lapped him on his shoulder.

"D'Artagnan, let me confess to you what I've been thinking about during
the whole of my drive, as I looked out upon the parties of citizens who
perpetually crossed our path and looked at you and your four men with
fiery eyes."

"Speak out," answered D'Artagnan.

"I had only to cry out 'Help!' for you and for your companions to be cut
to pieces, and then I should have been free."

"Why didn't you do it?" asked the lieutenant.

"Come, come!" cried Rochefort. "Did we not swear friendship? Ah! had any
one but you been there, I don't say----"

D'Artagnan bowed. "Is it possible that Rochefort has become a better man
than I am?" he said to himself. And he caused himself to be announced to
the minister.

"Let M. de Rochefort enter," said Mazarin, eagerly, on hearing their
names pronounced; "and beg M. d'Artagnan to wait; I shall have further
need of him."

These words gave great joy to D'Artagnan. As he had said, it had been a
long time since any one had needed him; and that demand for his services
on the part of Mazarin seemed to him an auspicious sign.

Rochefort, rendered suspicious and cautious by these words, entered the
apartment, where he found Mazarin sitting at the table, dressed in his
ordinary garb and as one of the prelates of the Church, his costume
being similar to that of the abbes in that day, excepting that his scarf
and stockings were violet.

As the door was closed Rochefort cast a glance toward Mazarin, which was
answered by one, equally furtive, from the minister.

There was little change in the cardinal; still dressed with sedulous
care, his hair well arranged and curled, his person perfumed, he looked,
owing to his extreme taste in dress, only half his age. But Rochefort,
who had passed five years in prison, had become old in the lapse of
a few years; the dark locks of this estimable friend of the defunct
Cardinal Richelieu were now white; the deep bronze of his complexion had
been succeeded by a mortal pallor which betokened debility. As he gazed
at him Mazarin shook his head slightly, as much as to say, "This is a
man who does not appear to me fit for much."

After a pause, which appeared an age to Rochefort, Mazarin took from a
bundle of papers a letter, and showing it to the count, he said:

"I find here a letter in which you sue for liberty, Monsieur de
Rochefort. You are in prison, then?"

Rochefort trembled in every limb at this question. "But I thought