l of your reply, for
should your eminence be mistaken, there might ensue most grave results
for all of us."

"Along the wall, sir," said Mazarin, "there will be no danger of losing
yourselves."

The three friends hastened on, but in a short time were obliged to
slacken the pace. The cardinal could not keep up with them, though with
every wish to do so.

Suddenly D'Artagnan touched something warm, which moved.

"Stop! a horse!" he cried; "I have found a horse!"

"And I, likewise," said Athos.

"I, too," said Porthos, who, faithful to the instructions, still held
the cardinal's arm.

"There's luck, my lord! just as you were complaining of being tired and
obliged to walk."

But as he spoke the barrel of a pistol was presented at his breast and
these words were pronounced:

"Touch it not!"

"Grimaud!" he cried; "Grimaud! what art thou about? Why, thou art posted
here by Heaven!"

"No, sir," said the honest servant, "it was Monsieur Aramis who posted
me here to take care of the horses."

"Is Aramis here?"

"Yes, sir; he has been here since yesterday."

"What are you doing?"

"On the watch----"

"What! Aramis here?" cried Athos.

"At the lesser gate of the castle; he's posted there."

"Are you a large party?"

"Sixty."

"Let him know."

"This moment, sir."

And believing that no one could execute the commission better than
himself, Grimaud set off at full speed; whilst, enchanted at being all
together again, the friends awaited his return.

There was no one in the whole group in a bad humor except Cardinal
Mazarin.

87. In which we begin to think that Porthos will be at last a Baron, and
D'Artagnan a Captain.

At the expiration of ten minutes Aramis arrived, accompanied by Grimaud
and eight or ten followers. He was excessively delighted and threw
himself into his friends' arms.

"You are free, my brothers! free without my aid! and I shall have
succeeded in doing nothing for you in spite of all my efforts."

"Do not be unhappy, dear friend, on that account; if you have done
nothing as yet, you will do something soon," replied Athos.

"I had well concerted my plans," pursued Aramis; "the coadjutor gave
me sixty men; twenty guard the walls of the park, twenty the road from
Rueil to Saint Germain, twenty are dispersed in the woods. Thus I was
able, thanks to the strategic disposition of my forces, to intercept two
couriers from Mazarin to the queen."

Mazarin listened intently.