is.

"You will not reply, however, and these gentlemen, I am sure, will
presently be of my opinion."

Aramis shook his head with a motion of indescribable insolence.

Chatillon saw the motion and put his hand to his sword.

"Willingly," replied De Chatillon.

"Duke," said Flamarens, "you forget that to-morrow you are to command an
expedition of the greatest importance, projected by the prince, assented
to by the queen. Until to-morrow evening you are not at your own
disposal."

"Let it be then the day after to-morrow," said Aramis.

"To-morrow, rather," said De Chatillon, "if you will take the trouble of
coming so far as the gates of Charenton."

"How can you doubt it, sir? For the pleasure of a meeting with you I
would go to the end of the world."

"Very well, to-morrow, sir."

"I shall rely on it. Are you going to rejoin your cardinal? Swear first,
on your honor, not to inform him of our return."

"Conditions?"

"Why not?"

"Because it is for victors to make conditions, and you are not yet
victors, gentlemen."

"Then let us draw on the spot. It is all one to us--to us who do not
command to-morrow's expedition."

Chatillon and Flamarens looked at each other. There was such irony
in the words and in the bearing of Aramis that the duke had great
difficulty in bridling his anger, but at a word from Flamarens he
restrained himself and contented himself with saying:

"You promise, sir--that's agreed--that I shall find you to-morrow at
Charenton?"

"Oh, don't be afraid, sir," replied Aramis; and the two gentlemen
shortly afterward left the Louvre.

"For what reason is all this fume and fury?" asked Athos. "What have
they done to you?"

"They--did you not see what they did?"

"No."

"They laughed when we swore that we had done our duty in England. Now,
if they believed us, they laughed in order to insult us; if they did not
believe it they insulted us all the more. However, I'm glad not to
fight them until to-morrow. I hope we shall have something better to do
to-night than to draw the sword."

"What have we to do?"

"Egad! to take Mazarin."

Athos curled his lip with disdain.

"These undertakings do not suit me, as you know, Aramis."

"Why?"

"Because it is taking people unawares."

"Really, Athos, you would make a singular general. You would fight only
by broad daylight, warn your foe before an attack, and never attempt
anything by night lest you should be accused of taking advantage