“A woman of such inferior condition！ Do you believe it， D’Artagnan？” said Porthos， protruding his lip contemptuously.
“She is goddaughter to La Porte， the confidential valet of the queen. Have I not told you so， gentlemen？ Besides， it has perhaps been a scheme of her Majesty’s to have sought on this occasion for such lowly support. High heads can be seen from a distance； and the cardinal is far-sighted.”
“Well，” said Porthos， “in the first place， make a bargain with the mercer， and a good bargain， too.”
“That’s useless，” said D’Artagnan； “for I believe if he does not pay us， we shall be well enough paid by another party.”
At this moment a sudden noise of footsteps was heard upon the stairs， the door was thrown violently open， and the unfortunate mercer rushed into the chamber in which the council was being held.
“Save me， gentlemen， save me！” cried he. “There are four men come to arrest me！ Save me！ for the love of Heaven， save me！”
Porthos and Aramis arose.
“One moment，” cried D’Artagnan， making them a sign to replace their half-drawn swords—“one moment. On this occasion we don’t need courage； we need prudence.”
At this moment the four guards appeared at the door of the antechamber； but seeing the four musketeers standing with swords at their sides， they hesitated to advance farther.
“Come in， gentlemen， come in. You are here in my apartment， and we are all faithful servants of the king and the cardinal.”
“Then， gentlemen， you will not oppose our executing the orders we have received？” asked the one who appeared to be the leader of the party.
“On the contrary， gentlemen， we would assist you if it were necessary.”
“What is he saying？” grumbled Porthos.
“That you are a simpleton，” said Athos. “Hold your tongue.”
“But you promised me—” said the poor mercer， in a very low voice.
“We can save you only by being free ourselves，” replied D’Artagnan in a low and hurried tone； “and if we appear inclined to defend you， they will arrest us with you.”
“It seems to me， nevertheless—”
“Come in， gentlemen， come in！” called out D’Artagnan； “I have no motive for defending the gentleman. I saw him to-day for the first time， and he can tell you on what occasion. He came to demand the rent of my lodging.—Is that not true， M. Bonacieux？ Answer.”
“That’s the very truth，” cried the mercer； “but the gentleman does not tell you—”
“Silence with respect to me； silence with respect to my friends； silence about the queen， above all， or you will ruin everybody without saving yourself.—Now， gentlemen， come， take away this man！”
And D’Artagnan pushed the half-stupefied mercer among the guards， saying to him，
“You are a shabby old fellow， my dear. You come to demand money of me—of a musketeer！—To prison with him. Gentlemen， once more， take him to prison， and keep him under key as long as possible； that will give me time to pay him.”
The officers were full of thanks， and took away their prey.
“Why， what devilish villainy have you done there，” said Porthos， when the head policeman had rejoined his companions， and the four friends were left alone. “Shame， shame， for four musketeers to allow an unfortunate devil who cried out for help to be arrested in their midst. And a gentleman to hobnob with a bailiff！”
“Porthos，” said Aramis， “Athos has already told you you are a simpleton， and I am quite of his opinion.—D’Artagnan， you are a great man， and when you occupy M. de Tréville’s place， I will come and ask your influence to secure me an abbey.”
“Well， I am quite lost！” said Porthos. “Do you approve of what D’Artagnan has just done？”
“Zounds！ indeed I do！” said Athos. “I not only approve of what he has done， but I congratulate him upon it.”
“And now， gentlemen，” said D’Artagnan， without stopping to explain his conduct to Porthos， “all for one， one for all； that is our motto， is it not？”
“And yet—” said Porthos.
“Hold out your hand and swear！” cried Athos and Aramis at the same time.
Overcome by example， grumbling to himself， Porthos stretched out his hand， and the four friends repeated with one voice the formula dictated by D’Artagnan.
“All for one， one for all.”
“That’s well！ Now let every one retire to his own house，” said D’Artagnan， as if he had done nothing but command all his life； “and attention！ for from this moment we are at war with the cardinal.”
