to Monsieur le
Cardinal, to whom both he and I are under such important obligations."

5. The Gascon and the Italian.

Meanwhile the cardinal returned to his own room; and after asking
Bernouin, who stood at the door, whether anything had occurred during
his absence, and being answered in the negative, he desired that he
might be left alone.

When he was alone he opened the door of the corridor and then that of
the ante-chamber. There D'Artagnan was asleep upon a bench.

The cardinal went up to him and touched his shoulder. D'Artagnan
started, awakened himself, and as he awoke, stood up exactly like a
soldier under arms.

"Here I am," said he. "Who calls me?"

"I," said Mazarin, with his most smiling expression.

"I ask pardon of your eminence," said D'Artagnan, "but I was so
fatigued----"

"Don't ask my pardon, monsieur," said Mazarin, "for you fatigued
yourself in my service."

D'Artagnan admired Mazarin's gracious manner. "Ah," said he, between
his teeth, "is there truth in the proverb that fortune comes while one
sleeps?"

"Follow me, monsieur," said Mazarin.

"Come, come," murmured D'Artagnan, "Rochefort has kept his promise,
but where in the devil is he?" And he searched the cabinet even to the
smallest recesses, but there was no sign of Rochefort.

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the cardinal, sitting down on a fauteuil,
"you have always seemed to me to be a brave and honorable man."

"Possibly," thought D'Artagnan, "but he has taken a long time to let
me know his thoughts;" nevertheless, he bowed to the very ground in
gratitude for Mazarin's compliment.

"Well," continued Mazarin, "the time has come to put to use your talents
and your valor."

There was a sudden gleam of joy in the officer's eyes, which vanished
immediately, for he knew nothing of Mazarin's purpose.

"Order, my lord," he said; "I am ready to obey your eminence."

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," continued the cardinal, "you performed sundry
superb exploits in the last reign."

"Your eminence is too good to remember such trifles in my favor. It is
true I fought with tolerable success."

"I don't speak of your warlike exploits, monsieur," said Mazarin;
"although they gained you much reputation, they were surpassed by
others."

D'Artagnan pretended astonishment.

"Well, you do not reply?" resumed Mazarin.

"I am waiting, my lord, till you tell me of what exploits you speak."

"I speak of the adventure--Eh, you know well