They arrived without mishap at the Rue des Fossoyeurs. Bonacieux was at the door; he looked banteringly at D’Artagnan.

“Ah, my dear tenant!” said he. “Hurry up; you have a very pretty girl waiting at your room, and you know women don’t like to be kept waiting.”

“It’s Kitty,” said D’Artagnan to himself, and darted into the passage.

In fact, there on the landing that led to his chamber he found the poor girl all of a tremble and crouching against the door.

As soon as she saw him.

“You promised me your protection; you promised to save me from her anger,” said she. “Remember, you are the one who ruined me!”

“Yes, certainly I did,” said D’Artagnan. “Be at ease, Kitty. But what happened after I left?”

“How can I tell?” said Kitty. “The lackeys came when they heard her cries. She was mad with anger. Every imaginable curse she poured forth against you. Then I thought she would remember that you went through my chamber into hers, and that then she would suppose I was your accomplice. So I took what little money I had, and the best of my things, and I ran away.”

“Poor girl! But what can I do with you? I am going away the day after to-morrow.”

“Do what you please, chevalier. Help me out of Paris; help me out of France!”

“I cannot take you, however, to the siege of Rochelle,” said D’Artagnan.

“No; but you can get me a place in the provinces with some lady of your acquaintance—in your own country, for instance.”

“Ah, my dear love, in my country the ladies do without chambermaids. But stop! I can manage it for you—Planchet, go and find M. Aramis. Have him come here immediately. We have something very important to say to him.”

When Aramis arrived the matter was explained to him, and he was told that he must find a place for Kitty with some of his high connections.

Aramis reflected for a minute, and then said, colouring,

“Will it be rendering you a service, D’Artagnan?”

“I shall be grateful to you all my life.”

“Very well. Madame de Bois-Tracy asked me, in behalf of a friend of hers who resides in the provinces, I believe, for a trustworthy chambermaid; and, my dear D’Artagnan, if you can answer for this young girl—”

“O sir, be assured that I shall be entirely devoted to the person who will afford me the means of leaving Paris.”

“Then,” said Aramis, “this turns out all for the best.”

He sat down at the table and wrote a little note, which he sealed with a ring and gave to Kitty.