y highness is furious! To such a degree, I
assure you, though I would not say so to others, that if the queen,
acknowledging the injuries she has done me, would recall my mother and
give me the reversion of the admiralty, which belonged to my father and
was promised me at his death, well! it would not be long before I should
be training dogs to say that there were greater traitors in France than
the Cardinal Mazarin!"

At this Athos and Aramis could not help exchanging not only a look but
a smile; and had they not known it for a fact, this would have told them
that De Chatillon and De Flamarens had been there.

"My lord," said Athos, "we are satisfied; we came here only to express
our loyalty and to say that we are at your lordship's service and his
most faithful servants."

"My most faithful friends, gentlemen, my most faithful friends; you have
proved it. And if ever I am reconciled with the court I shall prove to
you, I hope, that I remain your friend, as well as that of--what the
devil are their names--D'Artagnan and Porthos?"

"D'Artagnan and Porthos."

"Ah, yes. You understand, then, Comte de la Fere, you understand,
Chevalier d'Herblay, that I am altogether and always at your service."

Athos and Aramis bowed and went out.

"My dear Athos," cried Aramis, "I think you consented to accompany me
only to give me a lesson--God forgive me!"

"Wait a little, Aramis; it will be time for you to perceive my motive
when we have paid our visit to the coadjutor."

"Let us then go to the archiepiscopal palace," said Aramis.

They directed their horses to the city. On arriving at the cradle from
which Paris sprang they found it inundated with water, and it was again
necessary to take a boat. The palace rose from the bosom of the water,
and to see the number of boats around it one would have fancied one's
self not in Paris, but in Venice. Some of these boats were dark and
mysterious, others noisy and lighted up with torches. The friends slid
in through this congestion of embarkation and landed in their turn. The
palace was surrounded with water, but a kind of staircase had been
fixed to the lower walls; and the only difference was, that instead of
entering by the doors, people entered by the windows.

Thus did Athos and Aramis make their appearance in the ante-chamber,
where about a dozen noblemen were collected in waiting.

"Good heavens!" said Aramis to Athos, "does the coadjutor intend to
indulge himself in the