her accident; the horse of the former
falling dead within a hundred yards of the town. They hasten to
the port, and find themselves close to a gentleman and his
servant, dusty and travel-stained, who are enquiring for a vessel
to take them to England. The master of a sloop that is ready to
sail informs them, that an order had arrived that very morning to
prevent any ship from leaving the harbour without an express
permission from the Cardinal.

"'I have that permission,' said the gentleman, taking a paper
from his pocket.

"'Very good!' said the sailor. 'Get it countersigned by the
governor of the port, and give me the preference.'

"'Where shall I find the governor?'

"'At his country-house, a quarter of a league from the town. You
see it yonder. A slated roof at the foot of a little hill.'"

The gentleman and his attendant take the direction of the governor's
house. D'Artagnan follows them; picks a quarrel with the stranger, who
is a certain Count de Wardes, an adherent of the Cardinal's, wounds
him desperately, himself receiving a scratch, takes the pass, gets it
countersigned, and proceeds to England. The Duke of Buckingham is
hunting at Windsor with the king; but the indefatigable Gascon follows
him thither, and delivers his letter. The duke hurries with him to
London to give him the ferrets; but, to his unspeakable consternation,
finds that two out of the twelve are missing. They had been cut from
his dress by an emissary of the Cardinal's at a ball at Windsor
Castle, at which he had worn the queen's present. The ferrets are of
immense value, and difficult workmanship. Buckingham sends for his
jeweller, who demands eight days and three thousand pistoles to
replace the missing ornaments. The duke locks him up in a room, with
his tools and a workman, and allows him six thousand pistoles, and
thirty-six hours to complete then. The ferrets are ready within the
prescribed period. Furnished with a password from the duke, who has
trusty agents in France, D'Artagnan reaches Paris by a different road
and without impediment, arriving in time to save the queen, who
appears at the ball with her twelve ferrets, to the vast discomfiture
of the Cardinal. Meanwhile D'Artagnan's mistress had been spirited
away by Richelieu, and the young Gascon is in despair. He confides his
misfortunes to Monsieur de Treville, who promises to do what he can to
find the