Part 72 (1/2)
D'Artagnan burst out laughing at the idea
”Jesus Dieu!” he cried; ”one of the failed to adapt hi country of yours, and the other is a knight of Malta, as tireater security we have taken from them even their penknives and pocket scissors”
”Well, then,” said Groslow, ”bring thenan
”I have eightand the other four your prisoners I'll nan, ”now I think of it--what is to prevent our beginning to-night?”
”Nothing at all,” said Groslow
”Just so Co and to- with you, to-morrow at Stuart's, the next day with ht one can lead a nan
”Yes, with Frenchmen, and Frenchmen like you”
”And Monsieur du Vallon,” added the other ”You will see what a fellow he is; a man who nearly killed Mazarin between two doors They employ hi ed bows and D'Artagnan returned to his co to that bulldog?” exclaimed Porthos
”My dear fellow, don't speak like that of Monsieur Groslow He's one of my most intimate friends”
”One of your friends!” cried Porthos, ”this butcher of unarmed farmers!”
”Hush!+ my dear Porthos Monsieur Groslow is perhaps rather hasty, it's true, but at bottoood qualities in him--he is conceited and stupid”
Porthos opened his eyes in amazement; Athos and Aranan, and knew that he did nothing without a purpose
”But,” continued D'Artagnan, ”you shall judge of hi”
”Oho!” said Porthos, his eyes glistening at the news ”Is he rich?”
”He's the son of one of the wealthiest merchants in London”
”And knows lansquenet?”
”Adores it”
”Basset?”
”His mania”
”Biribi?”
”Revels in it”
”Good,” said Porthos; ”we shall pass an agreeable evening”
”The more so, as it will be the prelude to a better”
”How so?”
”We invite hiht; he has invited us in return to-ht we stop at Derby; and if there is a bottle of wine in the town let Mousqueton buy it It will be well to prepare a light supper, of which you, Athos and Aramis, are not to partake--Athos, because I told hiht of Malta and won't mix with fellows like us Do you understand?”
”That's no doubt very fine,” said Porthos; ”but deuce take me if I understand at all”
”Porthos, my friend, you know I am descended on the father's side from the Prophets and on the mother's from the Sybils, and that I only speak in parables and riddles Let those who have ears hear and those who have eyes see; I can tell you nothing more at present”
”Go ahead, my friend,” said Athos; ”I am sure that whatever you do is well done”
”And you, Aramis, are you of that opinion?”
”Entirely so, nan; ”here indeed are true believers; it is a pleasure to workPorthos, who must see and touch before he will believe”
”The fact is,” said Porthos, with an air of finesse, ”I aave him playful buffet on the shoulder, and as they had reached the station where they were to breakfast, the conversation ended there
At five in the evening they sent Mousqueton on before as agreed upon Blaisois ith hi the principal street in Derby the four friends perceived Blaisois standing in the doorway of a handso was prepared for thenan received hi Porthos scanned him from head to foot and smiled when he discovered that in spite of the blow he had ad as himself Athos and Araust they felt in the presence of such coarseness and brutality
In short, Groslow seemed to be pleased with his reception
Athos and Araht they withdrew to their chamber, the door of which was left open on the pretext of kindly consideration Further Porthos at play with Groslow
Porthos gained fifty pistoles froreeable companion than he had at first believed him to be
As to Groslow, he pro he would recover fro reminded the Gascon of his appointnan went from Captain Groslow to Colonel Harrison and from Colonel Harrison to his friends To any one not acquainted with him he seemed to be in his normal condition; but to his friends--to Athos and Araayety
”What is he contriving?” asked Ara, but he handled in his pocket the fifty pistoles he had gained froree of satisfaction which betrayed itself in his whole bearing