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m； but for myself。〃
〃Well； sir？ What more？〃
〃Well I I'm not rich。 In Gascony 'tis no dishonor； sir； nobody is rich； and Henry IV。； of glorious memory； who was the king of the Gascons； as His Majesty Philip IV。 is the king of the Spaniards； never had a penny in his pocket。〃
〃Go on； sir； I see what you wish to get at； and if it is simply what I think that stops you； I can obviate the difficulty。〃
〃Ah； I knew well；〃 said the Gascon； 〃that you were a man of talent。 Well； here's the case； here's where the saddle hurts me； as we French say。 I am an officer of fortune； nothing else； I have nothing but what my sword brings me in that is to say； more blows than banknotes。 Now； on taking prisoners； this morning； two Frenchmen； who seemed to me of high birth in short； two knights of the Garter I said to myself； my fortune is made。 I say two； because in such circumstances； Monsieur du Vallon； who is rich； always gives me his prisoners。〃
Mordaunt； pletely deceived by the wordy civility of D'Artagnan； smiled like a man who understands perfectly the reasons given him； and said：
〃I shall have the order signed directly； sir； and with it two thousand pistoles； meanwhile； let me take these men away。〃
〃No；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃what signifies a delay of half an hour？ I am a man of order； sir； let us do things in order。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 replied Mordaunt； 〃I could pel you； I mand here。〃
〃Ah； sir！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃I see that although we have had the honor of traveling in your pany you do not know us。 We are gentlemen； we are； both of us； able to kill you and your eight men we two only。 For Heaven's sake don't be obstinate； for when others are obstinate I am obstinate likewise； and then I bee ferocious and headstrong； and there's my friend； who is even more headstrong and ferocious than myself。 Besides； we are sent here by Cardinal Mazarin； and at this moment represent both the king and the cardinal； and are； therefore； as ambassadors； able to act with impunity； a thing that General Oliver Cromwell； who is assuredly as great a politician as he is a general； is quite the man to understand。 Ask him then； for the written order。 What will that cost you my dear Monsieur Mordaunt？〃
〃Yes； the written order；〃 said Porthos； who now began to prehend what D'Artagnan was aiming at； 〃we ask only for that。〃
However inclined Mordaunt was to have recourse to violence； he understood the reasons D'Artagnan had given him； besides； pletely ignorant of the friendship which existed between the four Frenchmen； all his uneasiness disappeared when he heard of the plausible motive of the ransom。 He decided； therefore； not only to fetch the order； but the two thousand pistoles； at which he estimated the prisoners。 He therefore mounted his horse and disappeared。
〃Good！〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃a quarter of an hour to go to the tent； a quarter of an hour to return； it is more than we need。〃 Then turning； without the least change of countenance； to Porthos； he said； looking him full in the face： 〃Friend Porthos； listen to this； first； not a syllable to either of our friends of what you have heard； it is unnecessary for them to know the service we are going to render them。〃
〃Very well； I understand。〃
〃Go to the stable； you will find Musqueton there； saddle your horses； put your pistols in your saddle…bags； take out the horses and lead them to the street below this； so that there will be nothing to do but mount them； all the rest is my business。〃
Porthos made no remark； but obeyed； with the sublime confidence he had in his friend。
〃I go；〃 he said； 〃only； shall I enter the chamber where those gentlemen are？〃
〃No； it is not worth while。〃
〃Well； do me the kindness to take my purse。 which I left on the mantelpiece。〃
〃All right。〃
He then proceeded； with his usual calm gait； to the stable and went into the very midst of the soldiery； who； foreigner as he was； could not help admiring his height and the enormous strength of his great limbs。
At the corner of the street he met Musqueton and took him with him。
D'Artagnan； meantime； went into the house； whistling a tune which he had begun before Porthos went away。
〃My dear Athos； I have reflected on your arguments and I am convinced。 I am sorry to have had anything to do with this matter。 As you say； Mazarin is a knave。 I have resolved to fly with you； not a word be ready。 Your swords are in the corner； do not forget them； they are in many circumstances very useful； there is Porthos's purse； too。〃
He put it into his pocket。 The two friends were perfectly stupefied。
〃Well； pray； is there anything to be so surprised at？〃 he said。 〃I was blind； Athos has made me see； that's all； e here。〃
The two friends went near him。
〃Do you see that street？ There are the horses。 Go out by the door； turn to the right； jump into your saddles； all will be right； don't be uneasy at anything except mistaking the signal。 That will be the signal when I call out Jesus Seigneur！〃
〃But give us your word that you will e too； D'Artagnan；〃 said Athos。
〃I swear I will； by Heaven。〃
〃'Tis settled；〃 said Aramis； 〃at the cry ‘Jesus Seigneur' we go out； upset all that stands in our way； run to our horses； jump into our saddles； spur them； is that all？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃See； Aramis； as I have told you； D'Artagnan is first amongst us all；〃 said Athos。
〃Very true；〃 replied the Gascon； 〃but I always run away from pliments。 Don't forget the signal： ‘Jesus Seigneur！'〃 and he went out as he came in； whistling the self…same air。
The soldiers were playing or sleeping； two of them were singing in a corner； out of tune； the psalm： 〃On the rivers of Babylon。〃
D'Artagnan called the sergeant。 〃My dear friend； General Cromwell has sent Monsieur Mordaunt to fetch me。 Guard the prisoners well； I beg of you。〃
The sergeant made a sign； as much as to say he did not understand French； and D'Artagnan tried to make him prehend by signs and gestures。 Then he went into the stable； he found the five horses saddled； his own amongst the rest。
〃Each of you take a horse by the bridle；〃 he said to Porthos and Musqueton； 〃turn