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　　〃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；〃　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　ing。〃
　　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　es　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　te　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　te　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　fin