It was, in fact, Mordaunt whom D'Artagnan had followed,without knowing it. On entering the house he had taken offhis mask and imitation beard, then, mounting a staircase,had opened a door, and in a room lighted by a single lampfound himself face to face with a man seated behind a desk.

This man was Cromwell.

Cromwell had two or three of these retreats in London,unknown except to the most intimate of his friends. Mordauntwas among these.

"It is you, Mordaunt," he said. "You are late."

"General, I wished to see the ceremony to the end, whichdelayed me."

"Ah! I scarcely thought you were so curious as that."

"I am always curious to see the downfall of your honor'senemies, and he was not among the least of them. But you,general, were you not at Whitehall?"

"No," said Cromwell.

There was a moment's silence.

"Have you had any account of it?"

"None. I have been here since the morning. I only know thatthere was a conspiracy to rescue the king."

"Ah, you knew that?" said Mordaunt.

"It matters little. Four men, disguised as workmen, were toget the king out of prison and take him to Greenwich, wherea vessel was waiting."

"And knowing all that, your honor remained here, far fromthe city, tranquil and inactive."

"Tranquil, yes," replied Cromwell. "But who told you I wasinactive?"

"But - if the plot had succeeded?"

"I wished it to do so."

"I thought your excellence considered the death of CharlesI. as a misfortune necessary to the welfare of England."

"Yes, his death; but it would have been more seemly not uponthe scaffold."

"Why so?" asked Mordaunt.

Cromwell smiled. "Because it could have been said that I hadhad him condemned for the sake of justice and had let himescape out of pity."

"But if he had escaped?"

"Impossible; my precautions were taken."

"And does your honor know the four men who undertook torescue him?"

"The four Frenchmen, of whom two were sent by the queen toher husband and two by Mazarin to me."

"And do you think Mazarin commissioned them to act as theyhave done?"

"It is possible. But he will not avow it."

"How so?"

"Because they failed."

"Your honor gave me two of these Frenchmen when they wereonly guilty of fighting for Charles I. Now that they areguilty of a conspiracy against England will your honor giveme all four of them?"

"Take them," said Cromwell.

Mordaunt bowed with a smile of triumphant ferocity.

"Did the people shout at all?" Cromwell asked.

"Very little, except `Long live Cromwell!'"

"Where were you placed?"

Mordaunt tried for a moment to read in the general's face ifthis was simply a useless question, or whether he kneweverything. But his piercing eyes could by no meanspenetrate the sombre depths of Cromwell's.

"I was so situated as to hear and see everything," heanswered.

It was now Cromwell's turn to look fixedly at Mordaunt, andMordaunt to make himself impenetrable.

"It appears," said Cromwell, "that this improvisedexecutioner did his duty remarkably well. The blow, so theytell me at least, was struck with a master's hand."

Mordaunt remembered that Cromwell had told him he had had nodetailed account, and he was now quite convinced that thegeneral had been present at the execution, hidden behindsome screen or curtain.

"In fact," said Mordaunt, with a calm voice and immovablecountenance, "a single blow sufficed."

"Perhaps it was some one in that occupation," said Cromwell.

"Do you think so, sir? He did not look like an executioner."

"And who else save an executioner would have wished to fillthat horrible office?"

"But," said Mordaunt, "it might have been some personalenemy of the king, who had made a vow of vengeance andaccomplished it in this way. Perhaps it was some man of rankwho had grave reasons for hating the fallen king, and who,learning that the king was about to flee and escape him,threw himself in the way, with a mask on his face and an axein his hand, not as substitute for the executioner, but asan ambassador of Fate."

"Possibly."

"And if that were the case would your honor condemn hisaction?"

"It is not for me to judge. It rests between his conscienceand his God."

"But if your honor knew this man?"

"I neither know nor wish to know him. Provided Charles isdead, it is the axe, not the man, we must thank."

"And yet, without the man, the king would have beenrescued."

Cromwell smiled.

"They would have carried him to Greenwich," he said, "andput him on board a felucca with five barrels of powder inthe hold. Once out to sea, you are too good a politician notto understand the rest, Mordaunt."

"Yes, they would have all been blown up."

"Just so. The explosion would have done what the axe hadfailed to do. Men would have said that the king had escapedhuman justice and been overtaken by God's. You see now why Idid not care to know your gentleman in the mask; for really,in spite of his excellent intentions, I could not thank himfor what he has done."

