The next morning King Charles I. was haled by a strong guardbefore the high court which was to judge him. All London wascrowding to the doors of the house. The throng was terrific,and it was not till after much pushing and some fightingthat our friends reached their destination. When they did sothey found the three lower rows of benches already occupied;but being anxious not to be too conspicuous, all, with theexception of Porthos, who had a fancy to display his reddoublet, were quite satisfied with their places, the more soas chance had brought them to the centre of their row, sothat they were exactly opposite the arm-chair prepared forthe royal prisoner.

Toward eleven o'clock the king entered the hall, surroundedby guards, but wearing his head covered, and with a calmexpression turned to every side with a look of completeassurance, as if he were there to preside at an assembly ofsubmissive subjects, rather than to meet the accusations ofa rebel court.

The judges, proud of having a monarch to humiliate,evidently prepared to enjoy the right they had arrogated tothemselves, and sent an officer to inform the king that itwas customary for the accused to uncover his head.

Charles, without replying a single word, turned his head inanother direction and pulled his felt hat over it. Then whenthe officer was gone he sat down in the arm-chair oppositethe president and struck his boots with a little cane whichhe carried in his hand. Parry, who accompanied him, stoodbehind him.

D'Artagnan was looking at Athos, whose face betrayed allthose emotions which the king, possessing more self-control,had banished from his own. This agitation in one so cold andcalm as Athos, frightened him.

"I hope," he whispered to him, "that you will follow hismajesty's example and not get killed for your folly in thisden."

"Set your mind at rest," replied Athos.

"Aha!" continued D'Artagnan, "it is clear that they areafraid of something or other; for look, the sentinels arebeing reinforced. They had only halberds before, now theyhave muskets. The halberds were for the audience in therear; the muskets are for us."

"Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty-five men," said Porthos,counting the reinforcements.

"Ah!" said Aramis, "but you forget the officer."

D'Artagnan grew pale with rage. He recognized Mordaunt, whowith bare sword was marshalling the musketeers behind theking and opposite the benches.

"Do you think they have recognized us?" said D'Artagnan. "Inthat case I should beat a retreat. I don't care to be shotin a box."

"No," said Aramis, "he has not seen us. He sees no one butthe king. Mon Dieu! how he stares at him, the insolent dog!Does he hate his majesty as much as he does us?"

"Pardi," answered Athos "we only carried off his mother; theking has spoiled him of his name and property."

"True," said Aramis; "but silence! the president is speakingto the king."

"Stuart," Bradshaw was saying, "listen to the roll call ofyour judges and address to the court any observations youmay have to make."

The king turned his head away, as if these words had notbeen intended for him. Bradshaw waited, and as there was noreply there was a moment of silence.

Out of the hundred and sixty-three members designated therewere only seventy-three present, for the rest, fearful oftaking part in such an act, had remained away.

When the name of Colonel Fairfax was called, one of thosebrief but solemn silences ensued, which announced theabsence of the members who had no wish to take a personalpart in the trial.

"Colonel Fairfax," repeated Bradshaw.

"Fairfax," answered a laughing voice, the silvery tone ofwhich betrayed it as that of a woman, "is not such a fool asto be here."

A loud laugh followed these words, pronounced with thatboldness which women draw from their own weakness - aweakness which removes them beyond the power of vengeance.

"It is a woman's voice," cried Aramis; "faith, I would givea good deal if she is young and pretty." And he mounted onthe bench to try and get a sight of her.

"By my soul," said Aramis, "she is charming. LookD'Artagnan; everybody is looking at her; and in spite ofBradshaw's gaze she has not turned pale."

"It is Lady Fairfax herself," said D'Artagnan. "Don't youremember, Porthos, we saw her at General Cromwell's?"

The roll call continued.

"These rascals will adjourn when they find that they are notin sufficient force," said the Comte de la Fere.

"You don't know them. Athos, look at Mordaunt's smile. Isthat the look of a man whose victim is likely to escape him?Ah, cursed basilisk, it will be a happy day for me when Ican cross something more than a look with you."

"The king is really very handsome," said Porthos; "and look,too, though he is a prisoner, how carefully he is dressed.The feather in his hat is worth at least five-and-twentypistoles. Look at it, Aramis."

The roll call finished, the president ordered them to readthe act of accusation. Athos turned pale. A second time hewas disappointed in his expectation. Notwithstanding thejudges were so few the trial was to continue; the king then,was condemned in advance.

"I told you so, Athos," said D'Artagnan, shrugging hisshoulders. "Now take your courage in both hands and hearwhat this gentleman in black is going to say about hissovereign, with full license and privilege."

