"Have you been to the general?" said Mordaunt to D'Artagnanand Porthos; "you know he sent for you after the action."

"We want first to put our prisoners in a place of safety,"replied D'Artagnan. "Do you know, sir, these gentlemen areeach of them worth fifteen hundred pounds?"

"Oh, be assured," said Mordaunt, looking at them with anexpression he vainly endeavoured to soften, "my soldierswill guard them, and guard them well, I promise you."

"I shall take better care of them myself," answeredD'Artagnan; "besides, all they require is a good room, withsentinels, or their simple parole that they will not attemptescape. I will go and see about that, and then we shall havethe honor of presenting ourselves to the general andreceiving his commands for his eminence."

"You think of starting at once, then?" inquired Mordaunt.

"Our mission is ended, and there is nothing more to detainus now but the good pleasure of the great man to whom wewere sent."

The young man bit his lips and whispered to his sergeant:

"You will follow these men and not lose sight of them; whenyou have discovered where they lodge, come and await me atthe town gate."

The sergeant made a sign of comprehension.

Instead of following the knot of prisoners that were beingtaken into the town, Mordaunt turned his steps toward therising ground from whence Cromwell had witnessed the battleand on which he had just had his tent pitched.

Cromwell had given orders that no one was to be allowedadmission; but the sentinel, who knew that Mordaunt was oneof the most confidential friends of the general, thought theorder did not extend to the young man. Mordaunt, therefore,raised the canvas, and saw Cromwell seated before a table,his head buried in his hands, his back being turned.

Whether he heard Mordaunt or not as he entered, Cromwell didnot move. Mordaunt remained standing near the door. At last,after a few moments, Cromwell raised his head, and, as if hedivined that some one was there, turned slowly around.

"I said I wished to be alone," he exclaimed, on seeing theyoung man.

"They thought this order did not concern me, sir;nevertheless, if you wish it, I am ready to go."

"Ah! is it you, Mordaunt?" said Cromwell, the cloud passingaway from his face; "since you are here, it is well; you mayremain."

"I come to congratulate you."

"To congratulate me - what for?"

"On the capture of Charles Stuart. You are now master ofEngland."

"I was much more really so two hours ago."

"How so, general?"

"Because England had need of me to take the tyrant, and nowthe tyrant is taken. Have you seen him?"

"Yes, sir." said Mordaunt.

"What is his bearing?"

Mordaunt hesitated; but it seemed as though he wasconstrained to tell the truth.

"Calm and dignified," said he.

"What did he say?"

"Some parting words to his friends."

"His friends!" murmured Cromwell. "Has he any friends?" Thenhe added aloud, "Did he make any resistance?"

"No, sir, with the exception of two or three friends everyone deserted him; he had no means of resistance."

"To whom did he give up his sword?"

"He did not give it up; he broke it."

"He did well; but instead of breaking it, he might have usedit to still more advantage."

There was a momentary pause.

"I heard that the colonel of the regiment that escortedCharles was killed," said Cromwell, staring very fixedly atMordaunt.

"Yes, sir."

"By whom?" inquired Cromwell.

"By me."

"What was his name?"

"Lord Winter."

"Your uncle?" exclaimed Cromwell.

"My uncle," answered Mordaunt; "but traitors to England areno longer members of my family."

Cromwell observed the young man a moment in silence, then,with that profound melancholy Shakespeare describes so well:

"Mordaunt," he said, "you are a terrible servant."

"When the Lord commands," said Mordaunt, "His commands arenot to be disputed. Abraham raised the knife against Isaac,and Isaac was his son."

"Yes," said Cromwell, "but the Lord did not suffer thatsacrifice to be accomplished."

"I have looked around me," said Mordaunt, "and I have seenneither goat nor kid caught among the bushes of the plain."

Cromwell bowed. "You are strong among the strong, Mordaunt,"he said; "and the Frenchmen, how did they behave?"

"Most fearlessly."

