Twenty Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

thou dost not let thyself be cut in quarters for him, I will

cut out thy tongue. Remember that.”

Olivain bowed and slipped the crown into his pocket.

“And now, Raoul,” said the Gascon, “Monsieur du Vallon and I

are going away as ambassadors, where, I know not; but should

you want anything, write to Madame Turquaine, at La

Chevrette, Rue Tiquetonne and draw upon her purse as on a

banker — with economy; for it is not so well filled as that

of Monsieur d’Emery.”

And having, meantime, embraced his ward, he passed him into

the robust arms of Porthos, who lifted him up from the

ground and held him a moment suspended near the noble heart

of the formidable giant.

“Come,” said D’Artagnan, “let us go.”

And they set out for Boulogne, where toward evening they

arrived, their horses flecked with foam and dark with

perspiration.

At ten steps from the place where they halted was a young

man in black, who seemed waiting for some one, and who, from

the moment he saw them enter the town, never took his eyes

off them.

D’Artagnan approached him, and seeing him stare so fixedly,

said:

“Well, friend! I don’t like people to quiz me!”

“Sir,” said the young man, “do you not come from Paris, if

you please?”

D’Artagnan thought it was some gossip who wanted news from

the capital.

“Yes, sir,” he said, in a softened tone.

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

“Are you not going to put up at the `Arms of England’?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you not charged with a mission from his eminence,

Cardinal Mazarin?”

“Yes, sir.”

“In that case, I am the man you have to do with. I am M.

Mordaunt.”

“Ah!” thought D’Artagnan, “the man I am warned against by

Athos.”

“Ah!” thought Porthos, “the man Aramis wants me to

strangle.”

They both looked searchingly at the young man, who

misunderstood the meaning of that inquisition.

“Do you doubt my word?” he said. “In that case I can give

you proofs.”

“No, sir,” said D’Artagnan; “and we place ourselves at your

orders.”

“Well, gentlemen,” resumed Mordaunt, “we must set out

without delay, to-day is the last day granted me by the

cardinal. My ship is ready, and had you not come I must have

set off without you, for General Cromwell expects my return

impatiently.”

“So!” thought the lieutenant, “’tis to General Cromwell that

our dispatches are addressed.”

“Have you no letter for him?” asked the young man.

“I have one, the seal of which I am not to break till I

reach London; but since you tell me to whom it is addressed,

’tis useless to wait till then.”

D’Artagnan tore open the envelope of the letter. It was

directed to “Monsieur Oliver Cromwell, General of the Army

of the English Nation.”

“Ah!” said D’Artagnan; “a singular commission.”

“Who is this Monsieur Oliver Cromwell?” inquired Porthos.

“Formerly a brewer,” replied the Gascon.

“Perhaps Mazarin wishes to make a speculation in beer, as we

did in straw,” said Porthos.

“Come, come, gentlemen,” said Mordaunt, impatiently, “let us

depart.”

“What!” exclaimed Porthos “without supper? Cannot Monsieur

Cromwell wait a little?”

“Yes, but I?” said Mordaunt.

“Well, you,” said Porthos, “what then?”

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

“I cannot wait.”

“Oh! as to you, that is not my concern, and I shall sup

either with or without your permission.”

The young man’s eyes kindled in secret, but he restrained

himself.

“Monsieur,” said D’Artagnan, “you must excuse famished

travelers. Besides, our supper can’t delay you much. We will

hasten on to the inn; you will meanwhile proceed on foot to

the harbor. We will take a bite and shall be there as soon

as you are.”

“Just as you please, gentlemen, provided we set sail,” he

said.

“The name of your ship?” inquired D’Artagnan.

“The Standard.”

“Very well; in half an hour we shall be on board.”

And the friends, spurring on their horses, rode to the

hotel, the “Arms of England.”

“What do you say of that young man?” asked D’Artagnan, as

they hurried along.

“I say that he doesn’t suit me at all,” said Porthos, “and

that I feel a strong itching to follow Aramis’s advice.”

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