eplied De Winter, thoughtfully; "I once spoke to
you of four men."

"What can be done with four?"

"Four devoted, resolute men can do much, assure yourself, madame; and
those of whom I speak performed great things at one time."

"And where are these four men?"

"Ah, that is what I do not know. It is twenty years since I saw them,
and yet whenever I have seen the king in danger I have thought of them."

"And these men were your friends?"

"One of them held my life in his hands and gave it to me. I know not
whether he is still my friend, but since that time I have remained his."

"And these men are in France, my lord?"

"I believe so."

"Tell me their names; perhaps I may have heard them mentioned and might
be able to aid you in finding them."

"One of them was called the Chevalier d'Artagnan."

"Ah, my lord, if I mistake not, the Chevalier d'Artagnan is lieutenant
of royal guards; but take care, for I fear that this man is entirely
devoted to the cardinal."

"That would be a misfortune," said De Winter, "and I shall begin to
think that we are really doomed."

"But the others," said the queen, who clung to this last hope as a
shipwrecked man clings to the hull of his vessel. "The others, my lord!"

"The second--I heard his name by chance; for before fighting us, these
four gentlemen told us their names; the second was called the Comte de
la Fere. As for the two others, I had so much the habit of calling them
by nicknames that I have forgotten their real ones."

"Oh, mon Dieu, it is a matter of the greatest urgency to find them out,"
said the queen, "since you think these worthy gentlemen might be so
useful to the king."

"Oh, yes," said De Winter, "for they are the same men. Listen, madame,
and recall your remembrances. Have you never heard that Queen Anne
of Austria was once saved from the greatest danger ever incurred by a
queen?"

"Yes, at the time of her relations with Monsieur de Buckingham; it had
to do in some way with certain studs and diamonds."

"Well, it was that affair, madame; these men are the ones who saved
her; and I smile with pity when I reflect that if the names of those
gentlemen are unknown to you it is because the queen has forgotten them,
who ought to have made them the first noblemen of the realm."

"Well, then, my lord, they must be found; but what can four men, or
rather three men do--for I tell you, you must not count on Monsieur
d'Artagnan."

"It will be one valiant sw