by Alexandre Dumas

“ They rode on for an hour, till the horses were covered with foam and dust.
"Zounds! what is yonder?" cried D'Artagnan.
"You are very lucky if you see anything such a night as this," said Porthos.
"Something bright."
"I, too," cried Musqueton, "saw them also."
"Ah! ah! have we overtaken them?"
"Good! a dead horse!" said D'Artagnan, pulling up his horse, which shied; "it seems their horses, too, are breaking down, as well as ours." ”

“ They all set off, swift as the wind.
"Here!" cried the steward, "here!" whilst the groom ran to a neighboring building.
"Take care of your horses!" cried D'Artagnan to him.
"Fire!" replied the steward.
A gleam, like a flash of lightning, illumined the road, and with the flash was heard the whistling of balls, which were fired wildly in the air.
"They fire like grooms," said Porthos. "In the time of the cardinal people fired better than that, do you remember the road to Crevecoeur, Musqueton?" ”

“ Porthos breathed a sigh; he thought of what was in store for his poor horses.
"Very good," said D'Artagnan; "and now in what direction did they set out?"
"That I am forbidden to tell."
D'Artagnan drew from his pocket a paper. "Order of the king," he said.
"Speak to the governor, then."
"And where is the governor?"
"In the country."
Anger mounted to D'Artagnan's face; he frowned and his cheeks were colored.
"Ah, you scoundrel!" he said to the sergeant, "I believe you are impudent to me! Wait!" ”