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l； except a garden about the size of the Cemetery des Innocents； and I should wait in all my glory till some rich heiress； attracted by my good looks； rode along to marry me。 Then I should like to have three sons； I should make the first a nobleman； like Athos； the second a good soldier； like Porthos； the third an excellent abbe； like Aramis。 Faith！ that would be a far better life than I lead now； but Monsieur Mazarin is a mean wretch； who won't dispossess himself of his diamond in my favor。〃
On entering the Rue Tiquetonne he heard a tremendous noise and found a dense crowd near the house。
〃Oho！〃 said he； 〃is the hotel on fire？〃 On approaching the hotel of the Roe he found； however； that it was in front of the next house the mob was collected。 The people were shouting and running about with torches。 By the light of one of these torches D'Artagnan perceived men in uniform。
He asked what was going on。
He was told that twenty citizens； headed by one man； had attacked a carriage which was escorted by a troop of the cardinal's bodyguard； but a reinforcement having e up； the assailants had been put to flight and the leader had taken refuge in the hotel next to his lodgings； the house was now being searched。
In his youth D'Artagnan had often headed the bourgeoisie against the military； but he was cured of all those hot…headed propensities； besides； he had the cardinal's hundred pistoles in his pocket； so he went into the hotel without a word。 There he found Madeleine alarmed for his safety and anxious to tell him all the events of the evening； but he cut her short by ordering her to put his supper in his room and give him with it a bottle of good Burgundy。
He took his key and candle and went upstairs to his bedroom。 He had been contented； for the convenience of the house； to lodge in the fourth story； and truth obliges us even to confess that his chamber was just above the gutter and below the roof。 His first care on entering it was to lock up in an old bureau with a new lock his bag of money； and then as soon as supper was ready he sent away the waiter who brought it up and sat down to table。
Not to reflect on what had passed； as one might fancy。 No； D'Artagnan considered that things are never well done when they are not reserved to their proper time。 He was hungry； he supped； he went to bed。 Neither was he one of those who think that the necessary silence of the night brings counsel with it。 In the night he slept； but in the morning； refreshed and calm； he was inspired with his clearest views of everything。 It was long since he had any reason for his morning's inspiration； but he always slept all night long。 At daybreak he awoke and took a turn around his room。
〃In '43；〃 he said； 〃just before the death of the late cardinal； I received a letter from Athos。 Where was I then？ Let me see。 Oh！ at the siege of Besancon I was in the trenches。 He told me let me think what was it？ That he was living on a small estate but where？ I was just reading the name of the place when the wind blew my letter away； I suppose to the Spaniards； there's no use in thinking any more about Athos。 Let me see： with regard to Porthos； I received a letter from him； too。 He invited me to a hunting party on his property in the month of September； 1646。 Unluckily； as I was then in Bearn； on account of my father's death； the letter followed me there。 I had left Bearn when it arrived and I never received it until the month of April；
1647； and as the invitation was for September； 1646； I couldn't accept it。 Let me look for this letter； it must be with my title deeds。〃
D'Artagnan opened an old casket which stood in a corner of the room； and which was full of parchments referring to an estate during a period of two hundred years lost to his family。 He uttered an exclamation of delight； for the large handwriting of Porthos was discernible； and underneath some lines traced by his worthy spouse。
D'Artagnan eagerly searched for the heading of this letter； it was dated from the Chateau du Vallon。
Porthos had forgotten that any other address was necessary； in his pride he fancied that every one must know the Chateau du Vallon。
〃Devil take the vain fellow；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃However； I had better find him out first； since he can't want money。 Athos must have bee an idiot by this time from drinking。 Aramis must have worn himself to a shadow of his former self by constant genuflexion。〃
