Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
an account of his adventure." `
` `
` "It is a wound that confines him to his bed?" `
` `
` "Ah, and a master stroke, too, I assure you. Your friend's soul `
` must stick tight to his body." `
` `
` "Were you there, then?" `
` `
` "Monsieur, I followed them from curiosity, so that I saw the `
` combat without the combatants seeing me." `
` `
` "And what took place?" `
` `
` "Oh! The affair was not long, I assure you. They placed `
` themselves on guard; the stranger made a feint and a lunge, and `
` that so rapidly that when Monsieur Porthos came to the PARADE, he `
` had already three inches of steel in his breast. He immediately `
` fell backward. The stranger placed the point of his sword at his `
` throat; and Monsieur Porthos, finding himself at the mercy of his `
` adversary, acknowledged himself conquered. Upon which the `
` stranger asked his name, and learning that it was Porthos, and `
` not d'Artagnan, he assisted him to rise, brought him back to the `
` hotel, mounted his horse, and disappeared." `
` `
` "So it was with Monsieur d'Artagnan this stranger meant to `
` quarrel?" `
` `
` "It appears so." `
` `
` "And do you know what has become of him?" `
` `
` "No, I never saw him until that moment, and have not seen him `
` since." `
` `
` "Very well; I know all that I wish to know. Porthos's chamber `
` is, you say, on the first story, Number One?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur, the handsomest in the inn--a chamber that I could `
` have let ten times over." `
` `
` "Bah! Be satisfied," said d'Artagnan, laughing, "Porthos will `
` pay you with the money of the Duchess Coquenard." `
` `
` "Oh, monsieur, procurator's wife or duchess, if she will but `
` loosen her pursestrings, it will be all the same; but she `
` positively answered that she was tired of the exigencies and `
` infidelities of Monsieur Porthos, and that she would not send him `
` a denier." `
` `
` "And did you convey this answer to your guest?" `
` `
` "We took good care not to do that; he would have found in what `
` fashion we had executed his commission." `
` `
` "So that he still expects his money?" `
` `
` "Oh, Lord, yes, monsieur! Yesterday he wrote again; but it was `
` his servant who this time put the letter in the post." `
` `
` "Do you say the procurator's wife is old and ugly?" `
` `
` "Fifty at least, monsieur, and not at all handsome, according to `
` Pathaud's account." `
` `
` "In that case, you may be quite at ease; she will soon be `
` softened. Besides, Porthos cannot owe you much." `
` `
` "How, not much! Twenty good pistoles, already, without reckoning `
` the doctor. He denies himself nothing; it may easily be seen he `
` has been accustomed to live well." `
` `
` "Never mind; if his mistress abandons him, he will find friends, `
` I will answer for it. So, my dear host, be not uneasy, and `
` continue to take all the care of him that his situation `
` requires." `
` `
` "Monsieur has promised me not to open his mouth about the `
` procurator's wife, and not to say a word of the wound?" `
` `
` "That's agreed; you have my word." `
` `
` "Oh, he would kill me!" `
` `
` "Don't be afraid; he is not so much of a devil as he appears." `
` `
` Saying these words, d'Artagnan went upstairs, leaving his host a `
` little better satisfied with respect to two things in which he `
` appeared to be very much interested--his debt and his life. `
` `
` At the top of the stairs, upon the most conspicuous door of the `
` corridor, was traced in black ink a gigantic number "1." `
` d'Artagnan knocked, and upon the bidding to come in which came `
` from inside, he entered the chamber. `
` `
` Porthos was in bed, and was playing a game at LANSQUENET with `
` Mousqueton, to keep his hand in; while a spit loaded with `
` partridges was turning before the fire, and on each side of a `
` large chimneypiece, over two chafing dishes, were boiling two `
` stewpans, from which exhaled a double odor of rabbit and fish `
` stews, rejoicing to the smell. In addition to this he perceived `
` that the top of a wardrobe and the marble of a commode were `
` covered with empty bottles. `
` `
` At the sight of his friend, Porthos uttered a loud cry of joy; `
` and Mousqueton, rising respectfully, yielded his place to him, `
` and went to give an eye to the two stewpans, of which he appeared `
` to have the particular inspection. `
` `
` "Ah, PARDIEU! Is that you?" said Porthos to d'Artagnan. "You `
` are right welcome. Excuse my not coming to meet you; but," added `
` he, looking at d'Artagnan with a certain degree of uneasiness, `
` "you know what has happened to me?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Has the host told you nothing, then?" `
` `
` "I asked after you, and came up as soon as I could." `
` `
` Porthos seemed to breathe more freely. `
` `
` "And what has happened to you, my dear Porthos?" continued `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Why, on making a thrust at my adversary, whom I had already hit `
` three times, and whom I meant to finish with the fourth, I put my `
` foot on a stone, slipped, and strained my knee." `
` `
` "Truly?" `
` `
` "Honor! Luckily for the rascal, for I should have left him dead `
` on the spot, I assure you." `
` `
` "And what has became of him?" `
` `
