The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [310]
The lackeys, each proceeding according to directions, were to meet again at eleven o’clock on the morrow. If by then they had discovered Milady’s hiding place, three would mount guard and the fourth report back to Béthune.
The lackeys having been thoroughly briefed, Athos rose from his chair, clasped on his sword, wrapped himself in his cloak, and left the inn. It was ten o’clock. In the provinces, as we all know, the streets are little frequented at that hour, yet Athos combed them, apparently looking for someone to question. Finally, encountering a belated passer-by, he accosted him and whispered a few words. The man, drawing back in terror, replied with a gesture of the hand. Athos offered him half a pistole to accompany him, but he shook his head.
Athos then started down the street which the man had pointed out but, reaching a square where four roads crossed, was visibly embarrassed. However, since the crossroads offered him the best chance of meeting somebody, he walked. Indeed within a few moments a night watchman passed. Athos repeated the same question he had asked the first man. The patrolman evinced the same terror, refused in his turn to accompany Athos, and merely pointed his finger toward the road Athos was to take.
Following the direction indicated, Athos reached the outskirts of the city diametrically opposite to those where he and his companions lodged. Then once again, anxious and at a loss, he stopped for the third time. Fortunately a beggar passed and, accosting him, implored alms. Athos offered him a crown on condition he accompany him to his destination. The mendicant hesitated at first but the sight of the silver coin shining through the half-darkness was too much for him. Bracing himself up, he nodded consent and set out ahead of Athos.
Reaching a street corner, he pointed to a small house in the distance, isolated, lonely and dismal. Athos approached it while the beggar, having received his reward, ran off as fast as his legs could carry him.
Athos walked around the house before he could distinguish the door from amid the reddish paint with which its walls were daubed. No light glimmered through the cracks of the shutters, no sound gave reason to suppose the house was inhabited. All was dark and silent as the tomb.
Athos knocked twice without receiving an answer. At his third knock he heard footsteps within. Presently the door swung ajar and a tall, very pale man with black hair and a black beard, thrust his neck forward.
Athos and the man exchanged a few whispered words, then the man motioned Athos to enter. Athos immediately complied and the door closed behind him.
The man Athos had come so far to seek and had found with such difficulty ushered him into his laboratory where he was engaged in lashing the rattling bones of a skeleton with wire to make them fast. The torso was already reconstituted but the skull lay wobbling on a table.
The rest of the furnishings indicated that the occupant of the house was interested in the natural sciences. There were jars filled with snakes, labeled according to their species; dried lizards, set in large frames of black wood, shone like cut emeralds; and bunches of wild odoriferous herbs Athos had never seen hung down from the ceiling. Athos found no signs of a family or a servant; undoubtedly the tall man lived quite alone.
Athos surveyed the laboratory with a cold indifferent glance and, at the other’s invitation, sat down. The tall man remained standing. Athos then explained the reason for his visit and the favor he requested; but he had barely finished when the stranger recoiled with terror, shaking his head in refusal. Athos then drew from his pocket a small piece of paper containing two lines accompanied