custom in provincial villages, were barred, so that they
strongly resembled the windows of a prison.
The two friends made the prisoners enter the house first,
whilst they stood at the door, desiring Mousqueton to take
the four horses to the stable.
“Why don’t we go in with them?” asked Porthos.
“We must first see what the sergeant wishes us to do,”
replied D’Artagnan.
The sergeant and his men took possession of the little
garden.
D’Artagnan asked them what they wished and why they had
taken that position.
“We have had orders,” answered the man, “to help you in
taking care of your prisoners.”
There could be no fault to find with this arrangement; on
the contrary, it seemed to be a delicate attention, to be
gratefully received; D’Artagnan, therefore, thanked the man
and gave him a crown piece to drink to General Cromwell’s
health.
The sergeant answered that Puritans never drank, and put the
crown piece in his pocket.
“Ah!” said Porthos, “what a fearful day, my dear
D’Artagnan!”
“What! a fearful day, when to-day we find our friends?”
“Yes; but under what circumstances?”
“‘Tis true that our position is an awkward one; but let us
go in and see more clearly what is to be done.”
“Things look black enough,” replied Porthos; “I understand
now why Aramis advised me to strangle that horrible
Mordaunt.”
“Silence!” cried the Gascon; “do not utter that name.”
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“But,” argued Porthos, “I speak French and they are all
English.”
D’Artagnan looked at Porthos with that air of wonder which a
cunning man cannot help feeling at displays of crass
stupidity.
But as Porthos on his side could not comprehend his
astonishment, he merely pushed him indoors, saying, “Let us
go in.”
They found Athos in profound despondency; Aramis looked
first at Porthos and then at D’Artagnan, without speaking,
but the latter understood his meaningful look.
“You want to know how we came here? ‘Tis easily guessed.
Mazarin sent us with a letter to General Cromwell.”
“But how came you to fall into company with Mordaunt, whom I
bade you distrust?” asked Athos.
“And whom I advised you to strangle, Porthos,” said Aramis.
“Mazarin again. Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin. Mazarin
sent us to Cromwell. There is a certain fatality in it.”
“Yes, you are right, D’Artagnan, a fatality that will
separate and ruin us! So, my dear Aramis, say no more about
it and let us prepare to submit to destiny.”
“Zounds! on the contrary, let us speak about it; for it was
agreed among us, once for all, that we should always hold
together, though engaged on opposing sides.”
“Yes,” added Athos, “I now ask you, D’Artagnan, what side
you are on? Ah! behold for what end the wretched Mazarin has
made use of you. Do you know in what crime you are to-day
engaged? In the capture of a king, his degradation and his
murder.”
“Oh! oh!” cried Porthos, “do you think so?”
“You are exaggerating, Athos; we are not so far gone as
that,” replied the lieutenant.
“Good heavens! we are on the very eve of it. I say, why is
the king taken prisoner? Those who wish to respect him as a
master would not buy him as a slave. Do you think it is to
replace him on the throne that Cromwell has paid for him two
hundred thousand pounds sterling? They will kill him, you
may be sure of it.”
“I don’t maintain the contrary,” said D’Artagnan. “But
what’s that to us? I am here because I am a soldier and have
to obey orders — I have taken an oath to obey, and I do
obey; but you who have taken no such oath, why are you here
and what cause do you represent?”
“That most sacred in the world,” said Athos; “the cause of
misfortune, of religion, royalty. A friend, a wife, a
daughter, have done us the honor to call us to their aid. We
have served them to the best of our poor means, and God will
recompense the will, forgive the want of power. You may see
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