“Yes, let us interrogate the prisoner,” said Porthos; “and the means of making him speak are very simple. We are going to supper; we will invite him to join us; when he drinks he will talk.”
This was done. The officer was at first rather uneasy, but became reassured on seeing what sort of men he had to deal with. He gave, without having any fear of compromising himself, all the details imaginable of the resignation and departure of d’Artagnan. He explained how after that departure the new leader of the expedition had ordered a surprise upon Belle-Isle. There his explanations stopped. Aramis and Porthos exchanged a glance which evinced their despair. No more dependence to be placed upon the brave imagination of d’Artagnan; consequently, no more resources in the event of defeat. Aramis, continuing his interrogations, asked the prisoner what the leaders of the expedition contemplated doing with the leaders of Belle-Isle.
“The orders are,” replied he, “to kill during the combat, and hang afterwards.”
Porthos and Aramis looked at each other again, and the color mounted to their faces.
“I am too light for the gallows,” replied Aramis; “people like me are not hung.”
“And I am too heavy,” said Porthos; “people like me break the cord.”
“I am sure,” said the prisoner, gallantly, “that we could have procured you the sort of death you preferred.”
“A thousand thanks!” said Aramis, seriously.
Porthos bowed. “One more cup of wine to your health,” said he, drinking himself.
From one subject to another the chat with the officer was prolonged. He was an intelligent gentleman, and suffered himself to be led away by the charm of Aramis’s wit and Porthos’s cordial bonhomie. “Pardon me,” said he, “if I address a question to you; but men who are in their sixth bottle have a clear right to forget themselves a little.”
“Address it!” said Porthos; “address it!”
“Speak,” said Aramis.
“Were you not, gentlemen, both in the Musketeers of the late King?”
“Yes, Monsieur, and of the best of them, if you please,” said Porthos.
“That is true; I should say even the best of all soldiers, Messieurs, if I did not fear to offend the memory of my father.”
“Of your father?” cried Aramis.
“Do you know what my name is?”
“Ma foi! no, Monsieur; but you can tell us, and-”
“I am called Georges de Biscarrat.”
“Oh!” cried Porthos, in his turn, “Biscarrat! Do you remember that name, Aramis?”
“Biscarrat!” reflected the bishop. “It seems to me-”
“Try to recollect, Monsieur,” said the officer.
“Pardieu! that won’t take me long,” said Porthos. “Biscarrat- called Cardinal- one of the four who interrupted us the day on which we formed our friendship with d’Artagnan, sword in hand.”
“Precisely, gentlemen.”
“The only one,” cried Aramis, eagerly, “we did not wound.”
“Consequently, a good blade,” said the prisoner.
“That’s true! very true!” exclaimed both the friends together. “Ma foi! M. Biscarrat, we are delighted to make the acquaintance of such a brave man’s son.”
Biscarrat pressed the hands held out to him by the two former musketeers. Aramis looked at Porthos as much as to say, “Here is a man who will help us,” and without delay, “Confess, Monsieur,” said he, “that it is good to have been a good man.”
“My father always said so, Monsieur.”
“Confess, likewise, that it is a sad circumstance in which you find yourself,- falling in with men destined to be shot or hung, and learning that these men are old acquaintances, old hereditary acquaintances.”
“Oh! you are not reserved for such a frightful fate as that, Messieurs and friends!” said the young man, warmly.
“Bah! you said so yourself.”
“I said so just now, when I did not know you; but now that I know you, I say you will avoid this dismal fate, if you like.”
“How,- if we like?” cried Aramis, whose eyes beamed with intelligence as he looked alternately at the prisoner and Porthos.
“Provided,” continued Porthos, looking in his turn with noble intrepidity at M. Biscarrat and the bishop,- “provided nothing disgraceful be required of us.”
“Nothing at all will be required of you, gentlemen,” replied the officer; “what should they ask of you? If they find you they will kill you,- that is a settled thing; try, then, gentlemen, to prevent their finding you.”