shed from the inner room where he was
sleeping. He was not mistaken; as he entered his bedroom a man was
getting in by the window.

"Ah! you scoundrel!" cried D'Artagnan, taking the man for a thief and
seizing his sword.

"Sir!" cried the man, "in the name of Heaven put your sword back into
the sheath and don't kill me unheard. I'm no thief, but an honest
citizen, well off in the world, with a house of my own. My name is--ah!
but surely you are Monsieur d'Artagnan?"

"And thou--Planchet!" cried the lieutenant.

"At your service, sir," said Planchet, overwhelmed with joy; "if I were
still capable of serving you."

"Perhaps so," replied D'Artagnan. "But why the devil dost thou run
about the tops of houses at seven o'clock of the morning in the month of
January?"

"Sir," said Planchet, "you must know; but, perhaps you ought not to
know----"

"Tell us what," returned D'Artagnan, "but first put a napkin against the
window and draw the curtains."

"Sir," said the prudent Planchet, "in the first place, are you on good
terms with Monsieur de Rochefort?"

"Perfectly; one of my dearest friends."

"Ah! so much the better!"

"But what has De Rochefort to do with this manner you have of invading
my room?"

"Ah, sir! I must first tell you that Monsieur de Rochefort is----"

Planchet hesitated.

"Egad, I know where he is," said D'Artagnan. "He's in the Bastile."

"That is to say, he was there," replied Planchet. "But in returning
thither last night, when fortunately you did not accompany him, as his
carriage was crossing the Rue de la Ferronnerie his guards insulted
the people, who began to abuse them. The prisoner thought this a good
opportunity for escape; he called out his name and cried for help. I was
there. I heard the name of Rochefort. I remembered him well. I said in a
loud voice that he was a prisoner, a friend of the Duc de Beaufort, who
called for help. The people were infuriated; they stopped the horses and
cut the escort to pieces, whilst I opened the doors of the carriage and
Monsieur de Rochefort jumped out and soon was lost amongst the crowd. At
this moment a patrol passed by. I was obliged to sound a retreat toward
the Rue Tiquetonne; I was pursued and took refuge in the house next to
this, where I have been concealed between two mattresses. This morning I
ventured to run along the gutters and----"

"Well," interrupted D'Artagnan, "I am delighted that De Rochefort is
free, but as for thee, if th