"I have another name, madame--I am called Athos."

"Madame," said Mazarin, with a smile, "you may rest easy; your wishes
shall be fulfilled."

"You hear, sir?" said the queen.

"Yes, madame, I expected nothing less from the justice of your majesty.
May I not go and see my friends?"

"Yes, sir, you shall see them. But, apropos, you belong to the Fronde,
do you not?"

"Madame, I serve the king."

"Yes, in your own way."

"My way is the way of all gentlemen, and I know only one way," answered
Athos, haughtily.

"Go, sir, then," said the queen; "you have obtained what you wish and we
know all we desire to know."

Scarcely, however, had the tapestry closed behind Athos when she said to
Mazarin:

"Cardinal, desire them to arrest that insolent fellow before he leaves
the court."

"Your majesty," answered Mazarin, "desires me to do only what I was
going to ask you to let me do. These bravoes who resuscitate in our
epoch the traditions of another reign are troublesome; since there are
two of them already there, let us add a third."

Athos was not altogether the queen's dupe, but he was not a man to run
away on suspicion--above all, when distinctly told that he should see
his friends again. He waited, then, in the ante-chamber with impatience,
till he should be conducted to them.

He walked to the window and looked into the court. He saw the deputation
from the Parisians enter it; they were coming to assign the definitive
place for the conference and to make their bow to the queen. A very
imposing escort awaited them without the gates.

Athos was looking on attentively, when some one touched him softly on
the shoulder.

"Ah! Monsieur de Comminges," he said.

"Yes, count, and charged with a commission for which I beg of you to
accept my excuses."

"What is it?"

"Be so good as to give me up your sword, count."

Athos smiled and opened the window.

"Aramis!" he cried.

A gentleman turned around. Athos fancied he had seen him among the
crowd. It was Aramis. He bowed with great friendship to the count.

"Aramis," cried Athos, "I am arrested."

"Good," replied Aramis, calmly.

"Sir," said Athos, turning to Comminges and giving him politely his
sword by the hilt, "here is my sword; have the kindness to keep it
safely for me until I quit my prison. I prize it--it was given to
my ancestor by King Francis I. In his time they armed gentlemen, not
disarmed them. Now, whither do you conduct me?"

"Into my