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　　The　letters　were　long　　the　four　pages　were　covered　with　closely　written　words。　The　writers　sometimes　looked　up　at　each　other　and　smiled；　they　understood　without　speaking；　their　organizations　were　so　delicate　and　sympathetic。　The　letters　being　finished；　each　put　his　own　into　two　envelopes；　so　that　no　one；　without　tearing　the　first　envelope；　could　discover　to　whom　the　second　was　addressed；　then　they　drew　near　to　each　other　and　smilingly　exchanged　their　letters。
　　〃In　case　any　evil　should　happen　to　me；〃　said　Bragelonne。
　　〃In　case　I　should　be　killed；〃　said　De　Guiche。
　　They　then　embraced　each　other　like　two　brothers；　and　each　wrapping　himself　in　his　cloak　they　soon　passed　into　that　kindly　sleep　of　youth　which　is　the　prerogative　of　birds；　flowers　and　infants。
　　A　Dinner　in　the　Old　Style
　　The　second　interview　between　the　former　musketeers　was　not　so　formal　and　threatening　as　the　first。　Athos；　with　his　superior　understanding；　wisely　deemed　that　the　supper　table　would　be　the　most　plete　and　satisfactory　point　of　reunion；　and　at　the　moment　when　his　friends；　in　deference　to　his　deportment　and　sobriety；　dared　scarcely　speak　of　some　of　their　former　good　dinners；　he　was　the　first　to　propose　that　they　should　all　assemble　around　some　well　spread　table　and　abandon　themselves　unreservedly　to　their　own　natural　character　and　manners　　a　freedom　which　had　formerly　contributed　so　much　to　that　good　understanding　between　them　which　gave　them　the　name　of　the　inseparables。　For　different　reasons　this　was　an　agreeable　proposition　to　them　all；　and　it　was　therefore　agreed　that　each　should　leave　a　very　exact　address　and　that　upon　the　request　of　any　of　the　associates　a　meeting　should　be　convoked　at　a　famous　eating　house　in　the　Rue　de　la　Monnaie；　of　the　sign　of　the　Hermitage。　The　first　rendezvous　was　fixed　for　the　following　Wednesday；　at　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　precisely。
　　On　that　day；　in　fact；　the　four　friends　arrived　punctually　at　the　hour；　each　from　his　own　abode　or　occupation。　Porthos　had　been　trying　a　new　horse；　D'Artagnan　was　on　guard　at　the　Louvre；　Aramis　had　been　to　visit　one　of　his　penitents　in　the　neighborhood；　and　Athos；　whose　domicile　was　established　in　the　Rue　Guenegaud；　found　himself　close　at　hand。　They　were；　therefore；　somewhat　surprised　to　meet　altogether　at　the　door　of　the　Hermitage；　Athos　starting　out　from　the　Pont　Neuf；　Porthos　by　the　Rue　de　la　Roule；　D'Artagnan　by　the　Rue　des　Fosse　Saint　Germain　l'Auxerrois；　and　Aramis　by　the　Rue　de　Bethisy。
　　The　first　words　exchanged　between　the　four　friends；　on　account　of　the　ceremony　which　each　of　them　mingled　with　their　demonstration；　were　somewhat　forced　and　even　the　repast　began　with　a　kind　of　stiffness。　Athos　perceived　this　embarrassment；　and　by　way　of　supplying　an　effectual　remedy；　called　for　four　bottles　of　champagne。
　　At　this　order；　given　in　Athos's　habitually　calm　manner；　the　face　of　the　Gascon　relaxed　and　Porthos's　brow　grew　smooth。　Aramis　was　astonished。　He　knew　that　Athos　not　only　never　drank；　but　more；　that　he　had　a　kind　of　repugnance　to　wine。　This　astonishment　was　doubled　when　Aramis　saw　Athos　fill　a　bumper　and　toss　it　off　with　all　his　former　enthusiasm。　His　panions　followed　his　example。　In　a　very　few　minutes　the　four　bottles　were　empty　and　this　excellent　specific　succeeded　in　dissipating　even　the　slightest　cloud　that　might　have　rested　on　their　spirits。　Now　the　four　friends　began　to　speak　loud；　scarcely　waiting　till　one　had　finished　before　another　began；　and　each　assumed　his　favorite　attitude　on　or　at　the　table。　Soon　　strange　fact　　Aramis　undid　two　buttons　of　his　doublet；　seeing　which；　Porthos　unfastened　his　entirely。
　　Battles；　long　journeys；　blows　given　and　received；　sufficed　for　the　first　themes　of　conversation；　which　turned　upon　the　silent　struggles　sustained　against　him　who　was　now　called　the　great　cardinal。
　　〃Faith；〃　said　Aramis；　laughing；　〃we　have　praised　the　dead　enough；　let　us　revile　the　living　a　little；　I　should　like　to　say　something　evil　of　Mazarin；　is　it　permissible？〃
　　〃Go　on；　go　on；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　laughing　heartily；　〃relate　your　story　and　I　will　applaud　it　if　it　is　a　good　one。〃
