Part 86 (2/2)
”Lieutenant?” asked Ara captain”
”'Tis capital; and pray, how did you acquire all these honors?”
”In the first place, gentlemen, you know that I was the means of Monsieur de Rochefort's escape; well, I was very near being hung by Mazarin and thatto your popularity----”
”No; thanks to soentleieant?”
”Yes”
”Well, one day when no one could drill a ht foot, others with the left, I succeeded, I did, in in with the same foot, and I was made lieutenant on the spot”
”So I presue number of the nobles with you?”
”Certainly There are the Prince de Conti, the Duc de Longueville, the Duc de Beaufort, the Duc de Bouillon, the Marechal de la Mothe, the Marquis de Sevigne, and I don't knoho, for elonne?” inquired Athos, in a trenan told ”
”Yes, count; nor have I lost sight of hile instant since”
”Then,” said Athos in a tone of delight, ”he is well? no accident has happened to him?”
”None, sir”
”And he lives?”
”Still at the Hotel of the Great Charlene”
”And passes his tiland, sometimes with Madame de Chevreuse He and the Count de Guiche are like each other's shadows”
”Thanks, Planchet, thanks!” cried Athos, extending his hand to the lieutenant
”Oh, sir!” Planchet only touched the tips of the count's fingers
”Well, what are you doing, count--to a foriven entle, ”what do you intend to do?”
”Re-enter Paris, if you will let us, ood Planchet”
”Let you, sir? Now, as ever, I a to his entlemen to pass,” he said; ”they are friends of 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 his expected title, ”take notice that one of the three men who just noent out froentlenity, ”I know them and I answer for them”
As he said this, he pressed Grimaud's hand, who seemed honored by the distinction
”Farewell till we ain,” said Ara happens to us we shall blas at your service”
”That fellow is no fool,” said Araot on his horse
”How should he be?” replied Athos, whilstto brush your hats”
76 The Ambassadors
The two friends rode rapidly down the declivity of the Faubourg, but on arriving at the bottom were surprised to find that the streets of Paris had becoreat rains which fell in January the Seine had overflowed its banks and the river inundated half the capital The two gentleet off their horses and take a boat; and in that strange ht had closed in, and Paris, seen thus, by the light of lanterns flickering on the pools of water, croith ferry-boats of every kind, including those that glittered with the ar froly seize the senses of Aramis, a man most susceptible to warlike impressions
They reached the queen's apartments, but were compelled to stop in the ante-cha audience to gentleland
”We, too,” said Athos, to the foot news froland, but have just coentlemen?”
”The Comte de la Fere and the Chevalier d'Herblay,” said Araentle the names which the queen had so often pronounced with hope, ”in that case it is another thing, and I think heryou here a moment Please follow me,” and he went on before, followed by Athos and Ara at the door of the roon for the the door: ”Madaive entlemen I have come to announce are the Co those two naentlemen heard
”Poor queen!” murmured Athos