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　　Arriving　at　the　window　Parry　found　an　unfinished　scaffold；　over　which　they　were　nailing　a　covering　of　black　serge。　Raised　to　the　height　of　twenty　feet；　so　as　to　be　on　a　level　with　the　window；　it　had　two　lower　stories。　Parry；　odious　as　was　this　sight　to　him；　sought　for　those　among　some　eight　or　ten　workmen　who　were　making　the　most　noise；　and　fixed　on　two　men；　who　were　loosening　the　last　hooks　of　the　iron　balcony。
　　〃My　friends；〃　said　Parry；　mounting　the　scaffold　and　standing　beside　them；　〃would　you　work　a　little　more　quietly？　The　king　wishes　to　get　a　sleep。〃
　　One　of　the　two；　who　was　standing　up；　was　of　gigantic　size　and　was　driving　a　pick　with　all　his　might　into　the　wall；　whilst　the　other；　kneeling　beside　him；　was　collecting　the　pieces　of　stone。　The　face　of　the　first　was　lost　to　Parry　in　the　darkness；　but　as　the　second　turned　around　and　placed　his　finger　on　his　lips　Parry　started　back　in　amazement。
　　〃Very　well；　very　well；〃　said　the　workman　aloud；　in　excellent　English。　〃Tell　the　king　that　if　he　sleeps　badly　to…night　he　will　sleep　better　to…morrow　night。〃
　　These　blunt　words；　so　terrible　if　taken　literally；　were　received　by　the　other　workmen　with　a　roar　of　laughter。　But　Parry　withdrew；　thinking　he　was　dreaming。
　　Charles　was　impatiently　awaiting　his　return。　At　the　moment　he　re…entered；　the　sentinel　who　guarded　the　door　put　his　head　through　the　opening；　curious　as　to　what　the　king　was　doing。　The　king　was　lying　on　his　bed；　resting　on　his　elbow。　Parry　closed　the　door　and　approaching　the　king；　his　face　radiant　with　joy：
　　〃Sire；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃do　you　know　who　these　workmen　are　who　are　making　so　much　noise？〃
　　〃I？　No；　how　would　you　have　me　know？〃
　　Parry　bent　his　head　and　whispered　to　the　king：　〃It　is　the　te　de　la　Fere　and　his　friends。〃
　　〃Raising　my　scaffold！〃　cried　the　king；　astounded。
　　〃Yes；　and　at　the　same　time　making　a　hole　in　the　wall。〃
　　The　king　clasped　his　hands　and　raised　his　eyes　to　Heaven；　then　leaping　down　from　his　bed　he　went　to　the　window；　and　pulling　aside　the　curtain　tried　to　distinguish　the　figures　outside；　but　in　vain。
　　Parry　was　not　wrong。　It　was　Athos　he　had　recognized；　and　Porthos　who　was　boring　a　hole　through　the　wall。
　　This　hole　municated　with　a　kind　of　loft　　the　space　between　the　floor　of　the　king's　room　and　the　ceiling　of　the　one　below　it。　Their　plan　was　to　pass　through　the　hole　they　were　making　into　this　loft　and　cut　out　from　below　a　piece　of　the　flooring　of　the　king's　room；　so　as　to　form　a　kind　of　trap…door。
　　Through　this　the　king　was　to　escape　the　next　night；　and；　hidden　by　the　black　covering　of　the　scaffold；　was　to　change　his　dress　for　that　of　a　workman；　slip　out　with　his　deliverers；　pass　the　sentinels；　who　would　suspect　nothing；　and　so　reach　the　skiff　that　was　waiting　for　him　at　Greenwich。
　　Day　gilded　the　tops　of　the　houses。　The　aperture　was　finished　and　Athos　passed　through　it；　carrying　the　clothes　destined　for　the　king　wrapped　in　black　cloth；　and　the　tools　with　which　he　was　to　open　a　munication　with　the　king's　room。　He　had　only　two　hours'　work　to　do　to　open　munication　with　the　king　and；　according　to　the　calculations　of　the　four　friends；　they　had　the　entire　day　before　them；　since；　the　executioner　being　absent；　another　must　be　sent　for　to　Bristol。
　　D'Artagnan　returned　to　change　his　workman's　clothes　for　his　chestnut…colored　suit；　and　Porthos　to　put　on　his　red　doublet。　As　for　Aramis；　he　went　off　to　the　bishop's　palace　to　see　if　he　could　possibly　pass　in　with　Juxon　to　the　king's　presence。　All　three　agreed　to　meet　at　noon　in　Whitehall　Place　to　see　how　things　went　on。
　　Before　leaving　the　scaffold　Aramis　had　approached　the　opening　where　Athos　was　concealed　to　tell　him　that　he　was　about　to　make　an　attempt　to　gain　another　interview　with　the　king。
　　〃Adieu；　then；　and　be　of　good　courage；〃　said　Athos。　〃Report　to　the　king　the　condition　of　affairs。　Say　to　him　that　when　he　is　alone　it　will　help　us　if　he　will　knock　on　the　floor；　for　then　I　can　continue　my　work　in　safety。　Try；　Aramis；　to　keep　near　the　king。　Speak　loud；　very　loud；　for　they　will　be　listening　at　the　door。　If　there　is　a　sentinel　within　the　apartment；　kill　him　without　hesitation。　If　there　are　two；　let　Parry　kill　one　and　you　the　other。　If　there　are　three；　let　yourself　be　slain；　but　save　the　king。〃
