"Go ahead, my friend," said Athos; "I am sure that whatever
you do is well done."
"And you, Aramis, are you of that opinion?"
"Entirely so, my dear D'Artagnan."
"Very good," said D'Artagnan; "here indeed are true
believers; it is a pleasure to work miracles before them;
they are not like that unbelieving Porthos, who must see and
touch before he will believe."
"The fact is," said Porthos, with an air of finesse, "I am
rather incredulous."
D'Artagnan gave him playful buffet on the shoulder, and as
they had reached the station where they were to breakfast,
the conversation ended there.
At five in the evening they sent Musqueton on before as
agreed upon. Blaisois went with him.
In crossing the principal street in Derby the four friends
perceived Blaisois standing in the doorway of a handsome
house. It was there a lodging was prepared for them.
At the hour agreed upon Groslow came. D'Artagnan received
him as he would have done a friend of twenty years'
standing. Porthos scanned him from head to foot and smiled
when he discovered that in spite of the blow he had
administered to Parry's brother, he was not nearly so strong
as himself. Athos and Aramis suppressed as well as they
could the disgust they felt in the presence of such
coarseness and brutality.
In short, Groslow seemed to be pleased with his reception.
Athos and Aramis kept themselves to their role. At midnight
they withdrew to their chamber, the door of which was left
open on the pretext of kindly consideration. Furthermore,
D'Artagnan went with them, leaving Porthos at play with
Groslow.
Porthos gained fifty pistoles from Groslow, and found him a
more agreeable companion than he had at first believed him
to be.
As to Groslow, he promised himself that on the following
evening he would recover from D'Artagnan what he had lost to
Porthos, and on leaving reminded the Gascon of his
appointment.
The next day was spent as usual. D'Artagnan went from
Captain Groslow to Colonel Harrison and from Colonel
Harrison to his friends. To any one not acquainted with him
he seemed to be in his normal condition; but to his friends
-- to Athos and Aramis -- was apparent a certain
feverishness in his gayety.
"What is he contriving?" asked Aramis.
"Wait," said Athos.
Porthos said nothing, but he handled in his pocket the fifty
pistoles he had gained from Groslow with a degree of
satisfaction which betrayed itself in his whole bearing.
Arrived at Ryston, D'Artagnan assembled his friends. His
face had lost the expression of careless gayety it had worn
like a mask the whole day. Athos pinched Aramis's hand.
"The moment is at hand," he said.
"Yes," returned D'Artagnan, who had overheard him,
"to-night, gentlemen, we rescue the king."
"D'Artagnan," said Athos, "this is no joke, I trust? It
would quite cut me up."
"You are a very odd man, Athos," he replied, "to doubt me
thus. Where and when have you seen me trifle with a friend's
heart and a king's life? I have told you, and I repeat it,
that to-night we rescue Charles I. You left it to me to
discover the means and I have done so."
Porthos looked at D'Artagnan with an expression of profound
admiration. Aramis smiled as one who hopes. Athos was pale,
and trembled in every limb.
"Speak," said Athos.
"We are invited," replied D'Artagnan, "to pass the night
with M. Groslow. But do you know where?"
"No."
"In the king's room."
"The king's room?" cried Athos.
"Yes, gentlemen, in the king's room. Groslow is on guard
there this evening, and to pass the time away he has invited
us to keep him company."
"All four of us?" asked Athos.
"Pardieu! certainly, all four; we couldn't leave our
prisoners, could we?"
"Ah! ah!" said Aramis.
"Tell us about it," said Athos, palpitating.
"We are going, then, we two with our swords, you with
daggers. We four have got to master these eight fools and
their stupid captain. Monsieur Porthos, what do you say to
that?"
"I say it is easy enough," answered Porthos.
"We dress the king in Groslow's clothes. Musqueton, Grimaud
and Blaisois have our horses saddled at the end of the first
street. We mount them and before daylight are twenty leagues
distant."
