“I take it,” said M. de Busigny. “Now let us fix the stake.”

“Why, you are four, gentlemen,” said Athos, “and we are four: a dinner for eight. Will that do?”

“Capitally,” replied M. de Busigny.

“Perfectly well,” said the dragoon.

“Dat suits me,” said the Swiss.

The fourth auditor, who during all this conversation had played a mute part, nodded to show that he acquiesced in the proposition.

“The breakfast for these gentlemen is ready,” said the landlord.

“Well, bring it in,” said Athos.

The landlord obeyed. Athos called Grimaud, pointed to a large basket standing in a corner, and made a sign to him to wrap the food up in the napkins.

And bowing to all the astonished spectators, the young men started off for the bastion St. Gervais, followed by Grimaud carrying the basket, ignorant of where he was going, but, in the passive obedience which Athos had taught him, not even thinking of asking.

As long as they were within the camp the four friends did not exchange a word; besides, they were followed by inquisitive loungers, who, hearing of the wager, were anxious to know how they would succeed. But when once they had passed the line of circumvallation, and found themselves in the open field, D’Artagnan, who was completely ignorant of what was going on, thought it was time to demand an explanation.

“And now, my dear Athos,” said he, “do me the kindness to tell me where we are going.”

“Why, you see plainly enough we are going to the bastion.”

“But what are we going to do there?”

“We have some very important things to talk over, and it was impossible to talk five minutes in that tavern without being annoyed by all those importunate fellows, who keep coming in, saluting you, and addressing you. Yonder, at least,” said Athos, pointing to the bastion, “they will not come and disturb us.”

“It seems to me,” said D’Artagnan, with that prudence which was so naturally allied with his extreme bravery—“it seems to me that we could have found some retired place on the downs or by the seashore.”

“Where we should have been seen all four conferring together, so that at the end of a quarter of an hour the cardinal would have been informed by his spies that we were holding a council.”

When they reached the bastion the four friends turned round.

More than three hundred soldiers of all kinds were assembled at the gate of the camp; and in a separate group they could distinguish M. de Busigny, the dragoon, the Swiss, and the fourth wagerer.

Athos took off his hat, put it on the end of his sword, and waved it in the air. All the spectators returned him his salute, accompanying this politeness with a loud hurrah, which they plainly heard. After which they all four disappeared in the bastion, where Grimaud had already preceded them.