with which his companion’s Gascon sharpness continually
supplied him. D’Artagnan took up his camp tin cup, filled it
with wine and arose.
“Gentlemen,” said he, “let us drink to him who presides at
the repast. Here’s to our colonel, and let him know that we
are always at his commands as far as London and farther.”
And as D’Artagnan, as he spoke, looked at Harrison, the
colonel imagined the toast was for himself. He arose and
bowed to the four friends, whose eyes were fixed on Charles,
while Harrison emptied his glass without the slightest
misgiving.
The king, in return, looked at the four gentlemen and drank
with a smile full of nobility and gratitude.
“Come, gentlemen,” cried Harrison, regardless of his
illustrious captive, “let us be off.”
“Where do we sleep, colonel?”
“At Thirsk,” replied Harrison.
“Parry,” said the king, rising too, “my horse; I desire to
go to Thirsk.”
“Egad!” said D’Artagnan to Athos, “your king has thoroughly
taken me, and I am quite at his service.”
“If what you say is sincere,” replied Athos, “he will never
reach London.”
“How so?”
“Because before then we shall have carried him off.”
“Well, this time, Athos,” said D’Artagnan, “upon my word,
you are mad.”
“Have you some plan in your head then?” asked Aramis.
“Ay!” said Porthos, “the thing would not be impossible with
a good plan.”
“I have none,” said Athos; “but D’Artagnan will discover
one.”
D’Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and they proceeded.
61
D’Artagnan hits on a Plan.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
As night closed in they arrived at Thirsk. The four friends
appeared to be entire strangers to one another and
indifferent to the precautions taken for guarding the king.
They withdrew to a private house, and as they had reason
every moment to fear for their safety, they occupied but one
room and provided an exit, which might be useful in case of
an attack. The lackeys were sent to their several posts,
except that Grimaud lay on a truss of straw across the
doorway.
D’Artagnan was thoughtful and seemed for the moment to have
lost his usual loquacity. Porthos, who could never see
anything that was not self-evident, talked to him as usual.
He replied in monosyllables and Athos and Aramis looked
significantly at one another.
Next morning D’Artagnan was the first to rise. He had been
down to the stables, already taken a look at the horses and
given the necessary orders for the day, whilst Athos and
Aramis were still in bed and Porthos snoring.
At eight o’clock the march was resumed in the same order as
the night before, except that D’Artagnan left his friends
and began to renew the acquaintance which he had already
struck up with Monsieur Groslow.
Groslow, whom D’Artagnan’s praises had greatly pleased,
welcomed him with a gracious smile.
“Really, sir,” D’Artagnan said to him, “I am pleased to find
one with whom to talk in my own poor tongue. My friend,
Monsieur du Vallon, is of a very melancholy disposition, so
much so, that one can scarcely get three words out of him
all day. As for our two prisoners, you can imagine that they
are but little in the vein for conversation.”
“They are hot royalists,” said Groslow.
“The more reason they should be sulky with us for having
captured the Stuart, for whom, I hope, you’re preparing a
pretty trial.”
“Why,” said Groslow, “that is just what we are taking him to
London for.”
“And you never by any chance lose sight of him, I presume?”
“I should think not, indeed. You see he has a truly royal
escort.”
“Ay, there’s no fear in the daytime; but at night?”
“We redouble our precautions.”
“And what method of surveillance do you employ?”
“Eight men remain constantly in his room.”
“The deuce, he is well guarded, then. But besides these
eight men, you doubtless place some guard outside?”
“Oh, no! Just think. What would you have two men without
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
arms do against eight armed men?”
“Two men — how do you mean?”
“Yes, the king and his lackey.”
“Oh! then they allow the lackey to remain with him?”