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〃Here it is； sir；〃 and the sailor took from his coat a
handkerchief； tied at each corner。
〃Good； quite right！〃 cried Mordaunt； springing off his
horse。 〃There's not a moment to lose； now take my horse to
the nearest inn and conduct me to your vessel。〃
〃But；〃 asked the sailor； 〃where are your companions？ I
thought there were four of you。〃
〃Listen to me； sir。 I'm not the man you take me for； you are
in Captain Rogers's post； are you not？ under orders from
General Cromwell。 Mine； also； are from him！〃
〃Indeed； sir； I recognize you； you are Captain Mordaunt。〃
Mordaunt was startled。
〃Oh； fear nothing；〃 said the skipper； showing his face。 〃I
am a friend。〃
〃Captain Groslow！〃 cried Mordaunt。
〃Himself。 The general remembered that I had formerly been a
naval officer and he gave me the command of this expedition。
Is there anything new in the wind？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃I thought； perhaps； that the king's death 〃
〃Has only hastened their flight； in ten minutes they will
perhaps be here。〃
〃What have you come for； then？〃
〃To embark with you。〃
〃Ah！ ah！ the general doubted my fidelity？〃
〃No； but I wish to have a share in my revenge。 Haven't you
some one who will relieve me of my horse？〃
Groslow whistled and a sailor appeared。
〃Patrick；〃 said Groslow； 〃take this horse to the stables of
the nearest inn。 If any one asks you whose it is you can say
that it belongs to an Irish gentleman。〃
The sailor departed without reply。
〃Now；〃 said Mordaunt； 〃are you not afraid that they will
recognize you？〃
〃There is no danger； dressed as I am in this pilot coat； on
a night as dark as this。 Besides even you didn't recognize
me； they will be much less likely to。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Mordaunt； 〃and they will be far from
thinking of you。 Everything is ready； is it not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃The cargo on board？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Five full casks？〃
〃And fifty empty ones。〃
〃Good。〃
〃We are carrying port wine to Anvers。〃
〃Excellent。 Now take me aboard and return to your post； for
they will soon be here。〃
〃I am ready。〃
〃It is important that none of your crew should see me。〃
〃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