misfortune. I have given orders to my people to close
all the gates and doors. D'Artagnan will not be able to get out before
daybreak. Your horse is ready saddled; you will gain the first relay;
by five o'clock in the morning you will have traversed fifteen leagues.
Come!"

Aramis then assisted Porthos to dress, piece by piece, with as much
celerity as the most skillful valet de chambre could have done. Porthos,
half stupefied, let him do as he liked, and confounded himself in
excuses. When he was ready, Aramis took him by the hand, and led him,
making him place his foot with precaution on every step of the stairs,
preventing him running against doorframes, turning him this way and
that, as if Aramis had been the giant, and Porthos the dwarf. Soul set
fire to and animated matter. A horse was waiting, ready saddled, in the
courtyard. Porthos mounted. Then Aramis himself took the horse by the
bridle, and led him over some dung spread in the yard, with the evident
intention of suppressing noise. He, at the same time, held tight the
horse's nose, to prevent him neighing. When arrived at the outward gate,
drawing Porthos towards him, who was going off without even asking him
what for: "Now friend Porthos, now; without drawing bridle, till you
get to Paris," whispered he in his ears; "eat on horseback, drink on
horseback, sleep on horseback, but lose not a minute."

"That's enough, I will not stop."

"This letter to M. Fouquet; cost what it may, he must have it to-morrow
before mid-day."

"He shall."

"And do not forget one thing, my friend."

"What is that?"

"That you are riding out on a hunt for your brevet of duc and peer."

"Oh! oh!" said Porthos, with his eyes sparkling; "I will do it in
twenty-four hours, in that case."

"Try."

"Then let go the bridle--and forward, Goliath!"

Aramis did let go, not the bridle, but the horse's nose. Porthos
released his hand, clapped spurs to his horse, which set off at a
gallop. As long as he could distinguish Porthos through the darkness,
Aramis followed him with his eyes: when he was completely out of sight,
he re-entered the yard. Nothing had stirred in D'Artagnan's apartment.
The valet placed on watch at the door had neither seen any light, nor
heard any noise. Aramis closed his door carefully, sent the lackey to
bed, and quickly sought his own. D'Artagnan really suspected nothing,
therefore thought he had gained everything, when he awoke in the
morning, about halfp