D’Artagnan’s countenance took an expression of the deepest compassion; he began to think he had to do with madmen.
“You cannot be speaking seriously, Athos!” said he; “the king is surrounded by an army, which is conducting him to London. This army is commanded by a butcher, or the son of a butcher—it matters little—Colonel Harrison. His majesty, I can assure you, will be tried on his arrival in London; I have heard enough from the lips of Oliver Cromwell to know what to expect.”
A second look was exchanged between Athos and Aramis.
“And when the trial is ended there will be no delay in putting the sentence into execution,” continued D’Artagnan.
“And to what penalty do you think the king will be condemned?” asked Athos.
“The penalty of death, I greatly fear; they have gone too far for him to pardon them, and there is nothing left to them but one thing, and that is to kill him. Have you never heard what Oliver Cromwell said when he came to Paris and was shown the dungeon at Vincennes where Monsieur de Vendome was imprisoned?”
“What did he say?” asked Porthos.
“‘Princes must be knocked on the head.’”
“I remember it,” said Athos.
“And you fancy he will not put his maxim into execution, now that he has got hold of the king?”