〃And he has no children with all these titles？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Porthos； 〃I have heard that he had adopted a
young man who resembles him greatly。〃
〃What； Athos？ Our Athos； who was as virtuous as Scipio？ Have
you seen him？
〃No。〃
〃Well； I shall see him to…morrow and tell him about you； but
I'm afraid； entre nous； that his liking for wine has aged
and degraded him。〃
〃Yes； he used to drink a great deal；〃 replied Porthos。
〃And then he was older than any of us；〃 added D'Artagnan。
〃Some years only。 His gravity made him look older than he
was。〃
〃Well then； if we can get Athos； all will be well。 If we
cannot； we will do without him。 We two are worth a dozen。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos； smiling at the remembrance of his
former exploits； 〃but we four； altogether； would be equal to
thirty…six； more especially as you say the work will not be
child's play。 Will it last long？〃
〃By'r Lady！ two or three years perhaps。〃
〃So much the better；〃 cried Porthos。 〃You have no idea； my
friend； how my bones ache since I came here。 Sometimes on a
Sunday； I take a ride in the fields and on the property of
my neighbours； in order to pick up a nice little quarrel；
which I am really in want of； but nothing happens。 Either
they respect or they fear me； which is more likely； but they
let me trample down the clover with my dogs； insult and
obstruct every one； and I come back still more weary and
low…spirited； that's all。 At any rate； tell me： there's more
chance of fighting in Paris； is there not？〃
〃In that respect； my dear friend； it's delightful。 No more
edicts； no more of the cardinal's guards； no more De
Jussacs； nor other bloodhounds。 I'Gad！ underneath a lamp in
an inn； anywhere； they ask ‘Are you one of the Fronde？' They
unsheathe； and that's all that is said。 The Duke de Guise
killed Monsieur de Coligny in the Place Royale and nothing
was said of it。〃
〃Ah； things go on gaily； then；〃 said Porthos。
〃Besides which； in a short time；〃 resumed D'Artagnan； 〃We
shall have set battles； cannonades； conflagrations and there
will be great variety。〃
〃Well； then； I decide。〃
〃I have your word； then？〃
〃Yes； 'tis given。 I shall fight heart and soul for Mazarin；
but 〃
〃But？〃
〃But he must make me a baron。〃
〃Zounds！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃that's settled already； I will
be responsible for the barony。〃
On this promise being given； Porthos； who had never doubted
his friend's assurance； turned back with him toward the
castle。
12
In which it is shown that if Porthos was discontented with
his Condition； Musqueton was completely satisfied with his。
As they returned toward the castle； D'Artagnan thought of
the miseries of poor human nature； always dissatisfied with
what it has； ever desirous of what it has not。
In the position of Porthos； D'Artagnan would have been
perfectly happy； and to make Porthos contented there was
wanting what？ five letters to put before his three names；
a tiny coronet to paint upon the panels of his carriage！
〃I shall pass all my life；〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃in seeking
for a man who is really contented with his lot。〃
Whilst making this reflection； chance seemed； as it were； to
give him the lie direct。 When Porthos had left him to give
some orders he saw Musqueton approaching。 The face of the
steward； despite one slight shade of care； light as a summer
cloud； seemed a physiognomy of absolute felicity。
〃Here is what I am looking for；〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃but
alas！ the poor fellow does not know the purpose for which I
am here。〃
He then made a sign for Musqueton to come to him。
〃Sir；〃 said the servant； 〃I have a favour to ask you。〃
〃Speak out； my friend。〃
〃I am afraid to do so。 Perhaps you will think； sir； that
prosperity has spoiled me？〃
〃Art thou happy； friend？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃As happy as possible； and yet； sir； you may make me even
happier than I am。〃
〃Well； speak； if it depends on me。〃
〃Oh； sir！ it depends on you only。〃
〃I listen I am waiting to hear。〃
〃Sir； the favor I have to ask of you is； not to call me
‘Musqueton' but ‘Mouston。' Since I have had the honor of
being my lord's steward I have taken the last name as more
dignified and calculated to make my inferiors respect me。
You； sir； know how necessary subordination is in any large
establishment of servants。〃
D'Artagnan smiled； Porthos wanted to lengthen out his names；
Musqueton to cut his short。
〃Well； my dear Mouston；〃 he said； 〃rest satisfied。 I will
call thee Mouston； and if it makes thee happy I will not
‘tutoyer' you any longer。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Musqueton； reddening with joy； 〃if you do me；
