Whilst Mordaunt was making his way to Cromwell's tent,D'Artagnan and Porthos had brought their prisoners to thehouse which had been assigned to them as their dwelling atNewcastle.

The order given by Mordaunt to the sergeant had been heardby D'Artagnan, who accordingly, by an expressive glance,warned Athos and Aramis to exercise extreme caution. Theprisoners, therefore, had remained silent as they marchedalong in company with their conquerors - which they coulddo with the less difficulty since each of them hadoccupation enough in answering his own thoughts.

It would be impossible to describe Musqueton's astonishmentwhen from the threshold of the door he saw the four friendsapproaching, followed by a sergeant with a dozen men. Herubbed his eyes, doubting if he really saw before him Athosand Aramis; and forced at last to yield to evidence, he wason the point of breaking forth in exclamations when heencountered a glance from the eyes of Porthos, therepressive force of which he was not inclined to dispute.

Musqueton remained glued to the door, awaiting theexplanation of this strange occurrence. What upset himcompletely was that the four friends seemed to have noacquaintance with one another.

The house to which D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Athosand Aramis was the one assigned to them by General Cromwelland of which they had taken possession on the previousevening. It was at the corner of two streets and had in therear, bordering on the side street, stables and a sort ofgarden. The windows on the ground floor, according to acustom in provincial villages, were barred, so that theystrongly resembled the windows of a prison.

The two friends made the prisoners enter the house first,whilst they stood at the door, desiring Musqueton to takethe 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 littlegarden.

D'Artagnan asked them what they wished and why they hadtaken that position.

"We have had orders," answered the man, "to help you intaking care of your prisoners."

There could be no fault to find with this arrangement; onthe contrary, it seemed to be a delicate attention, to begratefully received; D'Artagnan, therefore, thanked the manand gave him a crown piece to drink to General Cromwell'shealth.

The sergeant answered that Puritans never drank, and put thecrown piece in his pocket.

"Ah!" said Porthos, "what a fearful day, my dearD'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 usgo in and see more clearly what is to be done."

"Things look black enough," replied Porthos; "I understandnow why Aramis advised me to strangle that horribleMordaunt."

"Silence!" cried the Gascon; "do not utter that name."

"But," argued Porthos, "I speak French and they are allEnglish."

D'Artagnan looked at Porthos with that air of wonder which acunning man cannot help feeling at displays of crassstupidity.

But as Porthos on his side could not comprehend hisastonishment, he merely pushed him indoors, saying, "Let usgo in."

They found Athos in profound despondency; Aramis lookedfirst at Porthos and then at D'Artagnan, without speaking,but the latter understood his meaning 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 Ibade you distrust?" asked Athos.

"And whom I advised you to strangle, Porthos," said Aramis.

"Mazarin again. Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin. Mazarinsent us to Cromwell. There is a certain fatality in it."

"Yes, you are right, D'Artagnan, a fatality that willseparate and ruin us! So, my dear Aramis, say no more aboutit and let us prepare to submit to destiny."

"Zounds! on the contrary, let us speak about it; for it wasagreed among us, once for all, that we should always holdtogether, though engaged on opposing sides."

"Yes," added Athos, "I now ask you, D'Artagnan, what sideyou are on? Ah! behold for what end the wretched Mazarin hasmade use of you. Do you know in what crime you are to-dayengaged? In the capture of a king, his degradation and hismurder."

"Oh! oh!" cried Porthos, "do you think so?"

"You are exaggerating, Athos; we are not so far gone asthat," replied the lieutenant.

"Good heavens! we are on the very eve of it. I say, why isthe king taken prisoner? Those who wish to respect him as amaster would not buy him as a slave. Do you think it is toreplace him on the throne that Cromwell has paid for him twohundred thousand pounds sterling? They will kill him, youmay be sure of it."

"I don't maintain the contrary," said D'Artagnan. "Butwhat's that to us? I am here because I am a soldier and haveto obey orders - I have taken an oath to obey, and I doobey; but you who have taken no such oath, why are you hereand what cause do you represent?"

"That most sacred in the world," said Athos; "the cause ofmisfortune, of religion, royalty. A friend, a wife, adaughter, have done us the honor to call us to their aid. Wehave served them to the best of our poor means, and God willrecompense the will, forgive the want of power. You may seematters differently, D'Artagnan, and think otherwise. I willnot attempt to argue with you, but I blame you."

