“But I ought to be gone, too. And the disappearance of his money; how am I to justify it if I am here?”
“You are right; we must go out.”
“Go out? How? He will see us if we go out.”
“Then you must come up into my room.”
“Ah,” said Madame Bonacieux, “you speak that in a tone that frightens me!”
Madame Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes. D’Artagnan saw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he threw himself at her feet.
“With me you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word of a gentleman.”
“Let us go,” said she, “I place full confidence in you, my friend!”
D’Artagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light as shadows, glided through the interior door into the passage, ascended the stairs as quietly as possible, and entered d’Artagnan’s chambers.
Once there, for greater security, the young man barricaded the door. They both approached the window, and through a slit in the shutter they saw Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak.
At sight of this man, d’Artagnan started, and half drawing his sword, sprang toward the door.
It was the man of Meung.
“What are you going to do?” cried Madame Bonacieux; “you will ruin us all!”