t lips； those eyes which seem always at the mand of the intellect and never of the heart！ Yes； it is one of Milady's bastards！〃
〃You laugh Aramis。〃
〃From habit； that is all。 I swear to you； I like no better than yourself to meet that viper in my path。〃
〃Ah！ here is De Winter ing；〃 said Athos。
〃Good！ one thing now is only awanting and that is； that our grooms should not keep us waiting。〃
〃No；〃 said Athos。 〃I see them about twenty paces behind my lord。 I recognize Grimaud by his long legs and his determined slouch。 Tony carries our muskets。〃
〃Then we set sail to…night？〃 asked Aramis； glancing toward the west； where the sun had left a single golden cloud； which； dipping into the ocean； appeared by degrees to be extinguished。
〃Probably；〃 said Athos。
〃Diable！〃 resumed Aramis； 〃I have little fancy for the sea by day； still less at night； the sounds of wind and wave； the frightful movements of the vessel； I confess I prefer the convent of Noisy。〃
Athos smiled sadly； for it was evident that he was thinking of other things as he listened to his friend and moved toward De Winter。
〃What ails our friend？〃 said Aramis； 〃he resembles one of Dante's damned； whose neck Apollyon has dislocated and who are ever looking at their heels。 What the devil makes him glower thus behind him？〃
When De Winter perceived them； in his turn he advanced toward them with surprising rapidity。
〃What is the matter； my lord？〃 said Athos； 〃and what puts you out of breath thus？〃
〃Nothing；〃 replied De Winter； 〃nothing； and yet in passing the heights it seemed to me 〃 and he again turned round。
Athos glanced at Aramis。
〃But let us go；〃 continued De Winter； 〃let us be off； the boat must be waiting for us and there is our sloop at anchor do you see it there？ I wish I were on board already；〃 and he looked back again。
〃He has seen him；〃 said Athos； in a low tone； to Aramis。
They had reached the ladder which led to the boat。 De Winter made the grooms who carried the arms and the porters with the luggage descend first and was about to follow them。
At this moment Athos perceived a man walking on the seashore parallel to the jetty； and hastening his steps； as if to reach the other side of the port； scarcely twenty steps from the place of embarking。 He fancied in the darkness that he recognized the young man who had questioned him。 Athos now descended the ladder in his turn； without losing sight of the young man。 The latter； to make a short cut； had appeared on a sluice。
〃He certainly bodes us no good；〃 said Athos； 〃but let us embark； once out at sea； let him e。〃
And Athos sprang into the boat； which was immediately pushed off and which soon sped seawards under the efforts of four stalwart rowers。
But the young man had begun to follow； or rather to advance before the boat。 She was obliged to pass between the point of the jetty； surmounted by a beacon just lighted； and a rock which jutted out。 They saw him in the distance climbing the rock in order to look down upon the boat as it passed。
〃Ay； but；〃 said Aramis； 〃that young fellow is decidedly a spy。〃
〃Which is the young man？〃 asked De Winter； turning around。
〃He who followed us and spoke to us awaits us there； behold！〃
De Winter turned and followed the direction of Aramis's finger。 The beacon bathed with light the little strait through which they were about to pass and the rock where the young man stood with bare head and crossed arms。
〃It is he！〃 exclaimed De Winter； seizing the arm of Athos； 〃it is he！ I thought I recognized him and I was not mistaken。〃
〃Whom do you mean？〃 asked Aramis。
〃Milady's son；〃 replied Athos。
〃The monk！〃 exclaimed Grimaud。
The young man heard these words and bent so forward over the rock that one might have supposed he was about to precipitate himself from it。
〃Yes； it is I； my uncle I； the son of Milady I； the monk I； the secretary and friend of Cromwell I know you now； both you and your panions。〃
In that boat sat three men； unquestionably brave； whose courage no man would have dared dispute； nevertheless； at that voice； that accent and those gestures； they felt a chill access of terror cramp their veins。 As for Grimaud； his hair stood on end and drops of sweat ran down his brow。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Aramis； 〃that is the nephew； the monk； and the son of Milady； as he says himself。〃
〃Alas； yes；〃 murmured De Winter。
〃Then wait；〃 said Aramis； and with the terrible coolness which on important occasions he showed； he took one of the muskets from Tony； shouldered and aimed it at the young man； who stood； like the accusing angel； upon the rock。
