“He!” he cried; “he venture himself amongst us, to be hung! Not so foolish as all that.”
“Ah!” muttered Athos, “I may be mistaken, I haven’t the unerring eye of D’Artagnan.”
“Who is speaking of Monsieur D’Artagnan?” asked an officer who appeared at that moment upon the threshold of the room.
“What!” cried Aramis and Athos, “what! Planchet!”
“Planchet,” added Grimaud; “Planchet, with a gorget, indeed!”
“Ah, gentlemen!” cried Planchet, “so you are back again in Paris. Oh, how happy you make us! no doubt you come to join the princes!”
“As thou seest, Planchet,” said Aramis, whilst Athos smiled on seeing what important rank was held in the city militia by the former comrade of Mousqueton, Bazin and Grimaud.
“And Monsieur d’Artagnan, of whom you spoke just now, Monsieur d’Herblay; may I ask if you have any news of him?”
“We parted from him four days ago and we have reason to believe that he has reached Paris before us.”
“No, sir; I am sure he hasn’t yet arrived. But then he may have stopped at Saint Germain.”