Part 53 (1/2)

it is I, D'Artagnan! Do not kill me, my dearest friend!” And in a moment the count was clasped in his ar his calround-floor, and after having opened the door, stood, with his ar the voice of D'Artagnan, he uttered an exclauished, the soldiers presented theby at their head

”General,” said he, ”excuse us; e have done was for love of your honor, e thought lost”

”You are entlemen Lost! Is a man liketoformal notice? Do you, by chance, take entleed, entrapped, and threatened with death, because he is suspected? What signifies the word, suspected? Curse s, that the brave gentleby, piteously, ”there were twenty-eight of us, and see, there are eight on the ground”

”I authorize M le Coht,” said Monk, stretching out his hand to Athos ”Let theby, you will consider yourself under arrest for a month”

”General--”

”That is to teach you, sir, not to act, another tieneral”

”The lieutenant had no such orders to give you, and he shall be placed under arrest, instead of you, if he has really coentleeneral; he co hi to follow us”

”I was not willing that they should enter and plunder nificant look

”And you were quite right To the camp, I say” The soldiers departed with dejected looks ”Noe are alone,” said Monk to Athos, ”have the goodness to tellhere, whilst you had your felucca--”

”I waited for you, general,” said Athos ”Had not your honor appointed to nan made it clear to Monk that these two men, so brave and so loyal, had not acted in concert for his abduction

He knew already it could not be so

”Monsieur,” said he to D'Artagnan, ”you were perfectly right Have the kindness to allow me a moment's conversation with M le Coo and ask Grimaud hoas Monk requested Athos to conduct him to the chamber he lived in

This chamber was still full of smoke and rubbish More than fifty balls had passed through the s and mutilated the walls They found a table, inkstand, and le line, signed it, folded the paper, sealed the letter with the seal of his ring, and handed over the , ”Monsieur, carry, if you please, this letter to King Charles II, and set out ier”

”And the casks?” said Athos

”The fisher them on board Depart, if possible, within an hour”

”Yes, general,” said Athos

”Monsieur D'Artagnan!” cried Monk, fronan ran up precipitately

”E to Holland”

”To Holland!” cried D'Artagnan; ”and I?”