little plan, of which we
shall hereafter see the execution, and which promised him some agreeable
adventure, as might be seen by the smiles which from time to time passed
over his countenance, whose thoughtfulness they animated.

31 ENGLISH AND FRENCH

The hour having come, they went with their four lackeys to a spot behind
the Luxembourg given up to the feeding of goats. Athos threw a piece of
money to the goatkeeper to withdraw. The lackeys were ordered to act as
sentinels.

A silent party soon drew near to the same enclosure, entered, and joined
the Musketeers. Then, according to foreign custom, the presentations
took place.

The Englishmen were all men of rank; consequently the odd names of
their adversaries were for them not only a matter of surprise, but of
annoyance.

"But after all," said Lord de Winter, when the three friends had been
named, "we do not know who you are. We cannot fight with such names;
they are names of shepherds."

"Therefore your lordship may suppose they are only assumed names," said
Athos.

"Which only gives us a greater desire to know the real ones," replied
the Englishman.

"You played very willingly with us without knowing our names," said
Athos, "by the same token that you won our horses."

"That is true, but we then only risked our pistoles; this time we risk
our blood. One plays with anybody; but one fights only with equals."

"And that is but just," said Athos, and he took aside the one of the
four Englishmen with whom he was to fight, and communicated his name in
a low voice.

Porthos and Aramis did the same.

"Does that satisfy you?" said Athos to his adversary. "Do you find me of
sufficient rank to do me the honor of crossing swords with me?"

"Yes, monsieur," said the Englishman, bowing.

"Well! now shall I tell you something?" added Athos, coolly.

"What?" replied the Englishman.

"Why, that is that you would have acted much more wisely if you had not
required me to make myself known."

"Why so?"

"Because I am believed to be dead, and have reasons for wishing nobody
to know I am living; so that I shall be obliged to kill you to prevent
my secret from roaming over the fields."

The Englishman looked at Athos, believing that he jested, but Athos did
not jest the least in the world.

"Gentlemen," said Athos, addressing at the same time his companions and
their adversaries, "are we ready?"

"Yes!" answered the Englishmen and the Frenchmen, as w