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our return you have been received by two queens； it is not so bad for a novice。〃
〃Oh sir；〃 said Raoul； suddenly； 〃you recall something； which； in my haste to relate my exploits； I had forgotten； it is that there was with Her Majesty the Queen of England； a gentleman who； when I pronounced your name； uttered a cry of surprise and joy； he said he was a friend of yours； asked your address； and is ing to see you。〃
〃What is his name？〃
〃I did not venture to ask； sir； he spoke elegantly； although I thought from his accent he was an Englishman。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Athos； leaning down his head as if to remember who it could be。 Then； when he raised it again； he was struck by the presence of a man who was standing at the open door and was gazing at him with a passionate air。
〃Lord de Winter！〃 exclaimed the count。
〃Athos； my friend！〃
And the two gentlemen were for an instant locked in each other's arms； then Athos； looking into his friend's face and taking him by both hands； said：
〃What ails you； my lord？ you appear as unhappy as I am the reverse。〃
〃Yes； truly； dear friend； and I may even say the sight of you increases my dismay。〃
And De Winter glancing around him； Raoul quickly understood that the two friends wished to be alone and he therefore left the room unaffectedly。
〃e； now that we are alone；〃 said Athos； 〃let us talk of yourself。〃
〃Whilst we are alone let us speak of ourselves；〃 replied De Winter。 〃He is here。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Milady's son。〃
Athos； again struck by this name； which seemed to pursue him like an echo； hesitated for a moment； then slightly knitting his brows； he calmly said：
〃I know it； Grimaud met him between Bethune and Arras and then came here to warn me of his presence。〃
〃Does Grimaud know him； then？〃
〃No； but he was present at the deathbed of a man who knew him。〃
〃The headsman of Bethune？〃 exclaimed De Winter。
〃You know about that？〃 cried Athos； astonished。
〃He has just left me；〃 replied De Winter； 〃after telling me all。 Ah！ my friend！ what a horrible scene！ Why did we not destroy the child with the mother？〃
〃What need you fear？〃 said Athos； recovering from the instinctive fear he had at first experienced； by the aid of reason； 〃are we not men accustomed to defend ourselves？ Is this young man an assassin by profession a murderer in cold blood？ He has killed the executioner of Bethune in an access of passion； but now his fury is assuaged。〃
De Winter smiled sorrowfully and shook his head。
〃Do you not know the race？〃 said he。
〃Pooh！〃 said Athos； trying to smile in his turn。 〃It must have lost its ferocity in the second generation。 Besides； my friend； Providence has warned us； that we may be on our guard。 All we can now do is to wait。 Let us wait； and； as I said before； let us speak of yourself。 What brings you to Paris？〃
〃Affairs of importance which you shall know later。 But what is this that I hear from Her Majesty the Queen of England？ Monsieur d'Artagnan sides with Mazarin！ Pardon my frankness； dear friend。 I neither hate nor blame the cardinal； and your opinions will be held ever sacred by me。 But do you happen to belong to him？〃
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan；〃 replied Athos； 〃is in the service； he is a soldier and obeys all constitutional authority。 Monsieur d'Artagnan is not rich and has need of his position as lieutenant to enable him to live。 Millionaires like yourself； my lord； are rare in France。〃
〃Alas！〃 said De Winter； 〃I am at this moment as poor as he is； if not poorer。 But to return to our subject。〃
〃Well； then； you wish to know if I am of Mazarin's party？ No。 Pardon my frankness； too； my lord。〃
〃I am obliged to you； count； for this pleasing intelligence！ You make me young and happy again by it。 Ah！ so you are not a Mazarinist？ Delightful！ Indeed； you could not belong to him。 But pardon me； are you free？ I mean to ask if you are married？〃
〃Ah！ as to that； no；〃 replied Athos； laughing。
〃Because that young man； so handsome； so elegant； so polished 〃
〃Is a child I have adopted and who does not even know who was his father。〃
〃Very well； you are always the same； Athos； great and generous。 Are you still friends with Monsieur Porthos and Monsieur Aramis？〃
〃Add Monsieur d'Artagnan； my lord。 We still remain four friends devoted to each other； but when it bees a question of serving the cardinal or of fighting him； of being Mazarinists or Frondists； then we are only two。〃
〃Is Monsieur Aramis with D'Artagnan？〃 asked Lord de Winter。
〃No；〃 said Athos； 〃Monsieur Aramis does me the honor to share my opinions。〃
〃Could you put me in munication with your witty and agreeable friend？ Is he much changed？〃
〃He has bee an abbe； that is all。〃
〃You alarm me； his profession must have made him renounce any great undertakings。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Athos； smiling； 〃he has never been so much a musketeer as since he became an abbe； and you will find him a veritable soldier。〃
〃Could you engage to bring him to me to…morrow morning at ten o'clock； on the Pont du Louvre？〃
〃Oh； oh！〃 exclaimed Athos； smiling； 〃you have a duel in prospect。〃
〃Yes； count； and a splendid duel； too； a duel in which I hope you will take your part。〃
〃Where are we to go； my lord？〃
〃To Her Majesty the Queen of England； who has desired me to present you to her。〃
〃This is an enigma；〃 said Athos； 〃but it matters not； since you know the solution of it I ask no further。 Will your lordship do me the honor to sup with me？〃
〃Thanks； count； no；〃 replied De Winter。 〃I own to you that that young man's visit has subdued my appetite and probably will rob me of my sleep。 What undertaking can have brought him to Paris？ It was not to meet me that he came； for he was ignorant of my journey。 This young man terrifies me； my lord； there lies in him a sanguinary predisposition。〃
〃What occupies him in England？〃
〃He is one of Cromwell's most enthusiastic disciples。〃
〃But what attached him to the cause？ His father and mother were Catholics； I believe？〃
〃His hatred of the king； who deprived him of his estates and forbade him to bear the name of De Win