Instead of returning directly home, D'Artagnan alighted at thedoor of M. de Treville, and ran quickly up the stairs. This timehe had decided to relate all that had passed. M. de Trevillewould doubtless give him good advice as to the whole affair.Besides, as M. de Treville saw the queen almost daily, he mightbe able to draw from her Majesty some intelligence of the pooryoung woman, whom they were doubtless making pay very dearly forher devotedness to her mistress.

M. de Treville listened to the young man's account with aseriousness which proved that he saw something else in thisadventure besides a love affair. When D'Artagnan had finished,he said, "Hum! All this savors of his Eminence, a league off."

"But what is to be done?" said D'Artagnan.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing, at present, but quitting at Paris,as I told you, as soon as possible. I will see the queen; I willrelate to her the details of the disappearance of this poorwoman, of which she is no doubt ignorant. These details willguide her on her part, and on your return, I shall perhaps havesome good news to tell you. Rely on me."

D'Artagnan knew that, although a Gascon, M. de Treville was notin the habit of making promises, and that when by chance he didpromise, he more than kept his word. He bowed to him, then, fullof gratitude for the past and for the future; and the worthycaptain, who on his side felt a lively interest in this youngman, so brave and so resolute, pressed his hand kindly, wishinghim a pleasant journey.

Determined to put the advice of M. de Treville in practiceinstantly, D'Artagnan directed his course toward the Rue desFossoyeurs, in order to superintend the packing of his valise.On approaching the house, he perceived M. Bonacieux in morningcostume, standing at his threshold. All that the prudentPlanchet had said to him the preceding evening about the sinistercharacter of the old man recurred to the mind of D'Artagnan, wholooked at him with more attention than he had done before. Infact, in addition to that yellow, sickly paleness which indicatesthe insinuation of the bile in the blood, and which might,besides, be accidental, D'Artagnan remarked somethingperfidiously significant in the play of the wrinkled features ofhis countenance. A rogue does not laugh in the same way that anhonest man does; a hypocrite does not shed the tears of a man ofgood faith. All falsehood is a mask; and however well made themask may be, with a little attention we may always succeed indistinguishing it from the true face.

It appeared, then, to D'Artagnan that M. Bonacieux wore a mask,and likewise that that mask was most disagreeable to look upon.In consequence of this feeling of repugnance, he was about topass without speaking to him, but, as he had done the day before,M. Bonacieux accosted him.

"Well, young man," said he, "we appear to pass rather gay nights!Seven o'clock in the morning! PESTE! You seem to reverseordinary customs, and come home at the hour when other people aregoing out."

"No one can reproach you for anything of the kind, MonsieurBonacieux," said the young man; "you are a model for regularpeople. It is true that when a man possesses a young and prettywife, he has no need to seek happiness elsewhere. Happinesscomes to meet him, does it not, Monsieur Bonacieux?"

Bonacieux became as pale as death, and grinned a ghastly smile.

"Ah, ah!" said Bonacieux, "you are a jocular companion! Butwhere the devil were you gladding last night, my young master?It does not appear to be very clean in the crossroads."

D'Artagnan glanced down at his boots, all covered with mud; butthat same glance fell upon the shoes and stockings of the mercer,and it might have been said they had been dipped in the same mudheap. Both were stained with splashes of mud of the sameappearance.

Then a sudden idea crossed the mind of D'Artagnan. That littlestout man, short and elderly, that sort of lackey, dressed indark clothes, treated without ceremony by the men wearing swordswho composed the escort, was Bonacieux himself. The husband hadpresided at the abduction of his wife.

A terrible inclination seized D'Artagnan to grasp the mercer bythe throat and strangle him; but, as we have said, he was a veryprudent youth, and he restrained himself. However, therevolution which appeared upon his countenance was so visiblethat Bonacieux was terrified at it, and he endeavored to drawback a step or two; but as he was standing before the half of thedoor which was shut, the obstacle compelled him to keep hisplace.

