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stirrest； if thou utterest one cry； thou art a dead man！'〃
The duke； in pronouncing these words； suited； as we have said； the action to the words。 He was standing near the officer and he directed the point of the poniard in such a manner； close to La Ramee's heart； that there could be no doubt in the mind of that individual as to his determination。 Meanwhile； Grimaud； still mute as ever； drew from the pie the other poniard； the rope ladder and the gag。
La Ramee followed all these objects with his eyes； his alarm every moment increasing。
〃Oh； my lord；〃 he cried； with an expression of stupefaction in his face； 〃you haven't the heart to kill me！〃
〃No； not if thou dost not oppose my flight。〃
〃But； my lord； if I allow you to escape I am a ruined man。〃
〃I will pensate thee for the loss of thy place。〃
〃You are determined to leave the chateau？〃
〃By Heaven and earth！ This night I am determined to be free。〃
〃And if I defend myself； or call； or cry out？〃
〃I will kill thee； on the honor of a gentleman。〃
At this moment the clock struck。
〃Seven o'clock！〃 said Grimaud； who had not spoken a word。
La Ramee made one movement； in order to satisfy his conscience。 The duke frowned； the officer felt the point of the poniard； which； having penetrated through his clothes； was close to his heart。
〃Let us dispatch；〃 said the duke。
〃My lord； one last favor。〃
〃What？ speak； make haste。〃
〃Bind my arms； my lord； fast。〃
〃Why bind thee？〃
〃That I may not be considered as your acplice。〃
〃Your hands？〃 asked Grimaud。
〃Not before me； behind me。〃
〃But with what？〃 asked the duke。
〃With your belt； my lord！〃 replied La Ramee。
The duke undid his belt and gave it to Grimaud； who tied La Ramee in such a way as to satisfy him。
〃Your feet； too；〃 said Grimaud。
La Ramee stretched out his legs； Grimaud took a table…cloth； tore it into strips and tied La Ramee's feet together。
〃Now； my lord；〃 said the poor man； 〃let me have the poire d'angoisse。 I ask for it； without it I should be tried in a court of justice because I did not raise the alarm。 Thrust it into my mouth； my lord； thrust it in。〃
Grimaud prepared to ply with this request； when the officer made a sign as if he had something to say。
〃Speak；〃 said the duke。
〃Now； my lord； do not forget； if any harm happens to me on your account； that I have a wife and four children。〃
〃Rest assured； put the gag in； Grimaud。〃
In a second La Ramee was gagged and laid prostrate。 Two or three chairs were thrown down as if there had been a struggle。 Grimaud then took from the pocket of the officer all the keys it contained and first opened the door of the room in which they were； then shut it and double…locked it； and both he and the duke proceeded rapidly down the gallery which led to the little inclosure。 At last they reached the tennis court。 It was pletely deserted。 No sentinels； no one at any of the windows。 The duke ran to the rampart and perceived on the other side of the ditch； three cavaliers with two riding horses。 The duke exchanged a signal with them。 It was indeed for him that they were there。
Grimaud； meantime； undid the means of escape。
This was not； however； a rope ladder； but a ball of silk cord； with a narrow board which was to pass between the legs； the ball to unwind itself by the weight of the person who sat astride upon the board。
〃Go！〃 said the duke。
〃First； my lord？〃 inquired Grimaud。
〃Certainly。 If I am caught； I risk nothing but being taken back again to prison。 If they catch thee； thou wilt be hung。〃
〃True；〃 replied Grimaud。
And instantly； Grimaud； sitting upon the board as if on horseback； menced his perilous descent。
The duke followed him with his eyes； with involuntary terror。 He had gone down about three…quarters of the length of the wall when the cord broke。 Grimaud fell precipitated into the moat。
The duke uttered a cry； but Grimaud did not give a single moan。 He must have been dreadfully hurt； for he did not stir from the place where he fell。
Immediately one of the men who were waiting slipped down into the moat； tied under Grimaud's shoulders the end of a cord； and the remaining two； who held the other end； drew Grimaud to them。
〃Descend； my lord；〃 said the man in the moat。 〃There are only fifteen feet more from the top down here； and the grass is soft。〃
The duke had already begun to descend。 His task was the more difficult； as there was no board to support him。 He was obliged to let himself down by his hands and from a height of fifty feet。 But as we have said he was active； strong； and full of presence of mind。 In less than five minutes he arrived at the end of the cord。 He was then only fifteen feet from the ground； as the gentlemen below had told him。 He let go the rope and fell upon his feet； without receiving any injury。
He instantly began to climb up the slope of the moat； on the top of which he met De Rochefort。 The other two gentlemen were unknown to him。 Grimaud； in a swoon； was tied securely to a horse。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the duke； 〃I will thank you later； now we have not a moment to lose。 On； then！ on！ those who love me； follow me！〃
And he jumped on his horse and set off at full gallop； snuffing the fresh air in his triumph and shouting out； with an expression of face which it would be impossible to describe：
〃Free！ free！ free！〃
The timely Arrival of D'Artagnan in Paris
At Blois； D'Artagnan received the money paid to him by Mazarin for any future service he might render the cardinal。
From Blois to Paris was a journey of four days for ordinary travelers； but D'Artagnan arrived on the third day at the Barriere Saint Denis。 In turning the corner of the Rue Montmartre； in order to reach the Rue Tiquetonne and the Hotel de la Chevrette； where he had appointed Porthos to meet him； he saw at one of the windows of the hotel； that friend himself dressed in a sky…blue waistcoat； embroidered with silver； and gaping； till he showed every one of his white teeth； whilst the people passing by admiringly gazed at this gentleman； so handsome and so rich； who s