Porthos, after a profession of faith of the most Christian character, asked pardon of his enemies for all the injuries he might have done them. At this paragraph, a ray of inexpressible pride beamed from the eyes of d’Artagnan. He recalled to his mind the old soldier, all those enemies of Porthos brought to the earth by his valiant hand; he reckoned up the numbers of them, and said to himself that Porthos had acted wisely not to detail his enemies or the injuries done to them, or the task would have been too much for the reader. Then came the following enumeration:-
“I possess at this present time, by the grace of God-
“1. The domain of Pierrefonds, lands, woods, meadows, waters, and forests, surrounded by good walls.
“2. The domain of Bracieux, chateau, forests, ploughed lands, forming three farms.
“3. The little estate Du Vallon, so named because it is in the valley….”
Brave Porthos!
“4. Fifty farms in Touraine, amounting to five hundred acres.
“5. Three mills upon the Cher, bringing in six hundred livres each.
“6. Three fish-pools in Berry, producing two hundred livres a year.
“As to my personal or movable property, so called because it cannot be moved, as is so well explained by my learned friend the Bishop of Vannes….”
D’Artagnan shuddered at the dismal remembrance attached to that name.
The procurator continued imperturbably.
“…they consist-
“1. In goods which I cannot detail here for want of room, and which furnish all my chateaux, or houses, but of which the list is drawn up by my intendant….”
Every one turned his eyes towards Mousqueton, who was absorbed in his grief.
“2. In twenty horses for saddle and draught, which I have particularly at my chateau of Pierrefonds, and which are called Bayard, Roland, Charlemagne, Pepin, Dunois, La Hire, Ogier, Samson, Milon, Nemrod, Urgande, Armide, Falstrade, Dalila, Rebecca, Yolande, Finette, Grisette, Lisette, and Musette.
“3. In sixty dogs, forming six packs, divided as follows: the first, for the stag; the second, for the wolf; the third, for the wild boar; the fourth, for the hare; and the two others, for watch and guard.
“4. In arms for war and the chase, contained in my gallery of arms.
“5. My wines of Anjou, selected for Athos, who liked them formerly; my wines of Burgundy, Champagne, Bordeaux, and Spain, stocking eight cellars and twelve vaults in my various houses.
“6. My pictures and statues, which are said to be of great value and which are sufficiently numerous to fatigue the sight.
“7. My library, consisting of six thousand volumes, quite new, which have never been opened.
“8. My silver plate, which perhaps is a little worn, but which ought to weigh from a thousand to twelve hundred pounds, for I had great trouble in lifting the coffer that contained it, and could not carry it more than six times round my chamber.
“9. All these objects, in addition to the table and house linen, are divided in the residences I liked the best….”
Here the reader stopped to take breath. Every one sighed, coughed, and redoubled his attention. The procurator resumed:-
“I have lived without having any children, and it is probable I never shall have any, which to me is a cutting grief. And yet I am mistaken, for I have a son, in common with my other friends: he is M. Raoul Auguste Jules de Bragelonne, the true son of M. le Comte de la Fere.
“This young nobleman has appeared to me worthy to succeed to the three valiant gentlemen of whom I am the friend and the very humble servant.”
Here a sharp sound interrupted the reader. It was d’Artagnan’s sword, which, slipping from his baldric, had fallen on the sonorous flooring. Every one turned his eyes that way, and saw that a large tear had rolled from the thick lid of d’Artagnan upon his aquiline nose, the luminous edge of which shone like a crescent enlightened by the sun. The procurator continued:-
“This is why I have left all my property, movable or immovable, comprised in the above enumerations, to M. le Vicomte Raoul Auguste Jules de Bragelonne, son of M. le Comte de la Fere, to console him for the grief he seems to suffer, and enable him to support his name gloriously.”