"Ah, but you are joking, my worthy man!" said D'Artagnan. Itappears to me that if my boots need a sponge, your stockings andshoes stand in equal need of a brush. May you not have beenphilandering a little also, Monsieur Bonacieux? Oh, the devil!That's unpardonable in a man of your age, and who besides, hassuch a pretty wife as yours."

"Oh, Lord! no," said Bonacieux, "but yesterday I went to St.Mande to make some inquiries after a servant, as I cannotpossibly do without one; and the roads were so bad that I broughtback all this mud, which I have not yet had time to remove."

The place named by Bonacieux as that which had been the object ofhis journey was a fresh proof in support of the suspicionsD'Artagnan had conceived. Bonacieux had named Mande becauseMande was in an exactly opposite direction from St. Cloud. Thisprobability afforded him his first consolation. If Bonacieuxknew where his wife was, one might, by extreme means, force themercer to open his teeth and let his secret escape. Thequestion, then, was how to change this probability into acertainty.

"Pardon, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, if I don't stand uponceremony," said D'Artagnan, "but nothing makes one so thirsty aswant of sleep. I am parched with thirst. Allow me to take aglass of water in your apartment; you know that is never refusedamong neighbors."

Without waiting for the permission of his host, D'Artagnan wentquickly into the house, and cast a rapid glance at the bed. Ithad not been used. Bonacieux had not been abed. He had onlybeen back an hour or two; he had accompanied his wife to theplace of her confinement, or else at least to the first relay.

"Thanks, Monsieur Bonacieux," said D'Artagnan, emptying hisglass, "that is all I wanted of you. I will now go up into myapartment. I will make Planchet brush my boots; and when he hasdone, I will, if you like, send him to you to brush your shoes."

He left the mercer quite astonished at his singular farewell, andasking himself if he had not been a little inconsiderate.

At the top of the stairs he found Planchet in a great fright.

"Ah, monsieur!" cried Planchet, as soon as he perceived hismaster, "here is more trouble. I thought you would never comein."

"What's the matter now, Planchet?" demanded D'Artagnan.

"Oh! I give you a hundred, I give you a thousand times to guess,monsieur, the visit I received in your absence."

"When?"

"About half an hour ago, while you were at Monsieur deTreville's."

"Who has been here? Come, speak."

"Monsieur de Cavois."

"Monsieur de Cavois?"

"In person."

"The captain of the cardinal's Guards?"

"Himself."

"Did he come to arrest me?"

"I have no doubt that he did, monsieur, for all his wheedlingmanner."

"Was he so sweet, then?"

"Indeed, he was all honey, monsieur."

"Indeed!"

"He came, he said, on the part of his Eminence, who wished youwell, and to beg you to follow him to the Palais-Royal."*

*It was called the Palais-Cardinal before Richelieu gave it tothe King.

"What did you answer him?"

"That the thing was impossible, seeing that you were not at home,as he could see."

"Well, what did he say then?"

"That you must not fail to call upon him in the course of theday; and then he added in a low voice, 'Tell your master that hisEminence is very well disposed toward him, and that his fortuneperhaps depends upon this interview.'"

"The snare is rather MALADROIT for the cardinal," replied theyoung man, smiling.

"Oh, I saw the snare, and I answered you would be quite indespair on your return.

"'Where has he gone?' asked Monsieur de Cavois.

"'To Troyes, in Champagne,' I answered.

"'And when did he set out?'

"'Yesterday evening.'"

"Planchet, my friend," interrupted D'Artagnan, "you are really aprecious fellow."

"You will understand, monsieur, I thought there would be stilltime, if you wish, to see Monsieur de Cavois to contradict me bysaying you were not yet gone. The falsehood would then lie at mydoor, and as I am not a gentleman, I may be allowed to lie."

"Be of good heart, Planchet, you shall preserve your reputationas a veracious man. In a quarter of an hour we set off."

"That's the advice I was about to give Monsieur; and where are wegoing, may I ask, without being too curious?"

"PARDIEU! In the opposite direction to that which you said I wasgone. Besides, are you not as anxious to learn news of Grimaud,Mousqueton, and Bazin as I am to know what has become of Athos,Porthos, and Aramis?"

