"Messieurs," said one of the young men, "there is in that which is going on, in the paleness and silence of our friend, a mystery which Biscarrat will not, or cannot reveal. Only, and that is a certainty, Biscarrat has seen something in the grotto.
"Well, for my part, I am very curious to see what it is, even if it were the devil! To the grotto! messieurs, to the grotto!"
"To the grotto!" repeated all the voices. And the echo of the cavern carried like a menace to Porthos and Aramis. "To the grotto! to the grotto!"
Biscarrat threw himself before his companions. "Messieurs! messieurs!" cried he, "in the name of Heaven! do not go in!"
"Why, what is there so terrific in the cavern?" asked several at once. "Come, speak, Biscarrat."
"Decidedly, it is the devil he has seen," repeated he who had before advanced that hypothesis.
"Well!" said another; "if he has seen him, he need not be selfish: he may as well let us have a look at him in our turns."
"Messieurs! messieurs! I beseech you," urged Biscarrat.
"Nonsense!—Let us pass!"
"Messieurs, I implore you not to enter!"