the officer; "yes, without doubt, but--"

"Monsieur," continued D'Artagnan, growing warm--"monsieur, when I
manifested the intention of quitting my vessel to cross to Belle-Isle,
you required to accompany me; I did not hesitate; I brought you with me.
You are now at Belle-Isle, are you not?"

"Yes, monsieur; but--"

"But--the question no longer is of M. Colbert, who has given you that
order, or of whomsoever in the world you are following the
instructions: the question now is of a man who is a clog upon M.
d'Artagnan, and who is alone with M. d'Artagnan upon steps whose feet
are bathed by thirty feet of salt water; a bad position for that man, a
bad position, monsieur! I warn you."

"But, monsieur, if I am a restraint upon you," said the officer timidly,
and almost faintly, "it is my duty which--"

"Monsieur, you have had the misfortune, you, or those who have sent you,
to insult me. It is done. I cannot seek redress from those who employ
you--they are unknown to me, or are at too great a distance. But you are
under my hand, and I swear that if you make one step behind me when I
raise my feet to go up to those gentlemen--I swear to you by my name, I
will cleave your head in two with my sword, and pitch you into the
water. Oh! it will happen! it will happen! I have only been six times
angry in my life, monsieur, and, on the five times which have preceded
this, I have killed my man."

The officer did not stir; he became pale under this terrible threat, but
replied with simplicity, "Monsieur, you are wrong in acting against my
orders."

Porthos and Aramis, mute and trembling, at the top of the parapet, cried
to the musketeer, "Dear D'Artagnan, take care!"

D'Artagnan made them a sign to keep silence, raised his foot with a
terrifying calmness to mount the stair, and turned round, sword in hand,
to see if the officer followed him. The officer made a sign of the cross
and stepped up. Porthos and Aramis, who knew their D'Artagnan, uttered a
cry, and rushed down to prevent the blow they thought they already
heard. But D'Artagnan, passing his sword into his left hand--

"Monsieur," said he to the officer in an agitated voice, "you are a
brave man. You ought better to comprehend what I am going to say to you
now than that which I have just said to you."

"Speak, Monsieur d'Artagnan, speak," replied the brave officer.

"These gentlemen we have just seen, and against whom you have orders,
are my friends."

"I know t