D'Artagnan understood that orders of the most positive character had been given.

He decided, therefore, to tell a falsehood--a circumstance, moreover, which did not very seriously affect his peace of mind, when he saw that, beyond the falsehood, the safety of the state itself, or even purely and simply his own individual personal interest, might be at stake.

He moreover added, to the declarations which he had already made, that the soldier sent to M.de Valon was his own messenger, and that the only object that letter had in view was to announce his intended arrival.

From that moment, no one opposed D'Artagnan's entrance any further, and he entered accordingly.

A valet wished to accompany him, but he answered that it was useless to take that trouble on his account, inasmuch as he knew perfectly well where M.
de Valon was.