whilst all the time his true
vocation was the church."

"My dear Bazin, you ought to perceive," said D'Artagnan, "from the
place in which you find me, that I am greatly changed in everything. Age
produces good sense, and, as I doubt not but that your master is on the
road to salvation, I want you to tell me where he is, that he may help
me to mine."

"Rather say, to take him back with you into the world. Fortunately, I
don't know where he is."

"How!" cried D'Artagnan; "you don't know where Aramis is?"

"Formerly," replied Bazin, "Aramis was his name of perdition. By Aramis
is meant Simara, which is the name of a demon. Happily for him he has
ceased to bear that name."

"And therefore," said D'Artagnan, resolved to be patient to the end, "it
is not Aramis I seek, but the Abbe d'Herblay. Come, my dear Bazin, tell
me where he is."

"Didn't you hear me tell you, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that I don't know
where he is?"

"Yes, certainly; but to that I answer that it is impossible."

"It is, nevertheless, the truth, monsieur--the pure truth, the truth of
the good God."

D'Artagnan saw clearly that he would get nothing out of this man, who
was evidently telling a falsehood in his pretended ignorance of the
abode of Aramis, but whose lies were bold and decided.

"Well, Bazin," said D'Artagnan, "since you do not know where your master
lives, let us speak of it no more; let us part good friends. Accept this
half-pistole to drink to my health."

"I do not drink"--Bazin pushed away with dignity the officer's
hand--"'tis good only for the laity."

"Incorruptible!" murmured D'Artagnan; "I am unlucky;" and whilst he was
lost in thought Bazin retreated toward the sacristy, and even there
he could not think himself safe until he had shut and locked the door
behind him.

D'Artagnan was still in deep thought when some one touched him on the
shoulder. He turned and was about to utter an exclamation of surprise
when the other made to him a sign of silence.

"You here, Rochefort?" he said, in a low voice.

"Hush!" returned Rochefort. "Did you know that I am at liberty?"

"I knew it from the fountain-head--from Planchet. And what brought you
here?"

"I came to thank God for my happy deliverance," said Rochefort.

"And nothing more? I suppose that is not all."

"To take my orders from the coadjutor and to see if we cannot wake up
Mazarin a little."

"A bad plan; you'll be shut up again in the Bastile."

"Oh, as to that