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ued he； 〃if only De Winter does not keep us waiting。 It is not at all amusing here； there is not a single woman passing。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Athos； 〃we are overheard。〃
In truth； the walker； who； during the observations of the two friends； had passed and repassed behind them several times； stopped at the name of De Winter； but as his face betrayed no emotion at mention of this name； it might have been by chance he stood so still。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the man； who was young and pale； bowing with ease and courtesy； 〃pardon my curiosity； but I see you e from Paris； or at least that you are strangers at Boulogne。〃
〃We e from Paris； yes；〃 replied Athos； with the same courtesy； 〃what is there we can do for you？〃
〃Sir；〃 said the young man； 〃will you be so good as to tell me if it be true that Cardinal Mazarin is no longer minister？〃
〃That is a strange question；〃 said Aramis。
〃He is and he is not；〃 replied Athos； 〃that is to say； he is dismissed by one…half of France； but by intrigues and promises he makes the other half sustain him； you will perceive that this may last a long time。〃
〃However； sir；〃 said the stranger； 〃he has neither fled nor is in prison？〃
〃No； sir； not at this moment at least。〃
〃Sirs； accept my thanks for your politeness；〃 said the young man； retreating。
〃What do you think of that interrogator？〃 asked Aramis。
〃I think he is either a dull provincial person or a spy in search of information。〃
〃And you replied to him with that notion？〃
〃Nothing warranted me to answer him otherwise； he was polite to me and I was so to him。〃
〃But if he be a spy 〃
〃What do you think a spy would be about here？ We are not living in the time of Cardinal Richelieu； who would have closed the ports on bare suspicion。〃
〃It matters not； you were wrong to reply to him as you did；〃 continued Aramis； following with his eyes the young man； now vanishing behind the cliffs。
〃And you；〃 said Athos； 〃you forget that you mitted a very different kind of imprudence in pronouncing Lord de Winter's name。 Did you not see that at that name the young man stopped？〃
〃More reason； then； when he spoke to you； for sending him about his business。〃
〃A quarrel？〃 asked Athos。
〃And since when have you bee afraid of a quarrel？〃
〃I am always afraid of a quarrel when I am expected at any place and when such a quarrel might possibly prevent my reaching it。 Besides； let me own something to you。 I am anxious to see that young man nearer。〃
〃And wherefore？〃
〃Aramis； you will certainly laugh at me； you will say that I am always repeating the same thing； you will call me the most timorous of visionaries； but to whom do you see a resemblance in that young man？〃
〃In beauty or on the contrary？〃 asked Aramis； laughing。
〃In ugliness； in so far as a man can resemble a woman。〃
〃Ah！ Egad！〃 cried Aramis； 〃you set me thinking。 No； in truth you are no visionary； my dear friend； and now I think of it you yes； i'faith； you're right those delicate； yet firm…set lips； those eyes which seem always at the mand of the intellect and never of the heart！ Yes； it is one of Milady's bastards！〃
〃You laugh Aramis。〃
〃From habit； that is all。 I swear to you； I like no better than yourself to meet that viper in my path。〃
〃Ah！ here is De Winter ing；〃 said Athos。
〃Good！ one thing now is only awanting and that is； that our grooms should not keep us waiting。〃
〃No；〃 said Athos。 〃I see them about twenty paces behind my lord。 I recognize Grimaud by his long legs and his determined slouch。 Tony carries our muskets。〃
〃Then we set sail to…night？〃 asked Aramis； glancing toward the west； where the sun had left a single golden cloud； which； dipping into the ocean； appeared by degrees to be extinguished。
〃Probably；〃 said Athos。
〃Diable！〃 resumed Aramis； 〃I have little fancy for the sea by day； still less at night； the sounds of wind and wave； the frightful movements of the vessel； I confess I prefer the convent of Noisy。〃
Athos smiled sadly； for it was evident that he was thinking of other things as he listened to his friend and moved toward De Winter。
〃What ails our friend？〃 said Aramis； 〃he resembles one of Dante's damned； whose neck Apollyon has dislocated and who are ever looking at their heels。 What the devil makes him glower thus behind him？〃
When De Winter perceived them； in his turn he advanced toward them with surprising rapidity。
〃What is the matter； my lord？〃 said Athos； 〃and what puts you out of breath thus？〃
〃Nothing；〃 replied De Winter； 〃nothing； and yet in passing the heights it seemed to me 〃 and he again turned round。
Athos glanced at Aramis。
〃But let us go；〃 continued De Winter； 〃let us be off； the boat must be waiting for us and there is our sloop at anchor do you see it there？ I wish I were on board already；〃 and he looked back again。
〃He has seen him；〃 said Athos； in a low tone； to Aramis。
They had reached the ladder which led to the boat。 De Winter made the grooms who carried the arms and the porters with the luggage descend first and was about to follow them。
At this moment Athos perceived a man walking on the seashore parallel to the jetty； and hastening his steps； as if to reach the other side of the port； scarcely twenty steps from the place of embarking。 He fancied in the darkness that he recognized the young man who had questioned him。 Athos now descended the ladder in his turn； without losing sight of the young man。 The latter； to make a short cut； had appeared on a sluice。
〃He certainly bodes us no good；〃 said Athos； 〃but let us embark； once out at sea； let him e。〃
And Athos sprang into the boat； which was immediately pushed off and which soon sped seawards under the efforts of four stalwart rowers。
But the young man had begun to follow； or rather to advance before the boat。 She was obliged to pass between the point of the jetty； surmounted by a beacon just lighted； and a rock which jutted out。 They saw him in the distance climbing the rock in order to look down upon the boat as it passed。
〃Ay； but；〃 said Aramis； 〃that young fellow is decidedly a spy。〃