"Yes, monsieur," said Planchet, "and I will go as soon as youplease. Indeed, I think provincial air will suit us much betterjust now than the air of Paris. So then - "

"So then, pack up our luggage, Planchet, and let us be off. Onmy part, I will go out with my hands in my pockets, that nothingmay be suspected. You may join me at the Hotel des Gardes. Bythe way, Planchet, I think you are right with respect to ourhost, and that he is decidedly a frightfully low wretch."

"Ah, monsieur, you may take my word when I tell you anything. Iam a physiognomist, I assure you."

D'Artagnan went out first, as had been agreed upon. Then, inorder that he might have nothing to reproach himself with, hedirected his steps, for the last time, toward the residences ofhis three friends. No news had been received of them; only aletter, all perfumed and of an elegant writing in smallcharacters, had come for Aramis. D'Artagnan took charge of it.Ten minutes afterward Planchet joined him at the stables of theHotel des Gardes. D'Artagnan, in order that there might be notime lost, had saddled his horse himself.

"That's well," said he to Planchet, when the latter added theportmanteau to the equipment. "Now saddle the other threehorses."

"Do you think, then, monsieur, that we shall travel faster withtwo horses apiece?" said Planchet, with his shrewd air.

"No, Monsieur Jester," replied D'Artagnan; "but with our fourhorses we may bring back our three friends, if we should have thegood fortune to find them living."

"Which is a great chance," replied Planchet, "but we must notdespair of the mercy of God."

"Amen!" said D'Artagnan, getting into his saddle.

As they went from the Hotel des Gardes, they separated, leavingthe street at opposite ends, one having to quit Paris by theBarriere de la Villette and the other by the Barriere Montmartre,to meet again beyond St. Denis - a strategic maneuver which,having been executed with equal punctuality, was crowned with themost fortunate results. D'Artagnan and Planchet enteredPierrefitte together.

Planchet was more courageous, it must be admitted, by day than bynight. His natural prudence, however, never forsook him for asingle instant. He had forgotten not one of the incidents of thefirst journey, and he looked upon everybody he met on the road asan enemy. It followed that his hat was forever in his hand,which procured him some severe reprimands from D'Artagnan, whofeared that his excess of politeness would lead people to thinkhe was the lackey of a man of no consequence.

Nevertheless, whether the passengers were really touched by theurbanity of Planchet or whether this time nobody was posted onthe young man's road, our two travelers arrived at Chantillywithout any accident, and alighted at the tavern of Great St.Martin, the same at which they had stopped on their firstjourney.

The host, on seeing a young man followed by a lackey with twoextra horses, advanced respectfully to the door. Now, as theyhad already traveled eleven leagues, D'Artagnan thought it timeto stop, whether Porthos were or were not in the inn. Perhaps itwould not be prudent to ask at once what had become of theMusketeer. The result of these reflections was that D'Artagnan,without asking information of any kind, alighted, commended thehorses to the care of his lackey, entered a small room destinedto receive those who wished to be alone, and desired the host tobring him a bottle of his best wine and as good a breakfast aspossible - a desire which further corroborated the high opinionthe innkeeper had formed of the traveler at first sight.

D'Artagnan was therefore served with miraculous celerity. Theregiment of the Guards was recruited among the first gentlemen ofthe kingdom; and D'Artagnan, followed by a lackey, and travelingwith four magnificent horses, despite the simplicity of hisuniform, could not fail to make a sensation. The host desiredhimself to serve him; which D'Artagnan perceiving, ordered twoglasses to be brought, and commenced the following conversation.

"My faith, my good host," said D'Artagnan, filling the twoglasses, "I asked for a bottle of your best wine, and if you havedeceived me, you will be punished in what you have sinned; forseeing that I hate drinking my myself, you shall drink with me.Take your glass, then, and let us drink. But what shall we drinkto, so as to avoid wounding any susceptibility? Let us drink tothe prosperity of your establishment."

"Your Lordship does me much honor," said the host, "and I thankyou sincerely for your kind wish."

