Part 78 (2/2)
”Well?” asked D'Artagnan
Griers spread out
”Speak,” said Athos; ”we cannot see your signs How many are there?”
”Two One opposite to me, the other with his back to me”
”Good And the o in”
”Do you know hinized him, and was not mistaken Short and stout”
”Who is it?” they all asked together in a low tone
”General Oliver Cromwell”
The four friends looked at one another
”And the other?” asked Athos
”Thin and lanky”
”The executioner,” said D'Artagnan and Ara but his back,” resu; and if he has taken off his mask I shall be able to see Ah----”
And as if struck in the heart he let go the hook and dropped with a groan
”Did you see him?” they all asked
”Yes,” said Gri on end
”The thin, spare man?”
”Yes”
”The executioner, in short?” asked Aramis
”Yes”
”And who is it?” said Porthos
”He--he--is----”his master's hand
”Who? He?” asked Athos
”Mordaunt,” replied Grinan, Porthos and Aramis uttered a cry of joy
Athos stepped back and passed his hand across his brow
”Fatality!” he muttered
68 Cronan had folloithout knowing it On entering the house he had taken off hisa staircase, had opened a door, and in a roole lamp found himself face to face with a man seated behind a desk
This man was Cromwell
Cromwell had two or three of these retreats in London, unknown except to thethese
”It is you, Mordaunt,” he said ”You are late”
”General, I wished to see the ceremony to the end, which delayed ht you were so curious as that”
”I am always curious to see the downfall of your honor's eneeneral, were you not at Whitehall?”
”No,” said Cromwell
There was a moment's silence
”Have you had any account of it?”
”None I have been here since theI only know that there was a conspiracy to rescue the king”
”Ah, you knew that?” said Mordaunt
”It et the king out of prison and take hi”
”And knowing all that, your honor remained here, far from the city, tranquil and inactive”