Athos placed his two hands on D'Artagnan's shoulders, and
gazed at him with his calm, sad smile.
"I declare, my friend," said he, "that there is not a
creature under the sky who equals you in prowess and in
courage. Whilst we thought you indifferent to our sorrows,
which you couldn't share without crime, you alone among us
have discovered what we were searching for in vain. I repeat
it, D'Artagnan, you are the best one among us; I bless and
love you, my dear son."
"And to think that I couldn't find that out," said Porthos,
scratching his head; "it is so simple."
"But," said Aramis, "if I understand rightly we are to kill
them all, eh?"
Athos shuddered and turned pale.
"Mordioux!" answered D'Artagnan, "I believe we must. I
confess I can discover no other safe and satisfactory way."
"Let us see," said Aramis, "how are we to act?"
"I have arranged two plans. Firstly, at a given signal,
which shall be the words `At last,' you each plunge a dagger
into the heart of the soldier nearest to you. We, on our
side, do the same. That will be four killed. We shall then
be matched, four against the remaining five. If these five
men give themselves up we gag them; if they resist, we kill
them. If by chance our Amphitryon changes his mind and
receives only Porthos and myself, why, then, we must resort
to heroic measures and each give two strokes instead of one.
It will take a little longer time and may make a greater
disturbance, but you will be outside with swords and will
rush in at the proper time."
"But if you yourselves should be struck?" said Athos.
"Impossible!" said D'Artagnan; "those beer drinkers are too
clumsy and awkward. Besides, you will strike at the throat,
Porthos; it kills as quickly and prevents all outcry."
"Very good," said Porthos; "it will be a nice little throat
cutting."
"Horrible, horrible," exclaimed Athos.
"Nonsense," said D'Artagnan; "you would do as much, Mr.
Humanity, in a battle. But if you think the king's life is
not worth what it must cost there's an end of the matter and
I send to Groslow to say I am ill."
"No, you are right," said Athos.
At this moment a soldier entered to inform them that Groslow
was waiting for them.
"Where?" asked D'Artagnan.
"In the room of the English Nebuchadnezzar," replied the
staunch Puritan.
"Good," replied Athos, whose blood mounted to his face at
the insult offered to royalty; "tell the captain we are
coming."
The Puritan then went out. The lackeys had been ordered to
saddle eight horses and to wait, keeping together and
without dismounting, at the corner of a street about twenty
steps from the house where the king was lodged.
It was nine o'clock in the evening; the sentinels had been
relieved at eight and Captain Groslow had been on guard for
an hour. D'Artagnan and Porthos, armed with their swords,
and Athos and Aramis, each carrying a concealed poniard,
approached the house which for the time being was Charles
Stuart's prison. The two latter followed their captors in
the humble guise of captives, without arms.
"Od's bodikins," said Groslow, as the four friends entered,
"I had almost given you up."
D'Artagnan went up to him and whispered in his ear:
"The fact is, we, that is, Monsieur du Vallon and I,
hesitated a little."
"And why?"
D'Artagnan looked significantly toward Athos and Aramis.
"Aha," said Groslow; "on account of political opinions? No
matter. On the contrary," he added, laughing, "if they want
to see their Stuart they shall see him.
"Are we to pass the night in the king's room?" asked
D'Artagnan.
"No, but in the one next to it, and as the door will remain
open it comes to the same thing. Have you provided yourself
with money? I assure you I intend to play the devil's game
to-night."
D'Artagnan rattled the gold in his pockets.
"Very good," said Groslow, and opened the door of the room.
"I will show you the way," and he went in first.
D'Artagnan turned to look at his friends. Porthos was
perfectly indifferent; Athos, pale, but resolute; Aramis was
wiping a slight moisture from his brow.
The eight guards were at their posts. Four in the king's
room, two at the door between the rooms and two at that by
which the friends had entered. Athos smiled when he saw
their bare swords; he felt it was no longer to be a
butchery, but a fight, and he resumed his usual good humor.
