“Adieu, master!”
“A good journey, gentleman! Do you want anything?”
D’Artagnan shook his head, and set off at full speed. At Éccuis, the same scene was repeated. He found as provident a host and a fresh horse. He left his address as he had done before, and set off again at the same pace for Pontoise. At Pontoise he changed his horse for the last time, and at nine o’clock galloped into the yard of Tréville’s hotel. He had made nearly sixty leagues in little more than twelve hours.
M. de Tréville received him as if he had seen him that same morning; only, when pressing his hand a little more warmly than usual, he informed him that the company of des Essart was on duty at the Louvre, and that he might repair at once to his post.