"Heyday!" cried D'Artagnan, "what matters it to me, afterall, if Cromwell, who's an Englishman, revolts against hisking, who is a Scotchman? I am myself a Frenchman. I havenothing to do with these things - why hold me responsible?"

"Yes," said Porthos.

"Because all gentlemen are brothers, because you are agentleman, because the kings of all countries are the firstamong gentlemen, because the blind populace, ungrateful andbrutal, always takes pleasure in pulling down what is abovethem. And you, you, D'Artagnan, a man sprung from theancient nobility of France, bearing an honorable name,carrying a good sword, have helped to give up a king tobeersellers, shopkeepers, and wagoners. Ah! D'Artagnan!perhaps you have done your duty as a soldier, but as agentleman, I say that you are very culpable."

D'Artagnan was chewing the stalk of a flower, unable toreply and thoroughly uncomfortable; for when turned from theeyes of Athos he encountered those of Aramis.

"And you, Porthos," continued the count, as if inconsideration for D'Artagnan's embarrassment, "you, the bestheart, the best friend, the best soldier that I know - you,with a soul that makes you worthy of a birth on the steps ofa throne, and who, sooner or later, must receive your rewardfrom an intelligent king - you, my dear Porthos, you, agentleman in manners, in tastes and in courage, you are asculpable as D'Artagnan."

Porthos blushed, but with pleasure rather than withconfusion; and yet, bowing his head, as if humiliated, hesaid:

"Yes, yes, my dear count, I feel that you are right."

Athos arose.

"Come," he said, stretching out his hand to D'Artagnan,"come, don't be sullen, my dear son, for I have said allthis to you, if not in the tone, at least with the feelingsof a father. It would have been easier to me merely to havethanked you for preserving my life and not to have uttered aword of all this."

"Doubtless, doubtless, Athos. But here it is: you havesentiments, the devil knows what, such as every one can'tentertain. Who could suppose that a sensible man could leavehis house, France, his ward - a charming youth, for we sawhim in the camp - to fly to the aid of a rotten, worm-eatenroyalty, which is going to crumble one of these days like anold hovel. The sentiments you air are certainly fine, sofine that they are superhuman."

"However that may be, D'Artagnan," replied Athos, withoutfalling into the snare which his Gascon friend had preparedfor him by an appeal to his parental love, "however that maybe, you know in the bottom of your heart that it is true;but I am wrong to dispute with my master. D'Artagnan, I amyour prisoner - treat me as such."

"Ah! pardieu!" said D'Artagnan, "you know you will not be myprisoner very long."

"No," said Aramis, "they will doubtless treat us like theprisoners of the Philipghauts."

"And how were they treated?" asked D'Artagnan.

"Why," said Aramis, "one-half were hanged and the other halfwere shot."

"Well, I," said D'Artagnan "I answer that while thereremains a drop of blood in my veins you will be neitherhanged nor shot. Sang Diou! let them come on! Besides - doyou see that door, Athos?"

"Yes; what then?"

"Well, you can go out by that door whenever you please; forfrom this moment you are free as the air."

"I recognize you there, my brave D'Artagnan," replied Athos;"but you are no longer our masters. That door is guarded,D'Artagnan; you know that."

"Very well, you will force it," said Porthos. "There areonly a dozen men at the most."

"That would be nothing for us four; it is too much for ustwo. No, divided as we now are, we must perish. See thefatal example: on the Vendomois road, D'Artagnan, you sobrave, and you, Porthos, so valiant and so strong - youwere beaten; to-day Aramis and I are beaten in our turn. Nowthat never happened to us when we were four together. Let usdie, then, as De Winter has died; as for me, I will fly onlyon condition that we all fly together."

"Impossible," said D'Artagnan; "we are under Mazarin'sorders."

"I know it and I have nothing more to say; my arguments leadto nothing; doubtless they are bad, since they have notdetermined minds so just as yours."

"Besides," said Aramis, "had they taken effect it would bestill better not to compromise two excellent friends likeD'Artagnan and Porthos. Be assured, gentlemen, we shall doyou honor in our dying. As for myself, I shall be proud toface the bullets, or even the rope, in company with you,Athos; for you have never seemed to me so grand as you areto-day."

D'Artagnan said nothing, but, after having gnawed the flowerstalk, he began to bite his nails. At last:

"Do you imagine," he resumed, "that they mean to kill you?And wherefore should they do so? What interest have they inyour death? Moreover, you are our prisoners."

