A great back-flood directly took place from the center to the sides of the room, so that D'Artagnan found himself isolated and dominator.
"What is this all about ?" then demanded he of the assembly, with the majestic tone of Neptune pronouncing the _Quos ego_.
At the very instant, at the first sound of his voice, to carry on the Virgilian metaphor, D'Artagnan's recruits, recognizing each his sovereign lord, discontinued their plank-fighting and trestle blows.

On their side, the sailors, seeing that long naked sword, that martial air, and the agile arm which came to the rescue of their enemies, in the person of a man who seemed accustomed to command, the sailors picked up their wounded and their pitchers.

The Parisians wiped their brows, and viewed their leader with respect.

D'Artagnan was loaded with thanks by the host of "Le Grand Monarque." He received them like a man who knows that nothing is being offered that does not belong to him, and then said he would go and walk upon the port till supper was ready.

Immediately each of the recruits, who understood the summons, took his hat, brushed the dust off his clothes, and followed D'Artagnan.