n him with threatening looks。
〃How many people；〃 thought he； 〃and not one true friend。〃
And as he uttered these words of doubt and depression within his mind； a voice beside him said：
〃Respect to fallen majesty。〃
The king turned quickly around； with tears in his eyes and heart。 It was an old soldier of the guards who could not see his king pass captive before him without rendering him this final homage。 But the next moment the unfortunate man was nearly killed with heavy blows of sword…hilts； and among those who set upon him the king recognized Captain Groslow。
〃Alas！〃 said Charles； 〃that is a severe chastisement for a very trifling fault。〃
He continued his walk； but he had scarcely gone a hundred paces； when a furious fellow； leaning between two soldiers； spat in the king's face； as once an infamous and accursed Jew spit in the face of Jesus of Nazareth。 Loud roars of laughter and sullen murmurs arose together。 The crowd opened and closed again； undulating like a stormy sea； and the king imagined that he saw shining in the midst of this living wave the bright eyes of Athos。
Charles wiped his face and said with a sad smile： 〃Poor wretch； for half a crown he would do as much to his own father。〃
The king was not mistaken。 Athos and his friends； again mingling with the throng； were taking a last look at the martyr king。
When the soldier saluted Charles； Athos's heart bounded for joy； and that unfortunate； on ing to himself； found ten guineas that the French gentleman had slipped into his pocket。 But when the cowardly insulter spat in the face of the captive monarch Athos grasped his dagger。 But D'Artagnan stopped his hand and in a hoarse voice cried； 〃Wait！〃
Athos stopped。 D'Artagnan； leaning on Athos； made a sign to Porthos and Aramis to keep near them and then placed himself behind the man with the bare arms； who was still laughing at his own vile pleasantry and receiving the congratulations of several others。
The man took his way toward the city。 The four friends followed him。 The man； who had the appearance of being a butcher； descended a little steep and isolated street； looking on to the river； with two of his friends。 Arrived at the bank of the river the three men perceived that they were followed； turned around； and looking insolently at the Frenchmen； passed some jests from one to another。
〃I don't know English； Athos；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃but you know it and will interpret for me。〃
Then quickening their steps they passed the three men； but turned back immediately； and D'Artagnan walked straight up to the butcher and touching him on the chest with the tip of his finger； said to Athos：
〃Say this to him in English： ‘You are a coward。 You have insulted a defenseless man。 You have defouled the face of your king。 You must die。'〃
Athos； pale as a ghost； repeated these words to the man； who； seeing the bodeful preparations that were making； put himself in an attitude of defense。 Aramis； at this movement； drew his sword。
〃No；〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃no steel。 Steel is for gentlemen。〃
And seizing the butcher by the throat：
〃Porthos；〃 said he； 〃kill this fellow for me with a single blow。〃
Porthos raised his terrible fist； which whistled through the air like a sling； and the portentous mass fell with a smothered crash on the insulter's skull and crushed it。 The man fell like an ox beneath the poleaxe。 His panions； horror…struck； could neither move nor cry out。
〃Tell them this； Athos；〃 resumed D'Artagnan； 〃thus shall all die who forget that a captive man is sacred and that a captive king doubly represents the Lord。〃
Athos repeated D'Artagnan's words。
The fellows looked at the body of their panion； swimming in blood； and then recovering voice and legs together； ran screaming off。
〃Justice is done；〃 said Porthos； wiping his forehead。
〃And now；〃 said D'Artagnan to Athos； 〃entertain no further doubts about me； I undertake all that concerns the king。〃
Whitehall
The parliament condemned Charles to death； as might have been foreseen。 Political judgments are generally vain formalities； for the same passions which give rise to the accusation ordain to the condemnation。 Such is the atrocious logic of revolutions。
Although our friends were expecting that condemnation； it filled them with grief。 D'Artagnan； whose mind was never more fertile in resources than in critical emergencies； swore again that he would try all conceivable means to prevent the denouement of the bloody tragedy。 But by what means？ As yet he could form no definite plan； all must depend on circumstances。 Meanwhile； it was necessary at all hazards； in order to gain time； to put some obstacle in the way of the execution on the following day the day appointed by the judges。 The only way of doing that was to cause the disappearance of the London executioner。 The headsman out of the way； the sentence could not be executed。 True； they could send for the headsman of the nearest town； but at least a day would be gained； and a day might be sufficient for the rescue。 D'Artagnan took upon himself that more than difficult task。
Another thing； not less essential； was to warn Charles Stuart of the attempt to be made； so that he might assist his rescuers as much as possible； or at least do nothing to thwart their efforts。 Aramis assumed that perilous charge。 Charles Stuart had asked that Bishop Juxon might be permitted to visit him。 Mordaunt had called on the bishop that very evening to apprise him of the religious desire expressed by the king and also of Cromwell's permission。 Aramis determined to obtain from the bishop； through fear or by persuasion； consent that he should enter in the bishop's place； and clad in his sacerdotal robes； the prison at Whitehall。