"Yes, yes," murmured Cromwell; "the French fight well; andif my glass was good and I mistake not, they were foremostin the fight."

"They were," replied Mordaunt.

"After you, however," said Cromwell.

"It was the fault of their horses, not theirs."

Another pause

"And the Scotch?"

"They kept their word and never stirred," said Mordaunt.

"Wretched men!"

"Their officers wish to see you, sir."

"I have no time to see them. Are they paid?"

"Yes, to-night."

"Let them be off and return to their own country, there tohide their shame, if its hills are high enough; I havenothing more to do with them nor they with me. And now go,Mordaunt."

"Before I go," said Mordaunt, "I have some questions and afavor to ask you, sir."

"A favor from me?"

Mordaunt bowed.

"I come to you, my leader, my head, my father, and I askyou, master, are you contented with me?"

Cromwell looked at him with astonishment. The young manremained immovable.

"Yes," said Cromwell; "you have done, since I knew you, notonly your duty, but more than your duty; you have been afaithful friend, a cautious negotiator, a brave soldier."

"Do you remember, sir it was my idea, the Scotch treaty, forgiving up the king?"

"Yes, the idea was yours. I had no such contempt for menbefore."

"Was I not a good ambassador in France?"

"Yes, for Mazarin has granted what I desire."

"Have I not always fought for your glory and interests?"

"Too ardently, perhaps; it is what I have just reproachedyou for. But what is the meaning of all these questions?"

"To tell you, my lord, that the moment has now arrived when,with a single word, you may recompense all these services."

"Oh!" said Oliver, with a slight curl of his lip, "I forgotthat every service merits some reward and that up to thismoment you have not been paid."

"Sir, I can take my pay at this moment, to the full extentof my wishes."

"How is that?"

"I have the payment under my hand; I almost possess it."

"What is it? Have they offered you money? Do you wish astep, or some place in the government?"

"Sir, will you grant me my request?"

"Let us hear what it is, first."

"Sir, when you have told me to obey an order did I everanswer, `Let me see that order '?"

"If, however, your wish should be one impossible tofulfill?"

"When you have cherished a wish and have charged me with itsfulfillment, have I ever replied, `It is impossible'?"

"But a request preferred with so much preparation - - "

"Ah, do not fear, sir," said Mordaunt, with apparentsimplicity: "it will not ruin you."

"Well, then," said Cromwell, "I promise, as far as lies inmy power, to grant your request; proceed."

"Sir, two prisoners were taken this morning, will you let mehave them?"

"For their ransom? have they then offered a large one?"inquired Cromwell.

"On the contrary, I think they are poor, sir."

"They are friends of yours, then?"

"Yes, sir," exclaimed Mordaunt, "they are friends, dearfriends of mine, and I would lay down my life for them."

"Very well, Mordaunt," exclaimed Cromwell, pleased at havinghis opinion of the young man raised once more; "I will givethem to you; I will not even ask who they are; do as youlike with them."

"Thank you, sir!" exclaimed Mordaunt, "thank you; my life isalways at your service, and should I lose it I should stillowe you something; thank you; you have indeed repaid memunificently for my services."

He threw himself at the feet of Cromwell, and in spite ofthe efforts of the Puritan general, who did not like thisalmost kingly homage, he took his hand and kissed it.

"What!" said Cromwell, arresting him for a moment as hearose; "is there nothing more you wish? neither gold norrank?"

"You have given me all you can give me, and from to-day yourdebt is paid."

And Mordaunt darted out of the general's tent, his heartbeating and his eyes sparkling with joy.

Cromwell gazed a moment after him.

"He has slain his uncle!" he murmured. "Alas! what are myservants? Possibly this one, who asks nothing or seems toask nothing, has asked more in the eyes of Heaven than thosewho tax the country and steal the bread of the poor. Nobodyserves me for nothing. Charles, who is my prisoner, maystill have friends, but I have none!"

And with a deep sigh he again sank into the reverie that hadbeen interrupted by Mordaunt.