But you are under my hand, and I swear that if you make one step behind me when I raise my feet to go up to those gentlemen, I swear to you by my name, I will cleave your head in two with my sword, and pitch you into the water.

Oh! it will happen! it will happen! I have only been six times angry in my life, monsieur, and all five preceding times _I killed my man_." The officer did not stir; he became pale under this terrible threat, but replied with simplicity, "Monsieur, you are wrong in acting against my orders." Porthos and Aramis, mute and trembling at the top of the parapet, cried to the musketeer, "Good D'Artagnan, take care!" D'Artagnan made them a sign to keep silence, raised his foot with ominous calmness to mount the stair, and turned round, sword in hand, to see if the officer followed him.

The officer made a sign of the cross and stepped up.

Porthos and Aramis, who knew their D'Artagnan, uttered a cry, and rushed down to prevent the blow they thought they already heard.

But D'Artagnan passed his sword into his left hand,-- "Monsieur," said he to the officer, in an agitated voice, "you are a brave man.