"Fool!" cried Aramis; "knowest thou not, then, Mordaunt? Ihave but exchanged with him one look, yet that lookconvinced me that we were doomed."

"The truth is, I'm very sorry that I did not strangle him asyou advised me," said Porthos.

"Eh! I make no account of the harm Mordaunt can do!" criedD'Artagnan. "Cap de Diou! if he troubles me too much I willcrush him, the insect! Do not fly, then. It is useless; forI swear to you that you are as safe here as you were twentyyears, ago - you, Athos, in the Rue Ferou, and you, Aramis,in the Rue de Vaugirard."

"Stop," cried Athos, extending his hand to one of the gratedwindows by which the room was lighted; "you will soon knowwhat to expect, for here he is."

"Who?"

"Mordaunt."

In fact, looking at the place to which Athos pointed,D'Artagnan saw a cavalier coming toward the house at fullgallop.

It was Mordaunt.

D'Artagnan rushed out of the room.

Porthos wanted to follow him.

"Stay," said D'Artagnan, "and do not come till you hear medrum my fingers on the door."

When Mordaunt arrived opposite the house he saw D'Artagnanon the threshold and the soldiers lying on the grass hereand there, with their arms.

"Halloo!" he cried, "are the prisoners still there?"

"Yes, sir," answered the sergeant, uncovering.

"'Tis well; order four men to conduct them to my lodging."

Four men prepared to do so.

"What is it?" said D'Artagnan, with that jeering mannerwhich our readers have so often observed in him since theymade his acquaintance. "What is the matter, if you please?"

"Sir," replied Mordaunt, "I have ordered the two prisonerswe made this morning to be conducted to my lodging."

"Wherefore, sir? Excuse curiosity, but I wish to beenlightened on the subject."

"Because these prisoners, sir, are at my disposal and Ichoose to dispose of them as I like."

"Allow me - allow me, sir," said D'Artagnan, "to observeyou are in error. The prisoners belong to those who takethem and not to those who only saw them taken. You mighthave taken Lord Winter - who, 'tis said, was your uncle - prisoner, but you preferred killing him; 'tis well; we, thatis, Monsieur du Vallon and I, could have killed ourprisoners - we preferred taking them."

Mordaunt's very lips grew white with rage.

D'Artagnan now saw that affairs were growing worse and hebeat the guard's march upon the door. At the first beatPorthos rushed out and stood on the other side of the door.

This movement was observed by Mordaunt.

"Sir!" he thus addressed D'Artagnan, "your resistance isuseless; these prisoners have just been given me by myillustrious patron, Oliver Cromwell."

These words struck D'Artagnan like a thunderbolt. The bloodmounted to his temples, his eyes became dim; he saw fromwhat fountainhead the ferocious hopes of the young manarose, and he put his hand to the hilt of his sword.

As for Porthos, he looked inquiringly at D'Artagnan.

This look of Porthos's made the Gascon regret that he hadsummoned the brute force of his friend to aid him in anaffair which seemed to require chiefly cunning.

"Violence," he said to himself, "would spoil all;D'Artagnan, my friend, prove to this young serpent that thouart not only stronger, but more subtle than he is."

"Ah!" he said, making a low bow, "why did you not begin bysaying that, Monsieur Mordaunt? What! are you sent byGeneral Oliver Cromwell, the most illustrious captain of theage?"

"I have this instant left him," replied Mordaunt, alighting,in order to give his horse to a soldier to hold.

"Why did you not say so at once, my dear sir! all England iswith Cromwell; and since you ask for my prisoners, I bend,sir, to your wishes. They are yours; take them."

Mordaunt, delighted, advanced, Porthos looking at D'Artagnanwith open-mouthed astonishment. Then D'Artagnan trod on hisfoot and Porthos began to understand that this was merelyacting.

Mordaunt put his foot on the first step of the door and,with his hat in hand, prepared to pass by the two friends,motioning to the four men to follow him.

"But, pardon," said D'Artagnan, with the most charming smileand putting his hand on the young man's shoulder, "if theillustrious General Oliver Cromwell has disposed of ourprisoners in your favour, he has, of course, made that actof donation in writing."

Mordaunt stopped short.

