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〃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。〃
D'Artagnan glanced at Athos and Aramis and for the first
time replied to Porthos's nudge of the knee by a nudge
responsive。 Meanwhile； the soldiers whose duty it was to
remain in the king's room； attracted by that love of play so
powerful in all men； had stolen little by little toward the
table； and standing on tiptoe； lounged； watching the game；
over the shoulders of D'Artagnan and Por