d, must sacrifice more to appearance than a simple
cleric."

"_Mordioux!_ Aramis, that is a word which reconciles me with your
greatness. To appearances! That is a musketeer's word, in good truth!
_Vivent les apparences_, Aramis!"

"Instead of felicitating me upon it, pardon me, D'Artagnan. It is a very
mundane word which I had allowed to escape me."

"Must I leave you, then?"

"I want time to collect my thoughts, my friend, and for my usual
prayers."

"Well, I leave you to them; but on account of that poor pagan,
D'Artagnan, abridge them for once, I beg; I thirst for speech with you."

"Well, D'Artagnan, I promise you that within an hour and a half--"

"An hour and a half of devotions! Ah! my friend, be as reasonable with
me as you can. Let me have the best bargain possible."

Aramis began to laugh.

"Still agreeable, still young, still gay," said he. "You have come into
my diocese to set me quarreling with grace."

"Bah!"

"And you know well that I was never able to resist your seductions; you
will cost me my salvation, D'Artagnan."

D'Artagnan bit his lips.

"Well," said he, "I will take the sin on my own head, favor me with one
simple Christian sign of the cross, favor me with one prayer, and we
will part."

"Hush!" said Aramis, "we are already no longer alone, I hear strangers
coming up."

"Well, dismiss them."

"Impossible; I made an appointment with them yesterday; it is the
principal of the college of the Jesuits, and the superior of the
Dominicans."

"Your staff? Well, so be it."

"What are you going to do?"

"I will go and wake Porthos, and remain in his company till you have
finished the conference."

Aramis did not stir, his brow remained unbent, he betrayed himself by no
gesture or word; "Go," said he, as D'Artagnan advanced to the door. "_A
propos_, do you know where Porthos sleeps?"

"No, but I will inquire."

"Take the corridor, and open the second door on the left."

"Thank you! _au revoir_." And D'Artagnan departed in the direction
pointed out by Aramis.

Ten minutes had not passed away when he came back. He found Aramis
seated between the superior of the Dominicans and the principal of the
college of the Jesuits, exactly in the same situation as he had found
him formerly in the auberge at Crevecoeur. This company did not at all
terrify the musketeer.

"What is it?" said Aramis, quietly. "You have apparently something to
say to me, my friend."

"It is," replied D'A