Part 68 (1/2)
Four nan, with that jeering manner which our readers have so often observed in him since they made his acquaintance ”What is the matter, if you please?”
”Sir,” replied Mordaunt, ”I have ordered the two prisoners we ”
”Wherefore, sir? Excuse curiosity, but I wish to be enlightened on the subject”
”Because these prisoners, sir, are at my disposal and I choose to dispose of thenan, ”to observe you are in error The prisoners belong to those who take theht have taken Lord Winter--who, 'tis said, was your uncle--prisoner, but you preferred killing him; 'tis well; we, that is, Monsieur du Vallon and I, could have killed our prisoners--we preferred taking thee
D'Artagnan no that affairs were groorse and he beat the guard's march upon the door At the first beat Porthos rushed out and stood on the other side of the door
This movement was observed by Mordaunt
”Sir!” he thus addressed D'Artagnan, ”your resistance is useless; these prisoners have just been given me by my illustrious patron, Oliver Cronan like a thunderbolt The blood mounted to his temples, his eyes became dim; he saw fro man arose, and he put his hand to the hilt of his sword
As for Porthos, he looked inquiringly at D'Artagnan
This look of Porthos's ret that he had summoned the brute force of his friend to aid hi
”Violence,” he said to hinan,serpent that thou art not only stronger, buta lohy did you not begin by saying that, Monsieur Mordaunt? What! are you sent by General Oliver Croe?”
”I have this instant left hiive his horse to a soldier to hold
”Why did you not say so at once, land is with Cromwell; and since you ask for my prisoners, I bend, sir, to your wishes They are yours; take the at D'Artagnan with open-nan trod on his foot and Porthos began to understand that this was
Mordaunt put his foot on the first step of the door and, with his hat in hand, prepared to pass by the two friends,to the four nan, with theman's shoulder, ”if the illustrious General Oliver Cromwell has disposed of our prisoners in your favour, he has, of course, ”
Mordaunt stopped short
”He has given you so for me--the least bit of paper which ive me that scrap of paper so that Ih I am sure that General Oliver Cromwell can intend them no harm, it would have a bad appearance”
Mordaunt recoiled; he felt the blow and discharged a terrible look at D'Artagnan, who responded by the raced a hu, sir,” said Mordaunt, ”you insult nan, ”I doubt what you say! God keep me from it, my dear Monsieur Mordaunt! On the contrary, I take you to be a worthy and accoentleman And then, sir, do you wish nan, with his frank expression
”Speak out, sir,” said Mordaunt
”Monsieur du Vallon, yonder, is rich and has forty thousand francs yearly, so he does not care about money I do not speak for him, but for myself”
”Well, sir? What more?”
”Well--I--I'm not rich In Gascony 'tis no dishonor, sir, nobody is rich; and Henry IV, of gloriousof the Gascons, as His Majesty Philip IV is the king of the Spaniards, never had a penny in his pocket”
”Go on, sir, I see what you wish to get at; and if it is simply what I think that stops you, I can obviate the difficulty”
”Ah, I kneell,” said the Gascon, ”that you were a man of talent Well, here's the case, here's where the saddle hurtselse; I have nothing but what s me in--that is to say,prisoners, this h birth--in short, two knights of the Garter--I said to myself, my fortune is made I say two, because in such circuives me his prisoners”
Mordaunt, conan, siven hined directly, sir, and with it two thousand pistoles; meanwhile, let nan; ”what signifies a delay of half an hour? I as in order”
”Nevertheless,” replied Mordaunt, ”I could conan, ”I see that although we have had the honor of traveling in your coentleht men--o only For Heaven's sake don't be obstinate, for when others are obstinate I am obstinate likewise, and then I beco, and there'sand ferocious than myself Besides, we are sent here by Cardinal Mazarin, and at thisand the cardinal, and are, therefore, as a that General Oliver Croeneral, is quite the man to understand Ask him then, for the written order What will that cost you my dear Monsieur Mordaunt?”
”Yes, the written order,” said Porthos, who now began to co at, ”we ask only for that”
However inclined Mordaunt was to have recourse to violence, he understood the reasons D'Artagnan had given hinorant of the friendshi+p which existed between the four Frenchmen, all his uneasiness disappeared when he heard of the plausible motive of the ransom He decided, therefore, not only to fetch the order, but the two thousand pistoles, at which he estimated the prisoners He therefore ht D'Artagnan; ”a quarter of an hour to go to the tent, a quarter of an hour to return; it is e of countenance, to Porthos, he said, looking him full in the face: ”Friend Porthos, listen to this; first, not a syllable to either of our friends of what you have heard; it is unnecessary for the to render them”
”Very well; I understand”
”Go to the stable; you will find Mousqueton there; saddle your horses, put your pistols in your saddle-bags, take out the horses and lead the to do but mount them; all the rest is my business”
Porthos made no remark, but obeyed, with the sublio,” he said, ”only, shall I enter the chaentlemen are?”
”No, it is not worth while”
”Well, do me the kindness to take ht”
He then proceeded, with his usual calait, to the stable and went into the very ner as he was, could not help adreat limbs
At the corner of the street he nan,a tune which he had begun before Porthos went away
”My dear Athos, I have reflected on your argu to do with this matter As you say, Mazarin is a knave I have resolved to fly with you, not a word--be ready Your swords are in the corner; do not forget them, they are in many circumstances very useful; there is Porthos's purse, too”
He put it into his pocket The two friends were perfectly stupefied