all. Did I tell you that I wouldn't serve any other? On the contrary, I
gave you to understand, I think, that I adhered to the princes. We
even joked very pleasantly, if I remember rightly, on the very probable
contingency of your being charged by the cardinal with my arrest. Were
you a party man? There is no doubt of that. Well, why should not we,
too, belong to a party? You had your secret and we had ours; we didn't
exchange them. So much the better; it proves that we know how to keep
our secrets."

"I do not reproach you, monsieur," said D'Artagnan; "'tis only because
Monsieur de la Fere has spoken of friendship that I question your
conduct."

"And what do you find in it that is worthy of blame?" asked Aramis,
haughtily.

The blood mounted instantly to the temples of D'Artagnan, who arose, and
replied:

"I consider it worthy conduct of a pupil of Jesuits."

On seeing D'Artagnan rise, Porthos rose also; these four men were
therefore all standing at the same time, with a menacing aspect,
opposite to each other.

Upon hearing D'Artagnan's reply, Aramis seemed about to draw his sword,
when Athos prevented him.

"D'Artagnan," he said, "you are here to-night, still infuriated by
yesterday's adventure. I believed your heart noble enough to enable a
friendship of twenty years to overcome an affront of a quarter of an
hour. Come, do you really think you have anything to say against me? Say
it then; if I am in fault I will avow the error."

The grave and harmonious tones of that beloved voice seemed to have
still its ancient influence, whilst that of Aramis, which had become
harsh and tuneless in his moments of ill-humor, irritated him. He
answered therefore:

"I think, monsieur le comte, that you had something to communicate to
me at your chateau of Bragelonne, and that gentleman"--he pointed to
Aramis--"had also something to tell me when I was in his convent. At
that time I was not concerned in the adventure, in the course of which
you have so successfully estopped me! However, because I was prudent you
must not take me for a fool. If I had wished to widen the breach between
those whom Monsieur d'Herblay chooses to receive with a rope ladder and
those whom he receives with a wooden ladder, I could have spoken out."

"What are you meddling with?" cried Aramis, pale with anger, suspecting
that D'Artagnan had acted as a spy on him and had seen him with Madame
de Longueville.

"I never meddle save with what conce