〃Touch me not！〃 said the executioner； 〃if this dagger is withdrawn I shall die。〃
Grimaud remained with his hand extended； then； striking his forehead； he exclaimed：
〃Oh！ if this man should ever discover the names of the others； my master is lost。〃
〃Haste！ haste to him and warn him；〃 cried the wounded man； 〃if he still lives； warn his friends； too。 My death； believe me； will not be the end of this atrocious misadventure。〃
〃Where was the monk going？〃 asked Grimaud。
〃Toward Paris。〃
〃Who stopped him？〃
〃Two young gentlemen； who were on their way to join the army and the name of one of whom I heard his panion mention the Viscount de Bragelonne。〃
〃And it was this young man who brought the monk to you？ Then it was the will of God that it should be so and this it is which makes it all so awful；〃 continued Grimaud。 〃And yet that woman deserved her fate； do you not think so？〃
〃On one's death…bed the crimes of others appear very small in parison with one's own；〃 said the executioner； and falling back exhausted he closed his eyes。
Grimaud was reluctant to leave the man alone and yet he perceived the necessity of starting at once to bear these tidings to the te de la Fere。 Whilst he thus hesitated the host re…entered the room； followed not only by a surgeon； but by many other persons； whom curiosity had attracted to the spot。 The surgeon approached the dying man； who seemed to have fainted。
〃We must first extract the steel from the side；〃 said he； shaking his head in a significant manner。
The prophecy which the wounded man had just uttered recurred to Grimaud； who turned away his head。 The weapon； as we have already stated； was plunged into the body to the hilt； and as the surgeon； taking it by the end； drew it forth； the wounded man opened his eyes and fixed them on him in a manner truly frightful。 When at last the blade had been entirely withdrawn； a red froth issued from the mouth of the wounded man and a stream of blood spouted afresh from the wound when he at length drew breath； then； fixing his eyes upon Grimaud with a singular expression； the dying man uttered the last death…rattle and expired。
Then Grimaud； lifting the dagger from the pool of blood which was gliding along the room； to the horror of all present； made a sign to the host to follow him； paid him with a generosity worthy of his master and again mounted his horse。 Grimaud's first intention had been to return to Paris； but he remembered the anxiety which his prolonged absence might occasion Raoul； and reflecting that there were now only two miles between the vite and himself and a quarter of an hour's riding would unite them； and that the going； returning and explanation would not occupy an hour； he put spurs to his horse and a few minutes after had reached the only inn of Mazingarbe。
Raoul was seated at table with the Count de Guiche and his tutor； when all at once the door opened and Grimaud presented himself； travel…stained； dirty； and sprinkled with the blood of the unhappy executioner。
〃Grimaud； my good Grimaud！〃 exclaimed Raoul 〃here you are at last！ Excuse me； sirs； this is not a servant； but a friend。 How did you leave the count？〃 continued he。 〃Does he regret me a little？ Have you seen him since I left him？ Answer； for I have many things to tell you； too； indeed； the last three days some odd adventures have happened but what is the matter？ how pale you are！ and blood； too！ What is this？〃
〃It is the blood of the unfortunate man whom you left at the inn and who died in my arms。〃
〃In your arms？ that man！ but know you who he was？〃
〃He used to be the headsman of Bethune。〃
〃You knew him？ and he is dead？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 said D'Arminges； 〃it is the mon lot； even an executioner is not exempted。 I had a bad opinion of him the moment I saw his wound； and since he asked for a monk you know that it was his opinion； too； that death would follow。〃
At the mention of the monk； Grimaud became pale。
〃e； e；〃 continued D'Arminges； 〃to dinner；〃 for like most men of his age and generation he did not allow sentiment or sensibility to interfere with a repast。
〃You are right； sir；〃 said Raoul。 〃e； Grimaud； order dinner for yourself and when you have rested a little we can talk。〃
〃No； sir； no；〃 said Grimaud。 〃I cannot stop a moment； I must start for Paris again immediately。〃
〃What？ You start for Paris？ You are mistaken； it is Olivain who leaves me； you are to remain。〃
〃On the contrary； Olivain is to stay and I am to go。 I have e for nothing else but to tell you so。〃
〃But what is the meaning of this change？〃
〃I cannot tell you。〃
〃Explain yourself。〃
〃I cannot explain myself。〃
〃e； tell me； what is the joke？〃
〃Monsieur le vite knows that I never joke。〃
〃Yes； but I know also that Monsieur le te de la Fere arranged that you were to remain with me and that Olivain should return to Paris。 I shall follow the count's directions。〃
〃Not under present circumstances； monsieur。〃
〃Perhaps you mean to disobey me？〃
〃Yes； monsieur； I must。〃
〃You persist； then？〃
〃Yes； I am going； may you be happy； monsieur；〃 and Grimaud saluted and turned toward the door to go out。
Raoul； angry and at the same time uneasy； ran after him and seized him by the arm。 〃Grimaud！〃 he cried； 〃remain； I wish it。〃
〃Then；〃 replied Grimaud； 〃you wish me to allow monsieur le te to be killed。〃 He saluted and made a movement to depart。
〃Grimaud； my friend；〃 said the viscount； 〃will you leave me thus； in such anxiety？ Speak； speak； in Heaven's name！〃 And Raoul fell back trembling upon his chair。
