“Yes, and give them a chance of escaping,” said D’Artagnan.  “Why, one of them is a rich lord from Touraine and the other a knight of Malta, of noble family.  We have arranged the ransom of each of them —­ 2,000 on arriving in France.  We are reluctant to leave for a single moment men whom our lackeys know to be millionaires.  It is true we plundered them a little when we took them, and I will even confess that it is their purse that Monsieur du Vallon and I draw on in our nightly play.  Still, they may have concealed some precious stone, some valuable diamond; so that we are like those misers who are unable to absent themselves from their treasures.  We have made ourselves the constant guardians of our men, and while I sleep Monsieur du Vallon watches.”

“Ah! ah!” said Groslow.

“You see, then, why I must decline your polite invitation, which is especially attractive to me, because nothing is so wearisome as to play night after night with the same person; the chances always balance and at the month’s end nothing is gained or lost.”

“Ah!” said Groslow, sighing; “there is something still more wearisome, and that is not to play at all.”

“I can understand that,” said D’Artagnan.

“But, come,” resumed the Englishman, “are these men of yours dangerous?”

“In what respect?”

“Are they capable of attempting violence?”

D’Artagnan burst out laughing at the idea.

“Jesus Dieu!” he cried; “one of them is trembling with fever, having failed to adapt himself to this charming country of yours, and the other is a knight of Malta, as timid as a young girl; and for greater security we have taken from them even their penknives and pocket scissors.”

“Well, then,” said Groslow, “bring them with you.”

“But really ——­ " said D’Artagnan.

“I have eight men on guard, you know.  Four of them can guard the king and the other four your prisoners.  I’ll manage it somehow, you will see.”

“But,” said D’Artagnan, “now I think of it —­ what is to prevent our beginning to-night?”

“Nothing at all,” said Groslow.

“Just so.  Come to us this evening and to-morrow we’ll return your visit.”

“Capital!  This evening with you, to-morrow at Stuart’s, the next day with me.”

“You see, that with a little forethought one can lead a merry life anywhere and everywhere,” said D’Artagnan.

“Yes, with Frenchmen, and Frenchmen like you.”

“And Monsieur du Vallon,” added the other.  “You will see what a fellow he is; a man who nearly killed Mazarin between two doors.  They employ him because they are afraid of him.  Ah, there he is calling me now.  You’ll excuse me, I know.”

They exchanged bows and D’Artagnan returned to his companions.

“What on earth can you have been saying to that bulldog?” exclaimed Porthos.

“My dear fellow, don’t speak like that of Monsieur Groslow.  He’s one of my most intimate friends.”