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Porthos said nothing, but he handled in his pocket the fifty pistoles he had gained from Groslow with a degree of satisfaction which betrayed itself in his whole bearing. Arrived at Ryston, D'Artagnan assembled his friends. His face had lost the expression of careless gayety it had worn like a mask the whole day. Athos pinched Aramis's hand. "The moment is at hand," he said.
Really, Captain Groslow, you are too much in fortune's way. This can't last," and he drew another twenty from his pocket. "One more turn, captain; twenty pistoles on one throw only one, the last." "Done for twenty," replied Groslow. And he turned up two cards as usual, a king for D'Artagnan and an ace for himself.
Groslow jumped up, ashamed at being surprised in the midst of wine, cards, and dice. But Harrison paid not the least attention to him, and entering the king's room, followed by his companion: "Charles Stuart," said he, "an order has come to conduct you to London without stopping day or night. Prepare yourself, then, to start at once." "And by whom is this order given?" asked the king.
It lasted but an instant; the red glow that had lit up the sea for miles around vanished; the burning fragments fell hissing into the water; and, with the exception of a vibration in the air, all was calm as before. The felucca had disappeared; Groslow and his men were annihilated.
On seeing the appointed signal, Groslow, who had at first crept behind one of the cannon planted on that spot, walked straight up to the gentlemen.
"Very good," said Groslow, and opened the door of the room. "I will show you the way," and he went in first. D'Artagnan turned to look at his friends. Porthos was perfectly indifferent; Athos, pale, but resolute; Aramis was wiping a slight moisture from his brow. The eight guards were at their posts.
"About five minutes," replied the captain. That voice also was known to Grimaud. He looked from one to the other and after Mordaunt he recognized Groslow. "Then tell the men to be in readiness don't tell them why now. When the clock strikes a quarter after midnight collect your men. Get down into the longboat." "That is, when I have lighted the match?" "I will undertake that.
All this while Groslow and his men were assembled on deck. "Haul up the cable and draw the boat to us," said Groslow. One of the sailors got down the side of the ship, seized the cable, and drew it; it came without the least resistance. "The cable is cut!" he cried, "no boat!" "How! no boat!" exclaimed Groslow; "it is impossible."
Athos and Aramis suppressed as well as they could the disgust they felt in the presence of such coarseness and brutality. In short, Groslow seemed to be pleased with his reception. Athos and Aramis kept themselves to their role. Furthermore, D'Artagnan went with them, leaving Porthos at play with Groslow.
"And do you think," asked Groslow, "that Stuart will ever escape while I am on guard?" "No, to be sure," replied D'Artagnan; "unless, forsooth, the sky rains friends upon him." Groslow's face brightened.
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