The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Author:Alexandre Dumas [Dumas, Alexandre]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Unread
ISBN: 9780140367478
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 1994-11-03T23:00:00+00:00

"Very well."

"And be upon your guard before my husband, who is rather shrewd,

notwithstanding his seventy-six years."

"Seventy-six years! PESTE! That's a fine age!" replied Porthos.

"A great age, you mean, Monsieur Porthos. Yes, the poor man may

be expected to leave me a widow, any hour," continued she,

throwing a significant glance at Porthos. "Fortunately, by our

marriage contract, the survivor takes everything."

"All?"

"Yes, all."

"You are a woman of precaution, I see, my dear Madame Coquenard,"

said Porthos, squeezing the hand of the procurator's wife

tenderly.

"We are then reconciled, dear Monsieur Porthos?" said she,

simpering.

"For life," replied Porthos, in the same manner.

"Till we meet again, then, dear traitor!"

"Till we meet again, my forgetful charmer!"

"Tomorrow, my angel!"

"Tomorrow, flame of my life!"

30 D'ARTAGNAN AND THE ENGLISHMAN

D'Artagnan followed Milady without being perceived by her.

He saw her get into her carriage, and heard her order the

coachman to drive to St. Germain.

It was useless to try to keep pace on foot with a carriage

drawn by two powerful horses. d'Artagnan therefore returned

to the Rue Ferou.

In the Rue de Seine he met Planchet, who had stopped before

the house of a pastry cook, and was contemplating with

ecstasy a cake of the most appetizing appearance.

He ordered him to go and saddle two horses in M. de

Treville's stables--one for himself, d'Artagnan, and one for

Planchet--and bring them to Athens's place. Once for all,

Treville had placed his stable at d'Artagnan's service.

Page 257

Dumas, Alexandre - The Three Musketeers.txt

Planchet proceeded toward the Rue du Colombier, and

d'Artagnan toward the Rue Ferou. Athos was at home,

emptying sadly a bottle of the famous Spanish wine he had

brought back with him from his journey into Picardy. He

made a sign for Grimaud to bring a glass for d'Artagnan, and

Grimaud obeyed as usual.

D'Artagnan related to Athos all that had passed at the

church between Porthos and the procurator's wife, and how

their comrade was probably by that time in a fair way to be

equipped.

"As for me," replied Athos to this recital, "I am quite at

my ease; it will not be women that will defray the expense

of my outfit."

"Handsome, well-bred, noble lord as you are, my dear Athos,

neither princesses nor queens would be secure from your

amorous solicitations."

"How young this d'Artagnan is!" said Athos, shrugging his

shoulders; and he made a sign to Grimaud to bring another

bottle.

At that moment Planchet put his head modestly in at the

half-open door, and told his master that the horses were

ready.

"What horses?" asked Athos.

"Two horses that Monsieur de Treville lends me at my

pleasure, and with which I am now going to take a ride to

St. Germain."

"Well, and what are you going to do at St. Germain?" then

demanded Athos.

Then d'Artagnan described the meeting which he had at the

church, and how he had found that lady who, with the

seigneur in the black cloak and with the scar near his

temple, filled his mind constantly.

"That is to say, you are in love with this lady as you were

with Madame Bonacieux," said Athos, shrugging his shoulders

contemptuously, as if he pitied human weakness.

"I? not at all!" said d'Artagnan. "I am only curious to

unravel the mystery to which she is attached. I do not know

why, but

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.