Never till then had a more brutal accusation or meanerinsults tarnished kingly majesty.

Charles listened with marked attention, passing over theinsults, noting the grievances, and, when hatred overflowedall bounds and the accuser turned executioner beforehand,replying with a smile of lofty scorn.

"The fact is," said D'Artagnan, "if men are punished forimprudence and triviality, this poor king deservespunishment. But it seems to me that that which he is justnow undergoing is hard enough."

"In any case," Aramis replied, "the punishment should fallnot on the king, but on his ministers; for the first articleof the constitution is, `The king can do no wrong.'"

"As for me," thought Porthos, giving Mordaunt his wholeattention, "were it not for breaking in on the majesty ofthe situation I would leap down from the bench, reachMordaunt in three bounds and strangle him; I would then takehim by the feet and knock the life out of these wretchedmusketeers who parody the musketeers of France. Meantime,D'Artagnan, who is full of invention, would find some way tosave the king. I must speak to him about it."

As to Athos, his face aflame, his fists clinched, his lipsbitten till they bled, he sat there foaming with rage atthat endless parliamentary insult and that long enduringroyal patience; the inflexible arm and steadfast heart hadgiven place to a trembling hand and a body shaken byexcitement.

At this moment the accuser concluded with these words: "Thepresent accusation is preferred by us in the name of theEnglish people."

At these words there was a murmur along the benches, and asecond voice, not that of a woman, but a man's, stout andfurious, thundered behind D'Artagnan.

"You lie!" it cried. "Nine-tenths of the English people arehorrified at what you say."

This voice was that of Athos, who, standing up withoutstretched hand and quite out of his mind, thus assailedthe public accuser.

King, judges, spectators, all turned their eyes to the benchwhere the four friends were seated. Mordaunt did the sameand recognized the gentleman, around whom the three otherFrenchmen were standing, pale and menacing. His eyesglittered with delight. He had discovered those to whosedeath he had devoted his life. A movement of fury called tohis side some twenty of his musketeers, and pointing to thebench where his enemies were: "Fire on that bench!" hecried.

But with the rapidity of thought D'Artagnan seized Athos bythe waist, and followed by Porthos with Aramis, leaped downfrom the benches, rushed into the passages, and flying downthe staircase were lost in the crowd without, while themuskets within were pointed on some three thousandspectators, whose piteous cries and noisy alarm stopped theimpulse already given to bloodshed.

Charles also had recognized the four Frenchmen. He put onehand on his heart to still its beating and the other overhis eyes, that he might not witness the slaying of hisfaithful friends.

Mordaunt, pale and trembling with anger, rushed from thehall sword in hand, followed by six pikemen, pushing,inquiring and panting in the crowd; and then, having foundnothing, returned.

The tumult was indescribable. More than half an hour passedbefore any one could make himself heard. The judges werelooking for a new outbreak from the benches. The spectatorssaw the muskets leveled at them, and divided between fearand curiosity, remained noisy and excited.

Quiet was at length restored.

"What have you to say in your defense?" asked Bradshaw ofthe king.

Then rising, with his head still covered, in the tone of ajudge rather than a prisoner, Charles began.

"Before questioning me," he said, "reply to my question. Iwas free at Newcastle and had there concluded a treaty withboth houses. Instead of performing your part of thiscontract, as I performed mine, you bought me from theScotch, cheaply, I know, and that does honor to the economictalent of your government. But because you have paid theprice of a slave, do you imagine that I have ceased to beyour king? No. To answer you would be to forget it. I shallonly reply to you when you have satisfied me of your rightto question me. To answer you would be to acknowledge you asmy judges, and I only acknowledge you as my executioners."And in the middle of a deathlike silence, Charles, calm,lofty, and with his head still covered, sat down again inhis arm-chair.

"Why are not my Frenchmen here?" he murmured proudly andturning his eyes to the benches where they had appeared fora moment; "they would have seen that their friend was worthyof their defense while alive, and of their tears when dead."

"Well," said the president, seeing that Charles wasdetermined to remain silent, "so be it. We will judge you inspite of your silence. You are accused of treason, of abuseof power, and murder. The evidence will support it. Go, andanother sitting will accomplish what you have postponed inthis."

Charles rose and turned toward Parry, whom he saw pale andwith his temples dewed with moisture.

"Well, my dear Parry," said he, "what is the matter, andwhat can affect you in this manner?"

"Oh, my king," said Parry, with tears in his eyes and in atone of supplication, "do not look to the left as we leavethe hall."

