Part 83 (1/2)
”Suppose arn the masters”
”Let's wait for Grimaud”
”But perhaps they have killed him”
”Grimaud would have cried out”
”You know he is almost dumb”
”We should have heard the blow, then”
”But if he doesn't return?”
”Here he is”
At that very moment Grimaud drew back the cloak which hid the aperture and ca wide open with terror, so that the pupils were contracted ale circle of white around them He held in his hand a tankard full of a dark substance, and approaching the gleale monosyllable: ”Oh!” with such an expression of extreme terror that Mousqueton started, alarht
Both, however, cast an inquisitive glance into the tankard--it was full of gunpowder
Convinced that the shi+p was full of powder instead of having a cargo of wine, Grinan, who had no sooner beheld hi extraordinary had taken place Iht lamp, then knelt down and poured into the lieutenant's ear a recital ive it pith
This was the gist of his strange story: The first barrel that Gri into the compartment he struck--it was empty He passed on to another--it, also, was empty, but the third which he tried was, froave out, evidently full At this point Griiot; he therefore placed his tankard under it and turned the spout; so, whatever it was the cask contained, fell silently into the tankard
Whilst he was thinking that he should first taste the liquor which the tankard contained before taking it to his companions, the door of the cellar opened and a man with a lantern in his hands and enveloped in a cloak, cashead, behind which Gri him come in, instantly crept This was Groslow He was acco and flexible rolled up, rese line His face was hidden under the wide bri that they had come, as he had, to try the port wine, effaced himself behind his cask and consoled himself with the reflection that if he were discovered the crireat one
”Have you the wick?” asked the one who carried the lantern
”Here it is,” answered the other
At the voice of this last speaker, Grih his very ently, so that his head was just above the round of the barrel, and under the large hat he recognized the pale face of Mordaunt
”How long will this fuse burn?” asked this person
”About five minutes,” replied the captain
That voice also was known to Grimaud He looked fronized Groslow
”Then tell the men to be in readiness--don't tell theht collect your boat”
”That is, when I have lighted the match?”
”I will undertake that I wish to be sure ofis ready”
”'Tis well”
Mordaunt knelt down and fastened one end of the train to the spigot, in order that heto do but to set it on fire at the opposite end with the match
He then arose
”You hear ht--in fact, in twenty minutes”
”I understand all perfectly, sir,” replied Groslow; ”but allow er in what you undertake; would it not be better to intrust one of the men to set fire to the train?”
”My dear Groslow,” answered Mordaunt, ”you know the French proverb, 'Nothing one does not do one's self is ever well done' I shall abide by that rule”
Grimaud had heard all this, if he had not understood it But what he saw uage He had seen the two mortal enemies of the musketeers, had seen Mordaunt adjust the fuse; he had heard the proverb, which Mordaunt had given in French Then he felt and felt again the contents of the tankard he held in his hand; and, instead of the lively liquor expected by Blaisois and Mousqueton, he found beneath his fingers the grains of some coarse powder
Mordaunt went aith the captain At the door he stopped to listen
”Do you hear how they sleep?” he asked
In fact, Porthos could be heard snoring through the partition
”'Tis God who gives them into our hands,” answered Groslow
”This time the devil himself shall not save theether
72 End of the Port Wine Mystery
Grirind in the lock and when he was satisfied that he was alone he slowly rose fro with his sleeve large drops of sweat from his forehead, ”how lucky it was that Mousqueton was thirsty!”
Hehiunpowder in the tankard proved to hiined that D'Artagnan listened to these details with increasing interest; before Gri hishim on the shoulder to prevent a sudden et up and don't nan, pressing his hand, repeated his call Aranan; ”warn him as I have warned you”
Araht, like that of all persons of a finely organized constitution But there wasto ask full explanation of that breaking in on his sleep, which was very annoying to hi, closed hishis arms, drew to him the heads of his three friends till they almost touched one another
”Friends,” he said, ”we must leave this craft at once or we are dead men”
”Bah!” said Athos, ”are you still afraid?”
”Do you knoho is captain of this vessel?”
”No”