by-and-by."

"I am perfectly well aware of that indeed, and that is the very reason
why I laugh as I do, and with all my heart too."

"And now, one last word."

"Why the last?"

"Do we need any one to assist us?"

"No one at all."

"Valets or maid-servants?"

"Bad--detestable. You will give the letters--you will receive them. Oh!
we must have no pride in this affair, otherwise M. Malicorne and
Mademoiselle Aure, not transacting their own affairs themselves, will
have to make up their minds to see them done by others."

"You are quite right; but what is going on yonder in M. de Guiche's
room?"

"Nothing: he is only opening his window."

"Let us be gone." And they both immediately disappeared, all the terms
of the compact having been agreed upon.

The window, which had just been opened, was, in fact, that of the Comte
de Guiche. But it was not alone with the hope of catching a glimpse of
Madame through her curtains that he seated himself by the open window,
for his preoccupation of mind had at that time a different origin. He
had just received, as we have already stated, the courier who had been
dispatched to him by Bragelonne, the latter having written to De Guiche
a letter which had made the deepest impression upon him, and which he
had read over and over again. "Strange, strange!" he murmured. "How
powerful are the means by which destiny hurries men on toward their
fate!" Leaving the window in order to approach nearer to the light, he
again read over the letter he had just received:

"Calais.

"MY DEAR COUNT--I found M. de Wardes at Calais; he has
been seriously wounded in an affair with the Duke of Buckingham. De
Wardes is, as you know, unquestionably brave, but full of
malevolent and wicked feelings. He conversed with me about
yourself, for whom, he says, he has a warm regard; and also about
Madame, whom he considers a beautiful and amiable woman. He has
guessed your affection for a certain person. He also talked to me
about the person for whom I have so ardent a regard, and showed the
greatest interest on my behalf in expressing a deep pity for me,
accompanied, however, by dark hints which alarmed me at first, but
which I at last looked upon as the result of his usual love of
mystery. These are the facts: He had received news of the court;
you will understand, however, that it was only through M. de
Lorraine. The report is,