“Well, pray, is there anything to be so surprised at?” he said. “I was blind; Athos has made me see, that’s all; come here.”
The two friends went near him.
“Do you see that street? There are the horses. Go out by the door, turn to the right, jump into your saddles, all will be right; don’t be uneasy at anything except mistaking the signal. That will be the signal when I call out—Jesus Seigneur!”
“But give us your word that you will come too, D’Artagnan,” said Athos.
“I swear I will, by Heaven.”
“’Tis settled,” said Aramis; “at the cry ‘Jesus Seigneur’ we go out, upset all that stands in our way, run to our horses, jump into our saddles, spur them; is that all?”
“Exactly.”
“See, Aramis, as I have told you, D’Artagnan is first amongst us all,” said Athos.
“Very true,” replied the Gascon, “but I always run away from compliments. Don’t forget the signal: ‘Jesus Seigneur!’” and he went out as he came in, whistling the self-same air.
The soldiers were playing or sleeping; two of them were singing in a corner, out of tune, the psalm: “On the rivers of Babylon.”