"But don't mistake," said D'Artagnan, "there is more selfishnessin my toast than perhaps you may think - for it is only inprosperous establishments that one is well received. In hotelsthat do not flourish, everything is in confusion, and thetraveler is a victim to the embarrassments of his host. Now, Itravel a great deal, particularly on this road, and I wish to seeall innkeepers making a fortune."

"It seems to me," said the host, "that this is not the first timeI have had the honor of seeing Monsieur."

"Bah, I have passed perhaps ten times through Chantilly, and outof the ten times I have stopped three or four times at your houseat least. Why I was here only ten or twelve days ago. I wasconducting some friends, Musketeers, one of whom, by the by, hada dispute with a stranger - a man who sought a quarrel with him,for I don't know what."

"Exactly so," said the host; "I remember it perfectly. It is notMonsieur Porthos that your Lordship means?"

"Yes, that is my companion's name. My God, my dear host, tell meif anything has happened to him?"

"Your Lordship must have observed that he could not continue hisjourney."

"Why, to be sure, he promised to rejoin us, and we have seennothing of him."

"He has done us the honor to remain here."

"What, he had done you the honor to remain here?"

"Yes, monsieur, in this house; and we are even a little uneasy - "

"On what account?"

"Of certain expenses he has contracted."

"Well, but whatever expenses he may have incurred, I am sure heis in a condition to pay them."

"Ah, monsieur, you infuse genuine balm into my blood. We havemade considerable advances; and this very morning the surgeondeclared that if Monsieur Porthos did not pay him, he should lookto me, as it was I who had sent for him."

"Porthos is wounded, then?"

"I cannot tell you, monsieur."

"What! You cannot tell me? Surely you ought to be able to tellme better than any other person."

"Yes; but in our situation we must not say all we know - particularly as we have been warned that our ears should answerfor our tongues."

"Well, can I see Porthos?"

"Certainly, monsieur. Take the stairs on your right; go up thefirst flight and knock at Number One. Only warn him that it isyou."

"Why should I do that?"

"Because, monsieur, some mischief might happen to you."

"Of what kind, in the name of wonder?"

"Monsieur Porthos may imagine you belong to the house, and in afit of passion might run his sword through you or blow out yourbrains."

"What have you done to him, then?"

"We have asked him for money."

"The devil! Ah, I can understand that. It is a demand thatPorthos takes very ill when he is not in funds; but I know hemust be so at present."

"We thought so, too, monsieur. As our house is carried on veryregularly, and we make out our bills every week, at the end ofeight days we presented our account; but it appeared we hadchosen an unlucky moment, for at the first word on the subject,he sent us to all the devils. It is true he had been playing theday before."

"Playing the day before! And with whom?"

"Lord, who can say, monsieur? With some gentleman who wastraveling this way, to whom he proposed a game of LANSQUENET."

"That's it, then, and the foolish fellow lost all he had?"

"Even to his horse, monsieur; for when the gentleman was about toset out, we perceived that his lackey was saddling MonsieurPorthos's horse, as well as his master's. When we observed thisto him, he told us all to trouble ourselves about our ownbusiness, as this horse belonged to him. We also informedMonsieur Porthos of what was going on; but he told us we werescoundrels to doubt a gentleman's word, and that as he had saidthe horse was his, it must be so."

"That's Porthos all over," murmured D'Artagnan.

"Then," continued the host, "I replied that as from the moment weseemed not likely to come to a good understanding with respect topayment, I hoped that he would have at least the kindness togrant the favor of his custom to my brother host of the GoldenEagle; but Monsieur Porthos replied that, my house being thebest, he should remain where he was. This reply was tooflattering to allow me to insist on his departure. I confinedmyself then to begging him to give up his chamber, which is thehandsomest in the hotel, and to be satisfied with a pretty littleroom on the third floor; but to this Monsieur Porthos repliedthat as he every moment expected his mistress, who was one of thegreatest ladies in the court, I might easily comprehend that thechamber he did me the honor to occupy in my house was itself verymean for the visit of such a personage. Nevertheless, whileacknowledging the truth of what he said, I thought proper toinsist; but without even giving himself the trouble to enter intoany discussion with me, he took one of his pistols, laid it onhis table, day and night, and said that at the first word thatshould be spoken to him about removing, either within the houseor our of it, he would blow out the brains of the person whoshould be so imprudent as to meddle with a matter which onlyconcerned himself. Since that time, monsieur, nobody enter hischamber but his servant."

