, "that whilst I thought I was coming
to Noisy I have entered, without suspecting it, into the kingdom of
mysteries."

"Come," replied the same lofty tone, "answer! Are you waiting for him
underneath these windows? Did you come to Noisy to defend him?"

"I am waiting for no one," replied D'Artagnan, who was beginning to be
angry. "I propose to defend no one but myself, and I shall defend myself
vigorously, I give you warning."

"Very well," said the voice; "go away from here and leave the place to
us."

"Go away from here!" said D'Artagnan, whose purposes were in conflict
with that order, "that is not so easy, since I am on the point of
falling, and my horse, too, through fatigue; unless, indeed, you are
disposed to offer me a supper and a bed in the neighborhood."

"Rascal!"

"Eh! monsieur!" said D'Artagnan, "I beg you will have a care what you
say; for if you utter another word like that, be you marquis, duke,
prince or king, I will thrust it down your throat! do you hear?"

"Well, well," rejoined the leader, "there's no doubt 'tis a Gascon who
is speaking, and therefore not the man we are looking for. Our blow
has failed for to-night; let us withdraw. We shall meet again, Master
d'Artagnan," continued the leader, raising his voice.

"Yes, but never with the same advantages," said D'Artagnan, in a tone
of raillery; "for when you meet me again you will perhaps be alone and
there will be daylight."

"Very good, very good," said the voice. "En route, gentlemen."

And the troop, grumbling angrily, disappeared in the darkness and took
the road to Paris. D'Artagnan and Planchet remained for some moments
still on the defensive; then, as the noise of the horsemen became more
and more distant, they sheathed their swords.

"Thou seest, simpleton," said D'Artagnan to his servant, "that they
wished no harm to us."

"But to whom, then?"

"I'faith! I neither know nor care. What I do care for now, is to make
my way into the Jesuits' convent; so to horse and let us knock at their
door. Happen what will, the devil take them, they can't eat us."

And he mounted his horse. Planchet had just done the same when an
unexpected weight fell upon the back of the horse, which sank down.

"Hey! your honor!" cried Planchet, "I've a man behind me."

D'Artagnan turned around and plainly saw two human forms on Planchet's
horse.

"'Tis then the devil that pursues!" he cried; drawing his sword and
preparing to attack the new foe.