valier in the brown cloak----"

"It is the cardinal."

"In person."

"How the devil do they venture so near the Hotel de Bouillon?"

Athos smiled, but did not reply. Five minutes afterward they knocked at
the prince's door.

This door was guarded by a sentinel and there was also a guard placed
in the courtyard, ready to obey the orders of the Prince de Conti's
lieutenant.

Monsieur de Bouillon had the gout, but notwithstanding his illness,
which had prevented his mounting on horseback for the last month---that
is, since Paris had been besieged--he was ready to receive the Comte de
la Fere and the Chevalier d'Herblay.

He was in bed, but surrounded with all the paraphernalia of war.
Everywhere were swords, pistols, cuirasses, and arquebuses, and it was
plain that as soon as his gout was better Monsieur de Bouillon would
give a pretty tangle to the enemies of the parliament to unravel.
Meanwhile, to his great regret, as he said, he was obliged to keep his
bed.

"Ah, gentlemen," he cried, as the two friends entered, "you are very
happy! you can ride, you can go and come and fight for the cause of
the people. But I, as you see, am nailed to my bed--ah! this demon,
gout--this demon, gout!"

"My lord," said Athos, "we are just arrived from England and our first
concern is to inquire after your health."

"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks! As you see, my health is but indifferent.
But you come from England. And King Charles is well, as I have just
heard?"

"He is dead, my lord!" said Aramis.

"Pooh!" said the duke, too much astonished to believe it true.

"Dead on the scaffold; condemned by parliament."

"Impossible!"

"And executed in our presence."

"What, then, has Monsieur de Flamarens been telling me?"

"Monsieur de Flamarens?"

"Yes, he has just gone out."

Athos smiled. "With two companions?" he said.

"With two companions, yes," replied the duke. Then he added with a
certain uneasiness, "Did you meet them?"

"Why, yes, I think so--in the street," said Athos; and he looked
smilingly at Aramis, who looked at him with an expression of surprise.

"The devil take this gout!" cried Monsieur de Bouillon, evidently ill at
ease.

"My lord," said Athos, "we admire your devotion to the cause you have
espoused, in remaining at the head of the army whilst so ill, in so much
pain."

"One must," replied Monsieur de Bouillon, "sacrifice one's comfort to
the public good; but I confess to you I am now almost ex