` "Oh, I don't know; he had enough, and set off without waiting for `
` the rest. But you, my dear d'Artagnan, what has happened to `
` you?" `
` `
` "So that this strain of the knee," continued d'Artagnan, "my dear `
` Porthos, keeps you in bed?" `
` `
` "My God, that's all. I shall be about again in a few days." `
` `
` "Why did you not have yourself conveyed to Paris? You must be `
` cruelly bored here." `
` `
` "That was my intention; but, my dear friend, I have one thing to `
` confess to you." `
` `
` "What's that?" `
` `
` "It is that as I was cruelly bored, as you say, and as I had the `
` seventy-five pistoles in my pocket which you had distributed to `
` me, in order to amuse myself I invited a gentleman who was `
` traveling this way to walk up, and proposed a cast of dice. He `
` accepted my challenge, and, my faith, my seventy-five pistoles `
` passed from my pocket to his, without reckoning my horse, which `
` he won into the bargain. But you, my dear d'Artagnan?" `
` `
` "What can you expect, my dear Porthos; a man is not privileged in `
` all ways," said d'Artagnan. "You know the proverb 'Unlucky at `
` play, lucky in love.' You are too fortunate in your love for `
` play not to take its revenge. What consequence can the reverses `
` of fortune be to you? Have you not, happy rogue that you are-- `
` have you not your duchess, who cannot fail to come to your aid?" `
` `
` "Well, you see, my dear d'Artagnan, with what ill luck I play," `
` replied Porthos, with the most careless air in the world. "I `
` wrote to her to send me fifty louis or so, of which I stood `
` absolutely in need on account of my accident." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Well, she must be at her country seat, for she has not answered `
` me." `
` `
` "Truly?" `
` `
` "No; so I yesterday addressed another epistle to her, still more `
` pressing than the first. But you are here, my dear fellow, let `
` us speak of you. I confess I began to be very uneasy on your `
` account." `
` `
` "But your host behaves very well toward you, as it appears, my `
` dear Porthos," said d'Artagnan, directing the sick man's `
` attention to the full stewpans and the empty bottles. `
` `
` "So, so," replied Porthos. "Only three or four days ago the `
` impertinent jackanapes gave me his bill, and I was forced to turn `
` both him and his bill out of the door; so that I am here `
` something in the fashion of a conqueror, holding my position, as `
` it were, my conquest. So you see, being in constant fear of `
` being forced from that position, I am armed to the teeth." `
` `
` "And yet," said d'Artagnan, laughing, "it appears to me that from `
` time to time you must make SORTIES." And he again pointed to the `
` bottles and the stewpans. `
` `
` "Not I, unfortunately!" said Porthos. "This miserable strain `
`
` `
` "It is a wound that confines him to his bed?" `
` `
` "Ah, and a master stroke, too, I assure you. Your friend's soul `
` must stick tight to his body." `
` `
` "Were you there, then?" `
` `
` "Monsieur, I followed them from curiosity, so that I saw the `
` combat without the combatants seeing me." `
` `
` "And what took place?" `
` `
` "Oh! The affair was not long, I assure you. They placed `
` themselves on guard; the stranger made a feint and a lunge, and `
` that so rapidly that when Monsieur Porthos came to the PARADE, he `
` had already three inches of steel in his breast. He immediately `
` fell backward. The stranger placed the point of his sword at his `
` throat; and Monsieur Porthos, finding himself at the mercy of his `
` adversary, acknowledged himself conquered. Upon which the `
` stranger asked his name, and learning that it was Porthos, and `
` not d'Artagnan, he assisted him to rise, brought him back to the `
` hotel, mounted his horse, and disappeared." `
` `
` "So it was with Monsieur d'Artagnan this stranger meant to `
` quarrel?" `
` `
` "It appears so." `
` `
` "And do you know what has become of him?" `
` `
` "No, I never saw him until that moment, and have not seen him `
` since." `
` `
` "Very well; I know all that I wish to know. Porthos's chamber `
` is, you say, on the first story, Number One?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur, the handsomest in the inn--a chamber that I could `
` have let ten times over." `
` `
` "Bah! Be satisfied," said d'Artagnan, laughing, "Porthos will `
` pay you with the money of the Duchess Coquenard." `
` `
` "Oh, monsieur, procurator's wife or duchess, if she will but `
` loosen her pursestrings, it will be all the same; but she `
` positively answered that she was tired of the exigencies and `
` infidelities of Monsieur Porthos, and that she would not send him `
` a denier." `
` `
` "And did you convey this answer to your guest?" `
` `
` "We took good care not to do that; he would have found in what `
` fashion we had executed his commission." `
` `
` "So that he still expects his money?" `
` `
` "Oh, Lord, yes, monsieur! Yesterday he wrote again; but it was `
` his servant who this time put the letter in the post." `
` `
` "Do you say the procurator's wife is old and ugly?" `
` `
` "Fifty at least, monsieur, and not at all handsome, according to `
` Pathaud's account." `
` `
` "In that case, you may be quite at ease; she will soon be `
` softened. Besides, Porthos cannot owe you much." `
` `
` "How, not much! Twenty good pistoles, already, without reckoning `
