〃Yes；〃 said Aramis； 〃I understand。〃
〃I； however； do not understand；〃 said Porthos。 〃But no matter； since it is at the same time the opinion of D'Artagnan and of Athos； it must be the best。〃
〃But；〃 said Aramis； 〃shall we not be suspected by Colonel Harrison？〃
〃Egad！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃he's just the man I count upon。 Colonel Harrison is one of our friends。 We have met him twice at General Cromwell's。 He knows that we were sent from France by Monsieur Mazarin； he will consider us as brothers。 Besides； is he not a butcher's son？ Well； then； Porthos shall show him how to knock down an ox with a blow of the fist； and I how to trip up a bull by taking him by the horns。 That will insure his confidence。〃
Athos smiled。 〃You are the best panion that I know； D'Artagnan；〃 he said； offering his hand to the Gascon； 〃and I am very happy in having found you again； my dear son。〃
This was； as we have seen； the term which Athos applied to D'Artagnan in his more expansive moods。
At this moment Grimaud came in。 He had stanched the wound and the man was better。
The four friends took leave of him and asked if they could deliver any message for him to his brother。
〃Tell him；〃 answered the brave man； 〃to let the king know that they have not killed me outright。 However insignificant I am； I am sure that his majesty is concerned for me and blames himself for my death。〃
〃Be easy；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃he will know all before night。〃
The little troop remenced their march； and at the end of two hours perceived a considerable body of horsemen about half a league ahead。
〃My dear friends；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃give your swords to Monsieur Mouston； who will return them to you at the proper time and place； and do not forget you are our prisoners。〃
It was not long before they joined the escort。 The king was riding in front； surrounded by troopers； and when he saw Athos and Aramis a glow of pleasure lighted his pale cheeks。
D'Artagnan passed to the head of the column； and leaving his friends under the guard of Porthos； went straight to Harrison； who recognized him as having met him at Cromwell's and received him as politely as a man of his breeding and disposition could。 It turned out as D'Artagnan had foreseen。 The colonel neither had nor could have any suspicion。
They halted for the king to dine。 This time； however； due precautions were taken to prevent any attempt at escape。 In the large room of the hotel a small table was placed for him and a large one for the officers。
〃Will you dine with me？〃 asked Harrison of D'Artagnan。
〃Gad； I should be very happy； but I have my panion； Monsieur du Vallon； and the two prisoners； whom I cannot leave。 Let us manage it better。 Have a table set for us in a corner and send us whatever you like from yours。〃
〃Good；〃 answered Harrison。
The matter was arranged as D'Artagnan had suggested； and when he returned he found the king already seated at his little table； where Parry waited on him； Harrison and his officers sitting together at another table； and； in a corner； places reserved for himself and his panions。
The table at which the Puritan officers were seated was round； and whether by chance or coarse intention； Harrison sat with his back to the king。
The king saw the four gentlemen e in； but appeared to take no notice of them。
They sat down in such a manner as to turn their backs on nobody。 The officers； table and that of the king were opposite to them。
〃I'faith； colonel；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃we are very grateful for your gracious invitation； for without you we ran the risk of going without dinner； as we have without breakfast。 My friend here； Monsieur du Vallon； shares my gratitude； for he was particularly hungry。〃
〃And I am so still；〃 said Porthos bowing to Harrison。
〃And how；〃 said Harrison； laughing； 〃did this serious calamity of going without breakfast happen to you？〃
〃In a very simple manner； colonel；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃I was in a hurry to join you and took the road you had already gone by。 You can understand our disappointment when； arriving at a pretty little house on the skirts of a wood； which at a distance had quite a gay appearance； with its red roof and green shutters； we found nothing but a poor wretch bathed Ah！ colonel； pay my respects to the officer of yours who struck that blow。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Harrison； laughing； and looking over at one of the officers seated at his table。 〃When Groslow undertakes this kind of thing there's no need to go over the ground a second time。〃