Mordaunt bowed humbly. "Sir," he said, "you are a profoundthinker and your plan was sublime."

"Say absurd, since it has become useless. The only sublimeideas in politics are those which bear fruit. So to-night,Mordaunt, go to Greenwich and ask for the captain of thefelucca Lightning. Show him a white handkerchief knotted atthe four corners and tell the crew to disembark and carrythe powder back to the arsenal, unless, indeed - - "

"Unless?" said Mordaunt, whose face was lighted by a savagejoy as Cromwell spoke:

"This skiff might be of use to you for personal projects."

"Oh, my lord, my lord!"

"That title," said Cromwell, laughing, "is all very wellhere, but take care a word like that does not escape yourlips in public."

"But your honor will soon be called so generally."

"I hope so, at least," said Cromwell, rising and putting onhis cloak.

"You are going, sir?"

"Yes," said Cromwell. "I slept here last night and the nightbefore, and you know it is not my custom to sleep threetimes in the same bed."

"Then," said Mordaunt, "your honor gives me my liberty forto-night?"

"And even for all day to-morrow, if you want it. Since lastevening," he added, smiling, "you have done enough in myservice, and if you have any personal matters to settle itis just that I should give you time."

"Thank you, sir; it will be well employed, I hope."

Cromwell turned as he was going.

"Are you armed?" he asked.

"I have my sword."

"And no one waiting for you outside?"

"No."

"Then you had better come with me."

"Thank you, sir, but the way by the subterranean passagewould take too much time and I have none to lose."

Cromwell placed his hand on a hidden handle and opened adoor so well concealed by the tapestry that the mostpracticed eye could not have discovered it. It closed afterhim with a spring. This door communicated with asubterranean passage, leading under the street to a grottoin the garden of a house about a hundred yards from that ofthe future Protector.

It was just before this that Grimaud had perceived the twomen seated together.

D'Artagnan was the first to recover from his surprise.

"Mordaunt," he cried. "Ah! by Heaven! it is God Himself whosent us here."

"Yes," said Porthos, "let us break the door in and fall uponhim."

"No," replied D'Artagnan, "no noise. Now, Grimaud, you comehere, climb up to the window again and tell us if Mordauntis alone and whether he is preparing to go out or go to bed.If he comes out we shall catch him. If he stays in we willbreak in the window. It is easier and less noisy than thedoor."

Grimaud began to scale the wall again.

"Keep guard at the other door, Athos and Aramis. Porthos andI will stay here."

The friends obeyed.

"He is alone," said Grimaud.

"We did not see his companion come out."

"He may have gone by the other door."

"What is he doing?"

"Putting on his cloak and gloves."

"He's ours," muttered D'Artagnan.

Porthos mechanically drew his dagger from the scabbard.

"Put it up again, my friend," said D'Artagnan. "We mustproceed in an orderly manner."

"Hush!" said Grimaud, "he is coming out. He has put out thelamp, I can see nothing now."

"Get down then and quickly."

Grimaud leaped down. The snow deadened the noise of hisfall.

"Now go and tell Athos and Aramis to stand on each side ofthe door and clap their hands if they catch him. We will dothe same."

The next moment the door opened and Mordaunt appeared on thethreshold, face to face with D'Artagnan. Porthos clapped hishands and the other two came running around. Mordaunt waslivid, but he uttered no cry nor called for assistance.D'Artagnan quietly pushed him in again, and by the light ofa lamp on the staircase made him ascend the steps backwardone by one, keeping his eyes all the time on Mordaunt'shands, who, however, knowing that it was useless, attemptedno resistance. At last they stood face to face in the veryroom where ten minutes before Mordaunt had been talking toCromwell.

Porthos came up behind, and unhooking the lamp on thestaircase relit that in the room. Athos and Aramis enteredlast and locked the door behind them.

"Oblige me by taking a seat," said D'Artagnan, pushing achair toward Mordaunt, who sat down, pale but calm. Aramis,Porthos and D'Artagnan drew their chairs near him. Athosalone kept away and sat in the furthest corner of the room,as if determined to be merely a spectator of theproceedings. He seemed to be quite overcome. Porthos rubbedhis hands in feverish impatience. Aramis bit his lips tillthe blood came.

D'Artagnan alone was calm, at least in appearance.

"Monsieur Mordaunt," he said, "since, after running afterone another so long, chance has at last brought us together,let us have a little conversation, if you please."