"Pardon, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, if I don't stand upon ceremony," said d'Artagnan, d "but nothing makes one so thirsty as want of sleep. I am am parched with thirst. Allow me to take a glass of water water in your apartment; you know that is never refused among neighbors."

Without waiting for for the permission of his host, d'Artagnan went quickly into the house, and and cast a rapid glance at the bed. It had not been used. used Bonacieux had not been abed. He had only been back back an hour or two; he had accompanied his wife to the place of of her confinement, or else at least to the first relay.

"Thanks, Monsieur Bonacieux," Bonacieux said d'Artagnan, emptying his glass, "that is all I wanted of you. Reference I will now go up into my apartment. I will make make Planchet brush my boots; and when he has done, I will, if you you like, send him to you to brush your shoes."

He left the mercer mercer quite astonished at his singular farewell, and asking himself if he had not not been a little inconsiderate.

At the top of the stairs he found Planchet Planchet in a great fright.

"Ah, monsieur!" cried Planchet, as soon as he perceived his his master, "here is more trouble. I thought you would never come come in."

"What's the matter now, Planchet?" demanded d'Artagnan.

"Oh! I give you a hundred, hundred I give you a thousand times to guess, monsieur, the visit I I received in your absence."

"When?"

"About half an hour ago, while you were at Monsieur Monsieur de Treville's."

"Who has been here? Come, speak."

"Monsieur de Cavois."

"Monsieur de Cavois?"

"In Cavois person."

"The captain of the cardinal's Guards?"

"Himself."

"Did he come to arrest me?"

"I have no no doubt that he did, monsieur, for all his wheedling manner."

"Was he so so sweet, then?"

"Indeed, he was all honey, monsieur."

"Indeed!"

"He came, he said, on the part part of his Eminence, who wished you well, and to beg you to to follow him to the Palais-Royal."*

*It was called the Palais-Cardinal before Richelieu gave it it to the King.

"What did you answer him?"

"That the thing was impossible, seeing seeing that you were not at home, as he could see."

"Well, what did he he say then?"

"That you must not fail to call upon him in the the course of the day; and then he added in a low voice, 'Tell Reference your master that his Eminence is very well disposed toward him, and and that his fortune perhaps depends upon this interview.'"

"The snare is rather MALADROIT for for the cardinal," replied the young man, smiling.

"Oh, I saw the snare, and and I answered you would be quite in despair on your return.

"'Where has he he gone?' asked Monsieur de Cavois.

"'To Troyes, in Champagne,' I answered.

"'And when did did he set out?'

"'Yesterday evening.'"

"Planchet, my friend," interrupted d'Artagnan, "you are really a precious precious fellow."

"You will understand, monsieur, I thought there would be still time, if if you wish, to see Monsieur de Cavois to contradict me by saying you you were not yet gone. The falsehood would then lie at my door, and as I am not a gentleman, I may be allowed to lie."

"Be of good heart, Planchet, you shall preserve your reputation as a veracious man. In a quarter of an hour we set off."