“We must first see what the sergeant wishes us to do,” replied D’Artagnan.
The sergeant and his men took possession of the little garden.
D’Artagnan asked them what they wished and why they had taken that position.
“We have had orders,” answered the man, “to help you in taking care of your prisoners.”
There could be no fault to find with this arrangement; on the contrary, it seemed to be a delicate attention, to be gratefully received; D’Artagnan, therefore, thanked the man and gave him a crown piece to drink to General Cromwell’s health.
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.”