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yourself。 He is coming to play with us this evening。〃
〃Oho！〃 said Porthos； his eyes glistening at the news。 〃Is he
rich？〃
〃He's the son of one of the wealthiest merchants in London。〃
〃And knows lansquenet？〃
〃Adores it。〃
〃Basset？〃
〃His mania。'
〃Biribi？〃
〃Revels in it。〃
〃Good；〃 said Porthos； 〃we shall pass an agreeable evening。〃
〃The more so； as it will be the prelude to a better。〃
〃How so？〃
〃We invite him to play to…night； he has invited us in return
to…morrow。 But wait。 To…night we stop at Derby； and if there
is a bottle of wine in the town let Musqueton buy it。 It
will be well to prepare a light supper； of which you； Athos
and Aramis； are not to partake Athos； because I told him
you had a fever； Aramis； because you are a knight of Malta
and won't mix with fellows like us。 Do you understand？〃
〃That's no doubt very fine；〃 said Porthos； 〃but deuce take
me if I understand at all。〃
〃Porthos； my friend； you know I am descended on the father's
side from the Prophets and on the mother's from the Sybils；
and that I only speak in parables and riddles。 Let those who
have ears hear and those who have eyes see； I can tell you
nothing more at present。〃
〃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；〃 exc