper Bazin."

"With pleasure, monsieur."

"A fowl, a bouillon, and a bottle of wine."

"This is Saturday, monsieur - it is a day of abstinence."

"I have a dispensation," said D'Artagnan.

Bazin looked at him suspiciously.

"Ah, ah, master hypocrite!" said the musketeer, "for whom doyou take me? If you, who are the valet, hope fordispensation to commit a crime, shall not I, the friend ofyour bishop, have dispensation for eating meat at the callof my stomach? Make yourself agreeable with me, Bazin, or,by heavens! I will complain to the king, and you shall neverconfess. Now you know that the nomination of bishops restswith the king - I have the king, I am the stronger."

Bazin smiled hypocritically. "Ah, but we have monsieur lesurintendant," said he.

"And you laugh at the king, then?"

Bazin made no reply; his smile was sufficiently eloquent.

"My supper," said D'Artagnan, "it is getting towards seveno'clock."

Bazin turned round and ordered the eldest of the pupils toinform the cook. In the meantime, D'Artagnan surveyed thepresbytery.

"Phew!" said he, disdainfully, "monseigneur lodged hisgrandeur very meanly here."

"We have the Chateau de Vaux," said Bazin.

"Which is perhaps equal to the Louvre?" said D'Artagnan,jeeringly.

"Which is better," replied Bazin, with the greatest coolnessimaginable.

"Ah, ah!" said D'Artagnan.

He would perhaps have prolonged the discussion, andmaintained the superiority of the Louvre, but the lieutenantperceived that his horse remained fastened to the bars of agate.

"The devil!" said he. "Get my horse looked after; yourmaster the bishop has none like him in his stables."

Bazin cast a sidelong glance at the horse, and replied,"Monsieur le surintendant gave him four from his ownstables; and each of the four is worth four of yours."

The blood mounted to the face of D'Artagnan. His hand itchedand his eye glanced over the head of Bazin, to select theplace upon which he should discharge his anger. But itpassed away; reflection came, and D'Artagnan contentedhimself with saying, -

"The devil! the devil! I have done well to quit the serviceof the king. Tell me, worthy Master Bazin," added he, "howmany musketeers does monsieur le surintendant retain in hisservice?"

"He could have all there are in the kingdom with his money,"replied Bazin, closing his book, and dismissing the boyswith some kindly blows of his cane.

"The devil! the devil!" repeated D'Artagnan, once more, asif to annoy the pedagogue. But as supper was now announced,he followed the cook, who introduced him into the refectory,where it awaited him. D'Artagnan placed himself at thetable, and began a hearty attack upon his fowl.

"It appears to me," said D'Artagnan, biting with all hismight at the tough fowl they had served up to him, and whichthey had evidently forgotten to fatten, - "it appears thatI have done wrong in not seeking service with that masteryonder. A powerful noble this intendant, seemingly! In goodtruth, we poor fellows know nothing at the court, and therays of the sun prevent our seeing the large stars, whichare also suns, at a little greater distance from our earth,- that is all."

As D'Artagnan delighted, both from pleasure and system, inmaking people talk about things which interested him, hefenced in his best style with Master Bazin, but it was pureloss of time; beyond the tiresome and hyperbolical praisesof monsieur le surintendant of the finances, Bazin, who, onhis side, was on his guard, afforded nothing but platitudesto the curiosity of D'Artagnan, so that our musketeer, in atolerably bad humor, desired to go to bed as soon as he hadsupped. D'Artagnan was introduced by Bazin into a meanchamber, in which there was a poor bed; but D'Artagnan wasnot fastidious in that respect. He had been told that Aramishad taken away the key of his own private apartment, and ashe knew Aramis was a very particular man, and had generallymany things to conceal in his apartment, he had not beensurprised. He, therefore, although it appeared comparativelyeven harder, attacked the bed as bravely as he had done thefowl; and, as he had as good an inclination to sleep as hehad had to eat, he took scarcely longer time to be snoringharmoniously than he had employed in picking the last bonesof the bird.

Since he was no longer in the service of any one, D'Artagnanhad promised himself to indulge in sleeping as soundly as hehad formerly slept lightly; but with whatever good faithD'Artagnan had made himself this promise, and whateverdesire he might have to keep it religiously, he was awakenedin the middle of the night by a loud noise of carriages, andservants on horseback. A sudden illumination flashed overthe walls of his chamber; he jumped out of bed and ran tothe window in his shirt. "Can the king be coming this way?"he thought, rubbing his eyes; "in truth, such a suite canonly be attached to royalty."

"Vive monsieur le surintendant!" cried, or rathervociferated, from a window on the ground-floor, a voicewhich he recognized as Bazin's, who at the same time waved ahandkerchief with one hand, and held a large candle in theother. D'Artagnan then saw something like a brilliant humanform leaning out of the principal carriage; at the same timeloud bursts of laughter, caused, no doubt, by the strangefigure of Bazin, and issuing from the same carriage, left,as it were, a train of joy upon the passage of the rapidcortege.

"I might easily see it was not the king," said D'Artagnan;"people don't laugh so heartily when the king passes. Hola,Bazin!" cried he to his neighbor, three-quarters of whosebody still hung out of the window, to follow the carriagewith his eyes as long as he could. "What is all that about?"

"It is M. Fouquet," said Bazin, in a patronizing tone.

"And all those people?"

"That is the court of M. Fouquet."

"Oh, oh!" said D'Artagnan; "what would M. de Mazarin say tothat if he heard it?" And he returned to his bed, askinghimself how Aramis always contrived to be protected by themost powerful personages in the kingdom. "Is it that he hasmore luck than I, or that I am a greater fool than he? Bah!"that was the concluding word by the aid of which D'Artagnan,having become wise, now terminated every thought and everyperiod of his style. Formerly he said, "Mordioux!" which wasa prick of the spur, but now he had become older, and hemurmured that philosophical "Bah!" which served as a bridleto all the passions.