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you would take him with you to Heaven。〃
〃So； then？〃 said Athos； offering his hand to D'Artagnan。
〃'Tis settled；〃 replied D'Artagnan。 〃I find England a
charming country； and I stay but on one condition only。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃That I am not forced to learn English。〃
〃Well； now；〃 said Athos； triumphantly； 〃I swear to you； my
friend； by the God who hears us I believe that there is a
power watching over us； and that we shall all four see
France again。〃
〃So be it！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃but I I confess I have a
contrary conviction。〃
〃Our good D'Artagnan；〃 said Aramis； 〃represents among us the
opposition in parliament； which always says no； and always
does aye。〃
〃But in the meantime saves the country；〃 added Athos。
〃Well； now that everything is decided；〃 cried Porthos；
rubbing his hands； 〃suppose we think of dinner！ It seems to
me that in the most critical positions of our lives we have
always dined。〃
〃Oh！ yes； speak of dinner in a country where for a feast
they eat boiled mutton； and as a treat drink beer。 What the
devil did you come to such a country for； Athos？ But I
forgot；〃 added the Gascon； smiling； 〃pardon； I forgot you
are no longer Athos； but never mind； let us hear your plan
for dinner； Porthos。〃
〃My plan！〃
〃Yes； have you a plan？〃
〃No！ I am hungry； that is all。〃
〃Pardieu； if that is all； I am hungry； too； but it is not
everything to be hungry； one must find something to eat；
unless we browse on the grass； like our horses 〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Aramis； who was not quite so indifferent to
the good things of the earth as Athos； 〃do you remember；
when we were at Parpaillot； the beautiful oysters that we
ate？〃
〃And the legs of mutton of the salt marshes；〃 said Porthos；
smacking his lips。
〃But；〃 suggested D'Artagnan； 〃have we not our friend
Musqueton； who managed for us so well at Chantilly；
Porthos？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos； 〃we have Musqueton； but since he has
been steward； he has become very heavy； never mind； let us
call him； and to make sure that he will reply agreeably
〃Here！ Mouston；〃 cried Porthos。
Mouston appeared； with a most piteous face。
〃What is the matter； my dear M。 Mouston？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃Are you ill？〃
〃Sir； I am very hungry；〃 replied Mouston。
〃Well； it is just for that reason that we have called you；
my good M。 Mouston。 Could you not procure us a few of those
nice little rabbits； and some of those delicious partridges；
of which you used to make fricassees at the hotel ？
'Faith； I do not remember the name of the hotel。〃
〃At the hotel of ；〃 said Porthos； 〃by my faith nor
do I remember it either。〃
〃It does not matter； and a few of those bottles of old
Burgundy wine； which cured your master so quickly of his
sprain！〃
〃Alas！ sir；〃 said Musqueton； 〃I much fear that what you ask
for are very rare things in this detestable and barren
country； and I think we should do better to go and seek
hospitality from the owner of a little house we see on the
fringe of the forest。〃
〃How！ is there a house in the neighborhood？〃 asked
D'Artagnan。
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied Musqueton。
〃Well； let us； as you say； go and ask a dinner from the
master of that house。 What is your opinion； gentlemen； and
does not M。 Mouston's suggestion appear to you full of
sense？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Aramis； 〃suppose the master is a Puritan？〃
〃So much the better； mordioux！〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃if he
is a Puritan we will inform him of the capture of the king；
and in honor of the news he will kill for us his fatted
hens。〃
〃But if he should be a cavalier？〃 said Porthos。
〃In that case we will put on an air of mourning and he will
pluck for us his black fowls。〃
〃You are very happy；〃 exclaimed Athos； laughing； in spite of
himself； at the sally of the irresistible Gascon； 〃for you
see the bright side of everything。〃
〃What would you have？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃I come from a land
where there is not a cloud in the sky。〃
〃It is not like this； then；〃 said Porthos stretching out his
hand to assure himself whether a chill sensation he felt on
his cheek was not really caused by a drop of rain。
〃Come； come；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃more reason why we should
start on our journey。 Halloo； Grimaud！〃
Grimaud appeared。
〃Well； Grimaud； my friend； have you seen anything？〃 asked
the Gascon。
〃Nothing！〃 replied Grimaud。
〃Those idiots！〃 cried Porthos； 〃they have not even pursued
us。 Oh！ if we had been in their place！〃
〃Yes； they are wrong；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃I would willingly
have said two words to Mordaunt in this little desert。 It is
an excellent spot for bringing down a man in proper style。〃
〃I think； decidedly；〃 observed Aramis； 〃gentlemen； that the
son hasn't his mother's energy。〃
〃What； my good fellow！〃 replied Athos； 〃wait awhile； we have
scarcely left him two hours ago he does not know yet in
what direction we came nor where we are。 We may say that he
is not equal to his mother when we put foot in France； if we
are not poisoned or killed before then。〃
〃Meanwhile； let us dine；〃 suggested Porthos。
〃I'faith； yes；〃 said Athos； 〃for I am hungry。〃
〃Look out for the black fowls！〃 cried Aramis。
And the four friends； guided by Musqueton； took up the way
toward the house； already almost restored to their former
gayety； for they were now； as Athos had said； all four once
more united and of single mind。
60
Respect to Fallen Majesty。
As our fugitives approached the house； they found the ground
cut up； as if a considerable body of horsemen had preceded
them。 Before the door the traces were yet more apparent；
these horsemen； whoever they might be； had halted there。
〃Egad！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃it's quite clear that the king
and his escort have been by here。〃
〃The devil！〃 said Porthos； 〃in that case they have eaten
everything。〃
〃Bah！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃they will have left a chicken； at
least。〃 He dismounted and knocked on the door。 There was no
response。
He pushed open the door and found the first room empty and
deserted。
〃Well？〃 cried Porthos。
〃I can see nobody；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Aha！〃
〃What？〃
〃Blood！〃
At this word the three friends leaped from their horses and
entered。 D'Artagnan had already opened the door of the
second room； and from the expression of his face it was
clear that he there beheld some extraordinary object。
The three friends drew near and discovered a young man
stretched on the ground； bathed in a pool of blood。 It was
evident that he had attempted to regain his bed； but had not
had sufficient strength to do so。
Athos； who imagined that he saw him move； was the first to
go up to him。
〃Well？〃 inquired D'Artagnan。
〃Well； if he is dead；〃 said Athos； 〃he has not been so long；
for he is still warm。 But no； his heart is beating。 Ho；
there； my friend！〃
The wounded man heaved a sigh。 D'Artagnan took some water in
the hollow of his hand and threw it upon his face。 The man
opened his eyes； made an effort to raise his head； and fell
back again。 The wound was in the top of his skull and blood
was flawing copiously。
Aramis dipped a cloth into some water and applied it to the
gash。 Again the wounded man opened his eyes and looked in
astonishment at these strangers； who appeared to pity him。
〃You are among friends；〃 said Athos； in English； 〃so cheer
up； and tell us；