"That is my opinion," said Aramis.
"You will not reply, however, and these gentlemen, I am sure, will presently be of my opinion."
Aramis shook his head with a motion of indescribable insolence.
Chatillon saw the motion and put his hand to his sword.
"Willingly," replied De Chatillon.
"Duke," said Flamarens, "you forget that to-morrow you are to command an expedition of the greatest importance, projected by the prince, assented to by the queen. Until to-morrow evening you are not at your own disposal."
"Let it be then the day after to-morrow," said Aramis.
"To-morrow, rather," said De Chatillon, "if you will take the trouble of coming so far as the gates of Charenton."
"How can you doubt it, sir? For the pleasure of a meeting with you I would go to the end of the world."
"Very well, to-morrow, sir."
"I shall rely on it. Are you going to rejoin your cardinal?
Swear first, on your honor, not to inform him of our return."
"Conditions?"
"Why not?"
"Because it is for victors to make conditions, and you are not yet victors, gentlemen."
"Then let us draw on the spot. It is all one to us -- to us who do not command to-morrow's expedition."
Chatillon and Flamarens looked at each other. There was such irony in the words and in the bearing of Aramis that the duke had great difficulty in bridling his anger, but at a word from Flamarens he restrained himself and contented himself with saying:
"You promise, sir -- that's agreed -- that I shall find you to-morrow at Charenton?"
"Oh, don't be afraid, sir," replied Aramis; and the two gentlemen shortly afterward left the Louvre.
"For what reason is all this fume and fury?" asked Athos.
"What have they done to you?"
"They -- did you not see what they did?"
"No."
"They laughed when we swore that we had done our duty in England. Now, if they believed us, they laughed in order to insult us; if they did not believe it they insulted us all the more. However, I'm glad not to fight them until to-morrow. I hope we shall have something better to do to-night than to draw the sword."
"What have we to do?"
"Egad! to take Mazarin."
Athos curled his lip with disdain.
"These undertakings do not suit me, as you know, Aramis."
"Why?"
"Because it is taking people unawares."
"Really, Athos, you would make a singular general. You would fight only by broad daylight, warn your foe before an attack, and never attempt anything by night lest you should be accused of taking advantage of the darkness."
Athos smiled.
"You know one cannot change his nature," he said. "Besides, do you know what is our situation, and whether Mazarin's arrest wouldn't be rather an encumbrance than an advantage?"
"Say at once you disapprove of my proposal."
"I think you ought to do nothing, since you exacted a promise from these gentlemen not to let Mazarin know that we were in France."
"I have entered into no engagement and consider myself quite free. Come, come."
"Where?"
"Either to seek the Duc de Beaufort or the Duc de Bouillon, and to tell them about this."
"Yes, but on one condition -- that we begin by the coadjutor. He is a priest, learned in cases of conscience, and we will tell him ours."
It was then agreed that they were to go first to Monsieur de Bouillon, as his house came first; but first of all Athos begged that he might go to the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne, to see Raoul.
They re-entered the boat which had brought them to the Louvre and thence proceeded to the Halles; and taking up Grimaud and Blaisois, they went on foot to the Rue Guenegaud.
But Raoul was not at the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne. He had received a message from the prince, to whom he had hastened with Olivain the instant he had received it.