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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 lilies。
〃We are going to return to the service； Mouston；〃 replied
Porthos； still trying to restore his mustache to the
military curl it had long lost。
〃Into the service the king's service？〃 Musqueton
trembled； even his fat； smooth cheeks shook as he spoke； and
he looked at D'Artagnan with an air of reproach； he
staggered； and his voice was almost choked。
〃Yes and no。 We shall serve in a campaign； seek out all
sorts of adventures return； in short； to our former
life。〃
These last words fell on Musqueton like a thunderbolt。 It
was those very terrible old days that made the present so
excessively delightful； and the blow was so great he rushed
out； overcome； and forgot to shut the door。
The two friends remained alone to speak of the future and to
build castles in the air。 The good wine which Musqueton had
placed before them traced out in glowing drops to D'Artagnan
a fine perspective； shining with quadruples and pistoles；
and showed to Porthos a blue ribbon and a ducal mantle； they
were； in fact； asleep on the table when the servants came to
light them to their bed。
Musqueton was； however； somewhat consoled by D'Artagnan； who
the next day told him that in all probability war would
always be carried on in the heart of Paris and within reach
of the Chateau du Vallon； which was near Corbeil； or
Bracieux； which was near Melun； and of Pierrefonds； which
was between Compiegne and Villars…Cotterets。
〃But formerly it appears；〃 began Musqueton timidly。
〃Oh！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃we don't now make war as we did
formerly。 To…day it's a sort of diplomatic arrangement； ask
Planchet。〃
Musqueton inquired； therefore； the state of the case of his
old friend； who confirmed the statement of D'Artagnan。
〃But；〃 he added； 〃in this war prisoners stand a chance of
being hung。〃
〃The deuce they do！〃 said Musqueton； 〃I think I should like
the siege of Rochelle better than this war； then！〃
Porthos； meantime； asked D'Artagnan to give him his
instructions how to proceed on his journey。
〃Four days；〃 replied his friend； 〃are necessary to reach
Blois； one day to rest there； three or four days to return
to Paris。 Set out； therefore； in a week； with your suite；
and go to the Hotel de la Chevrette； Rue Tiquetonne； and
there await me。〃
〃That's agreed；〃 said Porthos。
〃As to myself； I shall go around to see Athos； for though I
don't think his aid worth much； one must with one's friends
observe all due politeness；〃 said D'Artagnan。
The friends then took leave of each other on the very border
of the estate of Pierrefonds； to which Porthos escorted his
friend。
〃At least；〃 D'Artagnan said to himself； as he took the road
to Villars…Cotterets； 〃at least I shall not be alone in my
undertaking。 That devil； Porthos； is a man of prodigious
strength； still； if Athos joins us； well； we shall be three
of us to laugh at Aramis； that little coxcomb with his too
good luck。〃
At Villars…Cotterets he wrote to the cardinal：
〃My Lord； I have already one man to offer to your
eminence； and he is well worth twen