“Alas!” said Kitty, “for whom have I exposed myself to all that?”

“For me, I well know, my sweet girl,” said d’Artagnan.  “But I am grateful, I swear to you.”

“But what does this note contain?”

“Milady will tell you.”

“Ah, you do not love me!” cried Kitty, “and I am very wretched.”

To this reproach there is always one response which deludes women.  D’Artagnan replied in such a manner that Kitty remained in her great delusion.  Although she cried freely before deciding to transmit the letter to her mistress, she did at last so decide, which was all d’Artagnan wished.  Finally he promised that he would leave her mistress’s presence at an early hour that evening, and that when he left the mistress he would ascend with the maid.  This promise completed poor Kitty’s consolation.

34 In which the equipment of Aramis and Porthos is treated of

Since the four friends had been each in search of his equipments, there had been no fixed meeting between them.  They dined apart from one another, wherever they might happen to be, or rather where they could.  Duty likewise on its part took a portion of that precious time which was gliding away so rapidly—­only they had agreed to meet once a week, about one o’clock, at the residence of Athos, seeing that he, in agreement with the vow he had formed, did not pass over the threshold of his door.

This day of reunion was the same day as that on which Kitty came to find d’Artagnan.  Soon as Kitty left him, d’Artagnan directed his steps toward the Rue Ferou.

He found Athos and Aramis philosophizing.  Aramis had some slight inclination to resume the cassock.  Athos, according to his system, neither encouraged nor dissuaded him.  Athos believed that everyone should be left to his own free will.  He never gave advice but when it was asked, and even then he required to be asked twice.

“People, in general,” he said, “only ask advice not to follow it; or if they do follow it, it is for the sake of having someone to blame for having given it.”

Porthos arrived a minute after d’Artagnan.  The four friends were reunited.

The four countenances expressed four different feelings:  that of Porthos, tranquillity; that of d’Artagnan, hope; that of Aramis, uneasiness; that of Athos, carelessness.

At the end of a moment’s conversation, in which Porthos hinted that a lady of elevated rank had condescended to relieve him from his embarrassment, Mousqueton entered.  He came to request his master to return to his lodgings, where his presence was urgent, as he piteously said.

“Is it my equipment?”

“Yes and no,” replied Mousqueton.

“Well, but can’t you speak?”

“Come, monsieur.”

Porthos rose, saluted his friends, and followed Mousqueton.  An instant after, Bazin made his appearance at the door.