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Anne of Austria bent down and whispered in the young king's ear：
〃Say something gracious to Monsieur d'Artagnan； my son。〃
The young king leaned toward the door。
〃I have not said good…morning to you； Monsieur d'Artagnan；〃 he said； 〃nevertheless； I have remarked you。 It was you who were behind my bed…curtains that night the Parisians wished to see me asleep。〃
〃And if the king permits me；〃 returned the Gascon； 〃I shall be near him always when there is danger to be encountered。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Mazarin to Porthos； 〃what would you do if the crowd fell upon us？〃
〃Kill as many as I could； my lord。〃
〃Hem！ brave as you are and strong as you are； you could not kill them all。〃
〃'Tis true；〃 answered Porthos； rising on his saddle； in order that he might appraise the immense crowd； 〃there are a lot of them。〃
〃I think I should like the other fellow better than this one；〃 said Mazarin to himself； and he threw himself back in his carriage。
The queen and her minister； more especially the latter； had reason to feel anxious。 The crowd； whilst preserving an appearance of respect and even of affection for the king and queen regent； began to be tumultuous。 Reports were whispered about； like certain sounds which announce； as they whistle from wave to wave； the ing storm and when they pass athwart a multitude； presage an emeute。
D'Artagnan turned toward the musketeers and made a sign imperceptible to the crowd； but very easily understood by that chosen regiment； the flower of the army。
The ranks closed firmly in and a kind of majestic tremor ran from man to man。
At the Barriere des Sergents the procession was obliged to stop。 minges left the head of the escort and went to the queen's carriage。 Anne questioned D'Artagnan by a look。 He answered in the same language。
〃Proceed；〃 she said。
minges returned to his post。 An effort was made and the living barrier was violently broken through。
Some plaints arose from the crowd and were addressed this time to the king as well as the minister。
〃Onward！〃 cried D'Artagnan； in a loud voice。
〃Onward！〃 cried Porthos。
But as if the multitude had waited only for this demonstration to burst out； all the sentiments of hostility that possessed it exploded simultaneously。 Cries of 〃Down with Mazarin！〃 〃Death to the cardinal！〃 resounded on all sides。
At the same time through the streets of Grenelle； Saint Honore； and Du Coq； a double stream of people broke the feeble hedge of Swiss guards and came like a whirlwind even to the very legs of Porthos's horse and that of D'Artagnan。
This new eruption was more dangerous than the others； being posed of armed men。 It was plain that it was not the chance bination of those who had collected a number of the malcontents at the same spot； but a concerted organized attack。
Each of these mobs was led by a chief； one of whom appeared to belong； not to the people； but to the honorable corporation of mendicants； and the other； notwithstanding his affected imitation of the people； might easily be discerned to be a gentleman。 Both were evidently stimulated by the same impulse。
There was a shock which was perceived even in the royal carriage。 Myriads of hoarse cries； forming one vast uproar； were heard； mingled with guns firing。
〃Ho！ Musketeers！〃 cried D'Artagnan。
The escort divided into two files。 One of them passed around to the right of the carriage； the other to the left。 One went to support D'Artagnan； the other Porthos。 Then came a skirmish； the more terrible because it had no definite object； the more melancholy； because those engaged in it knew not for whom they were fighting。 Like all popular movements； the shock given by the rush of this mob was formidable。 The musketeers； few in number； not being able； in the midst of this crowd； to make their horses wheel around； began to give way。 D'Artagnan offered to lower the blinds of the royal carriage； but the young king stretched out his arm； saying：
〃No； sir！ I wish to see everything。〃
〃If your majesty wishes to look out well； then； look！〃 replied D'Artagnan。 And turning with that fury which made him so formidable； he rushed toward the chief of the insurgents； a man who； with a huge sword in his hand； was trying to hew a passage to the coach door through the musketeers。
〃Make room！〃 cried D'Artagnan。 〃Zounds！ give way！〃
At these words the man with a pistol and sword raised his head； but it was too late。 The blow was sped by D'Artagnan； the rapier had pierced his bosom。
〃Ah！ confound it！〃 cried the Gascon； trying in vain； too late； to retract the thrust。 〃What the devil are you doing here； count？〃
〃Acplishing my destiny；〃 replied Rochefort； falling on one knee。 〃I have already got up again after three stabs from you； I shall never rise after this fourth。〃
〃Count！〃 said D'Artagnan； with some degree of emotion； 〃I struck without knowing that it was you。 I am sorry； if you die； that you should die with sentiments of hatred toward me。〃
Rochefort extended his hand to D'Artagnan； who took it。 The count wished to speak； but a gush of blood stifled him。 He stiffened in the last convulsions of death and expired。
〃Back； people！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃your leader is dead； you have no longer any business here。〃
Indeed； as if De Rochefort had been the very soul of the attack； the crowd who had followed and obeyed him took to flight on seeing him fall。 D'Artagnan charged； with a party of musketeers； up the Rue du Coq； and the portion of the mob he assailed disappeared like smoke； dispersing near the Place Saint Germain…l'Auxerrois and taking the direction of the quays。
D'Artagnan returned to help Porthos； if Porthos needed help； but Porthos； for his part； had done his work as conscientiously as D'Artagnan。 The left of the carriage was as well cleared as the right； and they drew up the blind of the window which Mazarin； less heroic than the king； had taken the precaution to lower。
Porthos looked very melancholy。
〃What a devil of a face you have； Porthos！ and what a strange air for a victor！〃
〃But you；〃 answered Porthos； 〃seem to me agitated。〃
〃There's a reason！