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〃The four Frenchmen； of whom two were sent by the queen to her husband and two by Mazarin to me。〃
〃And do you think Mazarin missioned them to act as they have done？〃
〃It is possible。 But he will not avow it。〃
〃How so？〃
〃Because they failed。〃
〃Your honor gave me two of these Frenchmen when they were only guilty of fighting for Charles I。 Now that they are guilty of a conspiracy against England will your honor give me all four of them？〃
〃Take them；〃 said Cromwell。
Mordaunt bowed with a smile of triumphant ferocity。
〃Did the people shout at all？〃 Cromwell asked。
〃Very little； except ‘Long live Cromwell！'〃
〃Where were you placed？〃
Mordaunt tried for a moment to read in the general's face if this was simply a useless question； or whether he knew everything。 But his piercing eyes could by no means penetrate the sombre depths of Cromwell's。
〃I was so situated as to hear and see everything；〃 he answered。
It was now Cromwell's turn to look fixedly at Mordaunt； and Mordaunt to make himself impenetrable。
〃It appears；〃 said Cromwell； 〃that this improvised executioner did his duty remarkably well。 The blow； so they tell me at least； was struck with a master's hand。〃
Mordaunt remembered that Cromwell had told him he had had no detailed account； and he was now quite convinced that the general had been present at the execution； hidden behind some screen or curtain。
〃In fact；〃 said Mordaunt； with a calm voice and immovable countenance； 〃a single blow sufficed。〃
〃Perhaps it was some one in that occupation；〃 said Cromwell。
〃Do you think so； sir？ He did not look like an executioner。〃
〃And who else save an executioner would have wished to fill that horrible office？〃
〃But；〃 said Mordaunt； 〃it might have been some personal enemy of the king； who had made a vow of vengeance and acplished it in this way。 Perhaps it was some man of rank who had grave reasons for hating the fallen king； and who； learning that the king was about to flee and escape him； threw himself in the way； with a mask on his face and an axe in his hand； not as substitute for the executioner； but as an ambassador of Fate。〃
〃Possibly。〃
〃And if that were the case would your honor condemn his action？〃
〃It is not for me to judge。 It rests between his conscience and his God。〃
〃But if your honor knew this man？〃
〃I neither know nor wish to know him。 Provided Charles is dead； it is the axe； not the man； we must thank。〃
〃And yet； without the man； the king would have been rescued。〃
Cromwell smiled。
〃They would have carried him to Greenwich；〃 he said； 〃and put him on board a felucca with five barrels of powder in the hold。 Once out to sea； you are too good a politician not to understand the rest； Mordaunt。〃
〃Yes； they would have all been blown up。〃
〃Just so。 The explosion would have done what the axe had failed to do。 Men would have said that the king had escaped human justice and been overtaken by God's。 You see now why I did not care to know your gentleman in the mask； for really； in spite of his excellent intentions； I could not thank him for what he has done。〃
Mordaunt bowed humbly。 〃Sir；〃 he said； 〃you are a profound thinker and your plan was sublime。〃
〃Say absurd； since it has bee useless。 The only sublime ideas in politics are those which bear fruit。 So to…night； Mordaunt； go to Greenwich and ask for the captain of the felucca Lightning。 Show him a white handkerchief knotted at the four corners and tell the crew to disembark and carry the powder back to the arsenal； unless； indeed 〃
〃Unless？〃 said Mordaunt； whose face was lighted by a savage joy as Cromwell spoke：
〃This skiff might be of use to you for personal projects。〃
〃Oh； my lord； my lord！〃
〃That title；〃 said Cromwell； laughing； 〃is all very well here； but take care a word like that does not escape your lips in public。〃
〃But your honor will soon be called so generally。〃
〃I hope so； at least；〃 said Cromwell； rising and putting on his cloak。
〃You are going； sir？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Cromwell。 〃I slept here last night and the night before； and you know it is not my custom to sleep three times in the same bed。〃
〃Then；〃 said Mordaunt； 〃your honor gives me my liberty for to…night？〃
〃And even for all day to…morrow； if you want it。 Since last evening；〃 he added； smiling； 〃you have done enough in my service； and if you have any personal matters to settle it is just that I should give you time。〃
〃Thank you； sir； it will be well employed； I hope。〃
Cromwell turned as he was going。
〃Are you armed？〃 he asked。
〃I have my sword。〃
〃And no one waiting for you outside？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you had better e with me。〃
〃Thank you； sir； but the way by the subterranean passage would take too much time and I have none to lose。〃
Cromwell placed his hand on a hidden handle and opened a door so well concealed by the tapestry that the most practiced eye could not have discovered it。 It closed after him with a spring。 This door municated with a subterranean passage； leading under the street to a grotto in the garden of a house about a hundred yards from that of the future Protector。
It was just before this that Grimaud had perceived the two men seated together。
D'Artagnan was the first to recover from his surprise。
〃Mordaunt；〃 he cried。 〃Ah！ by Heaven！ it is God Himself who sent us here。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos； 〃let us break the door in and fall upon him。〃
〃No；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃no noise。 Now； Grimaud； you e here； climb up to the window again and tell us if Mordaunt is alone and whether he is preparing to go out or go to bed。 If he es out we shall catch him。 If he stays in we will break in the window。 It is easier and less noisy than the door。〃
Grimaud began to scale the wall again。
〃Keep guard at the other door； Athos and Aramis。 Porthos and I will stay here。〃
The friends obeyed。
〃He is alone；〃 said Grimaud。
〃We did not see his panion e out。〃
〃He may have gone by the other door。〃
〃What is he doing？〃
〃Putting on his cloak and gloves。〃
〃He's ours；〃 mutt