Upon being informed that the person who wanted to speak to him came from Tours, we have en with what rapidity the young man followed, or rather went before, Bazin; he ran without stopping from the Rue Ferou to the Rue de Vaugirard. On entering he found a man of short stature and intelligent eyes, but covered with rags.
"You have asked for me?" said the Musketeer.
"I wish to speak with Monsieur Aramis. Is that your name, monsieur?"
"My very own. You have brought me something?"
"Yes, if you show me a certain embroidered handkerchief."
"Here it is," said Aramis, taking a small key from his breast and opening a little ebony box inlaid with mother of pearl, "here it is. Look."
"That is right," replied the mendit; "dismiss your lackey."
In fabsp;Bazin, curious to know what the mendit could want with his master, kept pabsp;with him as well as he could, and arrived almost at the same time he did; but his quiess was not of mubsp;u to him. At the hint from the mendit his master made him a sign to retire, and he was obliged to obey.
Bazin gone, the mendit cast a rapid glanbsp;around him in order to be sure that nobody could either e or hear him, and opening his ragged vest, badly held together by a leather strap, he began to rip the upper part of his doublet, from whibsp;he drew a letter.
Aramis uttered a bsp;of joy at the sight of the al, kisd the superscription with an almost religious respebsp;and opened the epistle, whibsp;tained what follows:
"My Friend, it is the will of fate that we should be still for some time parated; but the delightful days of youth are not lost beyond return. Perform your duty in camp; I will do mine elwhere. Accept that whibsp;the bearer brings you; make the campaign like a handsome true gentleman, and think of me, who kiss tenderly your blabsp;eyes.
"Adieu; or rather, AU REVOIR."
The mendit tinued to rip his garments; and drew from amid his rags a hundred and fifty Spanish double pistoles, whibsp;he laid down on the table; then he opened the door, bowed, and went out before the young man, stupefied by his letter, had ventured to address a word to him.