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Both； however； cast an inquisitive glance into the tankard it was full of gunpowder。
Convinced that the ship was full of powder instead of having a cargo of wine； Grimaud hastened to awake D'Artagnan； who had no sooner beheld him than he perceived that something extraordinary had taken place。 Imposing silence； Grimaud put out the little night lamp； then knelt down and poured into the lieutenant's ear a recital melodramatic enough not to require play of feature to give it pith。
This was the gist of his strange story：
The first barrel that Grimaud had found on passing into the partment he struck it was empty。 He passed on to another it； also； was empty； but the third which he tried was； from the dull sound it gave out； evidently full。 At this point Grimaud stopped and was preparing to make a hole with his gimlet； when he found a spigot； he therefore placed his tankard under it and turned the spout； something； whatever it was the cask contained； fell silently into the tankard。
Whilst he was thinking that he should first taste the liquor which the tankard contained before taking it to his panions； the door of the cellar opened and a man with a lantern in his hands and enveloped in a cloak； came and stood just before the hogshead； behind which Grimaud； on hearing him e in； instantly crept。 This was Groslow。 He was acpanied by another man； who carried in his hand something long and flexible rolled up； resembling a washing line。 His face was hidden under the wide brim of his hat。 Grimaud； thinking that they had e； as he had； to try the port wine； effaced himself behind his cask and consoled himself with the reflection that if he were discovered the crime was not a great one。
〃Have you the wick？〃 asked the one who carried the lantern。
〃Here it is；〃 answered the other。
At the voice of this last speaker； Grimaud started and felt a shudder creeping through his very marrow。 He rose gently； so that his head was just above the round of the barrel； and under the large hat he recognized the pale face of Mordaunt。
〃How long will this fuse burn？〃 asked this person。
〃About five minutes；〃 replied the captain。
That voice also was known to Grimaud。 He looked from one to the other and after Mordaunt he recognized Groslow。
〃Then tell the men to be in readiness don't tell them why now。 When the clock strikes a quarter after midnight collect your men。 Get down into the longboat。〃
〃That is； when I have lighted the match？〃
〃I will undertake that。 I wish to be sure of my revenge。 Are the oars in the boat？〃
〃Everything is ready。〃
〃'Tis well。〃
Mordaunt knelt down and fastened one end of the train to the spigot； in order that he might have nothing to do but to set it on fire at the opposite end with the match。
He then arose。
〃You hear me at a quarter past midnight in fact； in twenty minutes。〃
〃I understand all perfectly； sir；〃 replied Groslow； 〃but allow me to say there is great danger in what you undertake； would it not be better to intrust one of the men to set fire to the train？〃
〃My dear Groslow；〃 answered Mordaunt； 〃you know the French proverb； ‘Nothing one does not do one's self is ever well done。' I shall abide by that rule。〃
Grimaud had heard all this； if he had not understood it。 But what he saw made good what he lacked in perfect prehension of the language。 He had seen the two mortal enemies of the musketeers； had seen Mordaunt adjust the fuse； he had heard the proverb； which Mordaunt had given in French。 Then he felt and felt again the contents of the tankard he held in his hand； and； instead of the lively liquor expected by Blaisois and Musqueton； he found beneath his fingers the grains of some coarse powder。
Mordaunt went away with the captain。 At the door he stopped to listen。
〃Do you hear how they sleep？〃 he asked。
In fact； Porthos could be heard snoring through the partition。
〃'Tis God who gives them into our hands；〃 answered Groslow。
〃This time the devil himself shall not save them；〃 rejoined Mordaunt。
And they went out together。
End of the Port Wine Mystery
Grimaud waited till he heard the bolt grind in the lock and when he was satisfied that he was alone he slowly rose from his recumbent posture。
〃Ah！〃 he said； wiping with his sleeve large drops of sweat from his forehead； 〃how lucky it was that Musqueton was thirsty！〃
He made haste to pass out by the opening； still thinking himself in a dream； but the sight of the gunpowder in the tankard proved to him that his dream was a fatal nightmare。
It may be imagined that D'Artagnan listened to these details with increasing interest； before Grimaud had finished he rose without noise and putting his mouth to Aramis's ear； and at the same time touching him on the shoulder to prevent a sudden movement：
〃Chevalier；〃 he said； 〃get up and don't make the least noise。〃
Aramis awoke。 D'Artagnan； pressing his hand； repeated his call。 Aramis obeyed。
〃Athos is near you；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃warn him as I have warned you。〃
Aramis easily aroused Athos； whose sleep was light； like that of all persons of a finely organized constitution。 But there was more difficulty in arousing Porthos。 He was beginning to ask full explanation of that breaking in on his sleep； which was very annoying to him； when D'Artagnan； instead of explaining； closed his mouth with his hand。
Then our Gascon； extending his arms； drew to him the heads of his three friends till they almost touched one another。
〃Friends；〃 he said； 〃we must leave this craft at once or we are dead men。〃
〃Bah！〃 said Athos； 〃are you still afraid？〃
〃Do you know who is captain of this vessel？〃
〃No。〃
〃Captain Groslow。〃
The shudder of the three musketeers showed to D'Artagnan that his words began to make some impression on them。
〃Groslow！〃 said Aramis； 〃the devil！
〃Who is this Groslow？〃 asked Porthos。 〃I don't remember him。〃
〃Groslow is the man who broke Parry's head and is now getting ready to break ours。〃
〃Oh！ oh！〃
〃And do you know who is his lieutenant？〃
〃His lieutenant？ There is none；〃 said Athos。 〃They don't have lieu