pany of the
officer who will have remitted the message to him, and who will
consider him as a prisoner for whom he is answerable."

Brave and careless as he was, D'Artagnan turned pale. Everything had
been calculated with a depth which, for the first time in thirty years,
had recalled to him the solid foresight and the inflexible logic of the
great cardinal. He leaned his head on his hand, thoughtful, scarcely
breathing. "If I were to put this order in my pocket," thought he, "who
would know it, or who would prevent my doing it? Before the king had had
time to be informed, I should have saved those poor fellows yonder. Let
us exercise a little audacity! My head is not one of those which the
executioner strikes off for disobedience. We will disobey!" But at the
moment he was about to adopt this plan, he saw the officers around him
reading similar orders which the infernal agent of the thoughts of
Colbert had just distributed to them. The case of disobedience had been
foreseen, as the others had been.

"Monsieur," said the officer, coming up to him, "I await your good
pleasure to depart."

"I am ready, monsieur," replied D'Artagnan, grinding his teeth.

The officer immediately commanded a canoe to receive M. d'Artagnan and
himself. At sight of this he became almost mad with rage.

"How," stammered he, "will you carry on the direction of the different
corps?"

"When you are gone, monsieur," replied the commander of the fleet, "it
is to me the direction of the whole is committed."

"Then, monsieur," rejoined Colbert's man, addressing the new leader, "it
is for you that this last order that has been remitted to me is
intended. Let us see your powers."

"Here they are," said the sea officer, exhibiting a royal signature.

"Here are your instructions," replied the officer, placing the folded
paper in his hands; and turning-toward D'Artagnan, "Come, monsieur,"
said he, in an agitated voice (such despair did he behold in that man of
iron), "do me the favor to depart at once."

"Immediately!" articulated D'Artagnan feebly, subdued, crushed by
implacable impossibility.

And he let himself slide down into the little boat, which started,
favored by wind and tide, for the coast of France. The king's guards
embarked with him. The musketeer still preserved the hope of reaching
Nantes quickly, and of pleading the cause of his friends eloquently
enough to incline the king to mercy. The bark flew like a swallow.
D'