Charles was perceived through the door, lying dressed upon
his bed, at the head of which Parry was seated, reading in a
low voice a chapter from the Bible.
A candle of coarse tallow on a black table lighted up the
handsome and resigned face of the king and that of his
faithful retainer, far less calm.
From time to time Parry stopped, thinking the king, whose
eyes were closed, was really asleep, but Charles would open
his eyes and say with a smile:
"Go on, my good Parry, I am listening."
Groslow advanced to the door of the king's room, replaced on
his head the hat he had taken off to receive his guests,
looked for a moment contemptuously at this simple, yet
touching scene, then turning to D'Artagnan, assumed an air
of triumph at what he had achieved.
"Capital!" cried the Gascon, "you would make a distinguished
general."
"And do you think," asked Groslow, "that Stuart will ever
escape while I am on guard?"
"No, to be sure," replied D'Artagnan; "unless, forsooth, the
sky rains friends upon him."
Groslow's face brightened.
It is impossible to say whether Charles, who kept his eyes
constantly closed, had noticed the insolence of the Puritan
captain, but the moment he heard the clear tone of
D'Artagnan's voice his eyelids rose, in spite of himself.
Parry, too, started and stopped reading.
"What are you thinking about?" said the king; "go on, my
good Parry, unless you are tired."
Parry resumed his reading.
On a table in the next room were lighted candles, cards, two
dice-boxes, and dice.
"Gentlemen," said Groslow, "I beg you will take your places.
I will sit facing Stuart, whom I like so much to see,
especially where he now is, and you, Monsieur d'Artagnan,
opposite to me."
Athos turned red with rage. D'Artagnan frowned at him.
"That's it," said D'Artagnan; "you, Monsieur le Comte de la
Fere, to the right of Monsieur Groslow. You, Chevalier
d'Herblay, to his left. Du Vallon next me. You'll bet for me
and those gentlemen for Monsieur Groslow."
By this arrangement D'Artagnan could nudge Porthos with his
knee and make signs with his eyes to Athos and Aramis.
At the names Comte de la Fere and Chevalier d'Herblay,
Charles opened his eyes, and raising his noble head, in
spite of himself, threw a glance at all the actors in the
scene.
At that moment Parry turned over several leaves of his Bible
and read with a loud voice this verse in Jeremiah:
"God said, `Hear ye the words of the prophets my servants,
whom I have sent unto you."
The four friends exchanged glances. The words that Parry had
read assured them that their presence was understood by the
king and was assigned to its real motive. D'Artagnan's eyes
sparkled with joy.
"You asked me just now if I was in funds," said D'Artagnan,
placing some twenty pistoles upon the table. "Well, in my
turn I advise you to keep a sharp lookout on your treasure,
my dear Monsieur Groslow, for I can tell you we shall not
leave this without robbing you of it."
"Not without my defending it," said Groslow.
"So much the better," said D'Artagnan. "Fight, my dear
captain, fight. You know or you don't know, that that is
what we ask of you."
"Oh! yes," said Groslow, bursting with his usual coarse
laugh, "I know you Frenchmen want nothing but cuts and
bruises."
Charles had heard and understood it all. A slight color
mounted to his cheeks. The soldiers then saw him stretch his
limbs, little by little, and under the pretense of much heat
throw off the Scotch plaid which covered him.
Athos and Aramis started with delight to find that the king
was lying with his clothes on.
The game began. The luck had turned, and Groslow, having won
some hundred pistoles, was in the merriest possible humor.
Porthos, who had lost the fifty pistoles he had won the
night before and thirty more besides, was very cross and
questioned D'Artagnan with a nudge of the knee as to whether
it would not soon be time to change the game. Athos and
Aramis looked at him inquiringly. But D'Artagnan remained
impassible.
It struck ten. They heard the guard going its rounds.
"How many rounds do they make a night?" asked D'Artagnan,
drawing more pistoles from his pocket.
"Five," answered Groslow, "one every two hours."
