Part 64 (1/2)
The Gascon sighed ”There was a time,” said he, ”when you would have placed that order open upon the table, saying, 'D'Artagnan, read this scrawl to Porthos, Aramis, and to me'”
”That is true Oh! that was the tienerous season when the blood co!”
”Well! Athos, will you allow htful ti by warret them at all It is absolutely like the period of studies I have constantly met with fools ould boast of the days of pensuular, but I never loved all that; for ht be (you know if I was so, Athos), however siht appear in my clothes, I would not the less have preferred the braveries and embroideries of Porthos to e to the wind in winter and the sun in summer
I should always, ood Now, in ti with me, and every old crown less in my poor purse; of that execrable ti, nothing, nothing save our friendshi+p; for within me I have a heart, and it is a miracle that heart has not been dried up by the wind of poverty which passed through all the holes of my cloak, or pierced by the swords of all shapes which passed through the holes in ret our friendshi+p,” said Athos, ”that will only die with ourselves Friendshi+p is cos, of memories and habits, and if you have just now made a little satire upon mine, because I hesitate to tell you the nature of my mission into France--”
”Who! I?--Oh! heavens! if you knew, my dear friend, how indifferent all the missions of the world will henceforth become to me!” And he laid his hand upon the parchment in his vest pocket
Athos rose fro
”Since I have known you, ed the reckoning Porthos often did, Aramis sometimes, and you, you almost always drew out your purse with the dessert I am now rich, and should like to try if it is heroic to pay”
”Do so,” said Athos, returning his purse to his pocket
The two friends then directed their steps towards the port, not, however, without D'Artagnan's frequently turning round to watch the transportation of his dear crowns Night had just spread her thick veil over the yelloaters of the Thames; they heard those noises of casks and pulleys, the preli to sail which had so many tiers of the sea were the least of those they were going to face This tie vessel which awaited them at Gravesend, and Charles II, always delicate in small affairs, had sent one of his yachts, with twelve uard, to do honor to the aht the yacht had deposited its passengers on board the vessel, and at eight o'clock in the , the vessel landed the ane Whilst the coht to Paris, D'Artagnan hastened to the hostelry where, according to his orders, his little arentlemen were at breakfast upon oysters, fish, and spiced brandy, when D'Artagnan appeared They were all very gay, but not one of them had yet exceeded the bounds of reason A hurrah of joy welconan, ”the ca each his supplereed upon” Their eyes sparkled ”I will lay a wager there are not, at thisin the purse of the richest a you”
”That is true!” cried they in chorus
”Gentlenan, ”then, this is the last order The treaty of commerce has been concluded, thanks to our coup-de-main which land, for now I am at liberty to confess to you that the man we had to carry off was the treasurer of General Monk”
This word treasurer produced a certain effect on his arnan observed that the eyes of Menneville alone did not evince perfect faith
”This treasurer,” he continued, ”I conveyed to a neutral territory, Holland; I forced hin the treaty; I have even reconducted hied to be satisfied with our proceedings towards hi, and being lined softly, I asked a gratification for you Here it is” He threw a respectable-looking purse upon the cloth; and all involuntarily stretched out their hands ”One nan; ”if there are profits, there are also charges”
”Oh! oh!” murmured they
”We are about to find ourselves, my friends, in a position which would not be tenable for people without brains I speak plainly; we are between the gallows and the Bastile”
”Oh! Oh!” said the chorus
”That is easily understood It was necessary to explain to General Monk the disappearance of his treasurer I waited, for that purpose, till the unhoped-forCharles II, who is one of lance of satisfaction in reply to the sufficiently proud look of D'Artagnan ”The king being restored, I restored to Monk his man of business, a little plucked, it is true, but, in short, I restored him Now, General Monk, when he pardonedthese words to rave deeply there, between the eyes, under the vault of the craniuood one, but I don't naturally like jokes; if ever a word of what you have done' (you understand me, Menneville) 'escapes froovernment of Scotland and Ireland, seven hundred and forty-one wooden gibbets, of strong oak, clareased every week I will ibbets to each of you, and observe well, M d'Artagnan,' added he (observe it also, M Menneville), 'I shall still have seven hundred and thirty left for my private pleasure And still further--'”
”Ah! ah!” said the auxiliaries, ”is there still nan, I send to the king of France the treaty in question, with a request that he will cast into the Bastile provisionally, and then send to me, all who have taken part in this expedition; and that is a prayer hich the king will certainly comply'”
A cry of terror broke from all corners of the table
”There! there! there!” said D'Artagnan, ”this brave M Monk has forgotten one thing, and that is he does not know the name of any one of you; I alone know you, and it is not I, you well may believe, ill betray you Why should I? As for you--I cannot suppose you will be silly enough to denounce yourselves, for then the king, to spare hi you, will send you off to Scotland, where the seven hundred and forty-one gibbets are to be found That is all, messieurs; I have not another word to add to what I have had the honor to tell you I am sure you have understood me perfectly well, have you not, M Menneville?”