He cast his eyes again on the letter。 There was a postscript：
〃I write by the same courier to our worthy friend Aramis in his convent。〃
〃In his convent！ What convent？ There are about two hundred in Paris and three thousand in France； and then； perhaps； on entering the convent he changed his name。 Ah！ if I were but learned in theology I should recollect what it was he used to dispute about with the curate of Montdidier and the superior of the Jesuits； when we were at Crevecoeur； I should know what doctrine he leans to and I should glean from that what saint he has adopted as his patron。
〃Well； suppose I go back to the cardinal and ask him for a passport into all the convents one can find； even into the nunneries？ It would be a curious idea； and maybe I should find my friend under the name of Achilles。 But； no！ I should lose myself in the cardinal's opinion。 Great people only thank you for doing the impossible； what's possible； they say； they can effect themselves； and they are right。 But let us wait a little and reflect。 I received a letter from him； the dear fellow； in which he even asked me for some small service； which； in fact； I rendered him。 Yes； yes； but now what did I do with that letter？〃
D'Artagnan thought a moment and then went to the wardrobe in which hung his old clothes。 He looked for his doublet of the year 1648 and as he had orderly habits； he found it hanging on its nail。 He felt in the pocket and drew from it a paper； it was the letter of Aramis：
〃Monsieur D'Artagnan： You know that I have had a quarrel with a certain gentleman； who has given me an appointment for this evening in the Place Royale。 As I am of the church； and the affair might injure me if I should share it with any other than a sure friend like you； I write to beg that you will serve me as second。
〃You will enter by the Rue Neuve Sainte Catherine； under the second lamp on the right you will find your adversary。 I shall be with mine under the third。
〃Wholly yours；
〃Aramis。〃
D'Artagnan tried to recall his remembrances。 He had gone to the rendezvous； had encountered there the adversary indicated； whose name he had never known； had given him a pretty sword…stroke on the arm； then had gone toward Aramis； who at the same time came to meet him； having already finished his affair。 〃It is over；〃 Aramis had said。 〃I think I have killed the insolent fellow。 But； dear friend； if you ever need me you know that I am entirely devoted to you。〃 Thereupon Aramis had given him a clasp of the hand and had disappeared under the arcades。
So； then； he no more knew where Aramis was than where Athos and Porthos were； and the affair was being a matter of great perplexity； when he fancied he heard a pane of glass break in his room window。 He thought directly of his bag and rushed from the inner room where he was sleeping。 He was not mistaken； as he entered his bedroom a man was getting in by the window。
〃Ah！ you scoundrel！〃 cried D'Artagnan； taking the man for a thief and seizing his sword。
〃Sir！〃 cried the man； 〃in the name of Heaven put your sword back into the sheath and don't kill me unheard。 I'm no thief； but an honest citizen； well off in the world； with a house of my own。 My name is ah！ but surely you are Monsieur d'Artagnan？〃
〃And thou Planchet！〃 cried the lieutenant。
〃At your service； sir；〃 said Planchet； overwhelmed with joy； 〃if I were still capable of serving you。〃
〃Perhaps so；〃 replied D'Artagnan。 〃But why the devil dost thou run about the tops of houses at seven o'clock of the morning in the month of January？〃
〃Sir；〃 said Planchet； 〃you must know； but； perhaps you ought not to know 〃
〃Tell us what；〃 returned D'Artagnan； 〃but first put a napkin against the window and draw the curtains。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the prudent Planchet； 〃in the first place； are you on good terms with Monsieur de Rochefort？〃
〃Perfectly； one of my dearest friends。〃
〃Ah！ so much the better！〃
〃But what has De Rochefort to do with this manner you have of invading my room？〃
〃Ah； sir！ I must first tell you that Monsieur de Rochefort is 〃
Planchet hesitated。
〃Egad； I know where he is；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃He's in the Bastile。〃
