r watching
over us, and I look forward to our all meeting in France again."

"So be it!" said D'Artagnan; "but I confess I have quite a contrary
conviction. However, 'tis settled; but I stay in England only on one
condition, that I don't have to learn the language."

The attempt to rescue Charles from his guards on the way to London was
only frustrated by the sudden arrival of General Harrison, with a large
body of soldiers, and D'Artagnan and his friends made their escape by a
hasty flight, and followed to London.

"We must see this tragedy played out to the end," said Athos. "Do not
let us leave England while any hope remains."

And the others agreed.

_IV.--At Whitehall_

The intrepid four were present at the trial of Charles I., and it was
the voice of Athos that called out, "You lie!" when the prosecutor
declared that the accusation against the king was put forward by the
English people.

Fortunately, D'Artagnan managed to get Athos out of the court quickly,
and then, followed by Porthos and Aramis, they mingled in the crowd
outside undetected.

Sentence having been pronounced against the king, the only thing to be
done by the four was to get rid of the London executioner; this meant at
least a few days delay while another executioner was being procured.
D'Artagnan undertook this difficult task, while Aramis was to personate
Bishop Juxon, the royal chaplain, and explain to Charles the attempt
being made to save him. Athos engaged to get everything ready for
leaving England.

On the very night before the execution Aramis brought the king a message
from D'Artagnan, "Tell the king that to-morrow, at ten o'clock at night,
we shall carry him off." Aramis added, "He has said it, and he will do
it."

The scaffold was already being constructed in Whitehall as he spoke, but
D'Artagnan had the London executioner fast bound under lock and key in a
cellar, and Athos had a light skiff waiting at Greenwich. Not only this,
but at midnight these four wonderful men, thanks to Athos, who spoke
excellent English, were also at work at the scaffold--having bribed the
carpenter in charge to let them assist--and at the same time boring a
hole in the wall. The scaffold, which had two lower stories, and was
covered with black serge, was at the height of twenty feet, on a level
with the window in the king's room; and the hole communicated with a
narrow loft, between the floor of the king's room, and the ceiling of
the one