my money has never been a burden to me.”
“How so? Do you place it out at interest?”
“No; you know I have a tolerably handsome house; and that
house composes the better part of my property.”
“I know it does.”
“So that you can be as rich as I am, and, indeed more rich,
whenever you like, by the same means.”
“But your rents, — do you lay them by?”
“What do you think of a chest concealed in a wall?”
“I never made use of such a thing.”
“Then you must have some confidant, some safe man of
business who pays you interest at a fair rate.”
“Not at all.”
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“Good heavens! what do you do with it, then?”
“I spend all I have, and I only have what I spend, my dear
D’Artagnan.”
“Ah that may be. But you are something of a prince, fifteen
or sixteen thousand livres melt away between your fingers;
and then you have expenses and appearances —- ”
“Well, I don’t see why you should be less of a noble than I
am, my friend; your money would be quite sufficient.”
“Three hundred thousand crowns! Two-thirds too much!”
“I beg your pardon — did you not tell me? — I thought I
heard you say — I fancied you had a partner —- ”
“Ah! Mordioux! that’s true,” cried D’Artagnan, coloring;
“there is Planchet. I had forgotten Planchet, upon my life!
Well! there are my three hundred thousand crowns broken
into. That’s a pity! it was a round sum, and sounded well.
That is true, Athos; I am no longer rich. What a memory you
have!”
“Tolerably good; yes, thank God!”
“The worthy Planchet!” grumbled D’Artagnan; “his was not a
bad dream! What a speculation! Peste! Well! what is said is
said.”
“How much are you to give him?”
“Oh!” said D’Artagnan, “he is not a bad fellow; I shall
arrange matters with him. I have had a great deal of
trouble, you see, and expenses; all that must be taken into
account.”
“My dear friend, I can depend upon you, and have no fear for
the worthy Planchet; his interests are better in your hands
than in his own. But now that you have nothing more to do
here, we shall depart, if you please. You can go and thank
his majesty, ask if he has any commands, and in six days we
may be able to get sight of the towers of Notre Dame.”
“My friend, I am most anxious to be off, and will go at once
and pay my respects to the king.”
“I,” said Athos, “am going to call upon some friends in the
city, and shall then be at your service.”
“Will you lend me Grimaud?”
“With all my heart. What do you want to do with him?”
“Something very simple, and which will not fatigue him; I
shall only beg him to take charge of my pistols, which lie
there on the table near that coffer.”
“Very well!” replied Athos, imperturbably.
“And he will not stir, will he?”
“Not more than the pistols themselves.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Then I shall go and take leave of his majesty. Au revoir!”
D’Artagnan arrived at St. James’s, where Charles II. who was
busy writing, kept him in the ante-chamber a full hour.
Whilst walking about in the gallery, from the door to the
window, from the window to the door, he thought he saw a
cloak like Athos’s cross the vestibule; but at the moment he
was going to ascertain if it were he, the usher summoned him
to his majesty’s presence. Charles II. rubbed his hands
while receiving the thanks of our friend.
“Chevalier,” said he, “you are wrong to express gratitude to
me; I have not paid you a quarter of the value of the
history of the box into which you put the brave general —
the excellent Duke of Albemarle, I mean.” And the king
laughed heartily.
D’Artagnan did not think it proper to interrupt his majesty,
and bowed with much modesty.
“A propos,” continued Charles, “do you think my dear Monk