D'Artagnan, throwing up his
head. "I ask to be excused in case I should not be able to discharge my
debt to all three; for M. Athos has the right to kill me first. And now,
gentleman, I repeat, excuse me, but on that account only, and--guard!"

At these words D'Artagnan drew his sword, and at that moment so elated
was he that he would have drawn his sword against all the musketeers in
the kingdom.

Scarcely had the two rapiers sounded on meeting, when a company of the
cardinal's guards appeared on the scene. At that time there was not only
a standing feud between the king's musketeers and the guards of Cardinal
Richelieu, there was also a prohibition against duelling.

"The cardinal's guards! The cardinal's guards!" cried Aramis and Porthos
at the same time. "Sheathe swords, gentlemen! Sheathe swords!" But it
was too late.

Jussac, commander of the guards, had seen the combatants in a position
which could not be mistaken.

"Hullo, musketeers," he called out; "fighting, are you, in spite of the
edicts? Well, duty before everything. Sheathe your swords, please, and
follow us."

"That is quite impossible," said Aramis politely. "The best thing you
can do is to pass on your way."

"We shall charge upon you, then," said Jussac. "if you disobey."

"There are five of them," said Athos, "and we are but three. We shall be
beaten, and must die on the spot, for on my part I will never face my
captain as a conquered man."

Athos, Porthos, and Aramis instantly closed in, and Jussac drew up his
soldiers.

In that short interval D'Artagnan determined on the part he was to take;
it was a decision of life-long importance. He had to choose between the
king and the cardinal, and the choice made, it must be persisted in. He
turned towards Athos and his friends. "Gentlemen," said he, "allow me to
correct your words. You said you were but three, but it appears to me we
are four. I do not wear the uniform, but my heart is that of a
musketeer."

"Withdraw, young man, and save your skin!" cried Jussac.

The three musketeers thought of D'Artagnan's youth, and dreaded his
inexperience.

"Try me, gentlemen," said D'Artagnan, "and I swear to you that I will
never go hence if we are conquered."

Athos pressed the young man's hand, and exclaimed, "Well, then! Athos,
Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan, forward!"

The nine combatants rushed upon each other with fury, and the battle
ended in the utter discomfiture of the cardinal's gua