“True,” said d’Artagnan.
“‘And so,’ continued M. Voliere-”
“Moliere.”
“Moliere; yes. ‘And so,’ went on M. Moliere, ‘you want to draw your sword, Monsieur, and you have your doublet on your back. What do you do?’ ‘I take it off,’ I answered. ‘Well, no,’ he replied. ‘How “no”?’ ‘I say that the dress should be so well made that it can in no way encumber you, even in drawing your sword.’ ‘Ah, ah!’ ‘Put yourself on guard!’ pursued he. I did it with such wondrous firmness that two panes of glass burst out of the window. ”Tis nothing, nothing,’ said he; ‘keep your position.’ I raised my left arm in the air, the forearm gracefully bent, the ruffle drooping, and my wrist curved, while my right arm, half extended, securely covered my waist with the elbow, and my breast with the wrist.”
“Yes,” said d’Artagnan, “’tis the true guard,- the academic guard.”
“You have said the very word, dear friend. In the mean while Voliere-”
“Moliere.”
“Hold! I should certainly, after all, prefer to call him- What did you say his other name was?”
“Poquelin.”
“I prefer to call him Poquelin.”
“And how will you remember this name better than the other?”
“You understand- He calls himself Poquelin, does he not?”
“Yes.”
“I shall recall to mind Madame Coquenard.”
“Good!”
“I shall change Coq into Poq, nard into lin, and instead of Coquenard I shall have Poquelin.”
“‘Tis wonderful!” cried d’Artagnan, astounded. “Go on, my friend! I am listening to you with admiration.”
“This Coquelin sketched my arm on the glass-”
“I beg your pardon,- Poquelin.”
“What did I say, then?”
“You said ‘Coquelin.'”
“Ah, true! This Poquelin, then, sketched my arm on the glass; but he took his time over it,- he kept looking at me a good deal. The fact is, that I was very handsome. ‘Does it weary you?’ he asked. ‘A little,’ I replied, bending a little in my hands; ‘but I could yet hold out an hour.’ ‘No, no; I will not allow it. We have here some willing fellows who will make it a duty to support your arms, as, of old, men supported those of the prophet. ‘Very good,’ I answered. ‘That will not be humiliating to you?’ ‘My friend,’ said I, ‘there is, I think, a great difference between being supported and being measured.'”
“The distinction is full of sense,” interrupted the captain.
“Then,” continued Porthos, “he made a sign. Two lads approached: one supported my left arm; while the other, with infinite address, supported my right arm. ‘Another man!’ cried he. A third approached. ‘Support Monsieur by the waist,’ said he. The garcon complied.”
“So that you were at rest?” asked d’Artagnan.
“Perfectly; and Poquenard drew me on the glass.”
“Poquelin, my friend.”
“Poquelin,- you are right. Stay! decidedly I prefer calling him Voliere.”
“Yes; and then it was over, wasn’t it?”
“During that time Voliere drew me on the mirror.”
“‘Twas delicate in him.”
“I much like the plan: it is respectful, and keeps every one in his place.”
“And there it ended?”
“Without a soul having touched me, my friend.”
“Except the three garcons who supported you.”
“Doubtless; but I have, I think, already explained to you the difference there is between supporting and measuring.”
“‘Tis true,” answered d’Artagnan, who said afterwards to himself, “I’ faith, I greatly deceive myself, or I have been the means of a good windfall to that rascal Moliere, and we shall assuredly see the scene hit off to the life in some comedy or other.”
Porthos smiled.
“What are you laughing at?” asked d’Artagnan.
“Must I confess it? Well, I was laughing over my good fortune.”
“Oh, that is true; I don’t know a happier man than you. But what is this last piece of luck that has befallen you?”
“Well, my dear fellow, congratulate me.”
“I desire nothing better.”
“It seems I am the first who has had his measure taken in that manner.”
“Are you sure of it?”
“Nearly so. Certain signs of intelligence that passed between Voliere and the other garcons showed me the fact.”
“Well, my friend, that does not surprise me from Moliere,” said d’Artagnan.
“Voliere, my friend.”
“Oh, no, no, indeed! I am very willing to leave you to say Voliere; but I myself shall continue to say Moliere. Well, this, I was saying, does not surprise me, coming from Moliere, who is a very ingenious fellow, and whom you inspired with this grand idea.”