"He has given you some little writing for me - the leastbit of paper which may show that you come in his name. Bepleased to give me that scrap of paper so that I mayjustify, by a pretext at least, my abandoning my countrymen.Otherwise, you see, although I am sure that General OliverCromwell can intend them no harm, it would have a badappearance."

Mordaunt recoiled; he felt the blow and discharged aterrible look at D'Artagnan, who responded by the mostamiable expression that ever graced a human countenance.

"When I tell you a thing, sir," said Mordaunt, "you insultme by doubting it."

"I!" cried D'Artagnan, "I doubt what you say!" God keep mefrom it, my dear Monsieur Mordaunt! On the contrary, I takeyou to be a worthy and accomplished gentleman. And then,sir, do you wish me to speak freely to you?" continuedD'Artagnan, with his frank expression.

"Speak out, sir," said Mordaunt.

"Monsieur du Vallon, yonder, is rich and has forty thousandfrancs yearly, so he does not care about money. I do notspeak for him, but for myself."

"Well, sir? What more?"

"Well - I - I'm not rich. In Gascony 'tis no dishonor,sir, nobody is rich; and Henry IV., of glorious memory, whowas the king of the Gascons, as His Majesty Philip IV. isthe king of the Spaniards, never had a penny in his pocket."

"Go on, sir, I see what you wish to get at; and if it issimply what I think that stops you, I can obviate thedifficulty."

"Ah, I knew well," said the Gascon, "that you were a man oftalent. Well, here's the case, here's where the saddle hurtsme, as we French say. I am an officer of fortune, nothingelse; I have nothing but what my sword brings me in - thatis to say, more blows than banknotes. Now, on takingprisoners, this morning, two Frenchmen, who seemed to me ofhigh birth - in short, two knights of the Garter - I saidto myself, my fortune is made. I say two, because in suchcircumstances, Monsieur du Vallon, who is rich, always givesme his prisoners."

Mordaunt, completely deceived by the wordy civility ofD'Artagnan, smiled like a man who understands perfectly thereasons given him, and said:

"I shall have the order signed directly, sir, and with ittwo thousand pistoles; meanwhile, let me take these menaway."

"No," replied D'Artagnan; "what signifies a delay of half anhour? I am a man of order, sir; let us do things in order."

"Nevertheless," replied Mordaunt, "I could compel you; Icommand here."

"Ah, sir!" said D'Artagnan, "I see that although we have hadthe honor of traveling in your company you do not know us.We are gentlemen; we are, both of us, able to kill you andyour eight men - we two only. For Heaven's sake don't beobstinate, for when others are obstinate I am obstinatelikewise, and then I become ferocious and headstrong, andthere's my friend, who is even more headstrong and ferociousthan myself. Besides, we are sent here by Cardinal Mazarin,and at this moment represent both the king and the cardinal,and are, therefore, as ambassadors, able to act withimpunity, a thing that General Oliver Cromwell, who isassuredly as great a politician as he is a general, is quitethe man to understand. Ask him then, for the written order.What will that cost you my dear Monsieur Mordaunt?"

"Yes, the written order," said Porthos, who now began tocomprehend what D'Artagnan was aiming at, "we ask only forthat."

However inclined Mordaunt was to have recourse to violence,he understood the reasons D'Artagnan had given him; besides,completely ignorant of the friendship which existed betweenthe four Frenchmen, all his uneasiness disappeared when heheard of the plausible motive of the ransom. He decided,therefore, not only to fetch the order, but the two thousandpistoles, at which he estimated the prisoners. He thereforemounted his horse and disappeared.

"Good!" thought D'Artagnan; "a quarter of an hour to go tothe tent, a quarter of an hour to return; it is more than weneed." Then turning, without the least change ofcountenance, to Porthos, he said, looking him full in theface: "Friend Porthos, listen to this; first, not a syllableto either of our friends of what you have heard; it isunnecessary for them to know the service we are going torender them."

"Very well; I understand."

"Go to the stable; you will find Musqueton there; saddleyour horses, put your pistols in your saddle-bags, take outthe horses and lead them to the street below this, so thatthere will be nothing to do but mount them; all the rest ismy business."

Porthos made no remark, but obeyed, with the sublimeconfidence he had in his friend.

"I go," he said, "only, shall I enter the chamber wherethose gentlemen are?"

"No, it is not worth while."

"Well, do me the kindness to take my purse. which I left onthe mantelpiece."

"All right."

He then proceeded, with his usual calm gait, to the stableand went into the very midst of the soldiery, who, foreigneras he was, could not help admiring his height and theenormous strength of his great limbs.

