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property shortly afterward； and that for many years a dark shadow seemed
to hang over the ruins of Sloperton Grange。
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THE NINETY…NINE
GUARDSMEN。
BY ALXDR DMS
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CHAPTER I。
SHOWING THE QUALITY OF THE CUSTOMERS OF THE
INNKEEPER OF PROVINS。
Twenty years after； the gigantic innkeeper of Provins stood looking at
a cloud of dust on the highway。
This cloud of dust betokened the approach of a traveller。 Travellers
had been rare that season on the highway between Paris and Provins。
The heart of the innkeeper rejoiced。 Turning to Dame Perigord； his
wife； he said； stroking his white apron：
〃St。 Denis！ make haste and spread the cloth。 Add a bottle of
Charlevoix to the table。 This traveller； who rides so fast； by his pace must
be a Monseigneur。〃
Truly the traveller； clad in the uniform of a musketeer； as he drew up
to the door of the hostelry； did not seem to have spared his horse。
Throwing his reins to the landlord； he leaped lightly to the ground。 He was
a young man of four…and…twenty； and spoke with a slight Gascon accent。
〃I am hungry； Morbleu！ I wish to dine！〃
The gigantic innkeeper bowed and led the way to a neat apartment；
where a table stood covered with tempting viands。 The musketeer at once
set to work。 Fowls； fish； and pates disappeared before him。 Perigord
sighed as he witnessed the devastations。 Only once the stranger paused。
〃Wine！〃 Perigord brought wine。 The stranger drank a dozen bottles。
Finally he rose to depart。 Turning to the expectant landlord； he said：
〃Charge it。〃
〃To whom； your highness？〃 said Perigord； anxiously。
〃To his Eminence！〃
〃Mazarin！〃 ejaculated the innkeeper。
〃The same。 Bring me my horse；〃 and the musketeer； remounting his
favorite animal； rode away。
The innkeeper slowly turned back into the inn。 Scarcely had he
reached the courtyard before the clatter of hoofs again called him to the
doorway。 A young musketeer of a light and graceful figure rode up。
〃Parbleu； my dear Perigord； I am famishing。 What have you got for
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dinner？〃
〃Venison； capons； larks； and pigeons； your excellency；〃 replied the
obsequious landlord； bowing to the ground。
〃Enough！〃 The young musketeer dismounted and entered the inn。
Seating himself at the table replenished by the careful Perigord； he
speedily swept it as clean as the first comer。
〃Some wine； my brave Perigord；〃 said the graceful young musketeer；
as soon as he could find utterance。
Perigord brought three dozen of Charlevoix。 The young man emptied
them almost at a draught。
〃By…by； Perigord；〃 he said lightly； waving his hand； as； preceding the
astonished landlord； he slowly withdrew。
〃But； your highness；the bill；〃 said the astounded Perigord。
〃Ah； the bill。 Charge it！〃
〃To whom？〃
〃The Queen！〃
〃What； Madame？〃
〃The same。 Adieu； my good Perigord。〃 And the graceful stranger rode
away。 An interval of quiet succeeded； in which the innkeeper gazed
wofully at his wife。 Suddenly he was startled by a clatter of hoofs； and an
aristocratic figure stood in the doorway。
〃Ah；〃 said the courtier good…naturedly。 〃What； do my eyes deceive me？
No； it is the festive and luxurious Perigord。 Perigord； listen。 I famish。 I
languish。 I would dine。〃
The innkeeper again covered the table with viands。 Again it was swept
clean as the fields of Egypt before the miraculous swarm of locusts。 The
stranger looked up。
〃Bring me another fowl； my Perigord。〃
〃Impossible； your excellency； the larder is stripped clean。〃
〃Another flitch of bacon； then。〃
〃Impossible； your highness； there is no more。〃
〃Well； then； wine！〃
The landlord brought one hundred and forty…four bottles。 The courtier
drank them all。
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〃One may drink if one cannot eat；〃 said the aristocratic stranger； good…
humoredly。
The innkeeper shuddered。
The guest rose to depart。 The innkeeper came slowly forward with his
bill； to which he had covertly added the losses which he had suffered from
the previous strangers。
〃Ah； the bill。 Charge it。〃
〃Charge it！ to whom？〃
〃To the King；〃 said the guest。
〃What！ his Majesty？〃
〃Certainly。 Farewell； Perigord。〃
The innkeeper groaned。 Then he went out and took down his sign。
Then remarked to his wife：
〃I am a plain man； and don't understand politics。 It seems； however；
that the country is in a troubled state。 Between his Eminence the Cardinal；
his Majesty the King； and her Majesty the Queen； I am a ruined man。〃
〃Stay；〃 said Dame Perigord； 〃I have an idea。〃
〃And that is〃
〃Become yourself a musketeer。〃
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CHAPTER II。
THE COMBAT。
On leaving Provins the first musketeer proceeded to Nangis； where
he was reinforced by thirty…three followers。 The second musketeer；
arriving at Nangis at the same moment； placed himself at the head of
thirty…three more。 The third guest of the landlord of Provins arrived at
Nangis in time to assemble together thirty…three other musketeers。
The first stranger led the troops of his Eminence。
The second led the troops of the Queen。
The third led the troops of the King。
The fight commenced。 It raged terribly for seven hours。 The first
musketeer killed thirty of the Queen's troops。 The second musketeer killed
thirty of the King's troops。 The third musketeer killed thirty of his
Eminence's troops。
By this time it will be perceived the number of musketeers had been
narrowed down to four on each side。
Naturally the three principal warriors approached each other。
They simultaneousl