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〃And what are my instructions？〃
〃To obey in every particular the man to whom this letter is addressed。 You must set out for Boulogne。 At the Royal Arms of England you will find a young gentleman named Mordaunt。〃
〃Yes； my lord； and what am I to do with this young gentleman？〃
〃Follow wherever he leads you。〃
D'Artagnan looked at the cardinal with a stupefied air。
〃There are your instructions；〃 said Mazarin； 〃go！〃
〃Go！ 'tis easy to say so； but that requires money； and I haven't any。〃
〃Ah！〃 replied Mazarin； 〃so you have no money？〃
〃None； my lord。〃
〃But the diamond I gave you yesterday？〃
〃I wish to keep it in remembrance of your eminence。〃
Mazarin sighed。
〃'Tis very dear living in England； my lord； especially as envoy extraordinary。〃
〃Zounds！〃 replied Mazarin； 〃the people there are very sedate； and their habits； since the revolution； simple； but no matter。〃
He opened a drawer and took out a purse。
〃What do you say to a thousand crowns？〃
D'Artagnan pouted out his lower lip in a most extraordinary manner。
〃I reply； my lord； 'tis but little； as certainly I shall not go alone。〃
〃I suppose not。 Monsieur du Vallon； that worthy gentleman； for； with the exception of yourself； Monsieur d'Artagnan； there's not a man in France that I esteem and love so much as him 〃
〃Then； my lord；〃 replied D'Artagnan； pointing to the purse which Mazarin still held； 〃if you love and esteem him so much； you understand me？〃
〃Be it so！ on his account I add two hundred crowns。〃
〃Scoundrel！〃 muttered D'Artagnan。 〃But on our return；〃 he said aloud； 〃may we； that is； my friend and I； depend on having； he his barony； and I my promotion？〃
〃On the honor of Mazarin。〃
〃I should like another sort of oath better；〃 said D'Artagnan to himself； then aloud； 〃May I not offer my duty to her majesty the queen？〃
〃Her majesty is asleep and you must set off directly；〃 replied Mazarin； 〃go； pray； sir 〃
〃One word more； my lord； if there's any fighting where I'm going； must I fight？〃
〃You are to obey the mands of the personage to whom I have addressed the inclosed letter。〃
〃'Tis well；〃 said D'Artagnan； holding out his hand to receive the money。 〃I offer my best respects and services to you； my lord。〃
D'Artagnan then； returning to the officer； said：
〃Sir； have the kindness also to awaken Monsieur du Vallon and to say 'tis by his eminence's order； and that I shall await him at the stables。〃
The officer went off with an eagerness that showed the Gascon that he had some personal interest in the matter。
Porthos was snoring most musically when some one touched him on the shoulder。
〃I e from the cardinal；〃 said the officer。
〃Heigho！〃 said Porthos； opening his large eyes； 〃what have you got to say？〃
〃That his eminence has ordered you to England and that Monsieur d'Artagnan is waiting for you in the stables。〃
Porthos sighed heavily； arose； took his hat； his pistols； and his cloak； and departed； casting a look of regret upon the couch where he had hoped to sleep so well。
No sooner had he turned his back than the officer laid himself down in it； and he had scarcely crossed the threshold before his successor； in his turn； was snoring immoderately。 It was very natural； he being the only person in the whole assemblage； except the king； the queen； and the Duke of Orleans； who slept gratuitously。
In which we hear Tidings of Aramis
D'Artagnan went straight to the stables； day was just dawning。 He found his horse and that of Porthos fastened to the manger； but to an empty manger。 He took pity on these poor animals and went to a corner of the stable； where he saw a little straw； but in doing so he struck his foot against a human body； which uttered a cry and arose on its knees； rubbing its eyes。 It was Musqueton； who； having no straw to lie upon； had helped himself to that of the horses。
〃Musqueton；〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃let us be off！ Let us set off。〃
Musqueton； recognizing the voice of his master's friend； got up suddenly； and in doing so let fall some louis which he had appropriated to himself illegally during the night。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 exclaimed D'Artagnan； picking up a louis and displaying it； 〃here's a louis that smells confoundedly of straw。〃
Musqueton blushed so confusedly that the Gascon began to laugh at him and said：
〃Porthos would be angry； my dear Monsieur Musqueton； but I pardon you； only let us remember that this gold must serve us as a joke； so be gay e along。〃
Musqueton instantly assumed a jovial countenance； saddled the horses quickly and mounted his own without making faces over it。
Whilst this went on； Porthos arrived with a very cross look on his face； and was astonished to find the lieutenant resigned and Musqueton almost merry。
〃Ah； that's it！〃 he cried； 〃you have your promotion and I my barony。〃
〃We are going to fetch our brevets；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and when we e back； Master Mazarin will sign them。〃
〃And where are we going？〃 asked Porthos。
〃To Paris first； I have affairs to settle。〃
And they both set out for Paris。
On arriving at its gates they were astounded to see the threatening aspect of the capital。 Around a broken…down carriage the people were uttering imprecations； whilst the persons who had attempted to escape were made prisoners that is to say； an old man and two women。 On the other hand； as the two friends approached to enter； they showed them every kind of civility； thinking them deserters from the royal party and wishing to bind them to their own。
〃What is the king doing？〃 they asked。
〃He is asleep。〃
〃And the Spanish woman？〃
〃Dreaming。〃
〃And the cursed Italian？〃
〃He is awake； so keep on the watch； as they are gone away； it's for some purpose； rely on it。 But as you are the strongest； after all；〃 continued D'Artagnan； 〃don't be furious with old men and women； and keep your wrath for more appropriate occasions。〃
The people listened to these words and let go the ladies； who thanked D'Artagnan with an eloquent look。
〃Now！ onward！〃 cried the Gascon。
And they continued their way；