his dress for that of a workman, slip out with his
deliverers, pass the sentinels, who would suspect nothing,
and so reach the skiff that was waiting for him at
Greenwich.
Day gilded the tops of the houses. The aperture was finished
and Athos passed through it, carrying the clothes destined
for the king wrapped in black cloth, and the tools with
which he was to open a communication with the king’s room.
He had only two hours’ work to do to open communication with
the king and, according to the calculations of the four
friends, they had the entire day before them, since, the
executioner being absent, another must be sent for to
Bristol.
D’Artagnan returned to change his workman’s clothes for his
chestnut-colored suit, and Porthos to put on his red
doublet. As for Aramis, he went off to the bishop’s palace
to see if he could possibly pass in with Juxon to the king’s
presence. All three agreed to meet at noon in Whitehall
Place to see how things went on.
Before leaving the scaffold Aramis had approached the
opening where Athos was concealed to tell him that he was
about to make an attempt to gain another interview with the
king.
“Adieu, then, and be of good courage,” said Athos. “Report
to the king the condition of affairs. Say to him that when
he is alone it will help us if he will knock on the floor,
for then I can continue my work in safety. Try, Aramis, to
keep near the king. Speak loud, very loud, for they will be
Page 460
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
listening at the door. If there is a sentinel within the
apartment, kill him without hesitation. If there are two,
let Parry kill one and you the other. If there are three,
let yourself be slain, but save the king.”
“Be easy,” said Aramis; “I will take two poniards and give
one to Parry. Is that all?”
“Yes, go; but urge the king strongly not to stand on false
generosity. While you are fighting if there is a fight, he
must flee. The trap once replaced over his head, you being
on the trap, dead or alive, they will need at least ten
minutes to find the hole by which he has escaped. In those
ten minutes we shall have gained the road and the king will
be saved.”
“Everything shall be done as you say, Athos. Your hand, for
perhaps we shall not see each other again.”
Athos put his arm around Aramis’s neck and embraced him.
“For you,” he said. “Now if I die, say to D’Artagnan that I
love him as a son, and embrace him for me. Embrace also our
good and brave Porthos. Adieu.”
“Adieu,” said Aramis. “I am as sure now that the king will
be saved as I am sure that I clasp the most loyal hand in
the world.”
Aramis parted from Athos, went down from the scaffold in his
turn and took his way to the hotel, whistling the air of a
song in praise of Cromwell. He found the other two friends
sitting at table before a good fire, drinking a bottle of
port and devouring a cold chicken. Porthos was cursing the
infamous parliamentarians; D’Artagnan ate in silence,
revolving in his mind the most audacious plans.
Aramis related what had been agreed upon. D’Artagnan
approved with a movement of the head and Porthos with his
voice.
“Bravo!” he said; “besides, we shall be there at the time of
the flight. What with D’Artagnan, Grimaud and Mousqueton, we
can manage to dispatch eight of them. I say nothing about
Blaisois, for he is only fit to hold the horses. Two minutes
a man makes four minutes. Mousqueton will lose another,
that’s five; and in five minutes we shall have galloped a
quarter of a league.”
Aramis swallowed a hasty mouthful, gulped a glass of wine
and changed his clothes.
“Now,” said he, “I’m off to the bishop’s. Take care of the
executioner, D’Artagnan.”
“All right. Grimaud has relieved Mousqueton and has his foot
on the cellar door.”
“Well, don’t be inactive.”
“Inactive, my dear fellow! Ask Porthos. I pass my life upon