〃Fire！〃 cried Grimaud； unconsciously。
Athos threw himself on the muzzle of the gun and arrested the shot which was about to be fired。
〃The devil take you；〃 said Aramis。 〃I had him so well at the point of my gun I should have sent a ball into his breast。〃
〃It is enough to have killed the mother；〃 said Athos； hoarsely。
〃The mother was a wretch； who struck at us all and at those dear to us。〃
〃Yes； but the son has done us no harm。〃
Grimaud； who had risen to watch the effect of the shot； fell back hopeless； wringing his hands。
The young man burst into a laugh。
〃Ah； it is certainly you！〃 he cried。 〃I know you even better now。〃
His mocking laugh and threatening words passed over their heads； carried by the breeze； until lost in the depths of the horizon。 Aramis shuddered。
〃Be calm；〃 exclaimed Athos； 〃for Heaven's sake！ have we ceased to be men？〃
〃No；〃 said Aramis； 〃but that fellow is a fiend； and ask the uncle whether I was wrong to rid him of his dear nephew。〃
De Winter only replied by a groan。
〃It was all up with him；〃 continued Aramis； 〃ah I much fear that with all your wisdom such mercy yet will prove supernal folly。〃
Athos took Lord de Winter's hand and tried to turn the conversation。
〃When shall we land in England？〃 he asked； but De Winter seemed not to hear his words and made no reply。
〃Hold； Athos；〃 said Aramis； 〃perhaps there is yet time。 See if he is still in the same place。〃
Athos turned around with an effort； the sight of the young man was evidently painful to him； and there he still was； in fact； on the rock； the beacon shedding around him； as it were； a doubtful aureole。
〃Decidedly； Aramis；〃 said Athos； 〃I think I was wrong not to let you fire。〃
〃Hold your tongue；〃 replied Aramis； 〃you would make me weep； if such a thing were possible。〃
At this moment they were hailed by a voice from the sloop and a few seconds later men； servants and baggage were aboard。 The captain was only waiting for his passengers； hardly had they put foot on deck ere her head was turned towards Hastings； where they were to disembark。 At this instant the three friends turned； in spite of themselves； a last look on the rock； upon the menacing figure which pursued them and now stood out with a distinctness still。 Then a voice reached them once more； sending this threat： 〃To our next meeting； sirs； in England。〃
Te Deum for the Victory of Lens
The bustle which had been observed by Henrietta Maria and for which she had vainly sought to discover a reason； was occasioned by the battle of Lens； announced by the prince's messenger； the Duc de Chatillon； who had taken such a noble part in the engagement； he was； besides； charged to hang five and twenty flags； taken from the Lorraine party； as well as from the Spaniards； upon the arches of Notre Dame。
Such news was decisive； it destroyed； in favor of the court； the struggle menced with parliament。 The motive given for all the taxes summarily imposed and to which the parliament had made opposition； was the necessity of sustaining the honor of France and the uncertain hope of beating the enemy。 Now； since the affair of Nordlingen； they had experienced nothing but reverses； the parliament had a plea for calling Mazarin to account for imaginary victories； always promised； ever deferred； but this time there really had been fighting； a triumph and a plete one。 And this all knew so well that it was a double victory for the court； a victory at home and abroad； so that even when the young king learned the news he exclaimed； 〃Ah； gentlemen of the parliament； we shall see what you will say now！〃 Upon which the queen had pressed the royal child to her heart； whose haughty and unruly sentiments were in such harmony with her own。 A council was called on the same evening； but nothing transpired of what had been decided on。 It was only known that on the following Sunday a Te Deum would be sung at Notre Dame in honor of the victory of Lens。
The following Sunday； then； the Parisians arose with joy； at that period a Te Deum was a grand affair； this kind of ceremony had not then been abused and it produced a great effect。 The shops were deserted； houses closed； every one wished to see the young king with his mother； and the famous Cardinal Mazarin whom they hated so much that no one wished to be deprived of his presence。 Moreover； great liberty prevailed throughout the immense crowd； every opinion was openly expressed and chorused； so to speak； of ing insurrection； as the thousand bell