The major bowed in sign of assent.
"That is why," continued D'Artagnan, "I propose to cause two of the principal officers of the garrison to come on board my vessel. They will see you, gentlemen! they will see the forces we have at our disposal; they will consequently know to what they have to trust, and the fate that attends them in case of rebellion. We will affirm to them, upon our honor, that M. Fouquet is a prisoner, and that all resistance can only be prejudicial to them. We will tell them that the first cannon that is fired, there will be no mercy to be expected from the king. Then, I hope at least, they will no longer resist. They will yield without fighting, and we shall have a place given up to us in a friendly way, which it might cost us much trouble to subdue."
The officer who had followed D'Artagnan to Belle-Isle was preparing to speak, but D'Artagnan interrupted him.
"Yes, I know what you are going to tell me, monsieur; I know that there is an order of the king's to prevent all secret communications with the defenders of Belle-Isle, and that is exactly why I do not offer to communicate but in the presence of my staff."
And D'Artagnan made an inclination of the head to his officers, which had for object attaching a value to that condescension.
The officers looked at each other as if to read their opinions in their eyes, with the intention of evidently acting, after they should have agreed, according to the desire of D'Artagnan. And already the latter saw with joy that the result of their consent would be sending a bark to Porthos and Aramis, when the king's officer drew from his pocket a folded paper, which he placed in the hands of D'Artagnan.
This paper bore upon its superscription the number "1."
"What, more still!" murmured the surprised captain.
"Read, monsieur," said the officer, with a courtesy that was not free from sadness.
D'Artagnan, full of mistrust, unfolded the paper, and read these words: