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　　〃Madame；　these　conferences　will　bring　us　peace；　when　we　have　peace　we　shall　regain　Paris；　with　Paris；　the　Bastile；　and　our　four　bullies　shall　rot　therein。〃
　　Anne　frowned　slightly　when　Mazarin；　in　taking　leave；　kissed　her　hand。
　　Mazarin；　after　this　half　humble；　half　gallant　attention；　went　away。　Anne　followed　him　with　her　eyes；　and　as　he　withdrew；　at　every　step　he　took；　a　disdainful　smile　was　seen　playing；　then　gradually　burst　upon　her　lips。
　　〃I　once；〃　she　said；　〃despised　the　love　of　a　cardinal　who　never　said　‘I　shall　do；'　but；　‘I　have　done　so　and　so。'　That　man　knew　of　retreats　more　secure　than　Rueil；　darker　and　more　silent　even　than　the　Bastile。　Degenerate　world！〃
　　Precaution's
　　After　quitting　Anne；　Mazarin　took　the　road　to　Rueil；　where　he　usually　resided；　in　those　times　of　disturbance　he　went　about　with　numerous　followers　and　often　disguised　himself。　In　military　dress　he　was；　indeed；　as　we　have　stated；　a　very　handsome　man。
　　In　the　court　of　the　old　Chateau　of　Saint　Germain　he　entered　his　coach；　and　reached　the　Seine　at　Chatou。　The　prince　had　supplied　him　with　fifty　light　horse；　not　so　much　by　way　of　guard　as　to　show　the　deputies　how　readily　the　queen's　generals　dispersed　their　troops　and　to　prove　that　they　might　be　safely　scattered　at　pleasure。　Athos；　on　horseback；　without　his　sword　and　kept　in　sight　by　minges；　followed　the　cardinal　in　silence。　Grimaud；　finding　that　his　master　had　been　arrested；　fell　back　into　the　ranks　near　Aramis；　without　saying　a　word　and　as　if　nothing　had　happened。
　　Grimaud　had；　indeed；　during　twenty…two　years　of　service；　seen　his　master　extricate　himself　from　so　many　difficulties　that　nothing　less　than　Athos's　imminent　death　was　likely　to　make　him　uneasy。
　　At　the　branching　off　of　the　road　toward　Paris；　Aramis；　who　had　followed　in　the　cardinal's　suite；　turned　back。　Mazarin　went　to　the　right　hand　and　Aramis　could　see　the　prisoner　disappear　at　the　turning　of　the　avenue。　Athos；　at　the　same　moment；　moved　by　a　similar　impulse；　looked　back　also。　The　two　friends　exchanged　a　simple　inclination　of　the　head　and　Aramis　put　his　finger　to　his　hat；　as　if　to　bow；　Athos　alone　prehending　by　that　signal　that　he　had　some　project　in　his　head。
　　Ten　minutes　afterward　Mazarin　entered　the　court　of　that　chateau　which　his　predecessor　had　built　for　him　at　Rueil；　as　he　alighted；　minges　approached　him。
　　〃My　lord；〃　he　asked；　〃where　does　your　eminence　wish　Monsieur　te　de　la　Fere　to　be　lodged？〃
　　〃In　the　pavilion　of　the　orangery；　of　course；　in　front　of　the　pavilion　where　the　guard　is。　I　wish　every　respect　to　be　shown　the　count；　although　he　is　the　prisoner　of　her　majesty　the　queen。〃
　　〃My　lord；〃　answered　minges；　〃he　begs　to　be　taken　to　the　place　where　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　is　confined　　that　is；　in　the　hunting　lodge；　opposite　the　orangery。
　　Mazarin　thought　for　an　instant。
　　minges　saw　that　he　was　undecided。
　　〃'Tis　a　very　strong　post；〃　he　resumed；　〃and　we　have　forty　good　men；　tried　soldiers；　having　no　connection　with　Frondeurs　nor　any　interest　in　the　Fronde。〃
　　〃If　we　put　these　three　men　together；　Monsieur　minges；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃we　must　double　the　guard；　and　we　are　not　rich　enough　in　fighting　men　to　mit　such　acts　of　prodigality。〃
　　minges　smiled；　Mazarin　read　and　construed　that　smile。
　　〃You　do　not　know　these　men；　Monsieur　minges；　but　I　know　them；　first　personally；　also　by　hearsay。　I　sent　them　to　carry　aid　to　King　Charles　and　they　performed　prodigies　to　save　him；　had　it　not　been　for　an　adverse　destiny；　that　beloved　monarch　would　this　day　have　been　among　us。〃
　　〃But　since　they　served　your　eminence　so　well；　why　are　they；　my　lord　cardinal；　in　prison？〃
　　〃In　prison？〃　said　Mazarin；　〃and　when　has　Rueil　been　a　prison？〃
　　〃Ever　since　there　were　prisoners　in　it；〃　answered　minges。
