CHAPTER XVI.

MONSIEUR DE BEAUFORT. We must now relate the circumstances which had hastened the return of d'Artagnan to Paris:-- One evening when Mazarin went to visit the queen, in passing the guard-chamber he heard the sound of loud talking. Wishing to know on what subject the soldiers were conversing, he approached, with his wonted stealthy and catlike step, pushed the door open slightly, and put his head close to the chink. There was a dispute among the guards. "I tell you," one of them was saying, "that if Coysel predicted …