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After numerous narrow escapes from Mordaunt, who pursues them with unrelenting rancour, and succeeds in assassinating their friend and his uncle, Lord de Winter, the four guardsmen embark on board a small vessel to return to France. Mordaunt discovers this, gets the captain and crew out of the way, replaces them by one Groslow and other creatures of his own, and conceals himself on board.
It was Captain Groslow, the reader will remember, who had broken Parry's head. D'Artagnan resumed immediately the attitude of distrust that was habitual with him. He found the wharf too completely deserted, the night too dark, the captain too accommodating. He had reported to Aramis what had taken place, and Aramis, not less distrustful than he, had increased his suspicions.
'Humph! thought 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 whom Groslow amused himself by trying his strength. Well, this man was making signs to another at my left, and turning around I recognized the honest Grimaud. 'Oh! said I to him.
"On his right and left, sir. Ah! there's another brave and excellent young man." "Do you know him?" asked the officer. "Yes, very well. Monsieur du Vallon and myself came from France with him." "It appears, too, you kept him waiting a long time at Boulogne." "What would you have? I was like you, and had a king in keeping." "Aha!" said Groslow; "what king?"
Athos and Aramis started with delight to find that the king was lying with his clothes on. The game began. The luck had turned, and Groslow, having won some hundred pistoles, was in the merriest possible humor.
"I understand all perfectly, sir," replied Groslow; "but allow me to say there is great danger 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."
Thanks to this stroke of business the four friends were able to take away with them a sum of money which, if not large, was sufficient as a provision against delays and accidents. Parry parted from his friends regretfully; they had proposed his going with them to France, but he had straightway declined. "It is very simple," Mousqueton had said; "he is thinking of Groslow."
"Stop a moment," cried D'Artagnan; "pray how many men have you on board, captain?" "I don't understand," was the reply. "Explain it, Athos." Groslow, on the question being interpreted, answered, "Three, without counting myself." D'Artagnan understood, for while replying the captain had raised three fingers.
But the next moment the unfortunate man was nearly killed with heavy blows of sword-hilts, and among those who set upon him the king recognized Captain Groslow. "Alas!" said Charles, "that is a severe chastisement for a very trifling fault."
"No, but I wish to have a share in my revenge. Haven't you some one who will relieve me of my horse?" Groslow whistled and a sailor appeared. "Patrick," said Groslow, "take this horse to the stables of the nearest inn. If any one asks you whose it is you can say that it belongs to an Irish gentleman." The sailor departed without reply.
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