being reinforced。 They had only halberds before； now they
have muskets。 The halberds were for the audience in the
rear； 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； who
with bare sword was marshalling the musketeers behind the
king and opposite the benches。
〃Do you think they have recognized us？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃In
that case I should beat a retreat。 I don't care to be shot
in a box。〃
〃No；〃 said Aramis； 〃he has not seen us。 He sees no one but
the 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； the
king has spoiled him of his name and property。〃
〃True；〃 said Aramis； 〃but silence！ the president is speaking
to the king。〃
〃Stuart；〃 Bradshaw was saying； 〃listen to the roll call of
your judges and address to the court any observations you
may have to make。〃
The king turned his head away； as if these words had not
been intended for him。 Bradshaw waited； and as there was no
reply there was a moment of silence。
Out of the hundred and sixty…three members designated there
were only seventy…three present； for the rest； fearful of
taking part in such an act； had remained away。
When the name of Colonel Fairfax was called； one of those
brief but solemn silences ensued； which announced the
absence of the members who had no wish to take a personal
part in the trial。
〃Colonel Fairfax；〃 repeated Bradshaw。
〃Fairfax；〃 answered a laughing voice； the silvery tone of
which betrayed it as that of a woman； 〃is not such a fool as
to be here。〃
A loud laugh followed these words； pronounced with that
boldness which women draw from their own weakness a
weakness which removes them beyond the power of vengeance。
〃It is a woman's voice；〃 cried Aramis； 〃faith； I would give
a good deal if she is young and pretty。〃 And he mounted on
the bench to try and get a sight of her。
〃By my soul；〃 said Aramis； 〃she is charming。 Look
D'Artagnan； everybody is looking at her； and in spite of
Bradshaw's gaze she has not turned pale。〃
〃It is Lady Fairfax herself；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Don't you
remember； Porthos； we saw her at General Cromwell's？〃
The roll call continued。
〃These rascals will adjourn when they find that they are not
in sufficient force；〃 said the Comte de la Fere。
〃You don't know them。 Athos； look at Mordaunt's smile。 Is
that the look of a man whose victim is likely to escape him？
Ah； cursed basilisk； it will be a happy day for me when I
can 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…twenty
pistoles。 Look at it； Aramis。〃
The roll call finished； the president ordered them to read
the act of accusation。 Athos turned pale。 A second time he
was disappointed in his expectation。 Notwithstanding the
judges were so few the trial was to continue； the king then；
was condemned in advance。
〃I told you so； Athos；〃 said D'Artagnan； shrugging his
shoulders。 〃Now take your courage in both hands and hear
what this gentleman in black is going to say about his
sovereign； with full license and privilege。〃
Never till then had a more brutal accusation or meaner
insults tarnished kingly majesty。
Charles listened with marked attention； passing over the
insults； noting the grievances； and； when hatred overflowed
all bounds and the accuser turned executioner beforehand；
replying with a smile of lofty scorn。
〃The fact is；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃if men are punished for
imprudence and triviality； this poor king deserves
punishment。 But it seems to me that that which he is just
now undergoing is hard enough。〃
〃In any case；〃 Aramis replied； 〃the punishment should fall
not on the king； but on his ministers； for the first article
of the constitution is； ‘The king can do no wrong。'〃
〃As for me；〃 thought Porthos； giving Mordaunt his whole
attention； 〃were it not for breaking in on the majesty of
the situation I would leap down from the bench； reach
Mordaunt in three bounds and strangle him； I would then take
him by the feet and knock the life out of these wretched
musketeers who parody the musketeers of France。 Meantime；
D'Artagnan； who is full of invention； would find some way to
save the king。 I must speak to him about it。〃
As to Athos； his face aflame； his fists clinched； his lips
bitten till they bled； he sat there foaming with rage at
that endless parliamentary insult and that long enduring
