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Athos lost no more time in combating this immutable resolution. He gave all his attention to preparing, during the two days the duke had granted him, the proper appointments for Raoul. This labor chiefly concerned Grimaud, who immediately applied himself to it with the good-will and intelligence we know he possessed.
Grimaud Speaks. Grimaud was left alone with the executioner, who in a few moments opened his eyes. "Help, help," he murmured; "oh, God! have I not a single friend in the world who will aid me either to live or to die?" "Take courage," said Grimaud; "they are gone to find assistance." "Who are you?" asked the wounded man, fixing his half opened eyes on Grimaud.
"My intention is to make profession, and become a knight of Malta," added Bragelonne, letting fall, one by one, words more icy than the drops which fall from the bare trees after the tempests of winter. Under this blow Athos staggered and the prince himself was moved. Grimaud uttered a heavy groan, and let fall the bottle, which was broken without anybody paying attention.
Grimaud, in fact, was not only the accountant, but the armorer of the party; and as he was a man full of forethought, these trousers, carefully rolled up in his valise, contained every sort of tool for immediate use. Mousqueton, therefore, was soon provided with tools and he began his task. In a few minutes he had extracted three boards.
Then turning to Athos he added: "I seem to miss something here. I am really sorry to go away without having seen Grimaud." "Grimaud!" replied Athos. "I'm surprised you have never so much as asked after him. I have lent him to a friend " "Who will understand the signs he makes?" returned D'Artagnan. "I hope so." The friends embraced cordially; D'Artagnan pressed Raoul's hand.
"But," again objected Raoul, "you cannot leave monsieur le comte thus alone; monsieur le comte, whom you have never quitted?" Grimaud turned his diamond eyes upon Athos and Raoul, as if to measure the strength of both. The comte uttered not a word. "Monsieur le comte prefers my going," said Grimaud. "I do," said Athos, by an inclination of the head.
Convinced that the ship was full of powder instead of having a cargo of wine, Grimaud hastened to awake D'Artagnan, who had no sooner beheld him than he perceived that something extraordinary had taken place. Imposing silence, Grimaud put out the little night lamp, then knelt down and poured into the lieutenant's ear a recital melodramatic enough not to require play of feature to give it pith.
"You, yes, you!" cried Raoul, touched to the inmost heart. "Alas!" said Athos, "you are very old, my good Grimaud." "So much the better," replied the latter, with an inexpressible depth of feeling and intelligence. "But the embarkation is begun," said Raoul, "and you are not prepared." "Yes," said Grimaud, showing the keys of his trunks, mixed with those of his young master.
Grimaud thanked D'Artagnan by a grimace, which was evidently intended for a smile, and accompanied both the friends to the door. Athos entered first into the carriage; D'Artagnan followed him without saying a word to the coachman. The departure had taken place so quietly, that it excited no disturbance or attention even in the neighborhood.
"And yet," said Porthos, "I would like to know what Grimaud is about." "Silence, Porthos!" said Aramis. "What is her brother-in-law's name?" "Lord de Winter." "Where is he now?" "He returned to London at the first sound of war." "Well, there's just the man we want," said Athos. "It is he whom we must warn.
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