〃That is to say； he was there；〃 replied Planchet。 〃But in returning thither last night； when fortunately you did not acpany him； as his carriage was crossing the Rue de la Ferronnerie his guards insulted the people； who began to abuse them。 The prisoner thought this a good opportunity for escape； he called out his name and cried for help。 I was there。 I heard the name of Rochefort。 I remembered him well。 I said in a loud voice that he was a prisoner； a friend of the Duc de Beaufort； who called for help。 The people were infuriated； they stopped the horses and cut the escort to pieces； whilst I opened the doors of the carriage and Monsieur de Rochefort jumped out and soon was lost amongst the crowd。 At this moment a patrol passed by。 I was obliged to sound a retreat toward the Rue Tiquetonne； I was pursued and took refuge in the house next to this； where I have been concealed between two mattresses。 This morning I ventured to run along the gutters and 〃
〃Well；〃 interrupted D'Artagnan； 〃I am delight that De Rochefort is free； but as for thee； if thou shouldst fall into the hands of the king's servants they will hang thee without mercy。 Nevertheless； I promise thee thou shalt be hidden here； though I risk by concealing thee neither more nor less than my lieutenancy； if it was found out that I gave one rebel an asylum。〃
〃Ah！ sir； you know well I would risk my life for you。〃
〃Thou mayst add that thou hast risked it； Planchet。 I have not forgotten all I owe thee。 Sit down there and eat in security。 I see thee cast expressive glances at the remains of my supper。〃
〃Yes； sir； for all I've had since yesterday was a slice of bread and butter； with preserves on it。 Although I don't despise sweet things in proper time and place； I found the supper rather light。〃
〃Poor fellow！〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Well； e； set to。〃
〃Ah； sir； you are going to save my life a second time！〃 cried Planchet。
And he seated himself at the table and ate as he did in the merry days of the Rue des Fossoyeurs； whilst D'Artagnan walked to and fro and thought how he could make use of Planchet under present circumstances。 While he turned this over in his mind Planchet did his best to make up for lost time at table。 At last he uttered a sigh of satisfaction and paused； as if he had partially appeased his hunger。
〃e；〃 said D'Artagnan； who thought that it was now a convenient time to begin his interrogations； 〃dost thou know where Athos is？〃
〃No； sir；〃 replied Planchet。
〃The devil thou cost not！ Dost know where Porthos is？〃：
〃No not at all。〃
〃And Aramis？〃
〃Not in the least。〃
〃The devil！ the devil！ the devil！〃
〃But； sir；〃 said Planchet； with a look of shrewdness； 〃I know where Bazin is。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃At Notre Dame。〃
〃What has he to do at Notre Dame？〃
〃He is beadle。〃
〃Bazin beadle at Notre Dame！ He must know where his master is！〃
〃Without a doubt he must。〃
D'Artagnan thought for a moment； then took his sword and put on his cloak to go out。
〃Sir；〃 said Planchet； in a mournful tone； 〃do you abandon me thus to my fate？ Think； if I am found out here； the people of the house； who have not seen me enter it； will take me for a thief。〃
〃True；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Let's see。 Canst thou speak any patois？〃
〃I can do something better than that； sir； I can speak Flemish。〃
〃Where the devil didst thou learn it？〃
〃In Artois； where I fought for years。 Listen； sir。 Goeden morgen； mynheer； eth teen begeeray le weeten the ge sond heets omstand。〃
〃Which means？〃
〃Good…day； sir！ I am anxious to know the state of your health。〃
〃He calls that a language！ But never mind； that will do capitally。〃
D'Artagnan opened the door and called out to a waiter to desire Madeleine to e upstairs。
When the landlady made her appearance she expressed much astonishment at seeing Planchet。
〃My dear landlady；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃I beg to introduce to you your brother； who is arrived from Flanders and whom I am going to take into my service。〃
〃My brother？〃
〃Wish your sister good…morning； Master Peter。〃
〃Wilkom； suster；〃 said Planchet。
〃Goeden day； broder；〃 replied the astonished landlady。
〃This is the case；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃this is your brother； Madeleine； you don't know him perhaps； but I know him； he has arrived from Amsterdam。 You must dress him up during my absence。 When I return； which will be in about an hour； you must offer him to me as a servant； and upon your remendation； though he doesn't speak a word of French； I take him into my service。 You understand？〃
〃That is to say； I