royal patience； the inflexible arm and steadfast heart had
given place to a trembling hand and a body shaken by
excitement。
At this moment the accuser concluded with these words： 〃The
present accusation is preferred by us in the name of the
English people。〃
At these words there was a murmur along the benches； and a
second voice； not that of a woman； but a man's； stout and
furious； thundered behind D'Artagnan。
〃You lie！〃 it cried。 〃Nine…tenths of the English people are
horrified at what you say。〃
This voice was that of Athos； who； standing up with
outstretched hand and quite out of his mind； thus assailed
the public accuser。
King； judges； spectators； all turned their eyes to the bench
where the four friends were seated。 Mordaunt did the same
and recognized the gentleman； around whom the three other
Frenchmen were standing； pale and menacing。 His eyes
glittered with delight。 He had discovered those to whose
death he had devoted his life。 A movement of fury called to
his side some twenty of his musketeers； and pointing to the
bench where his enemies were： 〃Fire on that bench！〃 he
cried。
But with the rapidity of thought D'Artagnan seized Athos by
the waist； and followed by Porthos with Aramis； leaped down
from the benches； rushed into the passages； and flying down
the staircase were lost in the crowd without； while the
muskets within were pointed on some three thousand
spectators； whose piteous cries and noisy alarm stopped the
impulse already given to bloodshed。
Charles also had recognized the four Frenchmen。 He put one
hand on his heart to still its beating and the other over
his eyes； that he might not witness the slaying of his
faithful friends。
Mordaunt； pale and trembling with anger； rushed from the
hall sword in hand； followed by six pikemen； pushing；
inquiring and panting in the crowd； and then； having found
nothing； returned。
The tumult was indescribable。 More than half an hour passed
before any one could make himself heard。 The judges were
looking for a new outbreak from the benches。 The spectators
saw the muskets leveled at them； and divided between fear
and curiosity； remained noisy and excited。
Quiet was at length restored。
〃What have you to say in your defense？〃 asked Bradshaw of
the king。
Then rising； with his head still covered； in the tone of a
judge rather than a prisoner； Charles began。
〃Before questioning me；〃 he said； 〃reply to my question。 I
was free at Newcastle and had there concluded a treaty with
both houses。 Instead of performing your part of this
contract； as I performed mine； you bought me from the
Scotch； cheaply； I know； and that does honor to the economic
talent of your government。 But because you have paid the
price of a slave； do you imagine that I have ceased to be
your king？ No。 To answer you would be to forget it。 I shall
only reply to you when you have satisfied me of your right
to question me。 To answer you would be to acknowledge you as
my 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 in
his arm…chair。
〃Why are not my Frenchmen here？〃 he murmured proudly and
turning his eyes to the benches where they had appeared for
a moment； 〃they would have seen that their friend was worthy
of their defense while alive； and of their tears when dead。〃
〃Well；〃 said the president； seeing that Charles was
determined to remain silent； 〃so be it。 We will judge you in
spite of your silence。 You are accused of treason； of abuse
of power； and murder。 The evidence will support it。 Go； and
another sitting will accomplish what you have postponed in
this。〃
Charles rose and turned toward Parry； whom he saw pale and
with his temples dewed with moisture。
〃Well； my dear Parry；〃 said he； 〃what is the matter； and
what can affect you in this manner？〃
〃Oh； my king；〃 said Parry； with tears in his eyes and in a
tone of supplication； 〃do not look to the left as we leave
the hall。〃
〃And why； Parry？〃
〃Do not look； I implore you； my king。〃
〃But what is the matter？ Speak；〃 said Charles； attempting to
look across the hedge of guards which surrounded him。
〃It is but you will not look； will you？ it is because
they have had the axe； with which criminals are executed；
brought and placed there on the table。 The sight is
hideous。〃
〃Fools；〃 said Charles； 〃do they take me for a coward； like
themselves？ You have done well to warn me。 Thank you；
Parry。〃
When the moment arrived the king followed h