"What! Mousqueton is here, then?"

"Oh, yes, monsieur. Five days after your departure, he cameback, and in a very bad condition, too. It appears that he hadmet with disagreeables, likewise, on his journey. Unfortunately,he is more nimble than his master; so that for the sake of hismaster, he puts us all under his feet, and as he thinks we mightrefuse what he asked for, he takes all he wants without asking atall."

"The fact is," said D'Artagnan, "I have always observed a greatdegree of intelligence and devotedness in Mousqueton."

"That is possible, monsieur; but suppose I should happen to bebrought in contact, even four times a year, with suchintelligence and devotedness - why, I should be a ruined man!"

"No, for Porthos will pay you."

"Hum!" said the host, in a doubtful tone.

"The favorite of a great lady will not be allowed to beinconvenienced for such a paltry sum as he owes you."

"If I durst say what I believe on that head - "

"What you believe?"

"I ought rather to say, what I know."

"What you know?"

"And even what I am sure of."

"And of what are you so sure?"

"I would say that I know this great lady."

"You?"

"Yes; I."

"And how do you know her?"

"Oh, monsieur, if I could believe I might trust in yourdiscretion."

"Speak! By the word of a gentleman, you shall have no cause torepent of your confidence."

"Well, monsieur, you understand that uneasiness makes us do manythings."

"What have you done?"

"Oh, nothing which was not right in the character of a creditor."

"Well?"

"Monsieur Porthos gave us a note for his duchess, ordering us toput it in the post. This was before his servant came. As hecould not leave his chamber, it was necessary to charge us withthis commission."

"And then?"

"Instead of putting the letter in the post, which is never safe,I took advantage of the journey of one of my lads to Paris, andordered him to convey the letter to this duchess himself. Thiswas fulfilling the intentions of Monsieur Porthos, who haddesired us to be so careful of this letter, was it not?"

"Nearly so."

"Well, monsieur, do you know who this great lady is?"

"No; I have heard Porthos speak of her, that's all."

"Do you know who this pretended duchess is?

"I repeat to you, I don't know her."

"Why, she is the old wife of a procurator* of the Chatelet,monsieur, named Madame Coquenard, who, although she is at leastfifty, still gives herself jealous airs. It struck me as veryodd that a princess should live in the Rue aux Ours."

*Attorney

"But how do you know all this?"

"Because she flew into a great passion on receiving the letter,saying that Monsieur Porthos was a weathercock, and that she wassure it was for some woman he had received this wound."

"Has he been wounded, then?"

"Oh, good Lord! What have I said?"

"You said that Porthos had received a sword cut."

"Yes, but he has forbidden me so strictly to say so."

"And why so."

"Zounds, monsieur! Because he had boasted that he wouldperforate the stranger with whom you left him in dispute; whereasthe stranger, on the contrary, in spite of all his rodomontadesquickly threw him on his back. As Monsieur Porthos is a veryboastful man, he insists that nobody shall know he has receivedthis wound except the duchess, whom he endeavored to interest byan account of his adventure."

"It is a wound that confines him to his bed?"

"Ah, and a master stroke, too, I assure you. Your friend's soulmust stick tight to his body."

"Were you there, then?"

"Monsieur, I followed them from curiosity, so that I saw thecombat without the combatants seeing me."

"And what took place?"

"Oh! The affair was not long, I assure you. They placedthemselves on guard; the stranger made a feint and a lunge, andthat so rapidly that when Monsieur Porthos came to the PARADE, hehad already three inches of steel in his breast. He immediatelyfell backward. The stranger placed the point of his sword at histhroat; and Monsieur Porthos, finding himself at the mercy of hisadversary, acknowledged himself conquered. Upon which thestranger asked his name, and learning that it was Porthos, andnot D'Artagnan, he assisted him to rise, brought him back to thehotel, mounted his horse, and disappeared."

