Mademoiselle Aure, not transacting their own affairs themselves, will
have to make up their minds to see them done by others."

"You are quite right; but what is going on yonder in M. de Guiche's room?"

"Nothing; he is only opening his window."

"Let us be gone." And they both immediately disappeared, all the terms
of the contract being agreed on.

The window just opened was, in fact, that of the Comte de Guiche. It was
not alone with the hope of catching a glimpse of Madame through her
curtains that he seated himself by the open window for his preoccupation
of mind had at that time a different origin. He had just received, as we
have already stated, the courier who had been dispatched to him by
Bragelonne, the latter having written to De Guiche a letter which had
made the deepest impression upon him, and which he had read over and over
again. "Strange, strange!" he murmured. "How irresponsible are the
means by which destiny hurries men onward to their fate!" Leaving the
window in order to approach nearer to the light, he once more read the
letter he had just received: -

"CALAIS.
"MY DEAR COUNT, - I found M. de Wardes at Calais; he has been seriously
wounded in an affair with the Duke of Buckingham. De Wardes is, as you
know, unquestionably brave, but full of malevolent and wicked feelings.
He conversed with me about yourself, for whom, he says, he has a warm
regard, also about Madame, whom he considers a beautiful and amiable
woman. He has guessed your affection for a certain person. He also
talked to me about the lady for whom I have so ardent a regard, and