The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-27
THE THREE GUARDSMEN

5
 tervals with her bent finger.
 The three blows were scarcely struck when the inward easement was open ed and light appeared through the apertures of the shutter.
 But the shutter remained closed. Still more, the light which had shone out for an instant disappeared.
 D'Artagnan thought this could not last long and continued to look with all his eyes and listen with all his ears. He was right. At the endsof some sec onds two sharp taps were beard in the interior, the young woman replied by single zap and the shutter was open ed little way.
 It may be judged whether D'Arta- gnan looked or listened with avidity. Cnfortunately the light had been re- moved into another chamber, but the eyes of the young man were accustom- ed to the night.
 woman took from. her pocket white object, which she unfolded quickly and which took the form of q hand kerchief She made her interlocutor obseryesthe corner of this unfolded ob- tect.
 .swhat could that. handkerchief meanY'
 Placed where he was D'Artagnan could not perceive the face of Aramis. We say Aramfs because the young man entertained no doubt that 1t was his friend who held this dialogue from the interior with the lady of the ex- terior. He placed himself close to the angle of the wall, from which his eye could plunge into the intesior of the apartment.
 Upon gaining this advantage D'Arta- gnan was near .uttering 2 cry of sur prise. It was, not Aramiss who was conversing with the nocturnal visitor; 1t was a. woman! D'Artagnan, how ever, could only see enough to recog- nize the, form of her vestments, not enough to distinguish her features At the same instant the woman of the apartment drew a second handker- chief from her pocket and exchanged 1t for that, which had just been shown to her. Then some words were pro- nounced by the two women. At length the shutter was closed. The woman who was outside the window turned round and passed within four steps of D'Artagnan, pulling down the hood of her cloak. but the precaution was too late. D'Artagnan had already recognized Mime. Bonacieux!
 Mime. Bonacieux! The suspicion that it was she had crossed the mind of D'Artagnan when she drew the hand kerchief from her pocket, but what probability was there that Mime. Bona cieux, who had sent for M. LAporte in order to be reconducted to the Louvre, should be running about the streets of Paris at half past II at night at the risk of being carried oil sec ond time?
 It must be, then, for some Affair of importance. And what is the affair of the greatest importance to pretty wo- man of twenty-five? Love.
 But was it on her own account or on account of another person that she ex- posed herself to such hazards? This was question the young, man asked himself, whom the demon of jealousy already gnawed to the heart. neither more nor less than a settled lover. There was, besides, very simple means of satisfying himself whither Mime. Bonacieux was going. That was to follow her.
 But at the sight of the young man and at the noise of the steps which she heard resound behind her Mme Bona cieux uttered little cry and fled. D'Artagnan ran after her. He came up to her before she had traversed a third of the street She sank upon one knee, crying in, choking voice: "Kill me, if you please, you shall know nothing!' D'Artagnan raised her by passing his arm round her waist; but, as he felt by her weight she was on the point o1
 fainting, he made haste to reassure hel by protestations of devotedness. Mme
 Bonaeieux recognized the voice. She
 opened her eyes and uttered cry of joy.
 'Oh, it is you! It is you! Thank God
 Thank Godw
 "Yes, it is l." said D'Artagnan; "ii
 is whom God has sent to watch over you"
 "Was it with that intention you fol lowed meT asked the young woman with coquettish smile.
 "No," said D'Artagnan; '.no, I con
 fess it. It was chance that threw me in your way. I saw a female knocking at the window of one of my friends Aramis."
 "Aramis! Who is he?' Come, comew "This is the first time I ever heard his name pronounced" "It is the first time, then, that you ever went to that housey' Certainly 1t is.'' Tt was not him, then, you came te :. eoek ?"
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