, I shall take care, I assure you. The air, the fresh,
free air is so good; besides," and Rochefort drew a deep breath as he
spoke, "I am going into the country to make a tour."

"Stop," cried D'Artagnan; "I, too, am going."

"And if I may without impertinence ask--where are you going?"

"To seek my friends."

"What friends?"

"Those that you asked about yesterday."

"Athos, Porthos and Aramis--you are looking for them?"

"Yes."

"On honor?"

"What, then, is there surprising in that?"

"Nothing. Queer, though. And in whose behalf are you looking for them?"

"You are in no doubt on that score."

"That is true."

"Unfortunately, I have no idea where they are."

"And you have no way to get news of them? Wait a week and I myself will
give you some."

"A week is too long. I must find them within three days."

"Three days are a short time and France is large."

"No matter; you know the word must; with that word great things are
done."

"And when do you set out?"

"I am now on my road."

"Good luck to you."

"And to you--a good journey."

"Perhaps we shall meet on our road."

"That is not probable."

"Who knows? Chance is so capricious. Adieu, till we meet again! Apropos,
should Mazarin speak to you about me, tell him that I should have
requested you to acquaint him that in a short time he will see whether I
am, as he says, too old for action."

And Rochefort went away with one of those diabolical smiles which used
formerly to make D'Artagnan shudder, but D'Artagnan could now see it
without alarm, and smiling in his turn, with an expression of melancholy
which the recollections called up by that smile could, perhaps, alone
give to his countenance, he said:

"Go, demon, do what thou wilt! It matters little now to me. There's no
second Constance in the world."

On his return to the cathedral, D'Artagnan saw Bazin, who was conversing
with the sacristan. Bazin was making, with his spare little short arms,
ridiculous gestures. D'Artagnan perceived that he was enforcing prudence
with respect to himself.

D'Artagnan slipped out of the cathedral and placed himself in ambuscade
at the corner of the Rue des Canettes; it was impossible that Bazin
should go out of the cathedral without his seeing him.

In five minutes Bazin made his appearance, looking in every direction
to see if he were observed, but he saw no one. Calmed by appearances he
ventured to walk on through the Rue Notre Dame. Then D'Art