"So it was with Monsieur D'Artagnan this stranger meant toquarrel?"

"It appears so."

"And do you know what has become of him?"

"No, I never saw him until that moment, and have not seen himsince."

"Very well; I know all that I wish to know. Porthos's chamberis, you say, on the first story, Number One?"

"Yes, monsieur, the handsomest in the inn - a chamber that I couldhave let ten times over."

"Bah! Be satisfied," said D'Artagnan, laughing, "Porthos willpay you with the money of the Duchess Coquenard."

"Oh, monsieur, procurator's wife or duchess, if she will butloosen her pursestrings, it will be all the same; but shepositively answered that she was tired of the exigencies andinfidelities of Monsieur Porthos, and that she would not send hima denier."

"And did you convey this answer to your guest?"

"We took good care not to do that; he would have found in whatfashion we had executed his commission."

"So that he still expects his money?"

"Oh, Lord, yes, monsieur! Yesterday he wrote again; but it washis servant who this time put the letter in the post."

"Do you say the procurator's wife is old and ugly?"

"Fifty at least, monsieur, and not at all handsome, according toPathaud's account."

"In that case, you may be quite at ease; she will soon besoftened. Besides, Porthos cannot owe you much."

"How, not much! Twenty good pistoles, already, without reckoningthe doctor. He denies himself nothing; it may easily be seen hehas been accustomed to live well."

"Never mind; if his mistress abandons him, he will find friends,I will answer for it. So, my dear host, be not uneasy, andcontinue to take all the care of him that his situationrequires."

"Monsieur has promised me not to open his mouth about theprocurator's wife, and not to say a word of the wound?"

"That's agreed; you have my word."

"Oh, he would kill me!"

"Don't be afraid; he is not so much of a devil as he appears."

Saying these words, D'Artagnan went upstairs, leaving his host alittle better satisfied with respect to two things in which heappeared to be very much interested - his debt and his life.

At the top of the stairs, upon the most conspicuous door of thecorridor, was traced in black ink a gigantic number "1."D'Artagnan knocked, and upon the bidding to come in which camefrom inside, he entered the chamber.

Porthos was in bed, and was playing a game at LANSQUENET withMousqueton, to keep his hand in; while a spit loaded withpartridges was turning before the fire, and on each side of alarge chimneypiece, over two chafing dishes, were boiling twostewpans, from which exhaled a double odor of rabbit and fishstews, rejoicing to the smell. In addition to this he perceivedthat the top of a wardrobe and the marble of a commode werecovered with empty bottles.

At the sight of his friend, Porthos uttered a loud cry of joy;and Mousqueton, rising respectfully, yielded his place to him,and went to give an eye to the two stewpans, of which he appearedto have the particular inspection.

"Ah, PARDIEU! Is that you?" said Porthos to D'Artagnan. "Youare right welcome. Excuse my not coming to meet you; but," addedhe, looking at D'Artagnan with a certain degree of uneasiness,"you know what has happened to me?"

"No."

"Has the host told you nothing, then?"

"I asked after you, and came up as soon as I could."

Porthos seemed to breathe more freely.

"And what has happened to you, my dear Porthos?" continuedD'Artagnan.

"Why, on making a thrust at my adversary, whom I had already hitthree times, and whom I meant to finish with the fourth, I put myfoot on a stone, slipped, and strained my knee."

"Truly?"

"Honor! Luckily for the rascal, for I should have left him deadon the spot, I assure you."

"And what has became of him?"

"Oh, I don't know; he had enough, and set off without waiting forthe rest. But you, my dear D'Artagnan, what has happened toyou?"

"So that this strain of the knee," continued D'Artagnan, "my dearPorthos, keeps you in bed?"

"My God, that's all. I shall be about again in a few days."

"Why did you not have yourself conveyed to Paris? You must becruelly bored here."

"That was my intention; but, my dear friend, I have one thing toconfess to you."

"What's that?"

