were standing two or
three gentlemen, and among them the Duc de Chatillon, the brother of the
nobleman killed eight or nine years previously in a duel on account of
Madame de Longueville, on the Place Royale. All these gentlemen had been
noticed by Athos and Aramis in the guardhouse, and when the two friends
were announced they started and exchanged some words in a low tone.
"Well, sirs!" cried the queen, on perceiving the two friends, "you
have come, faithful friends! But the royal couriers have been more
expeditious than you, and here are Monsieur de Flamarens and Monsieur de
Chatillon, who bring me from Her Majesty the Queen Anne of Austria, the
very latest intelligence."

Aramis and Athos were astounded by the calmness, even the gayety of the
queen's manner.

"Go on with your recital, sirs," said the queen, turning to the Duc de
Chatillon. "You said that His Majesty, King Charles, my august consort,
had been condemned to death by a majority of his subjects!"

"Yes, madame," Chatillon stammered out.

Athos and Aramis were more and more astonished.

"And that being conducted to the scaffold," resumed the queen--"oh, my
lord! oh, my king!--and that being led to the scaffold he had been saved
by an indignant people."

"Just so madame," replied Chatillon, in so low a voice that though
the two friends were listening eagerly they could hardly hear this
affirmation.

The queen clasped her hands in enthusiastic gratitude, whilst her
daughter threw her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her--her own
eyes streaming with tears.

"Now, madame, nothing remains to me except to proffer my respectful
homage," said Chatillon, who felt confused and ashamed beneath the stern
gaze of Athos.

"One moment, yes," answered the queen. "One moment--I beg--for here
are the Chevalier d'Herblay and the Comte de la Fere, just arrived from
London, and they can give you, as eye-witnesses, such details as you
can convey to the queen, my royal sister. Speak, gentlemen, speak--I am
listening; conceal nothing, gloss over nothing. Since his majesty still
lives, since the honor of the throne is safe, everything else is a
matter of indifference to me."

Athos turned pale and laid his hand on his heart.

"Well!" exclaimed the queen, who remarked this movement and his
paleness. "Speak, sir! I beg you to do so."

"I beg you to excuse me, madame; I wish to add nothing to the recital
of these gentlemen until they perceive themselves that