He saw M.
Colbert coming out from his house to get into his carriage, which was stationed before the door.

In this carriage D'Artagnan perceived the hoods of two women, and being rather curious, he wished to know the names of the ladies hid beneath these hoods.

To get a glimpse at them, for they kept themselves closely covered up, he urged his horse so near the carriage, that he drove him against the step with such force as to shake everything containing and contained.

The terrified women uttered, the one a faint cry, by which D'Artagnan recognized a young woman, the other an imprecation, in which he recognized the vigor and _aplomb_ that half a century bestows.

The hoods were thrown back: one of the women was Madame Vanel, the other the Duchesse de Chevreuse.