Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
"Ah, monsieur, you infuse genuine balm into my blood. We have `
` made considerable advances; and this very morning the surgeon `
` declared that if Monsieur Porthos did not pay him, he should look `
` to me, as it was I who had sent for him." `
` `
` "Porthos is wounded, then?" `
` `
` "I cannot tell you, monsieur." `
` `
` "What! You cannot tell me? Surely you ought to be able to tell `
` me better than any other person." `
` `
` "Yes; but in our situation we must not say all we know-- `
` particularly as we have been warned that our ears should answer `
` for our tongues." `
` `
` "Well, can I see Porthos?" `
` `
` "Certainly, monsieur. Take the stairs on your right; go up the `
` first flight and knock at Number One. Only warn him that it is `
` you." `
` `
` "Why should I do that?" `
` `
` "Because, monsieur, some mischief might happen to you." `
` `
` "Of what kind, in the name of wonder?" `
` `
` "Monsieur Porthos may imagine you belong to the house, and in a `
` fit of passion might run his sword through you or blow out your `
` brains." `
` `
` "What have you done to him, then?" `
` `
` "We have asked him for money." `
` `
` "The devil! Ah, I can understand that. It is a demand that `
` Porthos takes very ill when he is not in funds; but I know he `
` must be so at present." `
` `
` "We thought so, too, monsieur. As our house is carried on very `
` regularly, and we make out our bills every week, at the end of `
` eight days we presented our account; but it appeared we had `
` chosen an unlucky moment, for at the first word on the subject, `
` he sent us to all the devils. It is true he had been playing the `
` day before." `
` `
` "Playing the day before! And with whom?" `
` `
` "Lord, who can say, monsieur? With some gentleman who was `
` traveling this way, to whom he proposed a game of LANSQUENET." `
` `
` "That's it, then, and the foolish fellow lost all he had?" `
` `
` "Even to his horse, monsieur; for when the gentleman was about to `
` set out, we perceived that his lackey was saddling Monsieur `
` Porthos's horse, as well as his master's. When we observed this `
` to him, he told us all to trouble ourselves about our own `
` business, as this horse belonged to him. We also informed `
` Monsieur Porthos of what was going on; but he told us we were `
` scoundrels to doubt a gentleman's word, and that as he had said `
` the horse was his, it must be so." `
` `
` "That's Porthos all over," murmured d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Then," continued the host, "I replied that as from the moment we `
` seemed not likely to come to a good understanding with respect to `
` payment, I hoped that he would have at least the kindness to `
` grant the favor of his custom to my brother host of the Golden `
` Eagle; but Monsieur Porthos replied that, my house being the `
` best, he should remain where he was. This reply was too `
` flattering to allow me to insist on his departure. I confined `
` myself then to begging him to give up his chamber, which is the `
` handsomest in the hotel, and to be satisfied with a pretty little `
` room on the third floor; but to this Monsieur Porthos replied `
` that as he every moment expected his mistress, who was one of the `
` greatest ladies in the court, I might easily comprehend that the `
` chamber he did me the honor to occupy in my house was itself very `
` mean for the visit of such a personage. Nevertheless, while `
` acknowledging the truth of what he said, I thought proper to `
` insist; but without even giving himself the trouble to enter into `
` any discussion with me, he took one of his pistols, laid it on `
` his table, day and night, and said that at the first word that `
` should be spoken to him about removing, either within the house `
` or out of it, he would blow out the brains of the person who `
` should be so imprudent as to meddle with a matter which only `
` concerned himself. Since that time, monsieur, nobody entered his `
` chamber but his servant." `
` `
` "What! Mousqueton is here, then?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, monsieur. Five days after your departure, he came `
` back, and in a very bad condition, too. It appears that he had `
` met with disagreeableness, likewise, on his journey. Unfortunately, `
` he is more nimble than his master; so that for the sake of his `
` master, he puts us all under his feet, and as he thinks we might `
` refuse what he asked for, he takes all he wants without asking at `
` all." `
` `
` "The fact is," said d'Artagnan, "I have always observed a great `
` degree of intelligence and devotedness in Mousqueton." `
` `
` "That is possible, monsieur; but suppose I should happen to be `
` brought in contact, even four times a year, with such `
` intelligence and devotedness--why, I should be a ruined man!" `
` `
` "No, for Porthos will pay you." `
` `
` "Hum!" said the host, in a doubtful tone. `
` `
` "The favorite of a great lady will not be allowed to be `
` inconvenienced for such a paltry sum as he owes you." `
` `
` "If I durst say what I believe on that head--" `
` `
` "What you believe?" `
` `
