Part 48 (1/2)
”But if we please to question you?”
”Then it will please nize any one here, that I know no one here but the general, and that it is to him alone I will reply”
”So be it, monsieur; but as we are the masters, we constitute ourselves a council of war, and when you are before judges youbut astonishment and disdain, instead of the terror the officers expected to read in it at this threat
”Scottish or English judges uponof France; upon uard of British honor! You arehis shoulders
The officers looked at each other ”Then, monsieur,” said one of theeneral is?”
”To that, monsieur, I have already replied”
”Yes, but you have already replied an incredible thing”
”It is true, nevertheless, gentleentleman, I have told you, and when I have at my side the shich, by an excess of delicacy, I left last night upon the table whereon it still lies, believeto hear I aes, try me; if you are but my executioners, kill me”
”But, monsieur--” asked the lieutenant, in a more courteous voice, struck with the lofty coolness of Athos
”Sir, I caeneral about affairs of iave ive you eneral received me in that manner, he knew my titles to his esteem
Now, you do not suspect, I should think, that I should reveal my secrets to you, and still less his”
”But these casks, what do they contain?”
”Have you not put that question to your soldiers? What was their reply?”
”That they contained powder and ball”
”From whom had they that inforeneral; but we are not dupes”
”Beware, gentle the lie, it is to your leader”
The officers again looked at each other Athos continued: ”Before your soldiers the general told me to wait a week, and at the expiration of that week he would give me the answer he had to make me Have I fled away? No; I wait”
”He told you to wait a week!” cried the lieutenant
”He told me that so clearly, sir, that I have a sloop at the mouth of the river, which I could with ease have joined yesterday, and embarked
Now, if I have reeneral; his honor having requested me not to depart without a last audience, which he fixed at a week hence I repeat to you, then, I a”
The lieutenant turned towards the other officers, and said, in a low voice: ”If this gentleeneral ht it imprudent to inform even us Then the ti towards Athos: ”Monsieur,” said he, ”your declaration is of theto repeat it under the seal of an oath?”