〃Ah！ it was this gentleman？〃 said D'Artagnan； bowing to the officer。 〃I am sorry he does not speak French； that I might tender him my pliments。〃
〃I am ready to receive and return them； sir；〃 said the officer； in pretty good French； 〃for I resided three years in Paris。〃
〃Then； sir； allow me to assure you that your blow was so well directed that you have nearly killed your man。〃
〃Nearly？ I thought I had quite；〃 said Groslow。
〃No。 It was a very near thing； but he is not dead。〃
As he said this； D'Artagnan gave a glance at Parry； who was standing in front of the king； to show him that the news was meant for him。
The king； too； who had listened in the greatest agony； now breathed again。
〃Hang it；〃 said Groslow； 〃I thought I had succeeded better。 If it were not so far from here to the house I would return and finish him。〃
〃And you would do well； if you are afraid of his recovering； for you know； if a wound in the head does not kill at once； it is cured in a week。〃
And D'Artagnan threw a second glance toward Parry； on whose face such an expression of joy was manifested that Charles stretched out his hand to him； smiling。
Parry bent over his master's hand and kissed it respectfully。
〃I've a great desire to drink the king's health；〃 said Athos。
〃Let me propose it； then；〃 said D'Artagnan。
〃Do；〃 said Aramis。
Porthos looked at D'Artagnan； quite amazed at the resources with which his panion's Gascon sharpness continually supplied him。 D'Artagnan took up his camp tin cup； filled it with wine and arose。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃let us drink to him who presides at the repast。 Here's to our colonel； and let him know that we are always at his mands as far as London and farther。〃
And as D'Artagnan； as he spoke； looked at Harrison； the colonel imagined the toast was for himself。 He arose and bowed to the four friends； whose eyes were fixed on Charles； while Harrison emptied his glass without the slightest misgiving。
The king； in return； looked at the four gentlemen and drank with a smile full of nobility and gratitude。
〃e； gentlemen；〃 cried Harrison； regardless of his illustrious captive； 〃let us be off。〃
〃Where do we sleep； colonel？〃
〃At Thirsk；〃 replied Harrison。
〃Parry；〃 said the king； rising too； 〃my horse； I desire to go to Thirsk。〃
〃Egad！〃 said D'Artagnan to Athos； 〃your king has thoroughly taken me； and I am quite at his service。〃
〃If what you say is sincere；〃 replied Athos； 〃he will never reach London。〃
〃How so？〃
〃Because before then we shall have carried him off。〃
〃Well； this time； Athos；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃upon my word； you are mad。〃
〃Have you some plan in your head then？〃 asked Aramis。
〃Ay！〃 said Porthos； 〃the thing would not be impossible with a good plan。〃
〃I have none；〃 said Athos； 〃but D'Artagnan will discover one。〃
D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and they proceeded。
D'Artagnan hits on a Plan
As night closed in they arrived at Thirsk。 The four friends appeared to be entire strangers to one another and indifferent to the precautions taken for guarding the king。 They withdrew to a private house； and as they had reason every moment to fear for their safety； they occupied but one room and provided an exit； which might be useful in case of an attack。 The lackeys were sent to their several posts； except that Grimaud lay on a truss of straw across the doorway。
D'Artagnan was thoughtful and seemed for the moment to have lost his usual loquacity。 Porthos； who could never see anything that was not self…evident； talked to him as usual。 He replied in monosyllables and Athos and Aramis looked significantly at one another。
Next morning D'Artagnan was the first to rise。 He had been down to the stables； already taken a look at the horses and given the necessary orders for the day； whilst Athos and Aramis were still in bed and Porthos snoring。
At eight o'clock the march was resumed in the same order as the night before； except that D'Artagnan left his friends and began to renew the acquaintance which he had already struck up with Monsieur Groslow。
Groslow； whom D'Artagnan's praises had greatly pleased； weled him with a gracious smile。
〃Really； sir；〃 D'Artagnan said to him； 〃I am pleased to find one with whom to talk in my own poor tongue。 My friend； Monsieur du Vallon； is of a very melancholy disposition； so much so； that one can scarcely get three words out of him all day。 As for our two prisoners； you can imagine that they are but little in the vein for conversation。〃
〃They are hot royalists；〃 said Groslow。
〃The more reason they should be sulky with us for h