〃I can tell you but one thing； sir； for the secret you wish to know is not my own。 You met a monk； did you not？〃
〃Yes。〃
The young men looked at each other with an expression of fear。
〃You conducted him to the wounded man and you had time to observe him； and perhaps you would know him again were you to meet him。〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 cried both young men。
〃Very well； if ever you meet him again； wherever it may be； whether on the high road or in the street or in a church； anywhere that he or you may be； put your foot on his neck and crush him without pity； without mercy； as you would crush a viper or a scorpion！ destroy him utterly and quit him not until he is dead； the lives of five men are not safe； in my opinion； as long as he is on the earth。〃
And without adding another word； Grimaud； profiting by the astonishment and terror into which he had thrown his auditors； rushed from the room。 Two minutes later the thunder of a horse's hoofs was heard upon the road； it was Grimaud； on his way to Paris。 When once in the saddle Grimaud reflected on two things； first； that at the pace he was going his horse would not carry him ten miles； and secondly； that he had no money。 But Grimaud's ingenuity was more prolific than his speech； and therefore at the first halt he sold his steed and with the money obtained from the purchase took post horses。
On the Eve of Battle
Raoul was aroused from his sombre reflections by his host； who rushed into the apartment crying out； 〃The Spaniards！ the Spaniards！〃
That cry was of such importance as to overe all preoccupation。 The young men made inquiries and ascertained that the enemy was advancing by way of Houdin and Bethune。
While Monsieur d'Arminges gave orders for the horses to be made ready for departure； the two young men ascended to the upper windows of the house and saw in the direction of Marsin and of Lens a large body of infantry and cavalry。 This time it was not a wandering troop of partisans； it was an entire army。 There was therefore nothing for them to do but to follow the prudent advice of Monsieur d'Arminges and beat a retreat。 They quickly went downstairs。 Monsieur d'Arminges was already mounted。 Olivain had ready the horses of the young men； and the lackeys of the Count de Guiche guarded carefully between them the Spanish prisoner； mounted on a pony which had been bought for his use。 As a further precaution they had bound his hands。
The little pany started off at a trot on the road to Cambrin； where they expected to find the prince。 But he was no longer there； having withdrawn on the previous evening to La Bassee； misled by false intelligence of the enemy's movements。 Deceived by this intelligence he had concentrated his forces between Vieille…Chapelle and La Venthie； and after a reconnoissance along the entire line； in pany with Marshal de Grammont； he had returned and seated himself before a table； with his officers around him。 He questioned them as to the news they had each been charged to obtain； but nothing positive had been learned。 The hostile army had disappeared two days before and seemed to have gone out of existence。
Now an enemy is never so near and consequently so threatening； as when he has pletely disappeared。 The prince was； therefore； contrary to his custom； gloomy and anxious； when an officer entered and announced to Marshal de Grammont that some one wished to see him。
The Duc de Grammont received permission from the prince by a glance and went out。 The prince followed him with his eyes and continued looking at the door； no one ventured to speak； for fear of disturbing him。
Suddenly a dull and heavy noise was heard。 The prince leaped to his feet； extending his hand in the direction whence came the sound； there was no mistaking it it was the noise of cannon。 Every one stood up。
At that moment the door opened。
〃Monseigneur；〃 said Marshal de Grammont； with a radiant face； 〃will your highness permit my son； Count de Guiche； and his traveling panion； Viscount de Bragelonne； to e in and give news of the enemy； whom they have found while we were looking for him？〃
〃What！〃 eagerly replied the prince； 〃will I permit？ I not only permit； I desire； let them e in。〃
The marshal introduced the two young men and placed them face to face with the prince。
〃Speak； gentlemen；〃 said the prince； saluting them； 〃first speak； we shall have time afterward for the usual pliments。 The most urgent thing now is to learn where the enemy is and what he is doing。〃
It fell naturally to the Count de Guiche to make reply； not only was he the elder； but he had been presented to the prince by his father。 Besides； he had long known the prince； whilst Raoul now saw him for the first time。 He therefore narrated to the prince what they had seen from the inn at Mazingarbe。
Meanwhile Raoul closely observed the young general； already made so famous by the battles of Rocroy； Fribourg； and Nordlingen。
Louis de Bourbon； Prince de Conde； who； since the death of his father； Henri de Bourbon； was called； in accordance with the custom of that period； Monsieur le Prince； was a young man； not more than twenty…six or twenty…seven years old； with the eye of an eagle agl' occhi grifani； as Dante says aquiline nose； long； waving hair； of medium height； well formed； possessed of all the qualities essential to the successful soldier that is to say； the rapid glance； quick decision； fabulous courage。 At the same time he was a man of elegant manners and strong mind； so that in addition to the revolution he had made in war； by his new contributions t