Part 78 (1/2)
”I could see nothing but a gray beard under the fringe of the e”
”Oh!” said D'Artagnan, ”that matters little When one puts on a mask, it is not difficult to wear a beard under it”
”I am sorry I did not follow hinan, ”that's the very thing it came into my head to do”
Athos understood all now
”Pardon nan,” he said ”I have distrusted God; I could the more easily distrust you Pardon me, my friend”
”We will see about that presently,” said D'Artagnan, with a slight smile
”Well, then?” said Ara, as monsieur le comte thinks, for I knohat it is to see a ht to be accusto the masked executioner, the idea came to me, as I said, to find out who he was Now, as we are wont to complete ourselves each by all the rest and to depend on one another for assistance, as one calls his other hand to aid the first, I looked around instinctively to see if Porthos was there; for I had seen you, Ara, and you, count, I kneould be under the scaffold, and for that reason I forgive you,” he added, offering Athos his hand, ”for youaround for Porthos when I saw near me a head which had been broken, but which, for better or worse, had been patched with plaster and with black silk 'Huht I, 'that looks like my handiwork; I fancy I must have mended that skull somewhere or other' And, in fact, it was that unfortunate Scotchman, Parry's brother, you know, on whoth Well, thisaround I recognized the honest Grimaud 'Oh!' said I to hinized me, and pointed to the man in the mask 'Eh!' said he, which meant, 'Do you see him?' 'Parbleu!' I answered, and we perfectly understood one another Well, everything was finished as you know The n to Grimaud and the Scotchman, and we all three retired into a corner of the square I saw the executioner return into the king's rooe cloak and disappear Five rand staircase”
”You followed him?” cried Athos
”I should think so, but not without difficulty Every few ed us to conceal ourselves I one up to hiht console you all a little to have a share in the h the lowest streets in the city, and in half an hour's time he stopped before a little isolated house Gri it I held back his arm The man in the mask stopped before a low door and drew out a key; but before he placed it in the lock he turned around to see if he was being followed Gri nowhere to hide himself, threw himself on his face in the road Next moment the door opened and the man disappeared”
”The scoundrel!” said Ara hither he will have escaped and we shall never find hinan, ”youme for some one else”
”Nevertheless,” said Athos, ”in your absence----”
”Well, in my absence haven't I put in my place Grimaud and the Scotchman? Before he had taken ten steps beyond the door I had examined the house on all sides At one of the doors, that by which he had entered, I placed our Scotchht go, if he ca around the house I placed Griame is beaten up Now for the tally-ho”
Athos threw hinan's arood in pardoning ht to have known you better by this tinant spirit, which bids us doubt”
”Huht be Master Cromwell, who, to make sure of this affair, undertook it himself?”
”Ah! just so Cromwell is stout and short, and this man thin and lanky, rather tall than otherwise”
”Soested Athos, ”whoicide”
”No, no,” continued D'Artagnan, ”it was not the ait of a horseentleentleman!” exclaimed Athos ”Impossible! It would be a dishonor to all the nobility”
”Fine sport, by Jove!” cried Porthos, with a laugh that shook the s ”Fine sport!”
”Are you still bent on departure, Athos?” asked D'Artagnan
”No, I reesture that proood to whomsoever it was addressed
”Swords, then!” cried Aramis, ”swords! let us not lose a irded on their swords, ordered Mousqueton and Blaisois to pay the bill and to arrange everything for ie cloaks left in search of their ga, the streets were silent and deserted D'Artagnan led the way through the intricate windings and narrow alleys of the city and ere long they had reached the house in question For a ht that Parry's brother had disappeared; but he was mistaken The robust Scotchman, accustoainst a post, and like a fallen statue, insensible to the inclemency of the weather, had allowed the snow to cover him He rose, however, as they approached
”Coood servant Really, honest ht”
”Don't be in a hurry to weave crowns for our Scotchman I believe the fellow is here on his own account, for I have heard that these gentlemen born beyond the Tweed are very vindictive I should not like to be Groslow, if he lish
”No one has come out,” he replied
”Then, Porthos and Arao around to Grimaud?”
Grimaud had made himself a kind of sentry box out of a hollo, and as they drew near he put his head out and gave a lohistle
”Soho!” cried Athos
”Yes,” said Grimaud
”Well, has anybody coone in”
”A nan, ”there are two of them, then!”
”I wish there were four,” said Athos; ”the two parties would then be equal”
”Perhaps there are four,” said D'Artagnan
”What do you mean?”
”Other men may have entered before them and waited for them”
”We can find out,” said Grih the shutters of which a faint light streanan, ”let us call the others”
They returned around the house to fetch Porthos and Ara?” they asked
”No, but we are going to,” replied D'Artagnan, pointing to Griround
All four caether Grimaud continued to cli hold of a hook, which served to keep one of the shutters back when opened Then resting his foot on a sht