t.
They set out. The minister knew of their departure and had planted
people on the road to prevent them ever reaching their destination.
Three of them were overwhelmed and disabled by numerous assailants; one
of them alone arrived at the port, having either killed or wounded those
who wished to stop him. He crossed the sea and brought back the set of
ornaments to the great queen, who was able to wear them on her shoulder
on the appointed day; and this very nearly ruined the minister. What do
you think of that exploit, my lord?"

"It is magnificent!" said Mazarin, thoughtfully.

"Well, I know of ten such men."

Mazarin made no reply; he reflected.

Five or six minutes elapsed.

"You have nothing more to ask of me, my lord?" said Rochefort.

"Yes. And you say that Monsieur d'Artagnan was one of those four men?"

"He led the enterprise."

"And who were the others?"

"I leave it to Monsieur d'Artagnan to name them, my lord. They were his
friends and not mine. He alone would have any influence with them; I do
not even know them under their true names."

"You suspect me, Monsieur de Rochefort; I want him and you and all to
aid me."

"Begin with me, my lord; for after five or six years of imprisonment it
is natural to feel some curiosity as to one's destination."

"You, my dear Monsieur de Rochefort, shall have the post of confidence;
you shall go to Vincennes, where Monsieur de Beaufort is confined; you
will guard him well for me. Well, what is the matter?"

"The matter is that you have proposed to me what is impossible," said
Rochefort, shaking his head with an air of disappointment.

"What! impossible? And why is it impossible?"

"Because Monsieur de Beaufort is one of my friends, or rather, I am one
of his. Have you forgotten, my lord, that it is he who answered for me
to the queen?"

"Since then Monsieur de Beaufort has become an enemy of the State."

"That may be, my lord; but since I am neither king nor queen nor
minister, he is not my enemy and I cannot accept your offer."

"This, then, is what you call devotion! I congratulate you. Your
devotion does not commit you too far, Monsieur de Rochefort."

"And then, my lord," continued Rochefort, "you understand that to emerge
from the Bastile in order to enter Vincennes is only to change one's
prison."

"Say at once that you are on the side of Monsieur de Beaufort; that will
be the most sincere line of conduct," said Mazarin.

"My lord, I have be