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You strongly resisted, then?" "We had three of our men crushed to death, monsieur!" "But you killed nobody yourselves?" "Monsieur, a few of the rioters were left upon the square, and one among them who was not a common man." "Who was he?" "A certain Menneville, upon whom the police have a long time had an eye."
Menneville was at the head of this group, shouting louder than all the others, "To the fire! to the fire! Vive Colbert!" D'Artagnan began to comprehend what was meant. They wanted to burn the condemned, and his house was to serve as a funeral pile. "Halt, there!" cried he, sword in hand, and one foot upon the window. "Menneville, what do you want to do?"
He shrugged his shoulders at seeing Menneville writhing at his feet in the last convulsions. And, while Raoul turned away his eyes in compassion, he pointed to the musketeers the gibbets laden with their melancholy fruit. "Poor devils!" said he, "I hope they died blessing me, for I saved them with great difficulty."
Menneville followed him, whilst the salutations of the auxiliaries were mingled with the sweet sound of the money clinking in their pockets. "Menneville," said D'Artagnan, when they were once in the street, "you were not my dupe; beware of being so.
"With that sum you can really become an honest man," replied D'Artagnan, in the most serious tone possible. "It would be disgraceful for a mind like yours, and a name you no longer dare to bear, to sink forever under the rust of an evil life. Become a gallant man, Menneville, and live for a year upon those hundred gold crowns: it is a good provision; twice the pay of a high officer.
"With that sum you can really become an honest man," replied D'Artagnan, in the most serious tone possible. "It would be disgraceful for a mind like yours, and a name you no longer dare to bear, to sink forever under the rust of an evil life. Become a gallant man, Menneville, and live for a year upon those hundred gold crowns: it is a good provision; twice the pay of a high officer.
I repeat it, Monsieur Fouquet may be called what they please, but he is a very gentlemanly man." "And," continued Colbert, "are you quite sure Menneville is dead?" D'Artagnan thought the time was come for him to make his appearance. "Perfectly, monsieur;" replied he, advancing suddenly. "Oh! is that you, monsieur?" said Colbert.
Then addressing his companion nearest to him in a low voice: "Get ready a light, Menneville," said he, "and hold yourself ready for anything." One of the fishermen struck light from a stone, set fire to some tinder, and by the aid of a match lit a lantern. The light immediately spread all over the tent.
I am sure you have understood me perfectly well, have you not, M. Menneville?" "Perfectly," replied the latter. "Now the crowns!" said D'Artagnan. "Shut the doors," he cried, and opened the bag upon the table, from which rolled several fine gold crowns. Every one made a movement towards the floor. "Gently!" cried D'Artagnan. "Let no one stoop, and then I shall not be out in my reckoning."
This dialogue was pronounced at the back of the tent, and in so low a voice that Monk could not hear a syllable of it; he was, besides, talking with Athos. Menneville got himself ready in the meantime, or rather received the orders of his leader. "Well?" said Monk. "I am ready, general," said the fisherman. Monk, Athos, and the fisherman left the tent. "It is impossible!" thought Athos.
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