"Lord, Constance, that was my best doublet!"
"The devil with your doublet! The queen is in dire danger and all you can think about is sex!"
“What, the queen in danger? Well then, why didn't you say so? Here, just let me remove this foul-smelling doublet- "
"The king has ordered a ball to be held in honor of the queen," said Constance. "And he has asked her to wear the diamond studs he gave her…"
"Yes, go on, I'll just remove these soiled breeches…"
"But the queen gave her diamond studs to Milord Buckingham," said Constance. "Richelieu must have found out about it, his spies are everywhere."
"Indeed. Here, come over to the bed and help me pull these boots off…"
"If the queen does not get back her diamond studs in time, she will be ruined! She has given me a letter to Milord Buckingham. You must go to London and bring back the studs or-"
"Yes, of course, I'll depart first thing in the morning."
"Oh! D'Artagnan!"
"Sssh, you'll wake your husband."
"Oh! Stop it!" There was a ripping sound. "My dress!"
"I'll buy you another. I'll buy you a whole closetful of dresses-"
Bennett switched off the speaker. "Well, that's it," he said. "Taylor's made his move. It's started."
"What's the plan?" said Lucas.
"I don't know for certain," Bennett said. "Somehow, he's going to interfere with the musketeers and prevent them from delivering the studs. The queen's affair with the prime minister of England will be made public and her reputation will be ruined. She may even be accused of treason."
"Then we're going to have to make sure that she gets her studs back," Lucas said. "We're not going to be able to do that unless you cooperate with us."
"I can't allow myself to be arrested," Bennett said.
"Look, if Mongoose wanted to arrest you, he could have done so at any time," said Finn. "He knows all about you, who you are and what you do. He's had you watched."
"You were being used by both sides, Bennett," Lucas said. "Look, Mongoose isn't interested in your connection with the underground. He doesn't care. All he wants is to get Taylor."
"So I tell him what I've told you and he lets me go, is that it? You really expect me to believe that? I've told you men everything I know. There isn't anything further that I can-"
The door was kicked in and five men dressed in the uniform of Richelieu's guard burst into the room, knocking Delaney to the floor. Bennett reacted immediately, firing his laser. One of the men fell dead, another fired a laser of his own at Bennett, killing him instantly. There was a crash of glass as Andre dove through a window. From outside, someone shouted and there was the sound of several pairs of running footsteps. Mongoose entered the room, dressed in the uniform of a captain in the cardinal's guard. He glanced briefly at Bennett's body.
"The fool could have saved himself a lot of trouble," he said.
Bonacieux came hobbling out, looking like a startled chicken.
"What is it? What's the matter? What is the reason for this ruckus? Can't a poor man get some-" He saw the agents in the uniform of the cardinal's guard and instantly fell silent, eyes wide with terror.
"Back in your room!" said Mongoose. Bonacieux gave a little yelp, then ducked back into his bedroom like a frightened rabbit darting back into its hole. The door slammed and they heard the key turn in the lock.
"All right, get him out of here," said Mongoose, indicating Bennett's body. Two of the agents lifted Bennett's body from the chair, each draping an arm around their shoulders. They started toward the door when there was the sound of a door slamming upstairs and then D'Artagnan appeared, standing at the head of the stairs, shirtless and shoeless, holding a rapier in one hand while he attempted to fasten his trousers with the other. His drunken gaze fell on the agents and he gave a shout. "Hark! An invasion! To arms, my friends! One for all and one for-"
He lost his balance and fell headlong down the stairs to collapse in an unconscious heap upon the floor, his pants around his knees.
Mongoose bent over him for a moment, then straightened. "Well, he's alive," he said. "It's a miracle he didn't bust his head open." He glanced up the stairs toward D'Artagnan's room, then back down at the senseless Gascon. "Looks like Madame Bonacieux is going to have some explaining to do," he said. "You had the house bugged," Lucas said. Mongoose sighed. "Priest, you seem to be a master of stating the obvious."
"How did you know to bug D'Artagnan?"