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〃To do what？ since you say I am sold。〃
〃To cross the Tyne； reach Scotland and rejoin Lord Montrose； who will not sell you。〃
〃And what shall I do in Scotland？ A war of partisans； unworthy of a king。〃
〃The example of Robert Bruce will absolve you； sire。〃
〃No； no！ I have fought too long； they have sold me； they shall give me up； and the eternal shame of treble treason shall fall on their heads。〃
〃Sire；〃 said Athos； 〃perhaps a king should act thus； but not a husband and a father。 I have e in the name of your wife and daughter and of the children you have still in London； and I say to you； ‘Live； sire；' it is the will of Heaven。〃
The king raised himself； buckled on his belt； and passing his handkerchief over his moist forehead； said：
〃Well； what is to be done？〃
〃Sire； have you in the army one regiment on which you can implicitly rely？〃
〃Winter；〃 said the king； 〃do you believe in the fidelity of yours？〃
〃Sire； they are but men； and men are bee both weak and wicked。 I will not answer for them。 I would confide my life to them； but I should hesitate ere I trusted them with your majesty's。〃
〃Well！〃 said Athos； 〃since you have not a regiment； we are three devoted men。 It is enough。 Let your majesty mount on horseback and place yourself in the midst of us； we will cross the Tyne； reach Scotland； and you will be saved。〃
〃Is this your counsel also； Winter？〃 inquired the king。
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃And yours； Monsieur d'Herblay？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃As you wish； then。 Winter； give the necessary orders。〃
Winter then left the tent； in the meantime the king finished his toilet。 The first rays of daybreak penetrated the aperture of the tent as Winter re…entered it。
〃All is ready； sire；〃 said he。
〃For us； also？〃 inquired Athos。
〃Grimaud and Blaisois are holding your horses； ready saddled。〃
〃In that case；〃 exclaimed Athos； 〃let us not lose an instant； but set off。〃
〃e；〃 added the king。
〃Sire；〃 said Aramis； 〃will not your majesty acquaint some of your friends of this？〃
〃Friends！〃 answered Charles； sadly； 〃I have but three one of twenty years； who has never forgotten me； and two of a week's standing； whom I shall never forget。 e； gentlemen； e！〃
The king quitted his tent and found his horse ready waiting for him。 It was a chestnut that the king had ridden for three years and of which he was very fond。
The horse neighed with pleasure at seeing him。
〃Ah！〃 said the king； 〃I was unjust； here is a creature that loves me。 You at least will be faithful to me； Arthur。〃
The horse； as if it understood these words； bent its red nostrils toward the king's face； and parting his lips displayed all its teeth； as if with pleasure。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said the king； caressing it with his hand； 〃yes； my Arthur； thou art a fond and faithful creature。〃
After this little scene Charles threw himself into the saddle； and turning to Athos； Aramis and Winter； said：
〃Now； gentlemen； I am at your service。〃
But Athos was standing with his eyes fixed on a black line which bordered the banks of the Tyne and seemed to extend double the length of the camp。
〃What is that line？〃 cried Athos； whose vision was still rather obscured by the uncertain shades and demi…tints of daybreak。 〃What is that line？ I did not observe it yesterday。〃
〃It must be the fog rising from the river；〃 said the king。
〃Sire； it is something more opaque than the fog。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Winter； 〃it appears to me like a bar of red color。〃
〃It is the enemy； who have made a sortie from Newcastle and are surrounding us！〃 exclaimed Athos。
〃The enemy！〃 cried the king。
〃Yes； the enemy。 It is too late。 Stop a moment； does not that sunbeam yonder； just by the side of the town； glitter on the Ironsides？〃
This was the name given the cuirassiers； whom Cromwell had made his body…guard。
〃Ah！〃 said the king； 〃we shall soon see whether my Highlanders have betrayed me or not。〃
〃What are you going to do？〃 exclaimed Athos。
〃To give them the order to charge； and run down these miserable rebels。〃
And the king； putting spurs to his horse； set off to the tent of Lord Leven。
〃Follow him；〃 said Athos。
〃e！〃 exclaimed Aramis。
〃Is the king wounded？〃 cried Lord Winter。 〃I see spots of blood on the ground。〃 And he set off to follow the two friends。
He was stopped by Athos。
〃Go and call out your regiment；〃 said he； 〃I can foresee that we shall have need of it directly。〃
Winter turned his horse and the two friends rode on。 It had taken but two minutes for the king to reach the tent of the Scottish mander； he dismounted and entered。
The general was there； surrounded by the more prominent chiefs。
〃The king！〃 they exclaimed； as all rose in bewilderment。
Charles was indeed in the midst of them； his hat on his head； his brows bent； striking his boot with his riding whip。
〃Yes； gentlemen； the king in person； the king who has e to ask for some account of what has happened。〃
〃What is the matter； sire？〃 exclaimed Lord Leven。
〃It is this； sir；〃 said the king； angrily； 〃that General Cromwell has reached Newcastle； that you knew it and I was not informed of it； that the enemy have left the town and are now closing the passages of the Tyne against us； that our sentinels have seen this movement and I have been left unacquainted with it； that； by an infamous treaty you have sold me for two hundred thousand pounds to Parliament。 Of this treaty； at least； I have been warned。 This is the matter； gentlemen； answer and exculpate yourselves； for I stand here to accuse you。〃
〃Sire；〃 said Lord Leven； with hesitation； 〃sire； your majesty has been deceived by false reports。〃
〃My own eyes have seen the enemy extend itself between myself and Scotland； and I can almost say that with my own ears I have heard the clauses of the treaty debated。〃
The Scotch chieftains looked at each other in their turn with frowning brows。
〃Sire；〃 murmured Lord Leven； crushed by shame； 〃sire； we are ready to give you every proof of our fidelity。〃
〃I ask but one；〃 said the king； 〃put the army in battle array and