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king； who is a Scotchman？ I am myself a Frenchman。 I have
nothing to do with these things why hold me responsible？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos。
〃Because all gentlemen are brothers； because you are a
gentleman； because the kings of all countries are the first
among gentlemen； because the blind populace； ungrateful and
brutal； always takes pleasure in pulling down what is above
them。 And you； you； D'Artagnan； a man sprung from the
ancient nobility of France； bearing an honorable name；
carrying a good sword； have helped to give up a king to
beersellers； shopkeepers； and wagoners。 Ah！ D'Artagnan！
perhaps you have done your duty as a soldier； but as a
gentleman； I say that you are very culpable。〃
D'Artagnan was chewing the stalk of a flower； unable to
reply and thoroughly uncomfortable； for when turned from the
eyes of Athos he encountered those of Aramis。
〃And you； Porthos；〃 continued the count； as if in
consideration for D'Artagnan's embarrassment； 〃you； the best
heart； the best friend； the best soldier that I know you；
with a soul that makes you worthy of a birth on the steps of
a throne； and who； sooner or later； must receive your reward
from an intelligent king you； my dear Porthos； you； a
gentleman in manners； in tastes and in courage； you are as
culpable as D'Artagnan。〃
Porthos blushed； but with pleasure rather than with
confusion； and yet； bowing his head； as if humiliated； he
said：
〃Yes； yes； my dear count； I feel that you are right。〃
Athos arose。
〃Come；〃 he said； stretching out his hand to D'Artagnan；
〃come； don't be sullen； my dear son； for I have said all
this to you； if not in the tone； at least with the feelings
of a father。 It would have been easier to me merely to have
thanked you for preserving my life and not to have uttered a
word of all this。〃
〃Doubtless； doubtless； Athos。 But here it is： you have
sentiments； the devil knows what； such as every one can't
entertain。 Who could suppose that a sensible man could leave
his house； France； his ward a charming youth； for we saw
him in the camp to fly to the aid of a rotten； worm…eaten
royalty； which is going to crumble one of these days like an
old hovel。 The sentiments you air are certainly fine； so
fine that they are superhuman。〃
〃However that may be； D'Artagnan；〃 replied Athos； without
falling into the snare which his Gascon friend had prepared
for him by an appeal to his parental love； 〃however that may
be； you know in the bottom of your heart that it is true；
but I am wrong to dispute with my master。 D'Artagnan； I am
your prisoner treat me as such。〃
〃Ah！ pardieu！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃you know you will not be my
prisoner very long。〃
〃No；〃 said Aramis； 〃they will doubtless treat us like the
prisoners of the Philipghauts。〃
〃And how were they treated？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃Why；〃 said Aramis； 〃one…half were hanged and the other half
were shot。〃
〃Well； I；〃 said D'Artagnan 〃I answer that while there
remains a drop of blood in my veins you will be neither
hanged nor shot。 Sang Diou！ let them come on！ Besides do
you see that door； Athos？〃
〃Yes； what then？〃
〃Well； you can go out by that door whenever you please； for
from this moment you are free as the air。〃
〃I recognize you there； my brave D'Artagnan；〃 replied Athos；
〃but you are no longer our masters。 That door is guarded；
D'Artagnan； you know that。〃
〃Very well； you will force it；〃 said Porthos。 〃There are
only a dozen men at the most。〃
〃That would be nothing for us four； it is too much for us
two。 No； divided as we now are； we must perish。 See the
fatal example： on the Vendomois road； D'Artagnan； you so
brave； and you； Porthos； so valiant and so strong you
were beaten； to…day Aramis and I are beaten in our turn。 Now
that never happened to us when we were four together。 Let us
die； then； as De Winter has died； as for me； I will fly only
on condition that we all fly together。〃
〃Impossible；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃we are under Mazarin's
orders。〃
〃I know it and I have nothing more to say； my arguments lead
to nothing； doubtless they are bad； since they have not
determined minds so just as yours。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Aramis； 〃had they taken effect it would be
still better not to compromise two excellent friends like
D'Artagnan and Porthos。 Be assured； gentlemen； we shall do
you honor in our dying。 As for myself； I shall be proud to
face the bullets； or even the rope； in company with you；
Athos； for you have never seemed to me so grand as you are
to…day。〃
D'Artagnan said nothing； but； after having gnawed the flower
stalk； he began to bite his nails。 At last：
〃Do you imagine；〃 he resumed； 〃that they mean to kill you？
And wherefore should they do so？ What interest have they in
your death？ Moreover； you are our prisoners。〃
〃Fool！〃 cried Aramis； 〃knowest thou not； then； Mordaunt？ I
have but exchanged with him one look； yet that look
convinced me that we were doomed。〃
〃The truth is； I'm very sorry that I did not strangle him as
you advised me；〃 said Porthos。
〃Eh！ I make no account of the harm Mordaunt can do！〃 cried
D'Artagnan。 〃Cap de Diou！ if he troubles me too much I will
crush him； the insect！ Do not fly； then。 It is useless； for
I swear to you that you are as safe here as you were twenty
years； ago you； Athos； in the Rue Ferou； and you； Aramis；
in the Rue de Vaugirard。〃
〃Stop；〃 cried Athos； extending his hand to one of the grated
windows by which the room was lighted； 〃you will soon know
what to expect； for here he is。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Mordaunt。〃
In fact； looking at the place to which Athos pointed；
D'Artagnan saw a cavalier coming toward the house at full
gallop。
It was Mordaunt。
D'Artagnan rushed out of the room。
Porthos wanted to follow him。
〃Stay；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and do not come till you hear me
drum my fingers on the door。〃
When Mordaunt arrived opposite the house he saw D'Artagnan
on the threshold and the soldiers lying on the grass here
and there； with their arms。
〃Halloo！〃 he cried； 〃are the prisoners still there？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the sergeant； uncovering。
〃'Tis well； order four men to conduct them to my lodging。〃
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 wa