"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."

"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