"It is that as I was cruelly bored, as you say, and as I had theseventy-five pistoles in my pocket which you had distributed tome, in order to amuse myself I invited a gentleman who wastraveling this way to walk up, and proposed a cast of dice. Heaccepted my challenge, and, my faith, my seventy-five pistolespassed from my pocket to his, without reckoning my horse, whichhe won into the bargain. But you, my dear D'Artagnan?"

"What can you expect, my dear Porthos; a man is not privileged inall ways," said D'Artagnan. "You know the proverb 'Unlucky atplay, lucky in love.' You are too fortunate in your love forplay not to take its revenge. What consequence can the reversesof fortune be to you? Have you not, happy rogue that you are - have you not your duchess, who cannot fail to come to your aid?"

"Well, you see, my dear D'Artagnan, with what ill luck I play,"replied Porthos, with the most careless air in the world. "Iwrote to her to send me fifty louis or so, of which I stoodabsolutely in need on account of my accident."

"Well?"

"Well, she must be at her country seat, for she has not answeredme."

"Truly?"

"No; so I yesterday addressed another epistle to her, still morepressing than the first. But you are here, my dear fellow, letus speak of you. I confess I began to be very uneasy on youraccount."

"But your host behaves very well toward you, as it appears, mydear Porthos," said D'Artagnan, directing the sick man'sattention to the full stewpans and the empty bottles.

"So, so," replied Porthos. "Only three or four days ago theimpertinent jackanapes gave me his bill, and I was forced to turnboth him and his bill out of the door; so that I am heresomething in the fashion of a conqueror, holding my position, asit were, my conquest. So you see, being in constant fear ofbeing forced from that position, I am armed to the teeth."

"And yet," said D'Artagnan, laughing, "it appears to me that fromtime to time you must make SORTIES." And he again pointed to thebottles and the stewpans.

"Not I, unfortunately!" said Porthos. "This miserable strainconfines me to my bed; but Mousqueton forages, and brings inprovisions. Friend Mousqueton, you see that we have areinforcement, and we must have an increase of supplies."

"Mousqueton," said D'Artagnan, "you must render me a service."

"What, monsieur?"

"You must give your recipe to Planchet. I may be besieged in myturn, and I shall not be sorry for him to be able to let me enjoythe same advantages with which you gratify your master."

"Lord, monsieur! There is nothing more easy," said Mousqueton,with a modest air. "One only needs to be sharp, that's all. Iwas brought up in the country, and my father in his leisure timewas something of a poacher."

"And what did he do the rest of his time?"

"Monsieur, he carried on a trade which I have always thoughtsatisfactory."

"Which?"

"As it was a time of war between the Catholics and the Huguenots,and as he saw the Catholics exterminate the Huguenots and theHuguenots exterminate the Catholics - all in the name ofreligion - he adopted a mixed belief which permitted him to besometimes Catholic, sometimes a Huguenot. Now, he was accustomedto walk with his fowling piece on his shoulder, behind the hedgeswhich border the roads, and when he saw a Catholic coming alone,the Protestant religion immediately prevailed in his mind. Helowered his gun in the direction of the traveler; then, when hewas within ten paces of him, he commenced a conversation whichalmost always ended by the traveler's abandoning his purse tosave his life. It goes without saying that when he saw aHuguenot coming, he felt himself filled with such ardent Catholiczeal that he could not understand how, a quarter of an hourbefore, he had been able to have any doubts upon the superiorityof our holy religion. For my part, monsieur, I am Catholic - myfather, faithful to his principles, having made my elder brothera Huguenot."

"And what was the end of this worthy man?" asked D'Artagnan.

"Oh, of the most unfortunate kind, monsieur. One day he wassurprised in a lonely road between a Huguenot and a Catholic,with both of whom he had before had business, and who both knewhim again; so they united against him and hanged him on a tree.Then they came and boasted of their fine exploit in the cabaretof the next village, where my brother and I were drinking."

"And what did you do?" said D'Artagnan.

"We let them tell their story out," replied Mousqueton. "Then,as in leaving the cabaret they took different directions, mybrother went and hid himself on the road of the Catholic, and Ion that of the Huguenot. Two hours after, all was over; we haddone the business of both, admiring the foresight of our poorfather, who had taken the precaution to bring each of us up in adifferent religion."

