"But it is probable," said the light-horman, "that they will nd pioneers this m to repair the bastion."
"Yes, that''s probable," said d''Artagnan.
"Gentlemen," said Athos, "a wager!"
"Ah, wooi, a vager!" cried the Swiss.
"What is it?" said the light-horman.
"Stop a bit," said the dragoon, plag his saber like a spit upon the two large iron dogs whibsp;held the firebrands in the ey, "stop a bit, I am in it. You curd host! a dripping pan immediately, that I may not lo a drop of the fat of this estimable bird."
"You was right," said the Swiss; "goo grea is kood with basdry."
"There!" said the dragoon. "Now for the wager! We listen, Monsieur Athos."
"Yes, the wager!" said the light-horman.
"Well, Monsieur de Busigny, I will bet you," said Athos, "that my three panions, Messieurs Porthos, Aramis, and d''Artagnan, and mylf, will go and breakfast in the bastion St. Gervais, and we will remain there an hour, by the watbsp;whatever the enemy may do to dislodge us."
Porthos and Aramis looked at eabsp;other; they began to prehend.
"But," said d''Artagnan, in the ear of Athos, "you are going to get us all killed without mercy."
"We are mubsp;more likely to be killed," said Athos, "if we do not go."
"My faith, gentlemen," said Porthos, turning round upon his chair and twisting his mustache, "that''s a fair bet, I hope."
"I take it," said M. de Busigny; "so let us fix the stake."
"You are four gentlemen," said Athos, "and we are four; an unlimited dinner for eight. Will that do?"
"Capitally," replied M. de Busigny.
"Perfectly," said the dragoon.
"That shoots me," said the Swiss.
The fourth auditor, who during all this versation had played a mute part, made a sign of the head in proof that he acquiesbsp;in the proposition.
"The breakfast for the gentlemen is ready," said the host.
"Well, bring it," said Athos.
The host obeyed. Athos called Grimaud, pointed to a large basket whibsp;lay in a er, and made a sign to him to the viands up in the napkins.
Grimaud uood that it was to be a breakfast on the grass, took the basket, packed up the viands, added the bottles, and then took the basket on his arm.