` "I ought rather to say, what I know." `
` `
` "What you know?" `
` `
` "And even what I am sure of." `
` `
` "And of what are you so sure?" `
` `
` "I would say that I know this great lady." `
` `
` "You?" `
` `
` "Yes; I." `
` `
` "And how do you know her?" `
` `
` "Oh, monsieur, if I could believe I might trust in your `
` discretion." `
` `
` "Speak! By the word of a gentleman, you shall have no cause to `
` repent of your confidence." `
` `
` "Well, monsieur, you understand that uneasiness makes us do many `
` things." `
` `
` "What have you done?" `
` `
` "Oh, nothing which was not right in the character of a creditor." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Monsieur Porthos gave us a note for his duchess, ordering us to `
` put it in the post. This was before his servant came. As he `
` could not leave his chamber, it was necessary to charge us with `
` this commission." `
` `
` "And then?" `
` `
` "Instead of putting the letter in the post, which is never safe, `
` I took advantage of the journey of one of my lads to Paris, and `
` ordered him to convey the letter to this duchess himself. This `
` was fulfilling the intentions of Monsieur Porthos, who had `
` desired us to be so careful of this letter, was it not?" `
` `
` "Nearly so." `
` `
` "Well, monsieur, do you know who this great lady is?" `
` `
` "No; I have heard Porthos speak of her, that's all." `
` `
` "Do you know who this pretended duchess is? `
` `
` "I repeat to you, I don't know her." `
` `
` "Why, she is the old wife of a procurator* of the Chatelet, `
` monsieur, named Madame Coquenard, who, although she is at least `
` fifty, still gives herself jealous airs. It struck me as very `
` odd that a princess should live in the Rue aux Ours." `
` `
` *Attorney `
` `
` "But how do you know all this?" `
` `
` "Because she flew into a great passion on receiving the letter, `
` saying that Monsieur Porthos was a weathercock, and that she was `
` sure it was for some woman he had received this wound." `
` `
` "Has he been wounded, then?" `
` `
` "Oh, good Lord! What have I said?" `
` `
` "You said that Porthos had received a sword cut." `
` `
` "Yes, but he has forbidden me so strictly to say so." `
` `
` "And why so." `
` `
` "Zounds, monsieur! Because he had boasted that he would `
` perforate the stranger with whom you left him in dispute; whereas `
` the stranger, on the contrary, in spite of all his rodomontades `
` quickly threw him on his back. As Monsieur Porthos is a very `
` boastful man, he insists that nobody shall know he has received `
` this wound except the duchess, whom he endeavored to interest by `
` an account of his adventure." `
`
` made considerable advances; and this very morning the surgeon `
` declared that if Monsieur Porthos did not pay him, he should look `
` to me, as it was I who had sent for him." `
` `
` "Porthos is wounded, then?" `
` `
` "I cannot tell you, monsieur." `
` `
` "What! You cannot tell me? Surely you ought to be able to tell `
` me better than any other person." `
` `
` "Yes; but in our situation we must not say all we know-- `
` particularly as we have been warned that our ears should answer `
` for our tongues." `
` `
` "Well, can I see Porthos?" `
` `
` "Certainly, monsieur. Take the stairs on your right; go up the `
` first flight and knock at Number One. Only warn him that it is `
` you." `
` `
` "Why should I do that?" `
` `
` "Because, monsieur, some mischief might happen to you." `
` `
` "Of what kind, in the name of wonder?" `
` `
` "Monsieur Porthos may imagine you belong to the house, and in a `
` fit of passion might run his sword through you or blow out your `
` brains." `
` `
` "What have you done to him, then?" `
` `
` "We have asked him for money." `
` `
` "The devil! Ah, I can understand that. It is a demand that `
` Porthos takes very ill when he is not in funds; but I know he `
` must be so at present." `
` `
` "We thought so, too, monsieur. As our house is carried on very `
` regularly, and we make out our bills every week, at the end of `
` eight days we presented our account; but it appeared we had `
` chosen an unlucky moment, for at the first word on the subject, `
` he sent us to all the devils. It is true he had been playing the `
` day before." `
` `
` "Playing the day before! And with whom?" `
` `
` "Lord, who can say, monsieur? With some gentleman who was `
` traveling this way, to whom he proposed a game of LANSQUENET." `
` `
` "That's it, then, and the foolish fellow lost all he had?" `
` `
` "Even to his horse, monsieur; for when the gentleman was about to `
` set out, we perceived that his lackey was saddling Monsieur `
` Porthos's horse, as well as his master's. When we observed this `
` to him, he told us all to trouble ourselves about our own `
` business, as this horse belonged to him. We also informed `
` Monsieur Porthos of what was going on; but he told us we were `
` scoundrels to doubt a gentleman's word, and that as he had said `
` the horse was his, it must be so." `
` `
` "That's Porthos all over," murmured d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Then," continued the host, "I replied that as from the moment we `
