An officer of the musketeers stood face to face with the young girl, with threatening brow and hand raised to carry out his threat.

The drunken fellows, at sight of the uniform, made their escape with what speed their staggering limbs could lend them, all the more eagerly for the proof of strength which the wearer of the uniform had just afforded them.
"Is it possible," exclaimed the musketeer, "that it can be Mademoiselle de la Valliere ?" La Valliere, bewildered by what had just happened, and confounded by hearing her name pronounced, looked up and recognized D'Artagnan.

"Oh, M.d'Artagnan! it is indeed I;" and at the same moment she seized his arm.

"You will protect me, will you not ?" she added, in a tone of entreaty.
"Most certainly I will protect you; but, in Heaven's name, where are you going at this hour ?" "I am going to Chaillot." "You are going to Chaillot by way of La Rapee! why, mademoiselle, you are turning your back upon it." "In that case, monsieur, be kind enough to put me in the right way, and to go with me a short distance." "Most willingly." "But how does it happen that I have found you here?
By what merciful intervention were you sent to my assistance?
I almost seem to be dreaming, or to be losing my senses." "I happened to be here, mademoiselle, because I have a house in the Place de Greve, at the sign of the Notre-Dame, the rent of which I went to receive yesterday, and where I, in fact, passed the night.

And I also wished to be at the palace early, for the purposes of inspecting my posts." "Thank you," said La Valliere.
"That is what _I_ was doing," said D'Artagnan to himself; "but what is _she_ doing, and why is she going to Chaillot at such an hour ?" And he offered her his arm, which she took, and began to walk with increased precipitation, which ill-concealed, however, her weakness.