Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

“That is rather difficult,” said one of the troop.

“What then, captain?” said another.

“Because I might be able to find you again, and, who knows

what other good fortune?” He made a sign to Menneville, who

listened to all he said with a composed air. “Menneville,”

said he, “come with me. Adieu my brave fellows! I need not

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warn you to be discreet.”

Menneville followed him, whilst the salutations of the

auxiliaries were mingled with the sweet sound of the money

clinking in their pockets.

“Menneville,” said D’Artagnan, when they were once in the

street, “you were not my dupe; beware of being so. You did

not appear to me to have any fear of the gibbets of Monk, or

the Bastile of his majesty, King Louis XIV., but you will do

me the favor of being afraid of me. Then listen at the

smallest word that shall escape you, I will kill you as I

would a fowl. I have absolution from our holy father, the

pope, in my pocket.”

“I assure you I know absolutely nothing, my dear M.

d’Artagnan, and that your words have all been to me so many

articles of faith.”

“I was quite sure you were an intelligent fellow,” said the

musketeer; “I have tried you for a length of time. These

fifty gold crowns which I give you above the rest will prove

the esteem I have for you. Take them.”

“Thanks, Monsieur d’Artagnan,” said Menneville.

“With that sum you can really become an honest man,” replied

D’Artagnan, in the most serious tone possible. “It would be

disgraceful for a mind like yours, and a name you no longer

dare to bear, to sink forever under the rust of an evil

life. Become a gallant man, Menneville, and live for a year

upon those hundred gold crowns: it is a good provision;

twice the pay of a high officer. In a year come to me, and,

Mordioux! I will make something of you.”

Menneville swore, as his comrades had sworn, that he would

be as silent as the grave. And yet some one must have

spoken; and as, certainly, it was not one of the nine

companions, and quite as certainly, it was not Menneville,

it must have been D’Artagnan, who, in his quality of a

Gascon, had his tongue very near to his lips. For, in short,

if it were not he, who could it be? And how can it be

explained that the secret of the deal coffer pierced with

holes should come to our knowledge, and in so complete a

fashion that we have, as has been seen, related the history

of it in all its most minute details; details which,

besides, throw a light as new as unexpected upon all that

portion of the history of England which has been left, up to

the present day, completely in darkness by the historian of

our neighbors?

CHAPTER 38

In which it is seen that the French Grocer

had already been established in the Seventeenth Century

His accounts once settled, and his recommendations made,

D’Artagnan thought of nothing but returning to Paris as soon

as possible. Athos, on his part, was anxious to reach home

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

and to rest a little. However whole the character and the

man may remain after the fatigues of a voyage, the traveler

perceives with pleasure, at the close of the day — even

though the day has been a fine one — that night is

approaching, and will bring a little sleep with it. So, from

Boulogne to Paris, jogging on, side by side, the two

friends, in some degree absorbed each in his individual

thoughts, conversed of nothing sufficiently interesting for

us to repeat to our readers. Each of them given up to his

personal reflections, and constructing his future after his

own fashion, was, above all, anxious to abridge the distance

by speed. Athos and D’Artagnan arrived at the gates of Paris

on the evening of the fourth day after leaving Boulogne.

“Where are you going, my friend?” asked Athos. “I shall

direct my course straight to my hotel.”

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