The Gascon, with his vivid imagination, had already seen the advantage to be derived from his situation. Mazarin gave, however, no order of the kind, but on the contrary began to be insinuating.
“You were right,” he said, “my dear Monsieur d’Artagnan, and you cannot set out yet. I beg you to return me that dispatch.”
D’Artagnan obeyed, and Mazarin ascertained that the seal was intact.
“I shall want you this evening,” he said “Return in two hours.”
“My lord,” said D’Artagnan, “I have an appointment in two hours which I cannot miss.”
“Do not be uneasy,” said Mazarin; “it is the same.”
“Good!” thought D’Artagnan; “I fancied it was so.”
“Return, then, at five o’clock and bring that worthy Monsieur du Vallon with you. Only, leave him in the ante-room, as I wish to speak to you alone.”
D’Artagnan bowed, and thought: “Both at the same hour; both commands alike; both at the Palais Royal. Monsieur de Gondy would pay a hundred thousand francs for such a secret!”
“You are thoughtful,” said Mazarin, uneasily.