二十年后-第21部分

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　　〃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　e　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。
　　In　which　it　is　shown　that　if　Porthos　was　discontented　with　his　Condition；　Musqueton　was　pletely　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　e　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　weled　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　e　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。〃
　　〃e；　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　e　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；　overe；　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