按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃How is it all the better？〃
〃Yes； for his eminence will give you all that you want land； money； and titles。〃
〃Ah！ ah！ ah！〃 said Porthos； opening his eyes at that last word。
〃Under the other cardinal；〃 continued D'Artagnan； 〃we didn't know enough to make our profits； this； however； doesn't concern you； with your forty thousand francs ine； the happiest man in the world； it seems to me。〃
Porthos sighed。
〃At the same time；〃 continued D'Artagnan； 〃notwithstanding your forty thousand francs a year； and perhaps even for the very reason that you have forty thousand francs a year； it seems to me that a little coronet would do well on your carriage； hey？〃
〃Yes indeed；〃 said Porthos。
〃Well； my dear friend； win it it is at the point of your sword。 We shall not interfere with each other your object is a title； mine； money。 If I can get enough to rebuild Artagnan； which my ancestors； impoverished by the Crusades； allowed to fall into ruins； and to buy thirty acres of land about it； that is all I wish。 I shall retire and die tranquilly at home。〃
〃For my part；〃 said Porthos； 〃I desire to be made a baron。〃
〃You shall be one。〃
〃And have you not seen any of our other friends？〃
〃Yes； I have seen Aramis。〃
〃And what does he wish？ To be a bishop？〃
〃Aramis；〃 answered D'Artagnan； who did not wish to undeceive Porthos； 〃Aramis； fancy； has bee a monk and a Jesuit； and lives like a bear。 My offers did not arouse him； did not even tempt him。〃
〃So much the worse！ He was a clever man。 And Athos？〃
〃I have not yet seen him。 Do you know where I shall find him？〃
〃Near Blois。 He is called Bragelonne。 Only imagine； my dear friend。 Athos； who was of as high birth as the emperor and who inherits one estate which gives him the title of te； what is he to do with all those dignities the te de la Fere； te de Bragelonne？〃
〃And he has no children with all these titles？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Porthos； 〃I have heard that he had adopted a young man who resembles him greatly。〃
〃What； Athos？ Our Athos； who was as virtuous as Scipio？ Have you seen him？
〃No。〃
〃Well； I shall see him to…morrow and tell him about you； but I'm afraid； entre nous； that his liking for wine has aged and degraded him。〃
〃Yes； he used to drink a great deal；〃 replied Porthos。
〃And then he was older than any of us；〃 added D'Artagnan。
〃Some years only。 His gravity made him look older than he was。〃
〃Well then； if we can get Athos； all will be well。 If we cannot； we will do without him。 We two are worth a dozen。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos； smiling at the remembrance of his former exploits； 〃but we four； altogether； would be equal to thirty…six； more especially as you say the work will not be child's play。 Will it last long？〃
〃By'r Lady！ two or three years perhaps。〃
〃So much the better；〃 cried Porthos。 〃You have no idea； my friend； how my bones ache since I came here。 Sometimes on a Sunday； I take a ride in the fields and on the property of my neighbours； in order to pick up a nice little quarrel； which I am really in want of； but nothing happens。 Either they respect or they fear me； which is more likely； but they let me trample down the clover with my dogs； insult and obstruct every one； and I e back still more weary and low…spirited； that's all。 At any rate； tell me： there's more chance of fighting in Paris； is there not？〃
〃In that respect； my dear friend； it's delightful。 No more edicts； no more of the cardinal's guards； no more De Jussacs； nor other bloodhounds。 I'Gad！ underneath a lamp in an inn； anywhere； they ask ‘Are you one of the Fronde？' They unsheathe； and that's all that is said。 The Duke de Guise killed Monsieur de Coligny in the Place Royale and nothing was said of it。〃
〃Ah； things go on gaily； then；〃 said Porthos。
〃Besides which； in a short time；〃 resumed D'Artagnan； 〃We shall have set battles； cannonades； conflagrations and there will be great variety。〃
〃Well； then； I decide。〃
〃I have your word； then？〃
〃Yes； 'tis given。 I shall fight heart and soul for Mazarin； but 〃
〃But？〃
〃But he must make me a baron。〃
〃Zounds！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃that's settled already； I will be responsible for the barony。〃
On this promise being given； Porthos； who had never doubted his friend's assurance； turned back with him toward the castle。
In which it is shown that if Porthos was discontented with his Condition； Musqueton was pletely satisfied with his
As they returned toward the castle； D'Artagnan thought of the miseries of poor human nature； always dissatisfied with what it has； ever desirous of what it has not。
