go in, Monsieur Mouston."

"I could go in as well as Grimaud," said Mousqueton, a little piqued.

"Yes, but that would take too much time and I am thirsty. I am getting
more and more seasick."

"Go in, then, Grimaud," said Mousqueton, handing him the beer pot and
gimlet.

"Rinse the glasses," said Grimaud. Then with a friendly gesture toward
Mousqueton, that he might forgive him for finishing an enterprise so
brilliantly begun by another, he glided like a serpent through the
opening and disappeared.

Blaisois was in a state of great excitement; he was in ecstasies. Of
all the exploits performed since their arrival in England by the
extraordinary men with whom he had the honor to be associated, this
seemed without question to be the most wonderful.

"You are about to see," said Mousqueton, looking at Blaisois with
an expression of superiority which the latter did not even think of
questioning, "you are about to see, Blaisois, how we old soldiers drink
when we are thirsty."

"My cloak," said Grimaud, from the bottom of the hold.

"What do you want?" asked Blaisois.

"My cloak--stop up the aperture with it."

"Why?" asked Blaisois.

"Simpleton!" exclaimed Mousqueton; "suppose any one came into the room."

"Ah, true," cried Blaisois, with evident admiration; "but it will be
dark in the cellar."

"Grimaud always sees, dark or light, night as well as day," answered
Mousqueton.

"That is lucky," said Blaisois. "As for me, when I have no candle I
can't take two steps without knocking against something."

"That's because you haven't served," said Mousqueton. "Had you been in
the army you would have been able to pick up a needle on the floor of a
closed oven. But hark! I think some one is coming."

Mousqueton made, with a low whistling sound, the sign of alarm well
known to the lackeys in the days of their youth, resumed his place at
the table and made a sign to Blaisois to follow his example.

Blaisois obeyed.

The door of their cabin was opened. Two men, wrapped in their cloaks,
appeared.

"Oho!" said they, "not in bed at a quarter past eleven. That's against
all rules. In a quarter of an hour let every one be in bed and snoring."

These two men then went toward the compartment in which Grimaud was
secreted; opened the door, entered and shut it after them.

"Ah!" cried Blaisois, "he is lost!"

"Grimaud's a cunning fellow," murmured Mousqueton.

They waited for ten minutes, during which time no nois