the dazzling fire of his looks.
“Imbecile!” cried D’Artagnan, “you think me mad! Mordioux!
On the contrary, never was my head more clear, or my heart
more joyous. To the bags, Planchet, to the bags!”
“But to what bags, good heavens!”
D’Artagnan pushed Planchet towards the window.
“Under the shed yonder, don’t you see a horse?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you see how his back is laden?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Don’t you see your lad talking with the postilion?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
“Well, you know the name of that lad, because he is your
own. Call him.”
“Abdon! Abdon!” vociferated Planchet, from the window.
“Bring the horse!” shouted D’Artagnan.
“Bring the horse!” screamed Planchet.
“Now give ten crowns to the postilion,” said D’Artagnan, in
the tone he would have employed in commanding a maneuver;
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“two lads to bring up the two first bags, two to bring up
the two last, — and move, Mordioux! be lively!”
Planchet rushed down the stairs, as if the devil had been at
his heels. A moment later the lads ascended the staircase,
bending beneath their burden. D’Artagnan sent them off to
their garrets, carefully closed the door, and addressing
Planchet, who, in his turn, looked a little wild, —
“Now, we are by ourselves,” said he, and he spread upon the
floor a large cover, and emptied the first bag into it.
Planchet did the same with the second; then D’Artagnan, all
in a tremble, let out the precious bowels of the third with
a knife. When Planchet heard the provoking sound of the
silver and gold — when he saw bubbling out of the bags the
shining crowns, which glittered like fish from the sweep-net
— when he felt himself plunging his hands up to the elbow
in that still rising tide of yellow and white coins, a
giddiness seized him, and like a man struck by lightning, he
sank heavily down upon the enormous heap, which his weight
caused to roll away in all directions. Planchet, suffocated
with joy, had lost his senses. D’Artagnan threw a glass of
white wine in his face, which incontinently recalled him to
life.
“Ah! good heavens! good heavens! good heavens!” said
Planchet, wiping his mustache and beard.
At that time, as they do now, grocers wore the cavalier
mustache and the lansquenet beard, only the money baths,
already rare in those days, have become almost unknown now.
“Mordieux!” said D’Artagnan, “there are a hundred thousand
crowns for you, partner. Draw your share, if you please, and
I will draw mine.”
“Oh! the lovely sum! Monsieur d’Artagnan, the lovely sum!”
“I confess that half an hour ago I regretted that I had to
give you so much, but I now no longer regret it; thou art a
brave grocer, Planchet. There, let us close our accounts,
for, as they say, short reckonings make long friends.”
“Oh! rather, in the first place, tell me the whole history,”
said Planchet; “that must be better than the money.”
“Ma foi!” said D’Artagnan, stroking his mustache, “I can’t
say no, and if ever the historian turns to me for
information, he will be able to say he has not dipped his
bucket into a dry spring. Listen, then, Planchet, I will
tell you all about it.”
“And I shall build piles of crowns,” said Planchet. “Begin,
my dear master.”
“Well, this is it,” said D’Artagnan, drawing breath.
“And that is it,” said Planchet, picking up his first
handful of crowns.
CHAPTER 39
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
Mazarin’s Gaming Party
In a large chamber of the Palais Royal, hung with a dark
colored velvet, which threw into strong relief the gilded
frames of a great number of magnificent pictures, on the
evening of the arrival of the two Frenchmen, the whole court
was assembled before the alcove of M. le Cardinal de
Mazarin, who gave a card party to the king and queen.
A small screen separated three prepared tables. At one of
these tables the king and the two queens were seated. Louis
XIV., placed opposite to the young queen, his wife, smiled
upon her with an expression of real happiness. Anne of