nd 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；〃 muttered D'Artagnan。
Porthos mechanically drew his dagger from the scabbard。
〃Put it up again； my friend；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃We must proceed in an orderly manner。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Grimaud； 〃he is ing out。 He has put out the lamp； I can see nothing now。〃
〃Get down then and quickly。〃
Grimaud leaped down。 The snow deadened the noise of his fall。
〃Now go and tell Athos and Aramis to stand on each side of the door and clap their hands if they catch him。 We will do the same。〃
The next moment the door opened and Mordaunt appeared on the threshold； face to face with D'Artagnan。 Porthos clapped his hands and the other two came running around。 Mordaunt was livid； but he uttered no cry nor called for assistance。 D'Artagnan quietly pushed him in again； and by the light of a lamp on the staircase made him ascend the steps backward one by one； keeping his eyes all the time on Mordaunt's hands； who； however； knowing that it was useless； attempted no resistance。 At last they stood face to face in the very room where ten minutes before Mordaunt had been talking to Cromwell。
Porthos came up behind； and unhooking the lamp on the staircase relit that in the room。 Athos and Aramis entered last and locked the door behind them。
〃Oblige me by taking a seat；〃 said D'Artagnan； pushing a chair toward Mordaunt； who sat down； pale but calm。 Aramis； Porthos and D'Artagnan drew their chairs near him。 Athos alone kept away and sat in the furthest corner of the room； as if determined to be merely a spectator of the proceedings。 He seemed to be quite overe。 Porthos rubbed his hands in feverish impatience。 Aramis bit his lips till the blood came。
D'Artagnan alone was calm； at least in appearance。
〃Monsieur Mordaunt；〃 he said； 〃since； after running after one another so long； chance has at last brought us together； let us have a little conversation； if you please。〃
Conversational
Though Mordaunt had been so pletely taken by surprise and had mounted the stairs in such utter confusion； when once seated he recovered himself； as it were； and prepared to seize any possible opportunity of escape。 His eye wandered to a long stout sword on his flank and he instinctively slipped it around within reach of his right hand。
D'Artagnan was waiting for a reply to his remark and said nothing。 Aramis muttered to himself； 〃We shall hear nothing but the usual monplace things。〃
Porthos sucked his mustache； muttering； 〃A good deal of ceremony to…night about crushing an adder。〃 Athos shrunk into his corner； pale and motionless as a bas…relief。
The silence； however； could not last forever。 So D'Artagnan began：
〃Sir；〃 he said； with desperate politeness； 〃it seems to me that you change your costume almost as rapidly as I have seen the Italian mummers do； whom the Cardinal Mazarin brought over from Bergamo and whom he doubtless took you to see during your travels in France。〃
Mordaunt did not reply。
〃Just now；〃 D'Artagnan continued； 〃you were disguised I mean to say； attired as a murderer； and now 〃
〃And now I look very much like a man who is going to be murdered。〃
〃Oh！ sir；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃how can you talk like that when you are in the pany of gentlemen and have such an excellent sword at your side？〃
〃No sword is excellent enough to be of use against four swords and daggers。〃
〃Well； that is scarcely the question。 I had the honor of asking you why you altered your costume。 The mask and beard became you very well； and as to the axe； I do not think it would be out of keeping even at this moment。 Why； then； have you laid it aside？〃
〃Because； remembering the scene at Armentieres； I thought I should find four axes for one； as I was to meet four executioners。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied D'Artagnan； in the calmest manner possible； 〃you are very young； I shall therefore overlook your frivolous remarks。 What took place at Armentieres has no connection whatever with the present occasion。 We could scarcely have requested your mother to take a sword and fight us。〃
〃Aha！ It is a duel； then？〃 cried Mordaunt； as if disposed to reply at once to the provocation。
Porthos rose； always ready for this kind of adventure。
〃Pardon me；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Do not let us do things in a hurry。 We will arrange the matter rather better。 Confess； Monsieur Mordaunt； that you are anxious to kill some of us。〃
〃All；〃 replied Mordaunt。
〃Then； my dear sir； I am convinced that these gentlemen return your kind wishes and will be delighted to kill you also。 Of course they will do so as honorable gentlemen； and the best proof I can furnish is this 〃
So saying； he threw his hat on the ground； pushed back his chair to the wall and bowed to Mordaunt with true French grace。
〃At your service； sir；〃 he continued。 〃My sword is shorter than yours； it's true； but； bah！ I think the arm will make up for the sword。〃
〃Halt！〃 cried Porthos ing forward。 〃I begin； and without any rhetoric。〃
〃Allow me； Porthos；〃 said Aramis。
Athos did not move。 He might have been taken for a statue。 Even his breathing seemed to be arrested。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃you shall have your turn。 Monsieur Mordaunt dislikes you sufficiently not to refuse you afterward。 You can see it in his eye。 So pray keep your places； like Athos； whose calmness is entirely laudable。 Besides； we will have no words about it。 I have particular business to settle with this gentleman and I shall and will begin。〃
Porthos and Aramis drew back； disappointed； and drawing his sword D'Artagnan turned to his adversary：
〃Sir； I am waiting for you。〃
〃And for my part； gentlemen； I admire you。 You are disputing which shall fight me first； but you do not consult me who am most concerned in the matter。 I hate you all； but not equally。 I hope to kill all four of you； but I am more likely to kill the first than the second； the second than the third； and the third than the last。 I claim； then； the right to choose my opponent。 If you refuse this right you may kill me； but I shall not fight。〃
〃It is but fair；〃 said Porthos and Aramis； hoping he would choose one of them。
Athos an