hour? I am a man of order, sir; let us do things in order.”
“Nevertheless,” replied Mordaunt, “I could compel you; I
command here.”
“Ah, sir!” said D’Artagnan, “I see that although we have had
the honor of traveling in your company you do not know us.
We are gentlemen; we are, both of us, able to kill you and
your eight men — we two only. For Heaven’s sake don’t be
obstinate, for when others are obstinate I am obstinate
likewise, and then I become ferocious and headstrong, and
there’s my friend, who is even more headstrong and ferocious
than myself. Besides, we are sent here by Cardinal Mazarin,
and at this moment represent both the king and the cardinal,
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and are, therefore, as ambassadors, able to act with
impunity, a thing that General Oliver Cromwell, who is
assuredly as great a politician as he is a general, is quite
the man to understand. Ask him then, for the written order.
What will that cost you my dear Monsieur Mordaunt?”
“Yes, the written order,” said Porthos, who now began to
comprehend what D’Artagnan was aiming at, “we ask only for
that.”
However inclined Mordaunt was to have recourse to violence,
he understood the reasons D’Artagnan had given him; besides,
completely ignorant of the friendship which existed between
the four Frenchmen, all his uneasiness disappeared when he
heard of the plausible motive of the ransom. He decided,
therefore, not only to fetch the order, but the two thousand
pistoles, at which he estimated the prisoners. He therefore
mounted his horse and disappeared.
“Good!” thought D’Artagnan; “a quarter of an hour to go to
the tent, a quarter of an hour to return; it is more than we
need.” Then turning, without the least change of
countenance, to Porthos, he said, looking him full in the
face: “Friend Porthos, listen to this; first, not a syllable
to either of our friends of what you have heard; it is
unnecessary for them to know the service we are going to
render them.”
“Very well; I understand.”
“Go to the stable; you will find Mousqueton there; saddle
your horses, put your pistols in your saddle-bags, take out
the horses and lead them to the street below this, so that
there will be nothing to do but mount them; all the rest is
my business.”
Porthos made no remark, but obeyed, with the sublime
confidence he had in his friend.
“I go,” he said, “only, shall I enter the chamber where
those gentlemen are?”
“No, it is not worth while.”
“Well, do me the kindness to take my purse. which I left on
the mantelpiece.”
“All right.”
He then proceeded, with his usual calm gait, to the stable
and went into the very midst of the soldiery, who, foreigner
as he was, could not help admiring his height and the
enormous strength of his great limbs.
At the corner of the street he met Mousqueton and took him
with him.
D’Artagnan, meantime, went into the house, whistling a tune
which he had begun before Porthos went away.
“My dear Athos, I have reflected on your arguments and I am
convinced. I am sorry to have had anything to do with this
matter. As you say, Mazarin is a knave. I have resolved to
fly with you, not a word — be ready. Your swords are in the
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corner; do not forget them, they are in many circumstances
very useful; there is Porthos’s purse, too.”
He put it into his pocket. The two friends were perfectly
stupefied.
“Well, pray, is there anything to be so surprised at?” he
said. “I was blind; Athos has made me see, that’s all; come
here.”
The two friends went near him.
“Do you see that street? There are the horses. Go out by the
door, turn to the right, jump into your saddles, all will be
right; don’t be uneasy at anything except mistaking the
signal. That will be the signal when I call out — Jesus
Seigneur!”
“But give us your word that you will come too, D’Artagnan,”
said Athos.
“I swear I will, by Heaven.”