“A letter addressed to Monsieur de Treville, captain of the Musketeers.”

“Indeed!”

“Exactly as I have the honor to tell your Excellency.”

The host, who was not endowed with great perspicacity, did not observe the expression which his words had given to the physiognomy of the stranger.  The latter rose from the front of the window, upon the sill of which he had leaned with his elbow, and knitted his brow like a man disquieted.

“The devil!” murmured he, between his teeth.  “Can Treville have set this Gascon upon me?  He is very young; but a sword thrust is a sword thrust, whatever be the age of him who gives it, and a youth is less to be suspected than an older man,” and the stranger fell into a reverie which lasted some minutes.  “A weak obstacle is sometimes sufficient to overthrow a great design.

“Host,” said he, “could you not contrive to get rid of this frantic boy for me?  In conscience, I cannot kill him; and yet,” added he, with a coldly menacing expression, “he annoys me.  Where is he?”

“In my wife’s chamber, on the first flight, where they are dressing his wounds.”

“His things and his bag are with him?  Has he taken off his doublet?”

“On the contrary, everything is in the kitchen.  But if he annoys you, this young fool—­”

“To be sure he does.  He causes a disturbance in your hostelry, which respectable people cannot put up with.  Go; make out my bill and notify my servant.”

“What, monsieur, will you leave us so soon?”

“You know that very well, as I gave my order to saddle my horse.  Have they not obeyed me?”

“It is done; as your Excellency may have observed, your horse is in the great gateway, ready saddled for your departure.”

“That is well; do as I have directed you, then.”

“What the devil!” said the host to himself.  “Can he be afraid of this boy?” But an imperious glance from the stranger stopped him short; he bowed humbly and retired.

“It is not necessary for Milady* to be seen by this fellow,” continued the stranger.  “She will soon pass; she is already late.  I had better get on horseback, and go and meet her.  I should like, however, to know what this letter addressed to Treville contains.”

We are well aware that this term, milady, is only properly used when followed by a family name.  But we find it thus in the manuscript, and we do not choose to take upon ourselves to alter it.

And the stranger, muttering to himself, directed his steps toward the kitchen.