twenty years after(二十年后)-第136章

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〃I　have　but　one　man　on　board；　and　I　am　as　sure　of　him　as　I
am　of　myself。　Besides；　he　doesn't　know　you；　like　his　mates
he　is　ready　to　obey　our　orders　knowing　nothing　of　our　plan。〃
〃Very　well；　let　us　go。〃
They　then　went　down　to　the　Thames。　A　boat　was　fastened　to
the　shore　by　a　chain　fixed　to　a　stake。　Groslow　jumped　in；
followed　by　Mordaunt；　and　in　five　minutes　they　were　quite
away　from　that　world　of　houses　which　then　crowded　the
outskirts　of　London；　and　Mordaunt　could　discern　the　little
vessel　riding　at　anchor　near　the　Isle　of　Dogs。　When　they
reached　the　side　of　this　felucca；　Mordaunt；　dexterous　in　his
eagerness　for　vengeance；　seized　a　rope　and　climbed　up　the
side　of　the　vessel　with　a　coolness　and　agility　very　rare
among　landsmen。　He　went　with　Groslow　to　the　captain's　berth；
a　sort　of　temporary　cabin　of　planks；　for　the　chief　apartment
had　been　given　up　by　Captain　Rogers　to　the　passengers；　who
were　to　be　accommodated　at　the　other　end　of　the　boat。
〃They　will　have　nothing　to　do；　then　at　this　end？〃　said
Mordaunt。
〃Nothing　at　all。〃
〃That's　a　capital　arrangement。　Return　to　Greenwich　and　bring
them　here。　I　shall　hide　myself　in　your　cabin。　You　have　a
longboat？〃
〃That　in　which　we　came。〃
〃It　appeared　light　and　well　constructed。〃
〃Quite　a　canoe。〃
〃Fasten　it　to　the　poop　with　a　rope；　put　the　oars　into　it；　so
that　it　may　follow　in　the　track　and　there　will　be　nothing　to
do　except　to　cut　the　cord。　Put　a　good　supply　of　rum　and
biscuit　in　it　for　the　seamen；　should　the　night　happen　to　be
stormy　they　will　not　be　sorry　to　find　something　to　console
themselves　with。〃
〃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　simple；〃　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。〃
〃Yes；　but　all　four　together　and　without　a　scratch；　which　is
a　consolation。〃
〃We　are　not　yet　at　our　destination；〃　observed　the　prudent
D'Artagnan；　〃beware　of　misadventure。〃
〃Ah；　my　friend！〃　cried　Porthos；　〃like　the　crows；　you　always
bring　bad　omens。　Who　could　intercept　us　on　such　a　night　as
this；　pitch　dark；　when　one　does　not　see　more　than　twenty
yards　before　one？〃
〃Yes；　but　to…morrow　morning　　〃
〃To…morrow　we　shall　be　at　Boulogne。〃
〃I　hope　so；　with　all　my　heart；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃and　I
confess　my　weakness。　Yes；　Athos；　you　may　laugh；　but　as　long
as　we　were　within　gunshot　of　the　pier　or　of　the　vessels
lying　by　it　I　was　looking　for　a　frightful　discharge　of
musketry　which　would　crush　us。〃
〃But；〃　said　Porthos；　with　great　wisdom；　〃that　was
impossible；　for　they　would　have　killed　the　captain　and　the
sailors。〃
〃Bah！　much　Monsieur　Mordaunt　would　care。　You　don't　imagine
he　would　consider　a　little　thing　like　that？〃
〃At　any　rate；〃　said　Porthos；　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　D'Artagnan
admit　that　he　is　afraid。〃
〃I　not　only　confess　it；　but　am　proud　of　it；〃　returned　the
Gascon；　〃I'm　not　such　a　rhinoceros　as　you　are。　Oho！　what's
that？〃
〃The　Lightning；〃　answered　the　captain；　〃our　felucca。〃
〃So　far；　so　good；〃　laughed　Athos。
They　went　on　board　and　the　captain　instantly　conducted　them
to