` seemed not likely to come to a good understanding with respect to `
` payment, I hoped that he would have at least the kindness to `
` grant the favor of his custom to my brother host of the Golden `
` Eagle; but Monsieur Porthos replied that, my house being the `
` best, he should remain where he was. This reply was too `
` flattering to allow me to insist on his departure. I confined `
` myself then to begging him to give up his chamber, which is the `
` handsomest in the hotel, and to be satisfied with a pretty little `
` room on the third floor; but to this Monsieur Porthos replied `
` that as he every moment expected his mistress, who was one of the `
` greatest ladies in the court, I might easily comprehend that the `
` chamber he did me the honor to occupy in my house was itself very `
` mean for the visit of such a personage. Nevertheless, while `
` acknowledging the truth of what he said, I thought proper to `
` insist; but without even giving himself the trouble to enter into `
` any discussion with me, he took one of his pistols, laid it on `
` his table, day and night, and said that at the first word that `
` should be spoken to him about removing, either within the house `
` or out of it, he would blow out the brains of the person who `
` should be so imprudent as to meddle with a matter which only `
` concerned himself. Since that time, monsieur, nobody entered his `
` chamber but his servant." `
` `
` "What! Mousqueton is here, then?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, monsieur. Five days after your departure, he came `
` back, and in a very bad condition, too. It appears that he had `
` met with disagreeableness, likewise, on his journey. Unfortunately, `
` he is more nimble than his master; so that for the sake of his `
` master, he puts us all under his feet, and as he thinks we might `
` refuse what he asked for, he takes all he wants without asking at `
` all." `
` `
` "The fact is," said d'Artagnan, "I have always observed a great `
` degree of intelligence and devotedness in Mousqueton." `
` `
` "That is possible, monsieur; but suppose I should happen to be `
` brought in contact, even four times a year, with such `
` intelligence and devotedness--why, I should be a ruined man!" `
` `
` "No, for Porthos will pay you." `
` `
` "Hum!" said the host, in a doubtful tone. `
` `
` "The favorite of a great lady will not be allowed to be `
` inconvenienced for such a paltry sum as he owes you." `
` `
` "If I durst say what I believe on that head--" `
` `
` "What you believe?" `
` `
` "I ought rather to say, what I know." `
` `
` "What you know?" `
` `
` "And even what I am sure of." `
` `
` "And of what are you so sure?" `
` `
` "I would say that I know this great lady." `
` `
` "You?" `
` `
` "Yes; I." `
` `
` "And how do you know her?" `
` `
` "Oh, monsieur, if I could believe I might trust in your `
` discretion." `
` `
` "Speak! By the word of a gentleman, you shall have no cause to `
` repent of your confidence." `
` `
` "Well, monsieur, you understand that uneasiness makes us do many `
` things." `
` `
` "What have you done?" `
` `
` "Oh, nothing which was not right in the character of a creditor." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Monsieur Porthos gave us a note for his duchess, ordering us to `
` put it in the post. This was before his servant came. As he `
` could not leave his chamber, it was necessary to charge us with `
` this commission." `
` `
` "And then?" `
` `
` "Instead of putting the letter in the post, which is never safe, `
` I took advantage of the journey of one of my lads to Paris, and `
` ordered him to convey the letter to this duchess himself. This `
` was fulfilling the intentions of Monsieur Porthos, who had `
` desired us to be so careful of this letter, was it not?" `
` `
` "Nearly so." `
` `
` "Well, monsieur, do you know who this great lady is?" `
` `
` "No; I have heard Porthos speak of her, that's all." `
` `
` "Do you know who this pretended duchess is? `
` `
` "I repeat to you, I don't know her." `
` `
` "Why, she is the old wife of a procurator* of the Chatelet, `
` monsieur, named Madame Coquenard, who, although she is at least `
` fifty, still gives herself jealous airs. It struck me as very `
` odd that a princess should live in the Rue aux Ours." `
` `
` *Attorney `
` `
` "But how do you know all this?" `
` `
` "Because she flew into a great passion on receiving the letter, `
` saying that Monsieur Porthos was a weathercock, and that she was `
` sure it was for some woman he had received this wound." `
` `
` "Has he been wounded, then?" `
` `
` "Oh, good Lord! What have I said?" `
` `
` "You said that Porthos had received a sword cut." `
` `
` "Yes, but he has forbidden me so strictly to say so." `
` `
` "And why so." `
` `
` "Zounds, monsieur! Because he had boasted that he would `
` perforate the stranger with whom you left him in dispute; whereas `
` the stranger, on the contrary, in spite of all his rodomontades `
` quickly threw him on his back. As Monsieur Porthos is a very `
` boastful man, he insists that nobody shall know he has received `
` this wound except the duchess, whom he endeavored to interest by `
` an account of his adventure." `
`