made his adieus to his friends, the number of whom was, at
the moment, reduced to Planchet, traced the plan of his day,
as every busy man whose moments are counted ought to do
because he appreciates their importance.
“My departure is to be,” said he, “at break of day, three
o’clock in the morning; I have then fifteen hours before me.
Take from them the six hours of sleep which are
indispensable for me — six; one hour for repasts — seven;
one hour for a farewell visit to Athos — eight; two hours
for chance circumstances —total, ten. There are then five
hours left. One hour to get my money, — that is, to have
payment refused by M. Fouquet; another hour to go and
receive my money of M. Colbert, together with his questions
and grimaces; one hour to look over my clothes and arms, and
get my boots cleaned. I have still two hours left. Mordioux!
how rich I am!” And so saying, D’Artagnan felt a strange
joy, a joy of youth, a perfume of those great and happy
years of former times mount into his brain and intoxicate
him. “During these two hours I will go,” said the musketeer,
“and take my quarter’s rent of the Image-de-Notre-Dame. That
will be pleasant. Three hundred and seventy-five livres.
Mordioux! but that is astonishing! If the poor man who has
but one livre in his pocket, found a livre and twelve
deniers, that would be justice, that would be excellent; but
never does such a godsend fall to the lot of the poor man.
The rich man, on the contrary, makes himself revenues with
his money, which he does not even touch. Here are three
hundred and seventy-five livres which fall to me from
heaven. I will go then to the Image-de-Notre-Dame, and drink
a glass of Spanish wine with my tenant, which he cannot fail
to offer me. But order must be observed, Monsieur
d’Artagnan, order must be observed! Let us organize our
time, then, and distribute the employment of it! Art. 1st,
Athos; Art. 2d, the Image-de-Notre-Dame; Art. 3d, M.
Fouquet, Art. 4th, M. Colbert; Art. 5th, supper; Art. 6th,
clothes, boots, horse, portmanteau; Art. 7th and last,
sleep.”
In consequence of this arrangement, D’Artagnan went straight
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
to the Comte de la Fere, to whom modestly and ingenuously he
related a part of his fortunate adventures. Athos had not
been without uneasiness on the subject of D’Artagnan’s visit
to the king; but few words sufficed for an explanation of
that. Athos divined that Louis had charged D’Artagnan with
some important mission, and did not even make an effort to
draw the secret from him. He only recommended him to take
care of himself, and offered discreetly to accompany him if
that were desirable.
“But, my dear friend,” said D’Artagnan, “I am going
nowhere.”
“What! you come and bid me adieu, and are going nowhere?”
“Oh! yes, yes,” replied D’Artagnan, coloring a little, “I am
going to make an acquisition.”
“That is quite another thing. Then I change my formula.
Instead of `Do not get yourself killed,’ I will say, — `Do
not get yourself robbed.'”
“My friend, I will inform you if I set eyes on any property
that pleases me, and shall expect you will favor me with
your opinion.”
“Yes, yes,” said Athos, too delicate to permit himself even
the consolation of a smile. Raoul imitated the paternal
reserve. But D’Artagnan thought it would appear too
mysterious to leave his friends under a pretense, without
even telling them the route he was about to take.
“I have chosen Le Mans,” said he to Athos. “Is it a good
country?”
“Excellent, my friend,” replied the count, without making
him observe that Le Mans was in the same direction as La
Touraine, and that by waiting two days, at most, he might
travel with a friend. But D’Artagnan, more embarrassed than
the count, dug, at every explanation, deeper into the mud,
into which he sank by degrees. “I shall set out to-morrow at
daybreak,” said he at last. “Till that time, will you come
with me, Raoul?”
“Yes, monsieur le chevalier,” said the young man, “if