At the same time couriers started in every direction over England and Europe to announce that Charles Stuart was the prisoner of Oliver Cromwell.
Chapter LVII.
Oliver Cromwell.
Have you been to the general?” said Mordaunt to D’Artagnan and Porthos; “you know he sent for you after the action.”
“We want first to put our prisoners in a place of safety,” replied D’Artagnan. “Do you know, sir, these gentlemen are each of them worth fifteen hundred pounds?”
“Oh, be assured,” said Mordaunt, looking at them with an expression he vainly endeavoured to soften, “my soldiers will guard them, and guard them well, I promise you.”
“I shall take better care of them myself,” answered D’Artagnan; “besides, all they require is a good room, with sentinels, or their simple parole that they will not attempt escape. I will go and see about that, and then we shall have the honor of presenting ourselves to the general and receiving his commands for his eminence.”
“You think of starting at once, then?” inquired Mordaunt.
“Our mission is ended, and there is nothing more to detain us now but the good pleasure of the great man to whom we were sent.”
The young man bit his lips and whispered to his sergeant:
“You will follow these men and not lose sight of them; when you have discovered where they lodge, come and await me at the town gate.”