get out。〃
〃He did get out； nevertheless。〃
〃Do you think of escaping in the same way？〃
〃I am a prisoner； then？〃
〃Parbleu！〃 said Mazarin； 〃I have been proving it to you this last hour。〃
And he quietly resumed his dispatch at the place where he had been interrupted。
Anne； trembling with anger and scarlet with humiliation； left the room； shutting the door violently after her。 Mazarin did not even turn around。 When once more in her own apartment Anne fell into a chair and wept； then suddenly struck with an idea：
〃I am saved！〃 she exclaimed； rising； 〃oh； yes！ yes！ I know a man who will find the means of taking me from Paris； a man I have too long forgotten。〃 Then falling into a reverie； she added； however； with an expression of joy； 〃Ungrateful woman that I am； for twenty years I have forgotten this man； whom I ought to have made a marechal of France。 My mother…in…law expended gold； caresses； dignities on Concini； who ruined her； the king made Vitry marechal of France for an assassination： while I have left in obscurity； in poverty； the noble D'Artagnan； who saved me！〃
And running to a table； on which were paper； pens and ink； she hastily began to write。
The Interview
It had been D'Artagnan's practice； ever since the riots； to sleep in the same room as Porthos； and on this eventful morning he was still there； sleeping； and dreaming that a yellow cloud had overspread the sky and was raining gold pieces into his hat； which he held out till it was overflowing with pistoles。 As for Porthos； he dreamed that the panels of his carriage were not capacious enough to contain the armorial bearings he had ordered to be painted on them。 They were both aroused at seven o'clock by the entrance of an unliveried servant； who brought a letter for D'Artagnan。
〃From whom？〃 asked the Gascon。
〃From the queen；〃 replied the servant。
〃Ho！〃 said Porthos； raising himself in his bed； 〃what does she say？〃
D'Artagnan requested the servant to wait in the next room and when the door was closed he sprang up from his bed and read rapidly； whilst Porthos looked at him with starting eyes； not daring to ask a single question。
〃Friend Porthos；〃 said D'Artagnan； handing the letter to him； 〃this time； at least； you are sure of your title of baron； and I of my captaincy。 Read for yourself and judge。〃
Porthos took the letter and with a trembling voice read the following words：
〃The queen wishes to speak to Monsieur d'Artagnan； who must follow the bearer。〃
〃Well！〃 exclaimed Porthos； 〃I see nothing in that very extraordinary。〃
〃But I see much that is very extraordinary in it；〃 replied D'Artagnan。 〃It is evident； by their sending for me； that matters are being plicated。 Just reflect a little what an agitation the queen's mind must be in for her to have remembered me after twenty years。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Porthos。
〃Sharpen your sword； baron； load your pistols； and give some corn to the horses； for I will answer for it；
something lightning…like will happen ere to…morrow。〃
〃But； stop； do you think it can be a trap that they are laying for us？〃 suggested Porthos； incessantly thinking how his greatness must be irksome to inferior people。
〃If it is a snare；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃I shall scent it out； be assured。 If Mazarin is an Italian； I am a Gascon。〃
And D'Artagnan dressed himself in an instant。
Whilst Porthos； still in bed； was hooking on his cloak for him； a second knock at the door was heard。
〃e in；〃 exclaimed D'Artagnan； and another servant entered。
〃From His Eminence； Cardinal Mazarin；〃 presenting a letter。
D'Artagnan looked at Porthos。
〃A plicated affair；〃 said Porthos； 〃where will you begin？〃
〃It is arranged capitally； his eminence expects me in half an hour。〃
〃Good。〃
〃My friend；〃 said D'Artagnan； turning to the servant； 〃tell his eminence that in half an hour I shall be at his mand。〃
〃It is very fortunate；〃 resumed the Gascon； when the valet had retired； 〃that he did not meet the other one。〃
〃Do you not think that they have sent for you； both for the same thing？〃
〃I do not think it； I am certain of it。〃
〃Quick； quick； D'Artagnan。 Remember that the queen awaits you； and after the queen； the cardinal； and after the cardinal； myself。〃
D'Artagnan summoned Anne of Austria's servant and signified that he was ready to follow him into the queen's presence。
The servant conducted him by the Rue des Petits Champs and turning to the left entered the little garden gate leading into the Rue Richelieu； then they gained the private staircase and D'Artagnan was ushered into the oratory。 A certain emotion； for which he could not account； made the lieutenant's heart beat： he had no longer the assurance of youth； experience had taught him the importance of past events。 Formerly he would have approached the queen as a young man who bends before a woman； but now it was a different thing； he answered her summons as an humble soldier obeys an illustrious general。
The silence of the oratory was at last disturbed by the slight rustling of silk； and D'Artagnan started when he perceived the tapestry raised by a white hand； which； by its form； its color and its beauty he recognized as that royal hand which had one day been presented to him to kiss。 The queen entered。
〃It is you； Monsieur d'Artagnan；〃 she said； fixing a gaze full of melancholy interest on the countenance of the officer； 〃and I know you well。 Look at me well in your turn。 I am the queen； do you recognize me？〃
〃No； madame；〃 replied D'Artagnan。
〃But are you no longer aware；〃 continued Anne； giving that sweet expression to her voice which she could do at will； 〃that in former days the queen had once need of a young； brave and devoted cavalier that she found this cavalier and that； although he might have thought that she had forgotten him； she had kept a place for him in the depths of her heart？〃
〃No； madame； I was ignorant of that；〃 said the musketeer。
〃So much the worse； sir；〃 said Anne of Austria； 〃so much the worse； at least for the queen； for to…day she has need of the same courage and the same devotion。〃
〃What！〃 exclaimed D'Artagnan； 〃does the queen； surrounded as she is by such devoted servants； such wise counselors； men； in short； so great by merit or position does she deign to cast her eyes on an obscure soldier？〃
Anne understood this covert reproach and was more moved than irritated by it。 She had many a time felt humiliated by the self…sacrifice and disinterestedness shown by the Gascon gentleman。 She had allowed herself to be exceeded in generosity。
〃All that you tell me of those by whom I am surrounded； Monsieur d'Artagnan； is doubtless true；〃 said the queen； 〃but I have confidence in you alone。 I know that you belong to the cardinal； but belong to me as well； and I will take upon myself the making of your fortune。 e； will you do to…day what formerly the gentleman you do not know did for the queen？〃
〃I will do everything your majesty mands；〃 replied D'Artagnan。
The queen reflected for a moment and then； seeing the cautious demeanor of the musketeer：
〃Perhaps you like repose？〃 she said。
〃I do not know； for I have never had it； madame。〃
〃Have you any friends？〃
〃I had three； two of whom have left Paris； to go I know not where。 One alone is left to me； but he is one of those known； I believe； to the cavalier of whom your majesty did me the honor to speak。〃
〃Very good；〃 said the queen； 〃you and your friend are worth an army。〃
〃What am I to do； madame？〃
〃Return at five o'clock and I will tell you； but do not breathe to a living soul； sir； the rendezvous which I give you。〃
〃No； madame。〃
〃Swear it upon the cross。〃
〃Madame； I have never been false to my word； when I say I will not do a thing； I mean it。〃
The queen； although astonished at this language； to which she was not accustomed from her courtiers； argued from it a happy omen of the zeal with which D'Artagnan would serve her in the acplishment of her project。 It was one of the Gascon's artifices to hide his deep cunning occasionally under an appearance of rough loyalty。
〃Has the queen any further mands for me now？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃No； sir；〃 replied Anne of Austria； 〃and you may retire until the time that I mentioned to you。〃
D'Artagnan bowed and went out。
〃Diable！〃 he exclaimed when the door was shut； 〃they seem to have the greatest need of me just now。〃
Then； as the half hour had already glided by； he crossed the gallery and knocked at the cardinal's door。
Bernouin introduced him。
〃I e for your mands； my lord；〃 he said。
And according to his custom D'Artagnan glanced rapidly around and remarked that Mazarin had a sealed letter before him。 But it was so placed on the desk that he could not see to whom it was addressed。
〃You e from the queen？〃 said Mazarin； looking fixedly at D'Artagnan。
〃I！ my lord who told you that？〃
〃Nobody； but I know it。〃
〃I regret infinitely to tell you； my lord； that you are mistaken；〃 replied the Gascon； impudently； firm to the promise he had just made to Anne of Austria。
〃I opened the door of the a