begin to-morrow.”
“So, then, they drew up the indictments before the king was
taken?”
“Of course,” said D’Artagnan; “they began the day he was
sold.”
“And you know,” said Aramis, “that it was our friend
Mordaunt who made, if not the bargain, at least the
overtures.”
“And you know,” added D’Artagnan, “that whenever I catch him
I will kill him, this Mordaunt.”
“And I, too,” exclaimed Porthos.
“And I, too,” added Aramis.
“Touching unanimity!” cried D’Artagnan, “which well becomes
good citizens like us. Let us take a turn around the town
and imbibe a little fog.”
“Yes,” said Porthos, “’twill be at least a little change
from beer.”
63
The Trial.
The next morning King Charles I. was haled by a strong guard
before the high court which was to judge him. All London was
crowding to the doors of the house. The throng was terrific,
and it was not till after much pushing and some fighting
that our friends reached their destination. When they did so
they found the three lower rows of benches already occupied;
but being anxious not to be too conspicuous, all, with the
exception of Porthos, who had a fancy to display his red
doublet, were quite satisfied with their places, the more so
as chance had brought them to the centre of their row, so
that they were exactly opposite the arm-chair prepared for
the royal prisoner.
Toward eleven o’clock the king entered the hall, surrounded
by guards, but wearing his head covered, and with a calm
expression turned to every side with a look of complete
assurance, as if he were there to preside at an assembly of
submissive subjects, rather than to meet the accusations of
a rebel court.
The judges, proud of having a monarch to humiliate,
evidently prepared to enjoy the right they had arrogated to
themselves, and sent an officer to inform the king that it
was customary for the accused to uncover his head.
Charles, without replying a single word, turned his head in
another direction and pulled his felt hat over it. Then when
the officer was gone he sat down in the arm-chair opposite
the president and struck his boots with a little cane which
he carried in his hand. Parry, who accompanied him, stood
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behind him.
D’Artagnan was looking at Athos, whose face betrayed all
those emotions which the king, possessing more self-control,
had banished from his own. This agitation in one so cold and
calm as Athos, frightened him.
“I hope,” he whispered to him, “that you will follow his
majesty’s example and not get killed for your folly in this
den.”
“Set your mind at rest,” replied Athos.
“Aha!” continued D’Artagnan, “it is clear that they are
afraid of something or other; for look, the sentinels are
being reinforced. They had only halberds before, now they
have muskets. The halberds were for the audience in the
rear; the muskets are for us.”
“Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty-five men,” said Porthos,
counting the reinforcements.
“Ah!” said Aramis, “but you forget the officer.”
D’Artagnan grew pale with rage. He recognized Mordaunt, who
with bare sword was marshalling the musketeers behind the
king and opposite the benches.
“Do you think they have recognized us?” said D’Artagnan. “In
that case I should beat a retreat. I don’t care to be shot
in a box.”
“No,” said Aramis, “he has not seen us. He sees no one but
the king. Mon Dieu! how he stares at him, the insolent dog!
Does he hate his majesty as much as he does us?”
“Pardi,” answered Athos “we only carried off his mother; the
king has spoiled him of his name and property.”
“True,” said Aramis; “but silence! the president is speaking
to the king.”
“Stuart,” Bradshaw was saying, “listen to the roll call of
your judges and address to the court any observations you
may have to make.”
The king turned his head away, as if these words had not
been intended for him. Bradshaw waited, and as there was no
reply there was a moment of silence.
Out of the hundred and sixty-three members designated there
were only seventy-three present, for the rest, fearful of