　　〃Be　easy；〃　said　Aramis；　〃I　will　take　two　poniards　and　give　one　to　Parry。　Is　that　all？〃
　　〃Yes；　go；　but　urge　the　king　strongly　not　to　stand　on　false　generosity。　While　you　are　fighting　if　there　is　a　fight；　he　must　flee。　The　trap　once　replaced　over　his　head；　you　being　on　the　trap；　dead　or　alive；　they　will　need　at　least　ten　minutes　to　find　the　hole　by　which　he　has　escaped。　In　those　ten　minutes　we　shall　have　gained　the　road　and　the　king　will　be　saved。〃
　　〃Everything　shall　be　done　as　you　say；　Athos。　Your　hand；　for　perhaps　we　shall　not　see　each　other　again。〃
　　Athos　put　his　arm　around　Aramis's　neck　and　embraced　him。
　　〃For　you；〃　he　said。　〃Now　if　I　die；　say　to　D'Artagnan　that　I　love　him　as　a　son；　and　embrace　him　for　me。　Embrace　also　our　good　and　brave　Porthos。　Adieu。〃
　　〃Adieu；〃　said　Aramis。　〃I　am　as　sure　now　that　the　king　will　be　saved　as　I　am　sure　that　I　clasp　the　most　loyal　hand　in　the　world。〃
　　Aramis　parted　from　Athos；　went　down　from　the　scaffold　in　his　turn　and　took　his　way　to　the　hotel；　whistling　the　air　of　a　song　in　praise　of　Cromwell。　He　found　the　other　two　friends　sitting　at　table　before　a　good　fire；　drinking　a　bottle　of　port　and　devouring　a　cold　chicken。　Porthos　was　cursing　the　infamous　parliamentarians；　D'Artagnan　ate　in　silence；　revolving　in　his　mind　the　most　audacious　plans。
　　Aramis　related　what　had　been　agreed　upon。　D'Artagnan　approved　with　a　movement　of　the　head　and　Porthos　with　his　voice。
　　〃Bravo！〃　he　said；　〃besides；　we　shall　be　there　at　the　time　of　the　flight。　What　with　D'Artagnan；　Grimaud　and　Musqueton；　we　can　manage　to　dispatch　eight　of　them。　I　say　nothing　about　Blaisois；　for　he　is　only　fit　to　hold　the　horses。　Two　minutes　a　man　makes　four　minutes。　Musqueton　will　lose　another；　that's　five；　and　in　five　minutes　we　shall　have　galloped　a　quarter　of　a　league。〃
　　Aramis　swallowed　a　hasty　mouthful；　gulped　a　glass　of　wine　and　changed　his　clothes。
　　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃I'm　off　to　the　bishop's。　Take　care　of　the　executioner；　D'Artagnan。〃
　　〃All　right。　Grimaud　has　relieved　Musqueton　and　has　his　foot　on　the　cellar　door。〃
　　〃Well；　don't　be　inactive。〃
　　〃Inactive；　my　dear　fellow！　Ask　Porthos。　I　pass　my　life　upon　my　legs。〃
　　Aramis　again　presented　himself　at　the　bishop's。　Juxon　consented　the　more　readily　to　take　him　with　him；　as　he　would　require　an　assistant　priest　in　case　the　king　should　wish　to　municate。　Dressed　as　Aramis　had　been　the　night　before；　the　bishop　got　into　his　carriage；　and　the　former；　more　disguised　by　his　pallor　and　sad　countenance　than　his　deacon's　dress；　got　in　by　his　side。　The　carriage　stopped　at　the　door　of　the　palace。
　　It　was　about　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning。
　　Nothing　was　changed。　The　ante…rooms　were　still　full　of　soldiers；　the　passages　still　lined　by　guards。　The　king　was　already　sanguine；　but　when　he　perceived　Aramis　his　hope　turned　to　joy。　He　embraced　Juxon　and　pressed　the　hand　of　Aramis。　The　bishop　affected　to　speak　in　a　loud　voice；　before　every　one；　of　their　previous　interview。　The　king　replied　that　the　words　spoken　in　that　interview　had　borne　their　fruit；　and　that　he　desired　another　under　the　same　conditions。　Juxon　turned　to　those　present　and　begged　them　to　leave　him　and　his　assistant　alone　with　the　king。　Every　one　withdrew。　As　soon　as　the　door　was　closed：
　　〃Sire；〃　said　Aramis；　speaking　rapidly；　〃you　are　saved；　the　London　executioner　has　vanished。　His　assistant　broke　his　leg　last　night　beneath　your　majesty's　window　　the　cry　we　heard　was　his　　and　there　is　no　executioner　nearer　at　hand　than　Bristol。〃
　　〃But　the　te　de　la　Fere？〃　asked　the　king。
　　〃Two　feet　below　you；　take　the　poker　from　the　fireplace　and　strike　three　times　on　the　floor。　He　will　answer　you。〃
　　The　king　did　so；　and　the　moment　after；　three　muffled　knocks；　answering　the　given　signal；　sounded　beneath　the　floor。
　　〃So；〃　said　Charles；　〃he　who　knocks　down　there　　〃
　　〃Is　the　te　de　la　Fere；　sire；〃　said　Aramis。　〃He　is　preparing　a　way　for　your　majesty