CHAPTER LXXXVII.

CONFERENCES. Mazarin unlocked a double door, on the threshold of which they found Athos ready to receive his illustrious guest; on seeing his friends he started with surprise. "D'Artagnan! Porthos!" he exclaimed. "My very self, dear friend." "Me also," said Porthos. "What means this?" asked the count. "It means," replied Mazarin, trying to smile, and biting his lips in so doing, "that our parts are changed, and that instead of these gentlemen being my prisoners, I am theirs; but, gentlemen, I warn ye, unless you ki…