by Alexandre Dumas

“ The two friends set to work and crowded the space before the door with all the furniture in the room, as not only to make the passage impassable, but so to block the door that by no means could it open inward.
"There!" said D'Artagnan, "we can't be overtaken. Come! forward!" ”

“ Then the soldier, gagged and bound, was placed upon the hearth, the fire of which had been previously extinguished by the two friends.
"Here's a sword and a dress," said Porthos.
"I take them," said D'Artagnan, "for myself. If you want another uniform and sword you must play the same trick over again. Stop! I see the other soldier issue from the guardroom and come toward us."
"I think," replied Porthos, "it would be imprudent to attempt the same manoeuvre again; it is said that no man can succeed twice in the same way, and a failure would be ruinous. No ”

“ Have you not heard that some one is coming here?"
"Yes."
"Well, that some one will open the doors."
"But, my dear fellow, if that some one recognizes us, if that some one cries out, we are lost; for you don't propose, I imagine, that I shall kill that man of the church. ”

“ Look, I shall turn to the left, so that the soldier will be at your right, as soon as he mounts on the bench to talk to us."
"But supposing he doesn't mount?"
"He will; rely upon it. As soon as you see him get up, stretch out your arm and seize him by the neck. ”