.

Explanations.
Aramis cleverly managed to effect a diversion for the purpose of finding D'Artagnan and Porthos.

He came up to the latter, behind one of the columns, and, as he pressed his hand, said, "So you have escaped from my prison ?" "Do not scold him," said D'Artagnan; "it was I, dear Aramis, who set him free." "Ah! my friend," replied Aramis, looking at Porthos, "could you not have waited with a little more patience ?" D'Artagnan came to the assistance of Porthos, who already began to breathe hard, in sore perplexity.
"You see, you members of the Church are great politicians; we mere soldiers come at once to the point.

The facts are these: I went to pay Baisemeaux a visit--" Aramis pricked up his ears at this announcement.
"Stay!" said Porthos; "you make me remember that I have a letter from Baisemeaux for you, Aramis." And Porthos held out the bishop the letter we have already seen.

Aramis begged to be allowed to read it, and read it without D'Artagnan feeling in the slightest degree embarrassed by the circumstance that he was so well acquainted with the contents of it.
Besides, Aramis's face was so impenetrable, that D'Artagnan could not but admire him more than ever; after he had read it, he put the letter into his pocket with the calmest possible air.
"You were saying, captain ?" he observed.
"I was saying," continued the musketeer, "that I had gone to pay Baisemeaux a visit on his majesty's service." "On his majesty's service ?" said Aramis.
"Yes," said D'Artagnan, "and, naturally enough, we talked about you and our friends.