“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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