d’Artagnan dressed himself, and Athos did the same.  When the two were ready to go out, the latter made Grimaud the sign of a man taking aim, and the lackey immediately took down his musketoon, and prepared to follow his master.

They arrived without accident at the Rue des Fossoyeurs.  Bonacieux was standing at the door, and looked at d’Artagnan hatefully.

“Make haste, dear lodger,” said he; “there is a very pretty girl waiting for you upstairs; and you know women don’t like to be kept waiting.”

“That’s Kitty!” said d’Artagnan to himself, and darted into the passage.

Sure enough!  Upon the landing leading to the chamber, and crouching against the door, he found the poor girl, all in a tremble.  As soon as she perceived him, she cried, “You have promised your protection; you have promised to save me from her anger.  Remember, it is you who have ruined me!”

“Yes, yes, to be sure, Kitty,” said d’Artagnan; “be at ease, my girl.  But what happened after my departure?”

“How can I tell!” said Kitty.  “The lackeys were brought by the cries she made.  She was mad with passion.  There exist no imprecations she did not pour out against you.  Then I thought she would remember it was through my chamber you had penetrated hers, and that then she would suppose I was your accomplice; so I took what little money I had and the best of my things, and I got away.

“Poor dear girl!  But what can I do with you?  I am going away the day after tomorrow.”

“Do what you please, Monsieur Chevalier.  Help me out of Paris; help me out of France!”

“I cannot take you, however, to the siege of La Rochelle,” aid d’Artagnan.

“No; but you can place me in one of the provinces with some lady of your acquaintance—­in your own country, for instance.”

“My dear little love!  In my country the ladies do without chambermaids.  But stop!  I can manage your business for you.  Planchet, go and find Aramis.  Request him to come here directly.  We have something very important to say to him.”

“I understand,” said Athos; “but why not Porthos?  I should have thought that his duchess—­”

“Oh, Porthos’s duchess is dressed by her husband’s clerks,” said d’Artagnan, laughing.  “Besides, Kitty would not like to live in the Rue aux Ours.  Isn’t it so, Kitty?”

“I do not care where I live,” said Kitty, “provided I am well concealed, and nobody knows where I am.”

“Meanwhile, Kitty, when we are about to separate, and you are no longer jealous of me—­”

“Monsieur Chevalier, far off or near,” said Kitty, “I shall always love you.”

“Where the devil will constancy niche itself next?” murmured Athos.

“And I, also,” said d’Artagnan, “I also.  I shall always love you; be sure of that.  But now answer me.  I attach great importance to the question I am about to put to you.  Did you never hear talk of a young woman who was carried off one night?”