“On whose side?” asked Athos, fixing his clear, benevolent glance on the countenance of the Gascon.

“Ah, devil take it, you speak in earnest ——­ "

“And must have a definite answer.  Listen, D’Artagnan.  There is but one person, or rather, one cause, to whom a man like me can be useful —­ that of the king.”

“Exactly,” answered the musketeer.

“Yes, but let us understand each other,” returned Athos, seriously.  “If by the cause of the king you mean that of Monsieur de Mazarin, we do not understand each other.”

“I don’t say exactly,” answered the Gascon, confused.

“Come, D’Artagnan, don’t let us play a sidelong game; your hesitation, your evasion, tells me at once on whose side you are; for that party no one dares openly to recruit, and when people recruit for it, it is with averted eyes and humble voice.”

“Ah! my dear Athos!”

“You know that I am not alluding to you; you are the pearl of brave, bold men.  I speak of that spiteful and intriguing Italian —­ of the pedant who has tried to put on his own head a crown which he stole from under a pillow —­ of the scoundrel who calls his party the party of the king —­ who wants to send the princes of the blood to prison, not daring to kill them, as our great cardinal —­ our cardinal did —­ of the miser, who weighs his gold pieces and keeps the clipped ones for fear, though he is rich, of losing them at play next morning —­ of the impudent fellow who insults the queen, as they say —­ so much the worse for her —­ and who is going in three months to make war upon us, in order that he may retain his pensions; is that the master whom you propose to me?  I thank you, D’Artagnan.”

“You are more impetuous than you were,” returned D’Artagnan.  “Age has warmed, not chilled your blood.  Who informed you this was the master I propose to you?  Devil take it,” he muttered to himself, “don’t let me betray my secrets to a man not inclined to entertain them.”

“Well, then,” said Athos, “what are your schemes? what do you propose?”

“Zounds! nothing more than natural.  You live on your estate, happy in golden mediocrity.  Porthos has, perhaps, sixty thousand francs income.  Aramis has always fifty duchesses quarreling over the priest, as they quarreled formerly over the musketeer; but I —­ what have I in the world?  I have worn my cuirass these twenty years, kept down in this inferior rank, without going forward or backward, hardly half living.  In fact, I am dead.  Well! when there is some idea of being resuscitated, you say he’s a scoundrel, an impudent fellow, a miser, a bad master!  By Jove!  I am of your opinion, but find me a better one or give me the means of living.”

Athos was for a few moments thoughtful.

“Good!  D’Artagnan is for Mazarin,” he said to himself.

From that moment he grew very guarded.

On his side D’Artagnan became more cautious also.