　　〃A　great　prince；〃　said　Aramis；　〃with　whom　Mazarin　sought　an　alliance；　was　invited　by　him　to　send　him　a　list　of　the　conditions　on　which　he　would　do　him　the　honor　to　negotiate　with　him。　The　prince；　who　had　a　great　repugnance　to　treat　with　such　an　ill…bred　fellow；　made　out　a　list；　against　the　grain；　and　sent　it。　In　this　list　there　were　three　conditions　which　displeased　Mazarin　and　he　offered　the　prince　ten　thousand　crowns　to　renounce　them。〃
　　〃Ah；　ha；　ha！〃　laughed　the　three　friends；　〃not　a　bad　bargain；　and　there　was　no　fear　of　being　taken　at　his　word；　what　did　the　prince　do　then？〃
　　〃The　prince　immediately　sent　fifty　thousand　francs　to　Mazarin；　begging　him　never　to　write　to　him　again；　and　offered　twenty　thousand　francs　more；　on　condition　that　he　would　never　speak　to　him。　What　did　Mazarin　do？〃
　　〃Stormed！〃　suggested　Athos。
　　〃Beat　the　messenger！〃　cried　Porthos。
　　〃Accepted　the　money！〃　said　D'Artagnan。
　　〃You　have　guessed　it；〃　answered　Aramis；　and　they　all　laughed　so　heartily　that　the　host　appeared　in　order　to　inquire　whether　the　gentlemen　wanted　anything；　he　thought　they　were　fighting。
　　At　last　their　hilarity　calmed　down　and：
　　〃Faith！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan　to　the　two　friends；　〃you　may　well　wish　ill　to　Mazarin；　for　I　assure　you；　on　his　side　he　wishes　you　no　good。〃
　　〃Pooh！　really？〃　asked　Athos。　〃If　I　thought　the　fellow　knew　me　by　my　name　I　would　be　rebaptized；　for　fear　it　might　be　thought　I　knew　him。〃
　　〃He　knows　you　better　by　your　actions　than　your　name；　he　is　quite　aware　that　there　are　two　gentlemen　who　greatly　aided　the　escape　of　Monsieur　de　Beaufort；　and　he　has　instigated　an　active　search　for　them；　I　can　answer　for　it。〃
　　〃By　whom？〃
　　〃By　me；　and　this　morning　he　sent　for　me　to　ask　me　if　I　had　obtained　any　information。〃
　　〃And　what　did　you　reply？〃
　　〃That　I　had　none　as　yet；　but　that　I　was　to　dine　to…day　with　two　gentlemen；　who　would　be　able　to　give　me　some。〃
　　〃You　told　him　that？〃　said　Porthos；　a　broad　smile　spreading　over　his　honest　face。　〃Bravo！　and　you　are　not　afraid　of　that；　Athos？〃
　　〃No；〃　replied　Athos；　〃it　is　not　the　search　of　Mazarin　that　I　fear。〃
　　〃Now；〃　said　Aramis；　〃tell　me　a　little　what　you　do　fear。〃
　　〃Nothing　for　the　present；　at　least；　nothing　in　good　earnest。〃
　　〃And　with　regard　to　the　past？〃　asked　Porthos。
　　〃Oh！　the　past　is　another　thing；〃　said　Athos；　sighing；　〃the　past　and　the　future。〃
　　〃Are　you　afraid　for　your　young　Raoul？〃　asked　Aramis。
　　〃Well；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃one　is　never　killed　in　a　first　engagement。〃
　　〃Nor　in　the　second；〃　said　Aramis
　　〃Nor　in　the　third；〃　returned　Porthos；　〃and　even　when　one　is　killed；　one　rises　again；　the　proof　of　which　is；　that　here　we　are！〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Athos；　〃it　is　not　Raoul　about　whom　I　am　anxious；　for　I　trust　he　will　conduct　himself　like　a　gentleman；　and　if　he　is　killed　　well；　he　will　die　bravely；　but　hold　　should　such　a　misfortune　happen　　well　　〃　Athos　passed　his　hand　across　his　pale　brow。
　　〃Well？〃　asked　Aramis。
　　〃Well；　I　shall　look　upon　it　as　an　expiation。〃
　　〃Ah！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　know　what　you　mean。〃
　　〃And　I；　too；〃　added　Aramis；　〃but　you　must　not　think　of　that；　Athos；　what　is　past；　is　past。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　said　Porthos。
　　〃The　affair　at　Armentieres；〃　whispered　D'Artagnan。
　　〃The　affair　at　Armentieres？〃　asked　he　again。
　　〃Milady。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes！〃　said　Porthos；　〃true；　I　had　forgotten　it！〃
　　Athos　looked　at　him　intently。
　　〃You　have　forgotten　it；　Porthos？〃　said　he。
　　〃Faith！　yes；　it　is　so　long　ago；〃　answered　Porthos。
　　〃This　affair　does　not；　then；　weigh　upon　your　conscience？〃
　　〃Faith；　no。〃
　　〃And　you；　D'Artagnan？〃
　　〃I　　I　own　that　when　my　mind　returns　to　that　terrible　period　I　have　no　recollection　of　anything　but　the　rigid　corpse　of　poor　Madame　Bonancieux。　Yes；　yes；〃　murmured　he；　〃I　have　often　felt　regret　for　the　victim；　but　never　the　very　slightest　remorse　for　the　assassin。〃
　　Athos　shook　his　dead　doubtfully。
　　〃Consider；〃　said　Aramis；　〃if　you　admit　divine　justice　and　its　participation　in　the　things　of　this　world；　that　woman　was　punished　by　the　will　of　heaven。