But scarcely had the two rapiers clashed on meeting when a company of the guards of his Eminence, commanded by M. de Jussac, turned the angle of the convent.

“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. The two combatants had been seen in a position which left no doubt of their intentions.“Halloo!” cried Jussac, advancing towards them, and making a sign to his men to do the same—“halloo, musketeers! fighting here, then, are you? And the edicts—what has become of them?”

“You are very generous, gentlemen of the guards,” said Athos with acrimony, for Jussac was one of the aggressors of the preceding day. “If we were to see you fighting, I can assure you that we would make no effort to prevent you. Leave us alone, then, and you will enjoy a little amusement without cost to yourselves.”

“Gentlemen,” said Jussac, “I greatly regret to declare the thing impossible. Duty before everything. Sheathe, then, if you please, and follow us.”

“Sir,” said Aramis, parodying Jussac, “it would afford us great pleasure to obey your polite invitation if it depended upon ourselves; but unfortunately the thing is impossible: M. de Tréville has forbidden it. Pass on your way, then; it is the best thing you can do.”

This raillery exasperated Jussac.

“We will charge upon you, then,” said he, “if you disobey.”

“There are five of them,” said Athos, half aloud, “and we are but three. We shall be beaten again, and must die on the spot; for, I swear it, I will never appear before the captain again as a conquered man.”

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

This short interval was sufficient to determine D’Artagnan. It was one of those events which decide the life of a man. It was a choice between the king and the cardinal. The choice made, it must be persisted in. To fight was to disobey the law, to risk his head, to make at once an enemy of a minister more powerful than the king himself; all this the young man perceived, and yet, to his praise be it said, he did not hesitate a second. Turning towards Athos and his friends,

“Gentlemen,” said he, “allow me to correct your words, if you please. You said you were but three, but it appears to me we are four.”

“But you are not one of us,” said Porthos.

“That’s true,” replied D’Artagnan; “I do not wear the uniform, but I am with you in spirit. My heart is that of a musketeer. I feel it, sir, and that urges me on.”

“Withdraw, young man,” cried Jussac, who, doubtless by his gestures and the expression of his countenance, had guessed D’Artagnan’s design. “You may retire; we allow you to do so. Save your skin; begone quickly.”

D’Artagnan did not move.

“Well, you are a real good fellow,” said Athos, pressing the young man’s hand.

“Come, come, decide one way or the other,” replied Jussac.

“Well,” said Porthos to Aramis, “we must do something.”