the
ancient ramparts destined to defend a city from escalades, they, on the
contrary, sank into it; and what created the height of the walls was the
depth of the ditches. It did not take long to make D'Artagnan perceive
the superiority of such a system, which gives no advantage to cannon.
Besides, as the _fosses_ were lower than, or on a level with, the sea,
these _fosses_ could be instantly inundated by means of subterranean
sluices. Otherwise, the works were almost complete, and a group of
workmen, receiving orders from a man who appeared to be conductor of
the works, were occupied in placing the last stones. A bridge of planks
thrown over the _fosses_ for the greater convenience of the maneuvers
connected with the barrows, joined the interior to the exterior. With
an air of simple curiosity D'Artagnan asked if he might be permitted
to cross the bridge, and he was told that no order prevented it.
Consequently he crossed the bridge, and advanced towards the group.

This group was superintended by the man whom D'Artagnan had already
remarked, and who appeared to be the engineer-in-chief. A plan was lying
open before him upon a large stone forming a table, and at some paces
from him a crane was in action. This engineer, who by his evident
importance first attracted the attention of D'Artagnan, wore a
_justaucorps_, which, from its sumptuousness, was scarcely in harmony
with the work he was employed in, that rather necessitated the costume
of a master-mason than of a noble. He was a man of immense stature
and great square shoulders, and wore a hat covered with feathers. He
gesticulated in the most majestic manner, and appeared, for D'Artagnan
only saw his back, to be scolding the workmen for their idleness and
want of strength.

D'Artagnan continued to draw nearer. At that moment the man with the
feathers ceased to gesticulate, and, with his hands placed upon his
knees, was following, half-bent, the effort of six workmen to raise a
block of hewn stone to the top of a piece of timber destined to support
that stone, so that the cord of the crane might be passed under it. The
six men, all on one side of the stone, united their efforts to raise it
to eight or ten inches from the ground, sweating and blowing, whilst a
seventh got ready for when there should be daylight enough beneath it
to slide in the roller that was to support it. But the stone had already
twice escaped from their hands before gaining a sufficient height fo