"Well?" asked the queen "Well, madame," replied the valet, "I followed them as far as the gates. They announced to all their comrades that they had seen the king and that the queen had spoken to them; and, in fact, they went away quite proud and happy."
"Oh, the miserable wretches!" murmured the queen, "they shall pay dearly for their boldness, and it is I who promise this."
Then turning to D'Artagnan, she said:
"Sir, you have given me this evening the best advice I have ever received. Continue, and say what we must do now."
"Monsieur Laporte," said D'Artagnan, "finish dressing his majesty."
"We may go, then?" asked the queen.
"Whenever your majesty pleases. You have only to descend by the private stairs and you will find me at the door."
"Go, sir," said the queen; "I will follow you."
D'Artagnan went down and found the carriage at its post and the musketeer on the box. D'Artagnan took out the parcel which he had desired Bernouin to place under the seat. It may be remembered that it was the hat and cloak belonging to Monsieur de Gondy's coachman.
He placed the cloak on his shoulders and the hat on his head, whilst the musketeer got off the box.
"Sir," said D'Artagnan, "you will go and release your companion, who is guarding the coachman. You must mount your horse and proceed to the Rue Tiquetonne, Hotel de la Chevrette, whence you will take my horse and that of Monsieur du Vallon, which you must saddle and equip as if for war, and then you will leave Paris, bringing them with you to Cours la Reine. If, when you arrive at Cours la Reine, you find no one, you must go on to Saint Germain. On the king's service."
The musketeer touched his cap and went away to execute the orders thus received.
D'Artagnan mounted the box, having a pair of pistols in his belt, a musket under his feet and a naked sword behind him.
The queen appeared, and was followed by the king and the Duke d'Anjou, his brother.
"Monsieur the coadjutor's carriage!" she exclaimed, falling back.
"Yes, madame," said D'Artagnan; "but get in fearlessly, for I myself will drive you."
The queen uttered a cry of surprise and entered the carriage, and the king and monsieur took their places at her side.
"Come, Laporte," said the queen.
"How, madame!" said the valet, "in the same carriage as your majesties?"
"It is not a matter of royal etiquette this evening, but of the king's safety. Get in, Laporte."
Laporte obeyed.
"Pull down the blinds," said D'Artagnan.
"But will that not excite suspicion, sir?" asked the queen.
"Your majesty's mind may be quite at ease," replied the officer; "I have my answer ready."
The blinds were pulled down and they started at a gallop by the Rue Richelieu. On reaching the gate the captain of the post advanced at the head of a dozen men, holding a lantern in his hand.
D'Artagnan signed to them to draw near.
"Do you recognize the carriage?" he asked the sergeant.
"No," replied the latter.
"Look at the arms."
The sergeant put the lantern near the panel.
"They are those of monsieur le coadjuteur," he said.
"Hush; he is enjoying a ride with Madame de Guemenee."
The sergeant began to laugh.
"Open the gate," he cried. "I know who it is!" Then putting his face to the lowered blinds, he said:
"I wish you joy, my lord!"
"Impudent fellow!" cried D'Artagnan, "you will get me turned off."
The gate groaned on its hinges, and D'Artagnan, seeing the way clear, whipped his horses, who started at a canter, and five minutes later they had rejoined the cardinal.
"Musqueton!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, "draw up the blinds of his majesty's carriage."
"It is he!" cried Porthos.
"Disguised as a coachman!" exclaimed Mazarin.
"And driving the coadjutor's carriage!" said the queen.
"Corpo di Dio! Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said Mazarin, "you are worth your weight in gold."