essing to himself that he belonged to the latter unhappy
class, when Planchet approached and said:

"I will lay a wager, your honor, that you and I are thinking of the same
thing."

"I doubt it, Planchet," replied D'Artagnan, "but what are you thinking
of?"

"I am thinking, sir, of those desperate looking men who were drinking in
the inn where we rested."

"Always cautious, Planchet."

"'Tis instinct, your honor."

"Well, what does your instinct tell you now?"

"Sir, my instinct told me that those people were assembled there for
some bad purpose; and I was reflecting on what my instinct had told me,
in the darkest corner of the stable, when a man wrapped in a cloak and
followed by two other men, came in."

"Ah ah!" said D'Artagnan, Planchet's recital agreeing with his own
observations. "Well?"

"One of these two men said, 'He must certainly be at Noisy, or be coming
there this evening, for I have seen his servant.'

"'Art thou sure?' said the man in the cloak.

"'Yes, my prince.'"

"My prince!" interrupted D'Artagnan.

"Yes, 'my prince;' but listen. 'If he is here'--this is what the other
man said--'let's see decidedly what to do with him.'

"'What to do with him?' answered the prince.

"'Yes, he's not a man to allow himself to be taken anyhow; he'll defend
himself.'

"'Well, we must try to take him alive. Have you cords to bind him with
and a gag to stop his mouth?'

"'We have.'

"'Remember that he will most likely be disguised as a horseman.'

"'Yes, yes, my lord; don't be uneasy.'

"'Besides, I shall be there.'

"'You will assure us that justice----'

"'Yes, yes! I answer for all that,' the prince said.

"'Well, then, we'll do our best.' Having said that, they went out of the
stable."

"Well, what matters all that to us?" said D'Artagnan. "This is one of
those attempts that happen every day."

"Are you sure that we are not its objects?"

"We? Why?"

"Just remember what they said. 'I have seen his servant,' said one, and
that applies very well to me."

"Well?"

"'He must certainly be at Noisy, or be coming there this evening,' said
the other; and that applies very well to you."

"What else?"

"Then the prince said: 'Take notice that in all probability he will be
disguised as a cavalier;' which seems to me to leave no room for doubt,
since you are dressed as a cavalier and not as an officer of musketeers.
Now then, what do you say to that?"

"Alas! my dear Planchet," said D