hould be sent to rejoin our
friends in some deep ditch, from which the devil himself could not
take us out. Let us try not to find them out by accident, but from our
notions. Arrested at Compiegne, they have been carried to Rueil; at
Rueil they have been questioned by the cardinal, who has either kept
them near him or sent them to Saint Germain. As to the Bastile, they are
not there, though the Bastile is especially for the Frondeurs. They are
not dead, for the death of D'Artagnan would make a sensation. As for
Porthos, I believe him to be eternal, like God, although less patient.
Do not let us despond, but wait at Rueil, for my conviction is that they
are at Rueil. But what ails you? You are pale."

"It is this," answered Athos, with a trembling voice.

"I remember that at the Castle of Rueil the Cardinal Richelieu had some
horrible 'oubliettes' constructed."

"Oh! never fear," said Aramis. "Richelieu was a gentleman, our equal
in birth, our superior in position. He could, like the king, touch the
greatest of us on the head, and touching them make such heads shake on
their shoulders. But Mazarin is a low-born rogue, who can at the most
take us by the collar, like an archer. Be calm--for I am sure that
D'Artagnan and Porthos are at Rueil, alive and well."

"But," resumed Athos, "I recur to my first proposal. I know no better
means than to act with candor. I shall seek, not Mazarin, but the queen,
and say to her, 'Madame, restore to us your two servants and our two
friends.'"

Aramis shook his head.

"'Tis a last resource, but let us not employ it till it is imperatively
called for; let us rather persevere in our researches."

They continued their inquiries and at last met with a light dragoon who
had formed one of the guard which had escorted D'Artagnan to Rueil.

Athos, however, perpetually recurred to his proposed interview with the
queen.

"In order to see the queen," said Aramis, "we must first see the
cardinal; and when we have seen the cardinal--remember what I tell you,
Athos--we shall be reunited to our friends, but not in the way you wish.
Now, that way of joining them is not very attractive to me, I confess.
Let us act in freedom, that we may act well and quickly."

"I shall go," he said, "to the queen."

"Well, then," answered Aramis, "pray tell me a day or two beforehand,
that I may take that opportunity of going to Paris."

"To whom?"

"Zounds! how do I know? perhaps to Madame de Longueville