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In truth； in a few minutes he heard steps approaching and low whispers。
Close to the hedge the steps stopped。
D'Artagnan knelt down near the thickest part of the hedge。
Two men； to the astonishment of D'Artagnan； appeared shortly； soon； however； his surprise vanished； for he heard the murmurs of a soft； harmonious voice； one of these two men was a woman disguised as a cavalier。
〃Calm yourself； dear Rene；〃 said the soft voice； 〃the same thing will never happen again。 I have discovered a sort of subterranean passage which runs beneath the street and we shall only have to raise one of the marble slabs before the door to open you an entrance and an outlet。〃
〃Oh！〃 answered another voice； which D'Artagnan instantly recognized as that of Aramis。 〃I swear to you； princess； that if your reputation did not depend on precautions and if my life alone were jeopardized 〃
〃Yes； yes！ I know you are as brave and venturesome as any man in the world； but you do not belong to me alone； you belong to all our party。 Be prudent！ sensible！〃
〃I always obey； madame； when I am manded by so gentle a voice。〃
He kissed her hand tenderly。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the cavalier with a soft voice。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Aramis。
〃Do you not see that the wind has blown off my hat？〃
Aramis rushed after the fugitive hat。 D'Artagnan took advantage of the circumstance to find a place in the hedge not so thick； where his glance could penetrate to the supposed cavalier。 At that instant； the moon； inquisitive； perhaps； like D'Artagnan； came from behind a cloud and by her light D'Artagnan recognized the large blue eyes； the golden hair and the classic head of the Duchess de Longueville。
Aramis returned； laughing； one hat on his head and the other in his hand； and he and his panion resumed their walk toward the convent。
〃Good！〃 said D'Artagnan； rising and brushing his knees； 〃now I have thee thou art a Frondeur and the lover of Madame de Longueville。〃
Monsieur Porthos du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds
Thanks to what Aramis had told him； D'Artagnan； who knew already that Porthos called himself Du Vallon； was now aware that he styled himself； from his estate； De Bracieux； and that he was； on account of this estate； engaged in a lawsuit with the Bishop of Noyon。 It was； then； in the neighborhood of Noyon that he must seek that estate。 His itinerary was promptly determined： he would go to Dammartin； from which place two roads diverge； one toward Soissons； the other toward piegne； there he would inquire concerning the Bracieux estate and go to the right or to the left according to the information obtained。
Planchet； who was still a little concerned for his safety after his recent escapade； declared that he would follow D'Artagnan even to the end of the world； either by the road to the right or by that to the left； only he begged his former master to set out in the evening； for greater security to himself。 D'Artagnan suggested that he should send word to his wife； so that she might not be anxious about him； but Planchet replied with much sagacity that he was very sure his wife would not die of anxiety through not knowing where he was； while he； Planchet； remembering her incontinence of tongue； would die of anxiety if she did know。
This reasoning seemed to D'Artagnan so satisfactory that he no further insisted； and about eight o'clock in the evening； the time when the vapors of night begin to thicken in the streets； he left the Hotel de la Chevrette； and followed by Planchet set forth from the capital by way of the Saint Denis gate。
At midnight the two travelers were at Dammartin； but it was then too late to make inquiries the host of the Cygne de la Croix had gone to bed。
The next morning D'Artagnan summoned the host； one of those sly Normans who say neither yes nor no and fear to mit themselves by giving a direct answer。 D'Artagnan； however； gathered from his equivocal replies that the road to the right was the one he ought to take； and on that uncertain information he resumed his journey。 At nine in the morning he reached Nanteuil and stopped for breakfast。 His host here was a good fellow from Picardy； who gave him all the information he needed。 The Bracieux estate was a few leagues from Villars…Cotterets。
D'Artagnan was acquainted with Villars…Cotterets having gone thither with the court on several occasions； for at that time Villars…Cotterets was a royal residence。 He therefore shaped his course toward that place and dismounted at the Dauphin d'Or。 There he ascertained that the Bracieux estate was four leagues distant； but that Porthos was not at Bracieux。 Porthos had； in fact； been involved in a dispute with the Bishop of Noyon in regard to the Pierrefonds property； which adjoined his own； and weary at length of a legal controversy which was beyond his prehension； he put an end to it by purchasing Pierrefonds and added that name to his others。 He now called himself Du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds； and resided on his new estate。
The travelers were therefore obliged to stay at the hotel until the next day； the horses had done ten leagues that day and needed rest。 It is true they might have taken others； but there was a great forest to pass through and Planchet； as we have seen； had no liking for forests after dark。
There was another thing that Planchet had no liking for and that was starting on a journey with a hungry stomach。 Accordingly； D'Artagnan； on awaking； found his breakfast waiting for him。 It need not be said that Planchet in resuming his former functions resumed also his former humility and was not ashamed to make his breakfast on what was left by D'Artagnan。
It was nearly eight o'clock when they set out again。 Their course was clearly defined： they were to follow the road toward piegne and on emerging from the forest turn to the right。
The morning was beautiful； and in this early springtime the birds sang on the trees and the sunbeams shone through the misty glades； like curtains of golden gauze。
In other parts of the forest the light could scarcely penetrate through the foliage； and the stems of two old oak trees； the refug