the public accuser.
King, judges, spectators, all turned their eyes to the bench
where the four friends were seated. Mordaunt did the same
and recognized the gentleman, around whom the three other
Frenchmen were standing, pale and menacing. His eyes
glittered with delight. He had discovered those to whose
death he had devoted his life. A movement of fury called to
his side some twenty of his musketeers, and pointing to the
bench where his enemies were: “Fire on that bench!” he
cried.
But with the rapidity of thought D’Artagnan seized Athos by
the waist, and followed by Porthos with Aramis, leaped down
from the benches, rushed into the passages, and flying down
the staircase were lost in the crowd without, while the
muskets within were pointed on some three thousand
spectators, whose piteous cries and noisy alarm stopped the
impulse already given to bloodshed.
Charles also had recognized the four Frenchmen. He put one
hand on his heart to still its beating and the other over
his eyes, that he might not witness the slaying of his
faithful friends.
Mordaunt, pale and trembling with anger, rushed from the
hall sword in hand, followed by six pikemen, pushing,
inquiring and panting in the crowd; and then, having found
nothing, returned.
The tumult was indescribable. More than half an hour passed
before any one could make himself heard. The judges were
looking for a new outbreak from the benches. The spectators
saw the muskets leveled at them, and divided between fear
and curiosity, remained noisy and excited.
Quiet was at length restored.
“What have you to say in your defense?” asked Bradshaw of
the king.
Page 449
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
Then rising, with his head still covered, in the tone of a
judge rather than a prisoner, Charles began.
“Before questioning me,” he said, “reply to my question. I
was free at Newcastle and had there concluded a treaty with
both houses. Instead of performing your part of this
contract, as I performed mine, you bought me from the
Scotch, cheaply, I know, and that does honor to the economic
talent of your government. But because you have paid the
price of a slave, do you imagine that I have ceased to be
your king? No. To answer you would be to forget it. I shall
only reply to you when you have satisfied me of your right
to question me. To answer you would be to acknowledge you as
my judges, and I only acknowledge you as my executioners.”
And in the middle of a deathlike silence, Charles, calm,
lofty, and with his head still covered, sat down again in
his arm-chair.
“Why are not my Frenchmen here?” he murmured proudly and
turning his eyes to the benches where they had appeared for
a moment; “they would have seen that their friend was worthy
of their defense while alive, and of their tears when dead.”
“Well,” said the president, seeing that Charles was
determined to remain silent, “so be it. We will judge you in
spite of your silence. You are accused of treason, of abuse
of power, and murder. The evidence will support it. Go, and
another sitting will accomplish what you have postponed in
this.”
Charles rose and turned toward Parry, whom he saw pale and
with his temples dewed with moisture.
“Well, my dear Parry,” said he, “what is the matter, and
what can affect you in this manner?”
“Oh, my king,” said Parry, with tears in his eyes and in a
tone of supplication, “do not look to the left as we leave
the hall.”
“And why, Parry?”
“Do not look, I implore you, my king.”
“But what is the matter? Speak,” said Charles, attempting to
look across the hedge of guards which surrounded him.
“It is — but you will not look, will you? — it is because
they have had the axe, with which criminals are executed,
brought and placed there on the table. The sight is
hideous.”
“Fools,” said Charles, “do they take me for a coward, like
themselves? You have done well to warn me. Thank you,
Parry.”
When the moment arrived the king followed his guards out of
the hall. As he passed the table on which the axe was laid,