Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

to the post assigned him, whilst Monk and Athos turned

behind a column at the foot of which, penetrating through a

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

crack, was a moonbeam, reflected exactly on the stone which

the Comte de la Fere had come so far in search.

“This is it,” said Athos, pointing out to the general the

Latin inscription.

“Yes,” said Monk.

Then, as if still willing to leave the Frenchman one means

of evasion, —

“Do you not observe that this vault has already been broken

into,” continued he, “and that several statues have been

knocked down?”

“My lord, you have, without doubt, heard that the religious

respect of your Scots loves to confide to the statues of the

dead the valuable objects they have possessed during their

lives. Therefore, the soldiers had reason to think that

under the pedestals of the statues which ornament most of

these tombs, a treasure was hidden. They have consequently

broken down pedestal and statue: but the tomb of the

venerable canon, with which we have to do, is not

distinguished by any monument. It is simple, therefore it

has been protected by the superstitious fear which your

Puritans have always had of sacrilege. Not a morsel of the

masonry of this tomb has been chipped off.”

“That is true,” said Monk.

Athos seized the lever.

“Shall I help you?” said Monk.

“Thank you, my lord; but I am not willing that your honor

should lend your hand to a work of which, perhaps, you would

not take the responsibility if you knew the probable

consequences of it.”

Monk raised his head.

“What do you mean by that, monsieur?”

“I mean — but that man —- ”

“Stop,” said Monk; “I perceive what you are afraid of. I

shall make a trial.” Monk turned towards the fisherman, the

whole of whose profile was thrown upon the wall.

“Come here, friend!” said he in English, and in a tone of

command.

The fisherman did not stir.

“That is well,” continued he: “he does not know English.

Speak to me, then, in English, if you please, monsieur.”

“My lord,” replied Athos, “I have frequently seen men in

certain circumstances have sufficient command over

themselves not to reply to a question put to them in a

language they understood. The fisherman is perhaps more

learned than we believe him to be. Send him away, my lord, I

beg you.”

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

“Decidedly,” said Monk, “he wishes to have me alone in this

vault. Never mind, we shall go through with it; one man is

as good as another man; and we are alone. My friend,” said

Monk to the fisherman, “go back up the stairs we have just

descended, and watch that nobody comes to disturb us.” The

fisherman made a sign of obedience. “Leave your torch,” said

Monk; “it would betray your presence, and might procure you

a musket-ball.”

The fisherman appeared to appreciate the counsel; he laid

down the light, and disappeared under the vault of the

stairs. Monk took up the torch, and brought it to the foot

of the column.

“Ah, ah!” said he; “money, then, is concealed under this

tomb?”

“Yes, my lord; and in five minutes you will no longer doubt

it.”

At the same time Athos struck a violent blow upon the

plaster, which split, presenting a chink for the point of

the lever. Athos introduced the bar into this crack, and

soon large pieces of plaster yielded, rising up like rounded

slabs. Then the Comte de la Fere seized the stones and threw

them away with a force that hands so delicate as his might

not have been supposed capable of having.

“My lord,” said Athos, “this is plainly the masonry of which

I told your honor.”

“Yes; but I do not yet see the casks,” said Monk.

“If I had a dagger,” said Athos, looking round him, “you

should soon see them, monsieur. Unfortunately, I left mine

in your tent.”

“I would willingly offer you mine,” said Monk, “but the

blade is too thin for such work.”

Athos appeared to look around him for a thing of some kind

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