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invoke the remembrance of that poor De Winter； for whom he
seemed to have a great regard； we will tell him that we have
come as amateurs to see what is going on； we will spend with
him a guinea each per day； and I think that by taking all
these precautions we can be quite undisturbed。〃
〃You forget； Aramis； one precaution of considerable
importance。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃The precaution of changing our clothes。〃
〃Changing our clothes！〃 exclaimed Porthos。 〃I don't see why；
we are very comfortable in those we wear。〃
〃To prevent recognition；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Our clothes have
a cut which would proclaim the Frenchman at first sight。
Now； I don't set sufficient store on the cut of my jerkin to
risk being hung at Tyburn or sent for change of scene to the
Indies。 I shall buy a chestnut…colored suit。 I've remarked
that your Puritans revel in that color。〃
〃But can you find your man？〃 said Aramis to Athos。
〃Oh！ to be sure； yes。 He lives at the Bedford Tavern；
Greenhall Street。 Besides； I can find my way about the city
with my eyes shut。〃
〃I wish we were already there；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and my
advice is that we reach London before daybreak； even if we
kill our horses。〃
〃Come on； then；〃 said Athos； 〃for unless I am mistaken in my
calculations we have only eight or ten leagues to go。〃
The friends urged on their horses and arrived； in fact； at
about five o'clock in the morning。 They were stopped and
questioned at the gate by which they sought to enter the
city； but Athos replied； in excellent English； that they had
been sent forward by Colonel Harrison to announce to his
colleague； Monsieur Bridge； the approach of the king。 That
reply led to several questions about the king's capture； and
Athos gave details so precise and positive that if the
gatekeepers had any suspicions they vanished completely。 The
way was therefore opened to the four friends with all sorts
of Puritan congratulations。
Athos was right。 He went direct to the Bedford Tavern； and
the host； who recognized him； was delighted to see him again
with such a numerous and promising company。
Though it was scarcely daylight our four travelers found the
town in a great bustle； owing to the reported approach of
Harrison and the king。
The plan of changing their clothes was unanimously adopted。
The landlord sent out for every description of garment； as
if he wanted to fit up his wardrobe。 Athos chose a black
coat； which gave him the appearance of a respectable
citizen。 Aramis； not wishing to part with his sword；
selected a dark…blue cloak of a military cut。 Porthos was
seduced by a wine…colored doublet and sea…green breeches。
D'Artagnan； who had fixed on his color beforehand； had only
to select the shade； and looked in his chestnut suit exactly
like a retired sugar dealer。
〃Now；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃for the actual man。 We must cut off
our hair； that the populace may not insult us。 As we no
longer wear the sword of the gentleman we may as well have
the head of the Puritan。 This； as you know； is the important
point of distinction between the Covenanter and the
Cavalier。〃
After some discussion this was agreed to and Musqueton
played the role of barber。
〃We look hideous；〃 said Athos。
〃And smack of the Puritan to a frightful extent；〃 said
Aramis。
〃My head feels actually cold；〃 said Porthos。
〃As for me； I feel anxious to preach a sermon；〃 said
D'Artagnan。
〃Now；〃 said Athos； 〃that we cannot even recognize one
another and have therefore no fear of others recognizing us；
let us go and see the king's entrance。〃
They had not been long in the crowd before loud cries
announced the king's arrival。 A carriage had been sent to
meet him； and the gigantic Porthos； who stood a head above
the entire rabble； soon announced that he saw the royal
equipage approaching。 D'Artagnan raised himself on tiptoe；
and as the carriage passed； saw Harrison at one window and
Mordaunt at the other。
The next day； Athos； leaning out of his window； which looked
upon the most populous part of the city； heard the Act of
Parliament； which summoned the ex…king； Charles I。； to the
bar； publicly cried。
〃Parliament indeed！〃 cried Athos。 〃Parliament can never have
passed such an act as that。〃
At this moment the landlord came in。
〃Did parliament pass this act？〃 Athos asked of him in
English。
〃Yes； my lord； the pure parliament。〃
〃What do you mean by ‘the pure parliament'？ Are there； then；
two parliaments？〃
〃My friend；〃 D'Artagnan interrupted； 〃as I don't understand
English and we all understand Spanish； have the kindness to
speak to us in that language； which； since it is your own；
you must find pleasure in using when you have the chance。〃
〃Ah！ excellent！〃 said Aramis。
As to Porthos； all his attention was concentrated on the
allurements of the breakfast table。
〃You were asking； then？〃 said the host in Spanish。
〃I asked；〃 said Athos； in the same language； 〃if there are
two parliaments； a pure and an impure？〃
〃Why； how extraordinary！〃 said Porthos； slowly raising his
head and looking at his friends with an air of astonishment；
〃I understand English； then！ I understand what you say！〃
〃That is because we are talking Spanish； my dear friend；〃
said Athos。
〃Oh； the devil！〃 said Porthos； 〃I am sorry for that； it
would have been one language more。〃
〃When I speak of the pure parliament；〃 resumed the host； 〃I
mean the one which Colonel Bridge has weeded。〃
〃Ah！ really；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃these people are very
ingenious。 When I go back to France I must suggest some such
convenient course to Cardinal Mazarin and the coadjutor。 One
of them will weed the parliament in the name of the court；
and the other in the name of the people； and then there
won't be any parliament at all。〃
〃And who is this Colonel Bridge？〃 asked Aramis； 〃and how
does he go to work to weed the parliament？〃
〃Colonel Bridge；〃 replied the Spaniard； 〃is a retired
wagoner； a man of much sense； who made one valuable
observation whilst driving his team； namely； that where
there happened to be a stone on the road； it was much easier
to remove the stone than try and make the wheel pass over
it。 Now； of two hundred and fifty…one members who composed
the parliament； there were one hundred and ninety…one who
were in the way and might have upset his political wagon。 He
took them up； just as he formerly used to take up the stones
from the road； and threw them out of the house。〃
〃Neat；〃 remarked D'Artagnan。 〃Very！〃
〃And all these one hundred and ninety…one were Royalists？〃
asked Athos。
〃Without doubt； senor； and you understand that they would
have saved the king。〃
〃To be sure；〃 said Porthos； with majestic common sense；
〃they were in the majority。〃
〃And you think；〃 said Aramis； 〃he will consent to appear
before such a tribunal？〃
〃He will be forced to do so；〃 smiled the Spaniard。
〃Now； Athos！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃do you begin to believe that
it's a ruined cause； and that what with your Harrisons；
Joyces； Bridges and Cromwells； we shall never get the upper
hand？〃
〃The king will be delivered at the tribunal；〃 said Athos；
〃the very silence of his supporters indicates that they are
at work。〃
D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders。
〃But；〃 said Aramis； 〃if they dare to condemn th