Athos, do you know any inn in the whole town where one can
find white sheets, roast beef reasonably cooked, and wine
which is not made of hops and gin?”
“I think I know what you want,” replied Athos. “De Winter
took us to the house of a Spaniard, who, he said, had become
naturalized as an Englishman by the guineas of his new
compatriots. What do you say to it, Aramis?”
“Why, the idea of taking quarters with Senor Perez seems to
me very reasonable, and for my part I agree to it. We will
invoke the remembrance of that poor De Winter, for whom he
seemed to have a great regard; we will tell him that we have
come as amateurs to see what is going on; we will spend with
him a guinea each per day; and I think that by taking all
these precautions we can be quite undisturbed.”
“You forget, Aramis, one precaution of considerable
importance.”
“What is that?”
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“The precaution of changing our clothes.”
“Changing our clothes!” exclaimed Porthos. “I don’t see why;
we are very comfortable in those we wear.”
“To prevent recognition,” said D’Artagnan. “Our clothes have
a cut which would proclaim the Frenchman at first sight.
Now, I don’t set sufficient store on the cut of my jerkin to
risk being hung at Tyburn or sent for change of scene to the
Indies. I shall buy a chestnut-colored suit. I’ve remarked
that your Puritans revel in that color.”
“But can you find your man?” said Aramis to Athos.
“Oh! to be sure, yes. He lives at the Bedford Tavern,
Greenhall Street. Besides, I can find my way about the city
with my eyes shut.”
“I wish we were already there,” said D’Artagnan; “and my
advice is that we reach London before daybreak, even if we
kill our horses.”
“Come on, then,” said Athos, “for unless I am mistaken in my
calculations we have only eight or ten leagues to go.”
The friends urged on their horses and arrived, in fact, at
about five o’clock in the morning. They were stopped and
questioned at the gate by which they sought to enter the
city, but Athos replied, in excellent English, that they had
been sent forward by Colonel Harrison to announce to his
colleague, Monsieur Bridge, the approach of the king. That
reply led to several questions about the king’s capture, and
Athos gave details so precise and positive that if the
gatekeepers had any suspicions they vanished completely. The
way was therefore opened to the four friends with all sorts
of Puritan congratulations.
Athos was right. He went direct to the Bedford Tavern, and
the host, who recognized him, was delighted to see him again
with such a numerous and promising company.
Though it was scarcely daylight our four travelers found the
town in a great bustle, owing to the reported approach of
Harrison and the king.
The plan of changing their clothes was unanimously adopted.
The landlord sent out for every description of garment, as
if he wanted to fit up his wardrobe. Athos chose a black
coat, which gave him the appearance of a respectable
citizen. Aramis, not wishing to part with his sword,
selected a dark-blue cloak of a military cut. Porthos was
seduced by a wine-colored doublet and sea-green breeches.
D’Artagnan, who had fixed on his color beforehand, had only
to select the shade, and looked in his chestnut suit exactly
like a retired sugar dealer.
“Now,” said D’Artagnan, “for the actual man. We must cut off
our hair, that the populace may not insult us. As we no
longer wear the sword of the gentleman we may as well have
the head of the Puritan. This, as you know, is the important
point of distinction between the Covenanter and the
Cavalier.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
After some discussion this was agreed to and Mousqueton
played the role of barber.
“We look hideous,” said Athos.
“And smack of the Puritan to a frightful extent,” said
Aramis.
“My head feels actually cold,” said Porthos.
“As for me, I feel anxious to preach a sermon,” said
D’Artagnan.
“Now,” said Athos, “that we cannot even recognize one