The Three Musketeers (Translated by Richard Pevear) - Alexandre Dumas [227]
Athos pointed to the bastion.
“But,” said the silent Grimaud, still in the same dialect, “we’ll be skinned alive.”
Athos raised his eyes and finger to heaven.
Grimaud set his basket on the ground and sat down beside it, shaking his head.
Athos took a pistol from his belt, checked that it was well primed, cocked it, and brought the barrel to Grimaud’s ear.
Grimaud found himself standing up again as if on a spring.
Athos then made a sign to him to pick up the basket and walk ahead of them.
Grimaud obeyed.
All the poor lad gained from this momentary pantomime was that he passed from the rear guard to the advance guard.
On reaching the bastion, the four friends turned around.
More than three hundred soldiers of every stripe were gathered at the gate of the camp, and in a separate group they could make out M. de Busigny, the dragoon, the Switzer, and the fourth bettor.
Athos took off his hat, put it on the tip of his sword, and waved it in the air.
The spectators all returned his salute, accompanying this courtesy with a great hurrah that carried all the way to their ears.
After which, the four of them disappeared into the bastion, where they had been preceded by Grimaud.
XLVII
THE COUNCIL OF THE MUSKETEERS
As Athos had foreseen, the bastion was occupied only by a dozen dead men, both French and Rochelois.
“Gentlemen,” said Athos, who had taken command of the expedition, “while Grimaud is setting the table, let’s begin by gathering up the guns and cartridges. Besides, we can talk while we’re performing this task. These gentlemen,” he added, pointing to the dead men, “are not listening to us.”
“But we could always throw them into the ditch,” said Porthos, “after assuring ourselves that they have nothing in their pockets.”
“Yes,” said Aramis, “Grimaud will take care of that.”
“Ah, well,” said d’Artagnan, “then let Grimaud search them and throw them over the walls.”
“That we mustn’t do,” said Athos. “They may be of use to us.”
“These dead men may be of use to us?” said Porthos. “Ah, no, you’re losing your wits, my friend.”
“‘Judge not rashly,’ say the Gospels and M. le cardinal,” replied Athos. “How many guns, gentlemen?”
“Twelve,” replied Aramis.
“How many rounds of ammunition?”
“A hundred.”
“That’s all we need. Let’s load the weapons.”
The four musketeers set to work. Just as they finished loading the last gun, Grimaud made a sign that lunch was served.
Athos replied, still by a gesture, that it was a good thing, and pointed out to Grimaud a sort of pepperbox where the latter understood he should stand watch. Only, to sweeten the boredom of sentry duty, Athos allowed him to take a loaf of bread, two cutlets, and a bottle of wine.
“And now, to lunch,” said Athos.
The four friends sat cross-legged on the ground, like Turks or tailors.
“Ah!” said d’Artagnan, “now that you have no more fear of being overheard, I hope you will let us in on your secret, Athos.”
“I hope to furnish you with both pleasure and glory, gentlemen,” said Athos. “I’ve taken you on a charming stroll; here we have a most succulent lunch. And there are five hundred people back there, as you can see through the loopholes, who take us either for fools or for heroes, two classes of imbeciles that are rather similar.”
“But the secret?” asked d’Artagnan.
“The secret,” said Athos, “is that I saw Milady last evening.”
D’Artagnan was bringing his glass to his lips, but at the name of Milady, his hand shook so much that he set it down, so as not so spill the contents.
“You saw your wi…”
“Quiet!” interrupted Athos. “You forget, my dear, that these gentlemen are not initiated, as you are, into the secret of my family affairs. I saw Milady.”
“And where was that?” asked d’Artagnan.
“Some two leagues from here, at the inn of the Red Dovecote.”
“In that case I’m done for,” said d’Artagnan.
“No, not quite yet,” Athos picked up, “for by now she must have left the shores of France.”
D’Artagnan drew a deep breath.
“But,” asked Porthos, “who is this Milady after all?”
“A charming woman,” said Athos, sipping a glass