"Well, I must allow, as you say, your father was a veryintelligent fellow. And you say in his leisure moments theworthy man was a poacher?"

"Yes, monsieur, and it was he who taught me to lay a snare andground a line. The consequence is that when I saw our laborers,which did not at all suit two such delicate stomachs as ours, Ihad recourse to a little of my old trade. While walking near thewood of Monsieur le Prince, I laid a few snare in the runs; andwhile reclining on the banks of his Highness's pieces of water, Islipped a few lines into his fish ponds. So that now, thanks beto God, we do not want, as Monsieur can testify, for partridges,rabbits, carp or eels - all light, wholesome food, suitable forthe sick."

"But the wine," said D'Artagnan, "who furnishes the wine? Yourhost?"

"That is to say, yes and no."

"How yes and no?"

"He furnishes it, it is true, but he does not know that he hasthat honor."

"Explain yourself, Mousqueton; your conversation is full ofinstructive things."

"That is it, monsieur. It has so chanced that I met with aSpaniard in my peregrinations who had seen many countries, andamong them the New World."

"What connection can the New World have with the bottles whichare on the commode and the wardrobe?"

"Patience, monsieur, everything will come in its turn."

"This Spaniard had in his service a lackey who had accompaniedhim in his voyage to Mexico. This lackey was my compatriot; andwe became the more intimate from there being many resemblances ofcharacter between us. We loved sporting of all kinds better thananything; so that he related to me how in the plains of thePampas the natives hunt the tiger and the wild bull with simplerunning nooses which they throw to a distance of twenty or thirtypaves the end of a cord with such nicety; but in face of theproof I was obliged to acknowledge the truth of the recital. Myfriend placed a bottle at the distance of thirty paces, and ateach cast he caught the neck of the bottle in his running noose.I practiced this exercise, and as nature has endowed me with somefaculties, at this day I can throw the lasso with any man in theworld. Well, do you understand, monsieur? Our host has a well-furnished cellar the key of which never leaves him; only thiscellar has a ventilating hole. Now through this ventilatinghole I throw my lasso, and as I now know in which part of thecellar is the best wine, that's my point for sport. You see,monsieur, what the New World has to do with the bottles which areon the commode and the wardrobe. Now, will you taste our wine,and without prejudice say what you think of it?"

"Thank you, my friend, thank you; unfortunately, I have justbreakfasted."

"Well," said Porthos, "arrange the table, Mousequeton, and whilewe breakfast, D'Artagnan will relate to us what has happened tohim during the ten days since he left us."

"Willingly," said D'Artagnan.

While Porthos and Mousqueton were breakfasting, with theappetites of convalescents and with that brotherly cordialitywhich unites men in misfortune, D'Artagnan related how Aramis,being wounded, was obliged to stop at Crevecoeur, how he had leftAthos fighting at Amiens with four men who accused him of being acoiner, and how he, D'Artagnan, had been forced to run the Comtesde Wardes through the body in order to reach England.

But there the confidence of D'Artagnan stopped. He only addedthat on his return from Great Britain he had brought back fourmagnificent horses - one for himself, and one for each of hiscompanions; then he informed Porthos that the one intended forhim was already installed in the stable of the tavern.

At this moment Planchet entered, to inform his master that thehorses were sufficiently refreshed and that it would be possibleto sleep at Clermont.

As D'Artagnan was tolerably reassured with regard to Porthos, andas he was anxious to obtain news of his two other friends, heheld out his hand to the wounded man, and told him he was aboutto resume his route in order to continue his researches. For therest, as he reckoned upon returning by the same route in seven oreight days, if Porthos were still at the Great St. Martin, hewould call for him on his way.

Porthos replied that in all probability his sprain would notpermit him to depart yet awhile. Besides, it was necessary heshould stay at Chantilly to wait for the answer from his duchess.

D'Artagnan wished that answer might be prompt and favorable; andhaving again recommended Porthos to the care of Mousqueton, andpaid his bill to the host, he resumed his route with Planchet,already relieved of one of his led horses.