In the position of Porthos； D'Artagnan would have been perfectly happy； and to make Porthos contented there was wanting what？ five letters to put before his three names； a tiny coronet to paint upon the panels of his carriage！
〃I shall pass all my life；〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃in seeking for a man who is really contented with his lot。〃
Whilst making this reflection； chance seemed； as it were； to give him the lie direct。 When Porthos had left him to give some orders he saw Musqueton approaching。 The face of the steward； despite one slight shade of care； light as a summer cloud； seemed a physiognomy of absolute felicity。
〃Here is what I am looking for；〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃but alas！ the poor fellow does not know the purpose for which I am here。〃
He then made a sign for Musqueton to e to him。
〃Sir；〃 said the servant； 〃I have a favour to ask you。〃
〃Speak out； my friend。〃
〃I am afraid to do so。 Perhaps you will think； sir； that prosperity has spoiled me？〃
〃Art thou happy； friend？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃As happy as possible； and yet； sir； you may make me even happier than I am。〃
〃Well； speak； if it depends on me。〃
〃Oh； sir！ it depends on you only。〃
〃I listen I am waiting to hear。〃
〃Sir； the favor I have to ask of you is； not to call me
‘Musqueton' but ‘Mouston。' Since I have had the honor of being my lord's steward I have taken the last name as more dignified and calculated to make my inferiors respect me。 You； sir； know how necessary subordination is in any large establishment of servants。〃
D'Artagnan smiled； Porthos wanted to lengthen out his names； Musqueton to cut his short。
〃Well； my dear Mouston；〃 he said； 〃rest satisfied。 I will call thee Mouston； and if it makes thee happy I will not
‘tutoyer' you any longer。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Musqueton； reddening with joy； 〃if you do me； sir； such honor； I shall be grateful all my life； it is too much to ask。〃
〃Alas！〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃it is very little to offset the unexpected tribulations I am bringing to this poor devil who has so warmly weled me。〃
〃Will monsieur remain long with us？〃 asked Musqueton； with a serene and glowing countenance。
〃I go to…morrow； my friend；〃 replied D'Artagnan。
〃Ah； monsieur；〃 said Musqueton； 〃then you have e here only to awaken our regrets。〃
〃I fear that is true；〃 said D'Artagnan； in a low tone。
D'Artagnan was secretly touched with remorse； not at inducing Porthos to enter into schemes in which his life and fortune would be in jeopardy； for Porthos； in the title of baron； had his object and reward； but poor Musqueton； whose only wish was to be called Mouston was it not cruel to snatch him from the delightful state of peace and plenty in which he was？
He was thinking of these matters when Porthos summoned him to dinner。
〃What！ to dinner？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃What time is it； then？〃
〃Eh！ why； it is after one o'clock。〃
〃Your home is a paradise； Porthos； one takes no note of time。 I follow you； though I am not hungry。〃
〃e； if one can't always eat； one can always drink a maxim of poor Athos； the truth of which I have discovered since I began to be lonely。〃
D'Artagnan； who as a Gascon； was inclined to sobriety； seemed not so sure as his friend of the truth of Athos's maxim； but he did his best to keep up with his host。 Meanwhile his misgivings in regard to Musqueton recurred to his mind and with greater force because Musqueton； though he did not himself wait on the table； which would have been beneath him in his new position； appeared at the door from time to time and evinced his gratitude to D'Artagnan by the quality of the wine he directed to be served。 Therefore； when； at dessert； upon a sign from D'Artagnan； Porthos had sent away his servants and the two friends were alone：
〃Porthos；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃who will attend you in your campaigns？〃
〃Why；〃 replied Porthos； 〃Mouston； of course。〃
This was a blow to D'Artagnan。 He could already see the intendant's beaming smile change to a contortion of grief。 〃But；〃 he said； 〃Mouston is not so young as he was； my dear fellow； besides； he has grown fat and perhaps has lost his fitness for active service。〃
〃That may be true；〃 replied Porthos； 〃but I am used to him； and besides； he wouldn't be willing to let me go without him； he loves me so much。〃
〃Oh； blind self…love！〃 thought D'Artagnan。
〃And you；〃 asked Porthos； 〃haven't you still in your service your old lackey； that good； that brave； that intelligent …what； then； is his name？〃
〃Planchet y