"I'faith, colonel," said D'Artagnan, "we are very grateful for your gracious invitation; for without you we ran the risk of going without dinner, as we have without breakfast.
My friend here, Monsieur du Vallon, shares my gratitude, for he was particularly hungry."
"And I am so still," said Porthos bowing to Harrison.
"And how," said Harrison, laughing, "did this serious calamity of going without breakfast happen to you?"
"In a very simple manner, colonel," said D'Artagnan. "I was in a hurry to join you and took the road you had already gone by. You can understand our disappointment when, arriving at a pretty little house on the skirts of a wood, which at a distance had quite a gay appearance, with its red roof and green shutters, we found nothing but a poor wretch bathed -- Ah! colonel, pay my respects to the officer of yours who struck that blow."
"Yes," said Harrison, laughing, and looking over at one of the officers seated at his table. "When Groslow undertakes this kind of thing there's no need to go over the ground a second time."
"Ah! it was this gentleman?" said D'Artagnan, bowing to the officer. "I am sorry he does not speak French, that I might tender him my compliments."
"I am ready to receive and return them, sir," said the officer, in pretty good French, "for I resided three years in Paris."
"Then, sir, allow me to assure you that your blow was so well directed that you have nearly killed your man."
"Nearly? I thought I had quite," said Groslow.
"No. It was a very near thing, but he is not dead."
As he said this, D'Artagnan gave a glance at Parry, who was standing in front of the king, to show him that the news was meant for him.
The king, too, who had listened in the greatest agony, now breathed again.
"Hang it," said Groslow, "I thought I had succeeded better.
If it were not so far from here to the house I would return and finish him."
"And you would do well, if you are afraid of his recovering; for you know, if a wound in the head does not kill at once, it is cured in a week."
And D'Artagnan threw a second glance toward Parry, on whose face such an expression of joy was manifested that Charles stretched out his hand to him, smiling.
Parry bent over his master's hand and kissed it respectfully.
"I've a great desire to drink the king's health," said Athos.
"Let me propose it, then," said D'Artagnan.
"Do," said Aramis.
Porthos looked at D'Artagnan, quite amazed at the resources with which his companion's Gascon sharpness continually supplied him. D'Artagnan took up his camp tin cup, filled it with wine and arose.
"Gentlemen," said he, "let us drink to him who presides at the repast. Here's to our colonel, and let him know that we are always at his commands as far as London and farther."
And as D'Artagnan, as he spoke, looked at Harrison, the colonel imagined the toast was for himself. He arose and bowed to the four friends, whose eyes were fixed on Charles, while Harrison emptied his glass without the slightest misgiving.
The king, in return, looked at the four gentlemen and drank with a smile full of nobility and gratitude.
"Come, gentlemen," cried Harrison, regardless of his illustrious captive, "let us be off."
"Where do we sleep, colonel?"
"At Thirsk," replied Harrison.
"Parry," said the king, rising too, "my horse; I desire to go to Thirsk."
"Egad!" said D'Artagnan to Athos, "your king has thoroughly taken me, and I am quite at his service."
"If what you say is sincere," replied Athos, "he will never reach London."
"How so?"
"Because before then we shall have carried him off."
"Well, this time, Athos," said D'Artagnan, "upon my word, you are mad."
"Have you some plan in your head then?" asked Aramis.
"Ay!" said Porthos, "the thing would not be impossible with a good plan."
"I have none," said Athos; "but D'Artagnan will discover one."
D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and they proceeded.