nay, do not get irritated — do not get excited.”

“And why not, chevalier?

surely there is every reason for it. If legal proceedings are well arranged, and a judgment given in accordance with them, your friend the superintendent will soon follow Montfaucon, his colleague Enguerrand de Marigny, and his predecessor, Semblancay.”

“Oh!” said Aramis, smiling, “not so fast as that.”

“And why not? why not so fast? What do you suppose Madame de Chevreuse has done with those letters — for you refused them, I suppose?”

“Yes; at once. I suppose that she went and sold them to M. Colbert.”