re it is."

The child put the piece of money into his pocket.

"And now, where is he gone?" inquired D'Artagnan.

"He is gone to Noisy."

"How dost thou know?"

"Ah, faith! there was no great cunning necessary. I knew the horse he
rode; it belonged to the butcher, who lets it out now and then to M.
Bazin. Now I thought that the butcher would not let his horse out like
that without knowing where it was going. And he answered 'that Monsieur
Bazin went to Noisy.' 'Tis his custom. He goes two or three times a
week."

"Dost thou know Noisy well?"

"I think so, truly; my nurse lives there."

"Is there a convent at Noisy?"

"Isn't there a great and grand one--the convent of Jesuits?"

"What is thy name?"

"Friquet."

D'Artagnan wrote the child's name in his tablets.

"Please, sir," said the boy, "do you think I can gain any more
half-pistoles in any way?"

"Perhaps," replied D'Artagnan.

And having got out all he wanted, he paid for the hypocras, which he did
not drink, and went quickly back to the Rue Tiquetonne.

8. How D'Artagnan, on going to a Distance to discover Aramis, discovers
his old Friend on Horseback behind his own Planchet.

On entering the hotel D'Artagnan saw a man sitting in a corner by the
fire. It was Planchet, but so completely transformed, thanks to the
old clothes that the departing husband had left behind, that D'Artagnan
himself could hardly recognize him. Madeleine introduced him in presence
of all the servants. Planchet addressed the officer with a fine Flemish
phrase; the officer replied in words that belonged to no language
at all, and the bargain was concluded; Madeleine's brother entered
D'Artagnan's service.

The plan adopted by D'Artagnan was soon perfected. He resolved not to
reach Noisy in the day, for fear of being recognized; he had therefore
plenty of time before him, for Noisy is only three or four leagues from
Paris, on the road to Meaux.

He began his day by breakfasting substantially--a bad beginning when one
wants to employ the head, but an excellent precaution when one wants to
work the body; and about two o'clock he had his two horses saddled, and
followed by Planchet he quitted Paris by the Barriere de la Villete. A
most active search was still prosecuted in the house near the Hotel de
la Chevrette for the discovery of Planchet.

At about a league and a half from the city, D'Artagnan, finding that
in his impatience he had set out too soon, stoppe