Four men prepared to do so。
〃What is it？〃 said D'Artagnan； with that jeering manner
which our readers have so often observed in him since they
made his acquaintance。 〃What is the matter； if you please？〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Mordaunt； 〃I have ordered the two prisoners
we made this morning to be conducted to my lodging。〃
〃Wherefore； sir？ Excuse curiosity； but I wish to be
enlightened on the subject。〃
〃Because these prisoners； sir； are at my disposal and I
choose to dispose of them as I like。〃
〃Allow me allow me； sir；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃to observe
you are in error。 The prisoners belong to those who take
them and not to those who only saw them taken。 You might
have taken Lord Winter who； 'tis said； was your uncle
prisoner； but you preferred killing him； 'tis well； we； that
is； Monsieur du Vallon and I； could have killed our
prisoners we preferred taking them。〃
Mordaunt's very lips grew white with rage。
D'Artagnan now saw that affairs were growing worse and he
beat the guard's march upon the door。 At the first beat
Porthos 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 is
useless； these prisoners have just been given me by my
illustrious patron； Oliver Cromwell。〃
These words struck D'Artagnan like a thunderbolt。 The blood
mounted to his temples； his eyes became dim； he saw from
what fountainhead the ferocious hopes of the young man
arose； 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 had
summoned the brute force of his friend to aid him in an
affair which seemed to require chiefly cunning。
〃Violence；〃 he said to himself； 〃would spoil all；
D'Artagnan； my friend； prove to this young serpent that thou
art not only stronger； but more subtle than he is。〃
〃Ah！〃 he said； making a low bow； 〃why did you not begin by
saying that； Monsieur Mordaunt？ What！ are you sent by
General Oliver Cromwell； the most illustrious captain of the
age？〃
〃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 is
with 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'Artagnan
with open…mouthed astonishment。 Then D'Artagnan trod on his
foot and Porthos began to understand that this was merely
acting。
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 smile
and putting his hand on the young man's shoulder； 〃if the
illustrious General Oliver Cromwell has disposed of our
prisoners in your favour； he has； of course； made that act
of donation in writing。〃
Mordaunt stopped short。
〃He has given you some little writing for me the least
bit of paper which may show that you come in his name。 Be
pleased to give me that scrap of paper so that I may
justify； by a pretext at least； my abandoning my countrymen。
Otherwise； you see； although I am sure that General Oliver
Cromwell can intend them no harm； it would have a bad
appearance。〃
Mordaunt recoiled； he felt the blow and discharged a
terrible look at D'Artagnan； who responded by the most
amiable expression that ever graced a human countenance。
〃When I tell you a thing； sir；〃 said Mordaunt； 〃you insult
me by doubting it。〃
〃I！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃I doubt what you say！〃 God keep me
from it； my dear Monsieur Mordaunt！ On the contrary； I take
you to be a worthy and accomplished gentleman。 And then；
sir； do you wish me to speak freely to you？〃 continued
D'Artagnan； with his frank expression。
〃Speak out； sir；〃 said Mordaunt。
〃Monsieur du Vallon； yonder； is rich and has forty thousand
francs yearly； so he does not care about money。 I do not
speak 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； who
was the king of the Gascons； as His Majesty Philip IV。 is
the 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 is
simply what I think that stops you； I can obviate the
difficulty。〃
〃Ah； I knew well；〃 said the Gascon； 〃that you were a man of
talent。 Well； here's the case； here's where the saddle hurts
me； as we French say。 I am an officer of fortune； nothing
else； I have nothing but what my sword brings me in that
is to say； more blows than banknotes。 Now； on taking
prisoners； this morning； two Frenchmen； who seemed to me of
high birth in short； two knights of the Garter I said
to myself； my fortune is made。 I say two； because in such
circumstances； Monsieur du Vallon； who is rich； always gives
me his prisoners。〃
Mordaunt； completely deceived by the wordy civility of
D'Artagnan； smiled like a man who understands perfectly the
reasons given him； and said：
〃I shall have the order signed directly； sir； and with it
two thousand pistoles； meanwhile； let me take these men
away。〃
〃No；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃what signifies a delay of half an
hour？ I am a man of order； sir； let us do things in order。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 replied Mordaunt； 〃I could compel you； I
command here。〃
〃Ah； sir！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃I see that although we have had
the honor of traveling in your company you do not know us。
We are gentlemen； we are； both of us； able to kill you and
your eight men we two only。 For Heaven's sake don't be
obstinate； for when others are obstinate I am obstinate
likewise； and then I become ferocious and headstrong； and
there's my friend； who is even more headstrong and ferocious
than 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 with
impunity； a thing that General Oliver Cromwell； who is
assuredly as great a politician as he is a general； is quite
the 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 to
comprehend what D'Artagnan was aiming at； 〃we ask only for
that。〃
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 between
the four Frenchmen； all his uneasiness disappeared when he
heard of the plausible motive of the ransom。 He decided；
therefore； not only to fetch the order； but the two thousand
pistoles； at which he estimated the prisoners。 He therefore
mounted his horse and disappeared。
〃Good！〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃a quarter of an hour to go to
the tent； a quarter of an hour to return； it is more than we
need。〃 Then turning； without the least change of
countenance； to Porthos； he said； looking him full in the
face： 〃Friend Porthos； listen to this； first； not a syllable
to either of our friends of what you have heard； it is
unnecessary for them to know the service we are going to
render them。〃
〃Very well； I understand。〃
〃Go to the stable； you will find Musqueton there； saddle
your horses； put your pistols in your saddle…bags； take out
the horses and lead them to the street below this； so that
there will be nothing to do but mount them； all the rest is
my business。〃
Porthos made no remark； but obeyed； with the sublime
confidence he had in his friend。
〃I go；〃 he said； 〃only； shall I enter the chamber where
those gentlemen are？〃
〃No； it is not worth while。〃
〃Well； do me the kindness to take my purse。 which I left on
the mantelpiece。〃
〃All right。〃
He then proceeded； with his usual calm gait； to the stable
and went into the very midst of the soldiery； who； foreigner
as he was； could not help admiring his height and the
enormous strength of his great limbs。
At the corner of the street he met Musqueton and took him
with him。
D'Artagnan； meantime； went into the house； whistling a tune
which he had begun before Porthos went away。
〃My dear Athos； I have reflected on your arguments and I am
convinced。 I am sorry to have had anything to do with this
matter。 As you say； Mazarin is a knave。 I have resolved to
fly with you； not a word be ready。 Your swords are in the
corner； do not forget them； they are in many circumstances
very useful； there is Porthos's purse； too。〃
He put it into his pocket。 The two friends were perfectly
stupefied。
〃Well； pray； is there anything to be so surprised at？〃 he
said。 〃I was blind； Athos has made me see； that's all； come
here。〃
The two friends went near him。
〃Do you see that street？ There are the horses。 Go out by the
door； turn to the right； jump into your saddles； all will be
right； don't be uneasy at anything except mistaking the
signal。 That will be the signal when I call out Jesus
Seigneur！〃
〃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' we
go out； upset all