Finally； Athos undertook to provide； in any event； the means of leaving England in case either of failure or of success。
The night having e they made an appointment to meet at eleven o'clock at the hotel； and each started out to fulfill his dangerous mission。
The palace of Whitehall was guarded by three regiments of cavalry and by the fierce anxiety of Cromwell； who came and went or sent his generals or his agents continually。 Alone in his usual room； lighted by two candles； the condemned monarch gazed sadly on the luxury of his past greatness； just as at the last hour one sees the images of life more mildly brilliant than of yore。
Parry had not quitted his master； and since his condemnation had not ceased to weep。 Charles； leaning on a table； was gazing at a medallion of his wife and daughter； he was waiting first for Juxon； then for martyrdom。
At times he thought of those brave French gentlemen who had appeared to him from a distance of a hundred leagues fabulous and unreal； like the forms that appear in dreams。 In fact； he sometimes asked himself if all that was happening to him was not a dream； or at least the delirium of a fever。 He rose and took a few steps as if to rouse himself from his torpor and went as far as the window； he saw glittering below him the muskets of the guards。 He was thereupon constrained to admit that he was indeed awake and that his bloody dream was real。
Charles returned in silence to his chair； rested his elbow on the table； bowed his head upon his hand and reflected。
〃Alas！〃 he said to himself； 〃if I only had for a confessor one of those lights of the church； whose soul has sounded all the mysteries of life； all the littlenesses of greatness； perhaps his utterance would overawe the voice that wails within my soul。 But I shall have a priest of vulgar mind； whose career and fortune I have ruined by my misfortune。 He will speak to me of God and death； as he has spoken to many another dying man； not understanding that this one leaves his throne to an usurper； his children to the cold contempt of public charity。〃
And he raised the medallion to his lips。
It was a dull； foggy night。 A neighboring church clock slowly struck the hour。 The flickering light of the two candles showed fitful phantom shadows in the lofty room。 These were the ancestors of Charles； standing back dimly in their tarnished frames。
An awful sadness enveloped the heart of Charles。 He buried his brow in his hands and thought of the world； so beautiful when one is about to leave it； of the caresses of children； so pleasing and so sweet； especially when one is parting from his children never to see them again； then of his wife； the noble and courageous woman who had sustained him to the last moment。 He drew from his breast the diamond cross and the star of the Garter which she had sent him by those generous Frenchmen； he kissed it； and then； as he reflected； that she would never again see those things till he lay cold and mutilated in the tomb； there passed over him one of those icy shivers which may be called forerunners of death。
Then； in that chamber which recalled to him so many royal souvenirs； whither had e so many courtiers； the scene of so much flattering homage； alone with a despairing servant； whose feeble soul could afford no support to his own； the king at last yielded to sorrow； and his courage sank to a level with that feebleness； those shadows； and that wintry cold。 That king； who was so grand； so sublime in the hour of death； meeting his fate with a smile of resignation on his lips； now in that gloomy hour wiped away a tear which had fallen on the table and quivered on the gold embroidered cloth。
Suddenly the door opened； an ecclesiastic in episcopal robes entered； followed by two guards； to whom the king waved an imperious gesture。 The guards retired； the room resumed its obscurity。
〃Juxon！〃 cried Charles； 〃Juxon； thank you； my last friend； you e at a fitting moment。〃
The bishop looked anxiously at the man sobbing in the ingle…nook。
〃e； Parry；〃 said the king； 〃cease your tears。〃
〃If it's Parry；〃 said the bishop； 〃I have nothing to fear； so allow me to salute your majesty and to tell you who I am and for what I am e。〃
At this sight and this voice Charles was about to cry out； when Aramis placed his finger on his lips and bowed low to the king of England。
〃The chevalier！〃 murmured Charles。
〃Yes； sire；〃 interrupted Aramis； raising his voice； 〃Bishop Juxon； the faithful knight of Christ； obedient to your majesty's wishes。〃
Charles clasped his hands； amazed and stupefied to find that these foreigners； without other motive than that which their conscience imposed on them； thus bated the will of a people and the destiny of a king。
〃You！〃 he said； 〃you！ how did you penetrate hither？ If they recognize you； you are lost。〃
〃Care not for me； sire； think only of yourself。 You see； your friends are wakeful。 I know not what we shall do yet； but four determined men can do much。 Meanwhile； do not be surprised at anything that happens； prepare yourself for every emergency。〃
Charles shook his head。
〃Do you know that I die to…morrow at ten o'clock？〃
〃Something； your majesty； will happen between now and then to make the execution impossible。〃
The king looked at Aramis with astonishment。
At this moment a strange noise； like the unloading of a cart； and followed by a cry of pain； was heard beneath the wi