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that I live almost from hand to mouth。〃
〃He is afraid I have come to borrow money；〃 thought
D'Artagnan。 〃Ah； my friend；〃 said he； 〃it is all the better
if you are in difficulties。〃
〃How is it all the better？〃
〃Yes； for his eminence will give you all that you want
land； money； and titles。〃
〃Ah！ ah！ ah！〃 said Porthos； opening his eyes at that last
word。
〃Under the other cardinal；〃 continued D'Artagnan； 〃we didn't
know enough to make our profits； this； however； doesn't
concern you； with your forty thousand francs income； the
happiest man in the world； it seems to me。〃
Porthos sighed。
〃At the same time；〃 continued D'Artagnan； 〃notwithstanding
your forty thousand francs a year； and perhaps even for the
very reason that you have forty thousand francs a year； it
seems to me that a little coronet would do well on your
carriage； hey？〃
〃Yes indeed；〃 said Porthos。
〃Well； my dear friend； win it it is at the point of your
sword。 We shall not interfere with each other your object
is a title； mine； money。 If I can get enough to rebuild
Artagnan； which my ancestors； impoverished by the Crusades；
allowed to fall into ruins； and to buy thirty acres of land
about it； that is all I wish。 I shall retire and die
tranquilly at home。〃
〃For my part；〃 said Porthos； 〃I desire to be made a baron。〃
〃You shall be one。〃
〃And have you not seen any of our other friends？〃
〃Yes； I have seen Aramis。〃
〃And what does he wish？ To be a bishop？〃
〃Aramis；〃 answered D'Artagnan； who did not wish to undeceive
Porthos； 〃Aramis； fancy； has become a monk and a Jesuit； and
lives like a bear。 My offers did not arouse him； did not
even tempt him。〃
〃So much the worse！ He was a clever man。 And Athos？〃
〃I have not yet seen him。 Do you know where I shall find
him？〃
〃Near Blois。 He is called Bragelonne。 Only imagine； my dear
friend。 Athos； who was of as high birth as the emperor and
who inherits one estate which gives him the title of comte；
what is he to do with all those dignities the Comte de la
Fere； Comte de Bragelonne？〃
〃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 h