"Biscarrat--called Cardinal--one of the four who interrupted us on the day on which we formed our friendship with D'Artagnan, sword in hand." "Precisely, gentlemen." "The only one," cried Aramis, eagerly, "we could not scratch." "Consequently, a capital blade ?" said the prisoner.
"That's true! most true!" exclaimed both friends together.

"_Ma foi!_ Monsieur Biscarrat, we are delighted to make the acquaintance of such a brave man's son." Biscarrat pressed the hands held out by the two musketeers.

Aramis looked at Porthos as much as to say, "Here is a man who will help us," and without delay,--"Confess, monsieur," said he, "that it is good to have once been a good man." "My father always said so, monsieur." "Confess, likewise, that it is a sad circumstance in which you find yourself, of falling in with men destined to be shot or hung, and to learn that these men are old acquaintances, in fact, hereditary friends." "Oh! you are not reserved for such a frightful fate as that, messieurs and friends!" said the young man, warmly.
"Bah! you said so yourself." "I said so just now, when I did not know you; but now that I know you, I say--you will evade this dismal fate, if you wish!" "How--if we wish ?" echoed Aramis, whose eyes beamed with intelligence as he looked alternately at the prisoner and Porthos.
"Provided," continued Porthos, looking, in his turn, with noble intrepidity, at M.Biscarrat and the bishop--"provided nothing disgraceful be required of us." "Nothing at all will be required of you, gentlemen," replied the officer--"what should they ask of you?
If they find you they will kill you, that is a predetermined thing; try, then, gentlemen, to prevent their finding you." "I don't think I am mistaken," said Porthos, with dignity; "but it appears evident to me that if they want to find us, they must come and seek us here." "In that you are perfectly right, my worthy friend," replied Aramis, constantly consulting with his looks the countenance of Biscarrat, who had grown silent and constrained.

"You wish, Monsieur de Biscarrat, to say something to us, to make us some overture, and you dare not--is that true ?" "Ah! gentlemen and friends! it is because by speaking I betray the watchword.

But, hark! I hear a voice that frees mine by dominating it." "Cannon!" said Porthos.
"Cannon and musketry, too!" cried the bishop.
On hearing at a distance, among the rocks, these sinister reports of a combat which they thought had ceased: "What can that be ?" asked Porthos.
"Eh! _Pardieu!_" cried Aramis; "that is just what I expected." "What is that ?" "That the attack made by you was nothing but a feint; is not that true, monsieur?
And whilst your companions allowed themselves to be repulsed, you were certain of effecting a landing on the other side of the island." "Oh! several, monsieur." "We are lost, then," said the bishop of Vannes, quietly.
"Lost! that is possible," replied the Seigneur de Pierrefonds, "but we are not taken or hung." And so saying, he rose from the table, went to the wall, and coolly took down his sword and pistols, which he examined with the care of an old soldier who is preparing for battle, and who feels that life, in a great measure, depends upon the excellence and right conditions of his arms.
At the report of the cannon, at the news of the surprise which might deliver up the island to the royal troops, the terrified crowd rushed precipitately to the fort to demand assistance and advice from their leaders.