Part 60 (1/2)
”Pull down the blinds,” said D'Artagnan
”But will that not excite suspicion, sir?” asked the queen
”Your majesty's mind may be quite at ease,” replied the officer; ”I have my answer ready”
The blinds were pulled down and they started at a gallop by the Rue Richelieu On reaching the gate the captain of the post advanced at the head of a dozen ned to thee?” he asked the sergeant
”No,” replied the latter
”Look at the areant put the lantern near the panel
”They are those ofa ride with Madah
”Open the gate,” he cried ”I knoho it is!” Then putting his face to the lowered blinds, he said: ”I wish you joy, nan, ”you will get es, and D'Artagnan, seeing the way clear, whipped his horses, who started at a canter, and five minutes later they had rejoined the cardinal
”Mousqueton!” exclaie”
”It is he!” cried Porthos
”Disguised as a coach the coadjutor's carriage!” said the queen
”Corpo di Dio! Monsieur d'Artagnan!” said Mazarin, ”you are worth your weight in gold”
53 How D'Artagnan and Porthos earned by selling Straw
Mazarin was desirous of setting out instantly for Saint Germain, but the queen declared that she should wait for the people whom she had appointed to meet her However, she offered the cardinal Laporte's place, which he accepted and went froe to the other
It was not without foundation that a report of the king's intention to leave Paris by night had been circulated Ten or twelve persons had been in the secret since six o'clock, and howsoever great their prudence ht be, they could not issue the necessary orders for the departure without suspicion being generated Besides, each individual had one or two others for whom he was interested; and as there could be no doubt but that the queen was leaving Paris full of terrible projects of vengeance, every one had warned parents and friends of as about to transpire; so that the news of the approaching exit ran like a train of lighted gunpowder along the streets
The first carriage which arrived after that of the queen was that of the Prince de Conde, with the princess and dowager princess Both these ladies had been awakened in the ht and did not knohat it all was about The second contained the Duke and duchess of Orleans, the tall young Mademoiselle and the Abbe de la Riviere; and the third, the Duke de Longueville and the Prince de Conti, brother and brother-in-law of Conde They all alighted and hastened to pay their respects to the king and queen in their coach The queen fixed her eyes upon the carriage they had left, and seeing that it was eueville?”
”Ah, yes, where is ueville is ill,” said the duke, ”and she desired lance to Mazarin, who answered by an almost imperceptible shake of his head
”What do you say of this?” asked the queen
”I say that she is a hostage for the Parisians,” answered the cardinal
”Why is she not co his brother
”Silence,” whispered the duke, ”she has her reasons”
”She will ruin us!” returned the prince
”She will save us,” said Conti
Carriages now arrived in crowds; those of the Marechal de Villeroy, Guitant, Villequier and Coes came into the line The twothe horses of D'Artagnan and Porthos in their hands These two instantly nan on the coach-box of the royal coach Mousqueton took the place of the coach, for reasons known to hih occupied by a thousand details, tried to catch the Gascon's eye; but he, with his wonted prudence, had uard,” said he to Porthos, ”and find good quarters at Saint Gerreatly fatigued”
”As for e, considering we have not had any fighting; truly the Parisians are idiots”
”Or rather, we are very clever,” said D'Artagnan
”Perhaps”
”And how is your wrist?”
”Better; but do you think that we've got them this time?”
”Got what?”
”You your command, and I my title?”
”I'faith! yes--I should expect so; besides, if they forget, I shall take the liberty of re,” said Porthos; ”I think she wants to ride on horseback”
”Oh, she would like it, but----”
”But what?”
”The cardinal won't allow it Gentle the twoforward to look for lodgings”
D'Artagnan started off for Saint Gerentlee drove on, followed by the other coaches and about fifty horsemen
They reached Saint Ger, the queen found the prince awaiting her, bare-headed, to offer her his hand
”What an awakening for the Parisians!” said the queen, radiant
”It is war,” said the prince
”Well, then, let it be war! Have we not on our side the conqueror of Rocroy, of Nordlingen, of Lens?”