"Mazarin again. Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin. Mazarin sent us to
Cromwell. There is a certain fatality in it."

"Yes, you are right, D'Artagnan, a fatality that will separate and
ruin us! So, my dear Aramis, say no more about it and let us prepare to
submit to destiny."

"Zounds! on the contrary, let us speak about it; for it was agreed among
us, once for all, that we should always hold together, though engaged on
opposing sides."

"Yes," added Athos, "I now ask you, D'Artagnan, what side you are on?
Ah! behold for what end the wretched Mazarin has made use of you. Do you
know in what crime you are to-day engaged? In the capture of a king, his
degradation and his murder."

"Oh! oh!" cried Porthos, "do you think so?"

"You are exaggerating, Athos; we are not so far gone as that," replied
the lieutenant.

"Good heavens! we are on the very eve of it. I say, why is the king
taken prisoner? Those who wish to respect him as a master would not buy
him as a slave. Do you think it is to replace him on the throne that
Cromwell has paid for him two hundred thousand pounds sterling? They
will kill him, you may be sure of it."

"I don't maintain the contrary," said D'Artagnan. "But what's that to
us? I am here because I am a soldier and have to obey orders--I have
taken an oath to obey, and I do obey; but you who have taken no such
oath, why are you here and what cause do you represent?"

"That most sacred in the world," said Athos; "the cause of misfortune,
of religion, royalty. A friend, a wife, a daughter, have done us the
honor to call us to their aid. We have served them to the best of our
poor means, and God will recompense the will, forgive the want of power.
You may see matters differently, D'Artagnan, and think otherwise. I will
not attempt to argue with you, but I blame you."

"Heyday!" cried D'Artagnan, "what matters it to me, after all, if
Cromwell, who's an Englishman, revolts against his king, who is a
Scotchman? I am myself a Frenchman. I have nothing to do with these
things--why hold me responsible?"

"Yes," said Porthos.

"Because all gentlemen are brothers, because you are a gentleman,
because the kings of all countries are the first among gentlemen,
because the blind populace, ungrateful and brutal, always takes pleasure
in pulling down what is above them. And you, you, D'Artagnan, a man
sprung from the ancient nobility of France, bearing an honorable name,
carrying a good sword, have helped to g