The company of four musketeers were lead in the lowest place of Paris by what appeared to be a peasant girl. Mademoiselle de Senneville had changed into a much more vulgar, dirty and poorly made dress. She had messed up her hair and was now showing the way to the musketeers through the dirt and beggars of Paris. She didn't seem to mind the filth that made D'Artagnan flinched. It reminded him of the first house he was taken in as a lodger when he just came in Paris, blind with rage against an imposture of Athos. They were approaching the Court of Miracles and Porthos was apprehending every step. Will he see somebody from his current abduction? Is somebody going to recognise him? Even worse, is he going to see Flea? He noticed how mademoiselle de Senneville seemed the opposite of him, she was relaxed and almost enjoying herself. She simply stopped as someone dropped a mixture of urine and feces from the upper floor in front of her, and continued when all the chamber pots were emptied. She stopped in front of an inn, even from the outside; you could hear the drunken chants and yelling. Before going in, she turned and took a look at her escort. They would absolutely not fit in and she was counting on that to get Papineau's attention.
''Be nice'' she said, looking particularly at Athos. '' Don't try to be overly authoritarian. Act as if Papineau is making you a favor by accepting you in. I know it's hard for you men to swallow your pride and as soon as we will be out of the sight of Papineau's friends, you can be as mean and as direct as you would like. But for now, please...''
''Kiss his ass'' finished D'Artagnan. Mademoiselle de Senneville laughed: '' I would not have putted it that way, but yes.'' Than she got into a meticulous inspection of the musketeers. She tied D'Artagnan's vest ,that he liked to keep a bit open, to the top of his neck. She removed Porthos' silly bandeau he wore on his head. She carefully moved Athos' messy hair out of his eyes. When it was Aramis' turn, she looked him up and down while he smiled majestically, until she rolled her eyes to the sky. ''You are so perfect, it is beyond annoying ''. Aramis smiled cockily at his friends while curling the sides of his mustache. She took a deep breath and opened the door. As excepted, not even a minute after they were in, all were silent and staring at the new clients.
''Justice,'' said one man in the back. ''why do you bring musketeer scum in my bar?'' To his last words, half of the clientele of the bar spitted on the floor. The musketeers understood that their interlocutor was Papineau. The man was probably younger than he looked. His lifestyle had ravaged his face and body, leaving him miserable looking. His face was stained from the sun, his voice was rough from tobacco and his back was curved from the weight he had on his shoulders.
''Just listen to what they have to say, Henry...'' started mademoiselle de Senneville in a very thick southern accent. He ran to her, put both hands on her neck and smashed her head on a table, before the musketeers even had time to draw their swords. The entire population of the inn was looking now, improvised weapons for some and guns and swords for others, but all pointed in the direction of the musketeers. The man was mad; he kept chocking the lady while screaming mere inches from her face. She could smell the liquor he had and the rot coming from his insides.
''You can't tell me what to do! Justice! You forget yourself! I'm going to kill them, Justice! Their blood will be on your hands! Damn you little bitch, why do you do this to me?'' He said his last sentence in a whine and let her catch her breath. She crumbled on the floor, intimidating the musketeers to stay where they were. They found it hard, they were outnumbered, but by drunks and peasants. They easily could win this fight, but they did not want to overstep in mademoiselle de Senneville's plan once more.
''I say we take them all out. It wouldn't take long...'' said Porthos under his breath.
''Give her more time'' answered Aramis whose sword was still pulled in.
''The man almost killed her'' insisted Porthos. ''Imagine what he will do to us, if he has the occasion''.
''Are you scared?'' Aramis was challenging him. Porthos kept Aramis' eye contact and raised his two weapon-free hands to prove him that he wasn't a coward.
''How can you do this to a sister, Henry? It hurts.'' Mademoiselle de Senneville's tone was unforgiving, reprimanding the man as if he were a young boy. Henry Papineau put his head down and walked slowly to the lady. He looked at her with suspicious eyes, analysing her throat, and asked for her forgiveness. His back seemed even more curled, if that was possible, and he looked at his toes while he waited for the lady's answer.
''Only if you grant me five minutes of your time. I have serious matter to discuss with you which will please you highly.'' She smiled mysteriously.
''You know I'm out of the business'' said the man sadly. '' This is what I do now. Crawl in the undergrounds of Paris'' he said it with such sadness that the lady couldn't help, but to rub his back to comfort him. ''But I will kill these rats, if they don't leave immediately.'' He added, pointing to the musketeers and slowly starting to tremble in anger.
''Five minutes, Papineau'' reprimanded the lady. He sighed and they both sat at an isolated table, leaving the musketeers insulted and alone.