"Here we are at the camp, and they are coming to meet us and bring us in triumphantly." And he only spoke the truth, for the whole camp was in a turmoil. More than two thousand people had gazed, as at a play, at the lucky bit of braggadocio of the four friends,--braggadocio of which they were far from suspecting the real motive. The cry of "Long live the musketeers," resounded on all sides, and M. De Busigny was the first to hold out his hand to Athos and to declare that he had lost his wager. The dragoon and the Swiss had followed him, and all the others had followed the dragoon and the Swiss. There was nothing but congratulations, hand-shakings, embraces; and the tumult became so great that the Cardinal thought there must be a revolt, and sent La Houdinière, his captain of guards, to find out what was the matter. "Well?" asked the Cardinal, as his messenger returned. "Well, monseigneur," replied La Houdinière, "it is about three musketeers and a guardsman who made a bet with M. De Busigny to go and breakfast at the Bastion Saint-Gervais, and while breakfasting, held it for two hours against the enemy, and killed I don't know how many Rochellois." "You asked the names of these gentlemen?" "Yes, monseigneur." "What are they?" "Athos, Porthos, and Aramis." "Always my three heroes," murmured the Cardinal. "And the guardsman?" "M. D'Artagnan." "Always my young rogue! I must gain over these men." And the same evening, the Cardinal had a conversation with M. De Treville about the morning's exploit, with which the whole camp was still ringing. M. De Treville, who had heard it all at first hand, gave his Eminence all the details, not forgetting the episode of the napkin. "Very good, M. De Treville," said the Cardinal; "but you must get me that napkin, and I will have three golden lilies embroidered on it, and give as a banner to your company." "Monseigneur," replied M. De Treville, "that would be an injustice to the guards. M. D'Artagnan does not belong to me, but to M. Des Essarts." "Then you must take him," said the Cardinal. "As these four brave soldiers love each other so much, they ought certainly to be in the same regiment." That evening M. De Treville announced the good news to the three musketeers and to D'Artagnan, and invited them all to breakfast the following day. D'Artagnan was nearly beside himself with joy. As we know, it had been the dream of his life to be a musketeer. THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK From 'The Viscount of Bragelonne' [Dumas adopts the theory that the Man in the Iron Mask was the suppressed twin brother of Louis XIV.] "What is all this noise?" asked Philippe, turning towards the door of the concealed staircase. And as he spoke a voice was heard saying, "This way, this way. Still a few steps, sire." "It is M. Fouquet's voice," said D'Artagnan, who was standing near the Queen Mother.