"Consider all this done. Do you wish to see the powder-room?"
"No. When you return I will set the fuse myself, but be careful to conceal your face, so that you cannot be recognized by them."
"Never fear."
"There's ten o'clock striking at Greenwich."
Groslow, then, having given the sailor on duty an order to be on the watch with more than usual vigilance, went down into the longboat and soon reached Greenwich. The wind was chilly and the jetty was deserted, as he approached it; but he had no sooner landed than he heard a noise of horses galloping upon the paved road.
These horsemen were our friends, or rather, an avant garde, composed of D'Artagnan and Athos. As soon as they arrived at the spot where Groslow stood they stopped, as if guessing that he was the man they wanted. Athos alighted and calmly opened the handkerchief tied at each corner, whilst D'Artagnan, ever cautious, remained on horseback, one hand upon his pistol, leaning forward watchfully.
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. He was so well wrapped up in his cloak that it would have been impossible to see his face even if the night had not been so dark as to render precaution superfluous; nevertheless, the keen glance of Athos perceived at once it was not Rogers who stood before them.
"What do you want with us?" he asked of Groslow.
"I wish to inform you, my lord," replied Groslow, with an Irish accent, feigned of course, "that if you are looking for Captain Rogers you will not find him. He fell down this morning and broke his leg. But I'm his cousin; he told me everything and desired me to watch instead of him, and in his place to conduct, wherever they wished to go, the gentlemen who should bring me a handkerchief tied at each corner, like that one which you hold and one which I have in my pocket."
And he drew out the handkerchief.
"Was that all he said?" inquired Athos.
"No, my lord; he said you had engaged to pay seventy pounds if I landed you safe and sound at Boulogne or any other port you choose in France."
"What do you think of all this?" said Athos, in a low tone to D'Artagnan, after explaining to him in French what the sailor had said in English.
"It seems a likely story to me."
"And to me, too."
"Besides, we can but blow out his brains if he proves false," said the Gascon; "and you, Athos, you know something of everything and can be our captain. I dare say you know how to navigate, should he fail us."
"My dear friend, you guess well. My father meant me for the navy and I have some vague notions about navigation."
"You see!" cried D'Artagnan.
They then summoned their friends, who, with Blaisois, Musqueton and Grimaud, promptly joined them, leaving Parry behind them, who was to take back to London the horses of the gentlemen and of their lackeys, which had been sold to the host in settlement of their account with him. 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 ******," Musqueton had said; "he is thinking of Groslow."
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.
A slight click of the tongue against his teeth informed Athos of the Gascon's uneasiness.
"We have no time now for suspicions," said Athos. "The boat is waiting for us; come."
"Besides," said Aramis, "what prevents our being distrustful and going aboard at the same time? We can watch the skipper."
"And if he doesn't go straight I will crush him, that's all."
"Well said, Porthos," replied D'Artagnan. "Let us go, then.
You first, Musqueton," and he stopped his friends, directing the valets to go first, in order to test the plank leading from the pier to the boat.
The three valets passed without accident. Athos followed them, then Porthos, then Aramis. D'Artagnan went last, still shaking his head.
"What in the devil is the matter with you, my friend?" said Porthos. "Upon my word you would make Caesar afraid."
"The matter is," replied D'Artagnan, "that I can see upon this pier neither inspector nor sentinel nor exciseman."
"And you complain of that!" said Porthos. "Everything goes as if in flowery paths."
"Everything goes too well, Porthos. But no matter; we must trust in God."
As soon as the plank was withdrawn the captain took his place at the tiller and made a sign to one of the sailors, who, boat-hook in hand, began to push out from the labyrinth of boats in which they were involved. The other sailor had already seated himself on the port side and was ready to row. As soon as there was room for rowing, his companion rejoined him and the boat began to move more rapidly.
"At last we are off!" exclaimed Porthos.
"Alas," said Athos, "we depart alone."