sir； such honor； I shall be grateful all my life； it is too
much to ask。〃
〃Alas！〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃it is very little to offset the
unexpected tribulations I am bringing to this poor devil who
has so warmly welcomed me。〃
〃Will monsieur remain long with us？〃 asked Musqueton； with a
serene and glowing countenance。
〃I go to…morrow； my friend；〃 replied D'Artagnan。
〃Ah； monsieur；〃 said Musqueton； 〃then you have come here
only to awaken our regrets。〃
〃I fear that is true；〃 said D'Artagnan； in a low tone。
D'Artagnan was secretly touched with remorse； not at
inducing Porthos to enter into schemes in which his life and
fortune would be in jeopardy； for Porthos； in the title of
baron； had his object and reward； but poor Musqueton； whose
only wish was to be called Mouston was it not cruel to
snatch him from the delightful state of peace and plenty in
which he was？
He was thinking of these matters when Porthos summoned him
to dinner。
〃What！ to dinner？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃What time is it； then？〃
〃Eh！ why； it is after one o'clock。〃
〃Your home is a paradise； Porthos； one takes no note of
time。 I follow you； though I am not hungry。〃
〃Come； if one can't always eat； one can always drink a
maxim of poor Athos； the truth of which I have discovered
since I began to be lonely。〃
D'Artagnan； who as a Gascon； was inclined to sobriety；
seemed not so sure as his friend of the truth of Athos's
maxim； but he did his best to keep up with his host。
Meanwhile his misgivings in regard to Musqueton recurred to
his mind and with greater force because Musqueton； though he
did not himself wait on the table； which would have been
beneath him in his new position； appeared at the door from
time to time and evinced his gratitude to D'Artagnan by the
quality of the wine he directed to be served。 Therefore；
when； at dessert； upon a sign from D'Artagnan； Porthos had
sent away his servants and the two friends were alone：
〃Porthos；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃who will attend you in your
campaigns？〃
〃Why；〃 replied Porthos； 〃Mouston； of course。〃
This was a blow to D'Artagnan。 He could already see the
intendant's beaming smile change to a contortion of grief。
〃But；〃 he said； 〃Mouston is not so young as he was； my dear
fellow； besides； he has grown fat and perhaps has lost his
fitness for active service。〃
〃That may be true；〃 replied Porthos； 〃but I am used to him；
and besides； he wouldn't be willing to let me go without
him； he loves me so much。〃
〃Oh； blind self…love！〃 thought D'Artagnan。
〃And you；〃 asked Porthos； 〃haven't you still in your service
your old lackey； that good； that brave； that intelligent
…what； then； is his name？〃
〃Planchet yes； I have found him again； but he is lackey
no longer。〃
〃What is he； then？〃
〃With his sixteen hundred francs you remember； the
sixteen hundred francs he earned at the siege of La Rochelle
by carrying a letter to Lord de Winter he has set up a
little shop in the Rue des Lombards and is now a
confectioner。〃
〃Ah； he is a confectioner in the Rue des Lombards！ How does
it happen； then； that he is in your service？〃
〃He has been guilty of certain escapades and fears he may be
disturbed。〃 And the musketeer narrated to his friend
Planchet's adventure。
〃Well；〃 said Porthos； 〃if any one had told you in the old
times that the day would come when Planchet would rescue
Rochefort and that you would protect him in it 〃
〃I should not have believed him； but men are changed by
events。〃
〃There is nothing truer than that；〃 said Porthos； 〃but what
does not change； or changes for the better； is wine。 Taste
of this； it is a Spanish wine which our friend Athos thought
much of。〃
At that moment the steward came in to consult his master
upon the proceedings of the next day and also with regard to
the shooting party which had been proposed。
〃Tell me； Mouston；〃 said Porthos； 〃are my arms in good
condition？〃
〃Your arms； my lord what arms？〃
〃Zounds！ my weapons。〃
〃What weapons？〃
〃My military weapons。〃
〃Yes； my lord； at any rate； I think so。〃
〃Make sure of it； and if they want it； have them burnished
up。 Which is my best cavalry horse？〃
〃Vulcan。〃
〃And the best hack？〃
〃Bayard。〃
〃What horse dost thou choose for thyself？〃
〃I like Rustaud； my lord； a good animal； whose paces suit
me。〃
〃Strong； think's〃 thou？〃
〃Half Norman； half Mecklenburger； will go night and day。〃
〃That will do for us。 See to these horses。 Polish up or make
some one else polish my arms。 Then take pistols with thee
and a hunting…knife。〃
〃Are we then going to travel； my lord？〃 asked Musqueton；
rather uneasy。
〃Something better still； Mouston。〃
〃An expedition； sir？〃 asked the steward； whose roses began
to change into lil