do well if they had any leader to unite them in one
body."

"How miserable not to be free!"

"Don't be downcast. Since Mazarin has sent for you, it is because he
wants you. I congratulate you! Many a long year has passed since any one
has wanted to employ me; so you see in what a situation I am."

"Make your complaints known; that's my advice."

"Listen, Rochefort; let us make a compact. We are friends, are we not?"

"Egad! I bear the traces of our friendship--three slits or slashes from
your sword."

"Well, if you should be restored to favor, don't forget me."

"On the honor of a Rochefort; but you must do the like for me."

"There's my hand,--I promise."

"Therefore, whenever you find any opportunity of saying something in my
behalf----"

"I shall say it, and you?"

"I shall do the same."

"Apropos, are we to speak of your friends also, Athos, Porthos, and
Aramis? or have you forgotten them?"

"Almost."

"What has become of them?"

"I don't know; we separated, as you know. They are alive, that's all
that I can say about them; from time to time I hear of them indirectly,
but in what part of the world they are, devil take me if I know, No, on
my honor, I have not a friend in the world but you, Rochefort."

"And the illustrious--what's the name of the lad whom I made a sergeant
in Piedmont's regiment?"

"Planchet!"

"The illustrious Planchet. What has become of him?"

"I shouldn't wonder if he were at the head of the mob at this very
moment. He married a woman who keeps a confectioner's shop in the Rue
des Lombards, for he's a lad who was always fond of sweetmeats; he's now
a citizen of Paris. You'll see that that queer fellow will be a sheriff
before I shall be a captain."

"Come, dear D'Artagnan, look up a little! Courage! It is when one
is lowest on the wheel of fortune that the merry-go-round wheels and
rewards us. This evening your destiny begins to change."

"Amen!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, stopping the carriage.

"What are you doing?" asked Rochefort.

"We are almost there and I want no one to see me getting out of your
carriage; we are supposed not to know each other."

"You are right. Adieu."

"Au revoir. Remember your promise."

In five minutes the party entered the courtyard and D'Artagnan led
the prisoner up the great staircase and across the corridor and
ante-chamber.

As they stopped at the door of the cardinal's study, D'Artagnan was
about to be announced when Rochefort s