ence, had mingled with the
crowd.

"Let us be the avant guard," said he to Porthos, "and find good quarters
at Saint Germain; nobody will think of us, and for my part I am greatly
fatigued."

"As for me," replied Porthos, "I am falling asleep, which is strange,
considering we have not had any fighting; truly the Parisians are
idiots."

"Or rather, we are very clever," said D'Artagnan.

"Perhaps."

"And how is your wrist?"

"Better; but do you think that we've got them this time?"

"Got what?"

"You your command, and I my title?"

"I'faith! yes--I should expect so; besides, if they forget, I shall take
the liberty of reminding them."

"The queen's voice! she is speaking," said Porthos; "I think she wants
to ride on horseback."

"Oh, she would like it, but----"

"But what?"

"The cardinal won't allow it. Gentlemen," he said, addressing the two
musketeers, "accompany the royal carriage, we are going forward to look
for lodgings."

D'Artagnan started off for Saint Germain, followed by Porthos.

"We will go on, gentlemen," said the queen.

And the royal carriage drove on, followed by the other coaches and about
fifty horsemen.

They reached Saint German without any accident; on descending, the queen
found the prince awaiting her, bare-headed, to offer her his hand.

"What an awakening for the Parisians!" said the queen, radiant.

"It is war," said the prince.

"Well, then, let it be war! Have we not on our side the conqueror of
Rocroy, of Nordlingen, of Lens?"

The prince bowed low.

It was then three o'clock in the morning. The queen walked first, every
one followed her. About two hundred persons had accompanied her in her
flight.

"Gentlemen," said the queen, laughing, "pray take up your abode in the
chateau; it is large, and there will be no want of room for you all;
but, as we never thought of coming here, I am informed that there are,
in all, only three beds in the whole establishment, one for the king,
one for me----"

"And one for the cardinal," muttered the prince.

"Am I--am I, then, to sleep on the floor?" asked Gaston d'Orleans, with
a forced smile.

"No, my prince," replied Mazarin, "the third bed is intended for your
highness."

"But your eminence?" replied the prince.

"I," answered Mazarin, "I shall not sleep at all; I have work to do."

Gaston desired that he should be shown into the room wherein he was to
sleep, without in the least concerning himself as to where his