sententiously, “it is that it has not already happened.”
“Oh, it will happen, you may be sure,” said D’Artagnan. “So
it is agreed, and if Porthos makes no objection —- ”
“I,” said Porthos, “I will do whatever you please; and
besides, I think what the Comte de la Fere said just now is
very good.”
“But your future career, D’Artagnan — your ambition,
Porthos?”
“Our future, our ambition!” replied D’Artagnan, with
feverish volubility. “Need we think of that since we are to
save the king? The king saved — we shall assemble our
friends together — we will head the Puritans — reconquer
England; we shall re-enter London — place him securely on
his throne —- ”
“And he will make us dukes and peers,” said Porthos, whose
eyes sparkled with joy at this imaginary prospect.
“Or he will forget us,” added D’Artagnan.
“Oh!” said Porthos.
“Well, that has happened, friend Porthos. It seems to me
that we once rendered Anne of Austria a service not much
less than that which to-day we are trying to perform for
Charles I.; but, none the less, Anne of Austria has
forgotten us for twenty years.”
“Well, in spite of that, D’Artagnan,” said Athos, “you are
not sorry that you were useful to her?”
“No, indeed,” said D’Artagnan; “I admit even that in my
darkest moments I find consolation in that remembrance.”
“You see, then, D’Artagnan, though princes often are
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ungrateful, God never is.”
“Athos,” said D’Artagnan, “I believe that were you to fall
in with the devil, you would conduct yourself so well that
you would take him with you to Heaven.”
“So, then?” said Athos, offering his hand to D’Artagnan.
“‘Tis settled,” replied D’Artagnan. “I find England a
charming country, and I stay — but on one condition only.”
“What is it?”
“That I am not forced to learn English.”
“Well, now,” said Athos, triumphantly, “I swear to you, my
friend, by the God who hears us — I believe that there is a
power watching over us, and that we shall all four see
France again.”
“So be it!” said D’Artagnan, “but I — I confess I have a
contrary conviction.”
“Our good D’Artagnan,” said Aramis, “represents among us the
opposition in parliament, which always says no, and always
does aye.”
“But in the meantime saves the country,” added Athos.
“Well, now that everything is decided,” cried Porthos,
rubbing his hands, “suppose we think of dinner! It seems to
me that in the most critical positions of our lives we have
always dined.”
“Oh! yes, speak of dinner in a country where for a feast
they eat boiled mutton, and as a treat drink beer. What the
devil did you come to such a country for, Athos? But I
forgot,” added the Gascon, smiling, “pardon, I forgot you
are no longer Athos; but never mind, let us hear your plan
for dinner, Porthos.”
“My plan!”
“Yes, have you a plan?”
“No! I am hungry, that is all.”
“Pardieu, if that is all, I am hungry, too; but it is not
everything to be hungry, one must find something to eat,
unless we browse on the grass, like our horses —- ”
“Ah!” exclaimed Aramis, who was not quite so indifferent to
the good things of the earth as Athos, “do you remember,
when we were at Parpaillot, the beautiful oysters that we
ate?”
“And the legs of mutton of the salt marshes,” said Porthos,
smacking his lips.
“But,” suggested D’Artagnan, “have we not our friend
Mousqueton, who managed for us so well at Chantilly,
Porthos?”
“Yes,” said Porthos, “we have Mousqueton, but since he has
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been steward, he has become very heavy; never mind, let us
call him, and to make sure that he will reply agreeably —-
“Here! Mouston,” cried Porthos.
Mouston appeared, with a most piteous face.
“What is the matter, my dear M. Mouston?” asked D’Artagnan.
“Are you ill?”
“Sir, I am very hungry,” replied Mouston.
“Well, it is just for that reason that we have called you,
my good M. Mouston. Could you not procure us a few of those