the queen had two letters ready, one written by herself, the other by her daughter, the princess henrietta. both were addressed to king charles. she gave the first to athos and the other to aramis, so that should they be separated by chance they might make themselves known to the king; after which they withdrew.

“if you need money, my lord, separate the jewels i have given you; detach the diamonds and sell them to some jew. you will receive for them fifty or sixty thousand francs; spend them if necessary, but let these gentlemen be treated as they deserve, that is to say, like kings.”

the queen had two letters ready, one written by herself, the other by her daughter, the princess henrietta. both were addressed to king charles. she gave the first to athos and the other to aramis, so that should they be separated by chance they might make themselves known to the king; after which they withdrew.

at the foot of the staircase de winter stopped.

“not to arouse suspicions, gentlemen,” said he, “go your way and i will go mine, and this evening at nine o’clock we will assemble again at the gate saint denis. we will travel on horseback as far as our horses can go and afterward we can take the post. once more, let me thank you, my good friends, both in my own name and the queen’s.”

the three gentlemen then shook hands, lord de winter taking the rue saint honore, and athos and aramis remaining together.