Part 67 (1/2)
”Let us hear what it is, first”
”Sir, when you have told me to obey an order did I ever answer, 'Let me see that order '?”
”If, however, your wish should be one impossible to fulfill?”
”When you have cherished a wish and have charged me with its fulfillment, have I ever replied, 'It is impossible'?”
”But a request preferred with so much preparation----”
”Ah, do not fear, sir,” said Mordaunt, with apparent simplicity: ”it will not ruin you”
”Well, then,” said Crorant your request; proceed”
”Sir, two prisoners were taken this , will you let me have thee one?” inquired Cromwell
”On the contrary, I think they are poor, sir”
”They are friends of yours, then?”
”Yes, sir,” exclaimed Mordaunt, ”they are friends, dear friends of mine, and I would lay down my life for them”
”Very well, Mordaunt,” exclai ive them to you; I will not even ask who they are; do as you like with them”
”Thank you, sir!” exclaimed Mordaunt, ”thank you; my life is always at your service, and should I lose it I should still owe you so; thank you; you have indeed repaid me munificently for my services”
He threw himself at the feet of Croeneral, who did not like this ale, he took his hand and kissed it
”What!” said Cro hi iven ive me, and from to-day your debt is paid”
And Mordaunt darted out of the general's tent, his heart beating and his eyes sparkling with joy
Croazed a moment after him
”He has slain his uncle!” he murmured ”Alas! what areor see, has asked more in the eyes of Heaven than those who tax the country and steal the bread of the poor nobody servesCharles, who is my prisoner, may still have friends, but I have none!”
And with a deep sigh he again sank into the reverie that had been interrupted by Mordaunt
58 Jesus Seigneur
Whilst Mordaunt was nan and Porthos had brought their prisoners to the house which had been assigned to theiven by Mordaunt to the sergeant had been heard by D'Artagnan, who accordingly, by an expressive glance, warned Athos and Aramis to exercise extreme caution The prisoners, therefore, had re in company with their conquerors--which they could do with the less difficulty since each of thehts
It would be impossible to describe Mousqueton's astonishment when from the threshold of the door he saw the four friends approaching, followed by a sergeant with a dozenif he really saw before him Athos and Aramis; and forced at last to yield to evidence, he was on the point of breaking forth in exclalance from the eyes of Porthos, the repressive force of which he was not inclined to dispute
Mousqueton re the explanation of this strange occurrence What upset him completely was that the four friends seemed to have no acquaintance with one another
The house to which D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Athos and Araned to them by General Cromwell and of which they had taken possession on the previous evening It was at the corner of two streets and had in the rear, bordering on the side street, stables and a sort of garden The s on the ground floor, according to a custoly resembled the s of a prison
The two friends made the prisoners enter the house first, whilst they stood at the door, desiring Mousqueton to take the four horses to the stable
”Why don't we go in with theeant wishes us to do,” replied D'Artagnan
The sergeant and his nan asked them what they wished and why they had taken that position
”We have had orders,” answered thecare of your prisoners”
There could be no fault to find with this arrangement; on the contrary, it seeratefully received; D'Artagnan, therefore, thanked the ave him a crown piece to drink to General Croeant answered that Puritans never drank, and put the crown piece in his pocket
”Ah!” said Porthos, ”what a fearful day, nan!”
”What! a fearful day, when to-day we find our friends?”
”Yes; but under what circumstances?”
”'Tis true that our position is an aard one; but let us go in and see s look black enough,” replied Porthos; ”I understand nohy Arale that horrible Mordaunt”
”Silence!” cried the Gascon; ”do not utter that naued Porthos, ”I speak French and they are all English”
D'Artagnan looked at Porthos with that air of wonder which a cunningat displays of crass stupidity
But as Porthos on his side could not comprehend his astonisho in”
They found Athos in profound despondency; Aranan, without speaking, but the latter understood his ful look
”You want to knoe cauessed Mazarin sent us with a letter to General Cromwell”
”But how came you to fall into company with Mordaunt, whom I bade you distrust?” asked Athos
”And whole, Porthos,” said Araain Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin Mazarin sent us to Cromwell There is a certain fatality in it”