At the corner of the street he met Musqueton and took himwith him.

D'Artagnan, meantime, went into the house, whistling a tunewhich he had begun before Porthos went away.

"My dear Athos, I have reflected on your arguments and I amconvinced. I am sorry to have had anything to do with thismatter. As you say, Mazarin is a knave. I have resolved tofly with you, not a word - be ready. Your swords are in thecorner; do not forget them, they are in many circumstancesvery useful; there is Porthos's purse, too."

He put it into his pocket. The two friends were perfectlystupefied.

"Well, pray, is there anything to be so surprised at?" hesaid. "I was blind; Athos has made me see, that's all; comehere."

The two friends went near him.

"Do you see that street? There are the horses. Go out by thedoor, turn to the right, jump into your saddles, all will beright; don't be uneasy at anything except mistaking thesignal. That will be the signal when I call out - JesusSeigneur!"

"But give us your word that you will come too, D'Artagnan,"said Athos.

"I swear I will, by Heaven."

"'Tis settled," said Aramis; "at the cry `Jesus Seigneur' wego out, upset all that stands in our way, run to our horses,jump into our saddles, spur them; is that all?"

"Exactly."

"See, Aramis, as I have told you, D'Artagnan is firstamongst us all," said Athos.

"Very true," replied the Gascon, "but I always run away fromcompliments. Don't forget the signal: `Jesus Seigneur!'" andhe went out as he came in, whistling the self-same air.

The soldiers were playing or sleeping; two of them weresinging in a corner, out of tune, the psalm: "On the riversof Babylon."

D'Artagnan called the sergeant. "My dear friend, GeneralCromwell has sent Monsieur Mordaunt to fetch me. Guard theprisoners well, I beg of you."

The sergeant made a sign, as much as to say he did notunderstand French, and D'Artagnan tried to make himcomprehend by signs and gestures. Then he went into thestable; he found the five horses saddled, his own amongstthe rest.

"Each of you take a horse by the bridle," he said to Porthosand Musqueton; "turn to the left, so that Athos and Aramismay see you clearly from the window."

"They are coming, then?" said Porthos.

"In a moment."

"You didn't forget my purse?"

"No; be easy."

"Good."

Porthos and Musqueton each took a horse by the bridle andproceeded to their post.

Then D'Artagnan, being alone, struck a light and lighted asmall bit of tinder, mounted his horse and stopped at thedoor in the midst of the soldiers. There, caressing as hepretended, the animal with his hand, he put this bit ofburning tinder in his ear. It was necessary to be as good ahorseman as he was to risk such a scheme, for no sooner hadthe animal felt the burning tinder than he uttered a cry ofpain and reared and jumped as if he had been mad.

The soldiers, whom he was nearly trampling, ran away.

"Help! help!" cried D'Artagnan; "stop - my horse has thestaggers."

In an instant the horse's eyes grew bloodshot and he waswhite with foam.

"Help!" cried D'Artagnan. "What! will you let me be killed?Jesus Seigneur!"

No sooner had he uttered this cry than the door opened andAthos and Aramis rushed out. The coast, owing to theGascon's stratagem, was clear.

"The prisoners are escaping! the prisoners are escaping!"cried the sergeant.

"Stop! stop!" cried D'Artagnan, giving rein to his famoussteed, who, darting forth, overturned several men.

"Stop! stop!" cried the soldiers, and ran for their arms.

But the prisoners were in their saddles and lost no timehastening to the nearest gate.

In the middle of the street they saw Grimaud and Blaisois,who were coming to find their masters. With one wave of hishand Athos made Grimaud, who followed the little troop,understand everything, and they passed on like a whirlwind,D'Artagnan still directing them from behind with his voice.

They passed through the gate like apparitions, without theguards thinking of detaining them, and reached the opencountry.

All this time the soldiers were calling out, "Stop! stop!"and the sergeant, who began to see that he was the victim ofan artifice, was almost in a frenzy of despair. Whilst allthis was going on, a cavalier in full gallop was seenapproaching. It was Mordaunt with the order in his hand.

"The prisoners!" he exclaimed, jumping off his horse.

The sergeant had not the courage to reply; he showed him theopen door, the empty room. Mordaunt darted to the steps,understood all, uttered a cry, as if his very heart waspierced, and fell fainting on the stone steps.