　　〃These　gentlemen；　minges；　are　not　prisoners；〃　returned　Mazarin；　with　his　ironical　smile；　〃only　guests；　but　guests　so　precious　that　I　have　put　a　grating　before　each　of　their　windows　and　bolts　to　their　doors；　that　they　may　not　refuse　to　continue　my　visitors。　So　much　do　I　esteem　them　that　I　am　going　to　make　the　te　de　la　Fere　a　visit；　that　I　may　converse　with　him　tete…a…tete；　and　that　we　may　not　be　disturbed　at　our　interview　you　must　conduct　him；　as　I　said　before；　to　the　pavilion　of　the　orangery；　that；　you　know；　is　my　daily　promenade。　Well；　while　taking　my　walk　I　will　call　on　him　and　we　will　talk。　Although　he　professes　to　be　my　enemy　I　have　sympathy　for　him；　and　if　he　is　reasonable　perhaps　we　shall　arrange　matters。〃
　　minges　bowed；　and　returned　to　Athos；　who　was　awaiting　with　apparent　calmness；　but　with　real　anxiety；　the　result　of　the　interview。
　　〃Well？〃　he　said　to　the　lieutenant。
　　〃Sir；〃　replied　minges；　〃it　seems　that　it　is　impossible。〃
　　〃Monsieur　de　minges；〃　said　Athos；　〃I　have　been　a　soldier　all　my　life　and　I　know　the　force　of　orders；　but　outside　your　orders　there　is　a　service　you　can　render　me。〃
　　〃I　will　do　it　with　all　my　heart；〃　said　minges；　〃for　I　know　who　you　are　and　what　service　you　once　performed　for　her　majesty；　I　know；　too；　how　dear　to　you　is　the　young　man　who　came　so　valiantly　to　my　aid　when　that　old　rogue　of　a　Broussel　was　arrested。　I　am　entirely　at　your　service；　except　only　for　my　orders。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　sir；　what　I　am　about　to　ask　will　not　promise　you　in　any　degree。〃
　　〃If　it　should　even　promise　me　a　little；〃　said　Monsieur　de　minges；　with　a　smile；　〃still　make　your　demand。　I　don't　like　Mazarin　any　better　than　you　do。　I　serve　the　queen　and　that　draws　me　naturally　into　the　service　of　the　cardinal；　but　I　serve　the　one　with　joy　and　the　other　against　my　will。　Speak；　then；　I　beg　of　you；　I　wait　and　listen。〃
　　〃Since　there　is　no　harm；〃　said　Athos；　〃in　my　knowing　that　D'Artagnan　is　here；　I　presume　there　will　be　none　in　his　knowing　that　I　am　here。〃
　　〃I　have　received　no　orders　on　that　point。〃
　　〃Well；　then；　do　me　the　kindness　to　give　him　my　regards　and　tell　him　that　I　am　his　neighbor。　Tell　him　also　what　you　have　just　told　me　　that　Mazarin　has　placed　me　in　the　pavilion　of　the　orangery　in　order　to　make　me　a　visit；　and　assure　him　that　I　shall　take　advantage　of　this　honor　he　proposes　to　accord　to　me　to　obtain　from　him　some　amelioration　of　our　captivity。〃
　　〃Which　cannot　last；〃　interrupted　minges；　〃the　cardinal　said　so；　there　is　no　prison　here。〃
　　〃But　there　are　oubliettes！〃　replied　Athos；　smiling。
　　〃Oh！　that's　a　different　thing；　yes；　I　know　there　are　traditions　of　that　sort；〃　said　minges。　〃It　was　in　the　time　of　the　other　cardinal；　who　was　a　great　nobleman；　but　our　Mazarin　　impossible！　an　Italian　adventurer　would　not　dare　to　go　such　lengths　with　such　men　as　ourselves。　Oubliettes　are　employed　as　a　means　of　kingly　vengeance；　and　a　low…born　fellow　such　as　he　is　would　not　have　recourse　to　them。　Your　arrest　is　known；　that　of　your　friends　will　soon　be　known；　and　all　the　nobility　of　France　would　demand　an　explanation　of　your　disappearance。　No；　no；　be　easy　on　that　score。　I　will；　however；　inform　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　of　your　arrival　here。〃
　　minges　then　led　the　count　to　a　room　on　the　ground　floor　of　a　pavilion；　at　the　end　of　the　orangery。　They　passed　through　a　courtyard　as　they　went；　full　of　soldiers　and　courtiers。　In　the　centre　of　this　court；　in　the　form　of　a　horseshoe；　were　the　buildings　occupied　by　Mazarin；　and　at　each　wing　the　pavilion　（or　smaller　building）；　where　D'Artagnan　was　confined；　and　that；　level　with　the　orangery；　where　Athos　was　to　be。　From　the　ends　of　these　two　wings　extended　the　park。
　　Athos；　when　he　reached　his　appointed　room；　observed　through　the　gratings　of　his　window；　walls　and　roofs；　and　was　told；　on　inquiry；　by　minges；　that　he　was　looking　on　the　back　of　the　pavilion　where　D'Artagnan　was　confined。
　　〃Yes；　'tis　too　true；〃　said　minges；　〃'tis　almost　a　prison；　but　what　a　singular　fancy　this　is　of　yours；　count　　you；　who　are　the　very　flower　of　our　nobility　　to　squander　your　valor　and　loyalty　amongst　these　upstarts；　the　Frondists！　Really；　count；　if　ever　I　thought　that　I　had　a　friend　in　the　ranks　of　the　royal　army；　it　was　you。　A　Frondeur！　you；　the　te　de　la　Fere；　on　the　side　of　Broussel；　Blancmesnil　and　Viole！　For　shame！　you；　a　Frondeur！〃
　　〃On　my　word　of　honor；〃　said　Athos；　〃one　must　be　either　a　Mazarinist　or　a　Frondeur。　For　a　long　time　I　had　these