stablishment the double function of porter and
guard, stopped our musketeer, saying to him in English:

"I beg your pardon, my Lord d'Artagnan!"

"Well," replied the latter: "what is it? Is the general going to dismiss
me? I only needed to be expelled by him."

These words, spoken in French, made no impression upon the person to
whom they were addressed, and who himself only spoke an English mixed
with the rudest Scots. But Athos was grieved at them, for he began to
think D'Artagnan was not wrong.

The Englishman showed D'Artagnan a letter: "From the general," said he.

"Aye! that's it, my dismissal!" replied the Gascon. "Must I read it,
Athos?"

"You must be deceived," said Athos, "or I know no more honest people in
the world but you and myself."

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and unsealed the letter, while the
impassible Englishman held for him a large lantern, by the light of
which he was enabled to read it.

"Well, what is the matter?" said Athos, seeing the countenance of the
reader change.

"Read it yourself," said the musketeer.

Athos took the paper and read:

"MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN.--The king regrets very much you did not come to
St. Paul's with his _cortege_. He missed you, as I also have missed
you, my dear captain. There is but one means of repairing all this. His
majesty expects me at nine o'clock at the palace of St. James's: will
you be there at the same time with me? His gracious majesty appoints
that hour for an audience he grants you."

This letter was from Monk.

Chapter XXXIII. The Audience.

"Well?" cried Athos with a mild look of reproach, when D'Artagnan had
read the letter addressed to him by Monk.

"Well!" said D'Artagnan, red with pleasure, and a little with shame,
at having so hastily accused the king and Monk. "This is a
politeness,--which leads to nothing, it is true, but yet it is a
politeness."

"I had great difficulty in believing the young prince ungrateful," said
Athos.

"The fact is, that his present is still too near his past," replied
D'Artagnan; "after all, everything to the present moment proved me
right."

"I acknowledge it, my dear friend, I acknowledge it. Ah! there is your
cheerful look returned. You cannot think how delighted I am."

"Thus you see," said D'Artagnan, "Charles II. receives M. Monk at nine
o'clock; he will receive me at ten; it is a grand audience, of the sort
which at the Louvre are called 'distributions of court holy water.'
Com