"And why, Parry?"

"Do not look, I implore you, my king."

"But what is the matter? Speak," said Charles, attempting tolook across the hedge of guards which surrounded him.

"It is - but you will not look, will you? - it is becausethey have had the axe, with which criminals are executed,brought and placed there on the table. The sight ishideous."

"Fools," said Charles, "do they take me for a coward, likethemselves? You have done well to warn me. Thank you,Parry."

When the moment arrived the king followed his guards out ofthe hall. As he passed the table on which the axe was laid,he stopped, and turning with a smile, said:

"Ah! the axe, an ingenious device, and well worthy of thosewho know not what a gentleman is; you frighten me not,executioner's axe," added he, touching it with the canewhich he held in his hand, "and I strike you now, waitingpatiently and Christianly for you to return the blow."

And shrugging his shoulders with unaffected contempt hepassed on. When he reached the door a stream of people, whohad been disappointed in not being able to get into thehouse and to make amends had collected to see him come out,stood on each side, as he passed, many among them glaring onhim with threatening looks.

"How many people," thought he, "and not one true friend."

And as he uttered these words of doubt and depression withinhis mind, a voice beside him said:

"Respect to fallen majesty."

The king turned quickly around, with tears in his eyes andheart. It was an old soldier of the guards who could not seehis king pass captive before him without rendering him thisfinal homage. But the next moment the unfortunate man wasnearly killed with heavy blows of sword-hilts, and amongthose who set upon him the king recognized Captain Groslow.

"Alas!" said Charles, "that is a severe chastisement for avery trifling fault."

He continued his walk, but he had scarcely gone a hundredpaces, when a furious fellow, leaning between two soldiers,spat in the king's face, as once an infamous and accursedJew spit in the face of Jesus of Nazareth. Loud roars oflaughter and sullen murmurs arose together. The crowd openedand closed again, undulating like a stormy sea, and the kingimagined that he saw shining in the midst of this livingwave the bright eyes of Athos.

Charles wiped his face and said with a sad smile: "Poorwretch, for half a crown he would do as much to his ownfather."

The king was not mistaken. Athos and his friends, againmingling with the throng, were taking a last look at themartyr king.

When the soldier saluted Charles, Athos's heart bounded forjoy; and that unfortunate, on coming to himself, found tenguineas that the French gentleman had slipped into hispocket. But when the cowardly insulter spat in the face ofthe captive monarch Athos grasped his dagger. But D'Artagnanstopped his hand and in a hoarse voice cried, "Wait!"

Athos stopped. D'Artagnan, leaning on Athos, made a sign toPorthos and Aramis to keep near them and then placed himselfbehind the man with the bare arms, who was still laughing athis own vile pleasantry and receiving the congratulations ofseveral others.

The man took his way toward the city. The four friendsfollowed him. The man, who had the appearance of being abutcher, descended a little steep and isolated street,looking on to the river, with two of his friends. Arrived atthe bank of the river the three men perceived that they werefollowed, turned around, and looking insolently at theFrenchmen, passed some jests from one to another.

"I don't know English, Athos," said D'Artagnan; "but youknow it and will interpret for me."

Then quickening their steps they passed the three men, butturned back immediately, and D'Artagnan walked straight upto the butcher and touching him on the chest with the tip ofhis finger, said to Athos:

"Say this to him in English: `You are a coward. You haveinsulted a defenseless man. You have defouled the face ofyour king. You must die.'"

Athos, pale as a ghost, repeated these words to the man,who, seeing the bodeful preparations that were making, puthimself in an attitude of defense. Aramis, at this movement,drew his sword.

"No," cried D'Artagnan, "no steel. Steel is for gentlemen."

And seizing the butcher by the throat:

"Porthos," said he, "kill this fellow for me with a singleblow."

Porthos raised his terrible fist, which whistled through theair like a sling, and the portentous mass fell with asmothered crash on the insulter's skull and crushed it. Theman fell like an ox beneath the poleaxe. His companions,horror-struck, could neither move nor cry out.

"Tell them this, Athos," resumed D'Artagnan; "thus shall alldie who forget that a captive man is sacred and that acaptive king doubly represents the Lord."

Athos repeated D'Artagnan's words.

The fellows looked at the body of their companion, swimmingin blood, and then recovering voice and legs together, ranscreaming off.

"Justice is done," said Porthos, wiping his forehead.

"And now," said D'Artagnan to Athos, "entertain no furtherdoubts about me; I undertake all that concerns the king."