thing it came into my head to do.”
Athos understood all now.
“Pardon me, D’Artagnan,” he said. “I have distrusted God; I
could the more easily distrust you. Pardon me, my friend.”
“We will see about that presently,” said D’Artagnan, with a
slight smile.
“Well, then?” said Aramis.
“Well, while I was watching — not the king, as monsieur le
comte thinks, for I know what it is to see a man led to
death, and though I ought to be accustomed to the sight it
always makes me ill — while I was watching the masked
executioner, the idea came to me, as I said, to find out who
he was. Now, as we are wont to complete ourselves each by
all the rest and to depend on one another for assistance, as
one calls his other hand to aid the first, I looked around
instinctively to see if Porthos was there; for I had seen
you, Aramis, with the king, and you, count, I knew would be
under the scaffold, and for that reason I forgive you,” he
added, offering Athos his hand, “for you must have suffered
much. I was looking around for Porthos when I saw near me a
head which had been broken, but which, for better or worse,
had been patched with plaster and with black silk. `Humph!’
thought I, `that looks like my handiwork; I fancy I must
have mended that skull somewhere or other.’ And, in fact, it
was that unfortunate Scotchman, Parry’s brother, you know,
on whom Groslow amused himself by trying his strength. Well,
this man was making signs to another at my left, and turning
around I recognized the honest Grimaud. `Oh!’ said I to him.
Grimaud turned round with a jerk, recognized me, and pointed
to the man in the mask. `Eh!’ said he, which meant, `Do you
see him?’ `Parbleu!’ I answered, and we perfectly understood
one another. Well, everything was finished as you know. The
mob dispersed. I made a sign to Grimaud and the Scotchman,
and we all three retired into a corner of the square. I saw
the executioner return into the king’s room, change his
clothes, put on a black hat and a large cloak and disappear.
Five minutes later he came down the grand staircase.”
‘You followed him?” cried Athos.
“I should think so, but not without difficulty. Every few
minutes he turned around, and thus obliged us to conceal
ourselves. I might have gone up to him and killed him. But I
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am not selfish, and I thought it might console you all a
little to have a share in the matter. So we followed him
through the lowest streets in the city, and in half an
hour’s time he stopped before a little isolated house.
Grimaud drew out a pistol. `Eh?’ said he, showing it. I held
back his arm. The man in the mask stopped before a low door
and drew out a key; but before he placed it in the lock he
turned around to see if he was being followed. Grimaud and I
got behind a tree, and the Scotchman having nowhere to hide
himself, threw himself on his face in the road. Next moment
the door opened and the man disappeared.”
“The scoundrel!” said Aramis. “While you have been returning
hither he will have escaped and we shall never find him.”
“Come, now, Aramis,” said D’Artagnan, “you must be taking me
for some one else.”
“Nevertheless,” said Athos, “in your absence —- ”
“Well, in my absence haven’t I put in my place Grimaud and
the Scotchman? Before he had taken ten steps beyond the door
I had examined the house on all sides. At one of the doors,
that by which he had entered, I placed our Scotchman, making
a sign to him to follow the man wherever he might go, if he
came out again. Then going around the house I placed Grimaud
at the other exit, and here I am. Our game is beaten up. Now
for the tally-ho.”
Athos threw himself into D’Artagnan’s arms.
“Friend,” he said, “you have been too good in pardoning me;