The sergeant answered that Puritans never drank, and put the crown piece in his pocket.

“Ah!” said Porthos, “what a fearful day, my dear D’Artagnan!”

“What! a fearful day, when to-day we find our friends?”

“Yes; but under what circumstances?”

“’Tis true that our position is an awkward one; but let us go in and see more clearly what is to be done.”

“Things look black enough,” replied Porthos; “I understand now why Aramis advised me to strangle that horrible Mordaunt.”

“Silence!” cried the Gascon; “do not utter that name.”

“But,” argued Porthos, “I speak French and they are all English.”

D’Artagnan looked at Porthos with that air of wonder which a cunning man cannot help feeling at displays of crass stupidity.

But as Porthos on his side could not comprehend his astonishment, he merely pushed him indoors, saying, “Let us go in.”

They found Athos in profound despondency; Aramis looked first at Porthos and then at D’Artagnan, without speaking, but the latter understood his meaningful look.

“You want to know how we came here?  ’Tis easily guessed.  Mazarin sent us with a letter to General Cromwell.”

“But how came you to fall into company with Mordaunt, whom I bade you distrust?” asked Athos.

“And whom I advised you to strangle, Porthos,” said Aramis.

“Mazarin again.  Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin.  Mazarin sent us to Cromwell.  There is a certain fatality in it.”

“Yes, you are right, D’Artagnan, a fatality that will separate and ruin us!  So, my dear Aramis, say no more about it and let us prepare to submit to destiny.”

“Zounds! on the contrary, let us speak about it; for it was agreed among us, once for all, that we should always hold together, though engaged on opposing sides.”

“Yes,” added Athos, “I now ask you, D’Artagnan, what side you are on?  Ah! behold for what end the wretched Mazarin has made use of you.  Do you know in what crime you are to-day engaged?  In the capture of a king, his degradation and his murder.”

“Oh! oh!” cried Porthos, “do you think so?”

“You are exaggerating, Athos; we are not so far gone as that,” replied the lieutenant.

“Good heavens! we are on the very eve of it.  I say, why is the king taken prisoner?  Those who wish to respect him as a master would not buy him as a slave.  Do you think it is to replace him on the throne that Cromwell has paid for him two hundred thousand pounds sterling?  They will kill him, you may be sure of it.”

“I don’t maintain the contrary,” said D’Artagnan.  “But what’s that to us?  I am here because I am a soldier and have to obey orders —­ I have taken an oath to obey, and I do obey; but you who have taken no such oath, why are you here and what cause do you represent?”

“That most sacred in the world,” said Athos; “the cause of misfortune, of religion, royalty.  A friend, a wife, a daughter, have done us the honor to call us to their aid.  We have served them to the best of our poor means, and God will recompense the will, forgive the want of power.  You may see matters differently, D’Artagnan, and think otherwise.  I will not attempt to argue with you, but I blame you.”