` the doctor. He denies himself nothing; it may easily be seen he `
` has been accustomed to live well." `
` `
` "Never mind; if his mistress abandons him, he will find friends, `
` I will answer for it. So, my dear host, be not uneasy, and `
` continue to take all the care of him that his situation `
` requires." `
` `
` "Monsieur has promised me not to open his mouth about the `
` procurator's wife, and not to say a word of the wound?" `
` `
` "That's agreed; you have my word." `
` `
` "Oh, he would kill me!" `
` `
` "Don't be afraid; he is not so much of a devil as he appears." `
` `
` Saying these words, d'Artagnan went upstairs, leaving his host a `
` little better satisfied with respect to two things in which he `
` appeared to be very much interested--his debt and his life. `
` `
` At the top of the stairs, upon the most conspicuous door of the `
` corridor, was traced in black ink a gigantic number "1." `
` d'Artagnan knocked, and upon the bidding to come in which came `
` from inside, he entered the chamber. `
` `
` Porthos was in bed, and was playing a game at LANSQUENET with `
` Mousqueton, to keep his hand in; while a spit loaded with `
` partridges was turning before the fire, and on each side of a `
` large chimneypiece, over two chafing dishes, were boiling two `
` stewpans, from which exhaled a double odor of rabbit and fish `
` stews, rejoicing to the smell. In addition to this he perceived `
` that the top of a wardrobe and the marble of a commode were `
` covered with empty bottles. `
` `
` At the sight of his friend, Porthos uttered a loud cry of joy; `
` and Mousqueton, rising respectfully, yielded his place to him, `
` and went to give an eye to the two stewpans, of which he appeared `
` to have the particular inspection. `
` `
` "Ah, PARDIEU! Is that you?" said Porthos to d'Artagnan. "You `
` are right welcome. Excuse my not coming to meet you; but," added `
` he, looking at d'Artagnan with a certain degree of uneasiness, `
` "you know what has happened to me?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Has the host told you nothing, then?" `
` `
` "I asked after you, and came up as soon as I could." `
` `
` Porthos seemed to breathe more freely. `
` `
` "And what has happened to you, my dear Porthos?" continued `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Why, on making a thrust at my adversary, whom I had already hit `
` three times, and whom I meant to finish with the fourth, I put my `
` foot on a stone, slipped, and strained my knee." `
` `
` "Truly?" `
` `
` "Honor! Luckily for the rascal, for I should have left him dead `
` on the spot, I assure you." `
` `
` "And what has became of him?" `
` `
` "Oh, I don't know; he had enough, and set off without waiting for `
` the rest. But you, my dear d'Artagnan, what has happened to `
` you?" `
` `
` "So that this strain of the knee," continued d'Artagnan, "my dear `
` Porthos, keeps you in bed?" `
` `
` "My God, that's all. I shall be about again in a few days." `
` `
` "Why did you not have yourself conveyed to Paris? You must be `
` cruelly bored here." `
` `
` "That was my intention; but, my dear friend, I have one thing to `
` confess to you." `
` `
` "What's that?" `
` `
` "It is that as I was cruelly bored, as you say, and as I had the `
` seventy-five pistoles in my pocket which you had distributed to `
` me, in order to amuse myself I invited a gentleman who was `
` traveling this way to walk up, and proposed a cast of dice. He `
` accepted my challenge, and, my faith, my seventy-five pistoles `
` passed from my pocket to his, without reckoning my horse, which `
` he won into the bargain. But you, my dear d'Artagnan?" `
` `
` "What can you expect, my dear Porthos; a man is not privileged in `
` all ways," said d'Artagnan. "You know the proverb 'Unlucky at `
` play, lucky in love.' You are too fortunate in your love for `
` play not to take its revenge. What consequence can the reverses `
` of fortune be to you? Have you not, happy rogue that you are-- `
` have you not your duchess, who cannot fail to come to your aid?" `
` `
` "Well, you see, my dear d'Artagnan, with what ill luck I play," `
` replied Porthos, with the most careless air in the world. "I `
` wrote to her to send me fifty louis or so, of which I stood `
` absolutely in need on account of my accident." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Well, she must be at her country seat, for she has not answered `
` me." `
` `
` "Truly?" `
` `
` "No; so I yesterday addressed another epistle to her, still more `
` pressing than the first. But you are here, my dear fellow, let `
` us speak of you. I confess I began to be very uneasy on your `
` account." `
` `
` "But your host behaves very well toward you, as it appears, my `
` dear Porthos," said d'Artagnan, directing the sick man's `
` attention to the full stewpans and the empty bottles. `
` `
` "So, so," replied Porthos. "Only three or four days ago the `
` impertinent jackanapes gave me his bill, and I was forced to turn `
` both him and his bill out of the door; so that I am here `
` something in the fashion of a conqueror, holding my position, as `
` it were, my conquest. So you see, being in constant fear of `
` being forced from that position, I am armed to the teeth." `
` `
` "And yet," said d'Artagnan, laughing, "it appears to me that from `
` time to time you must make SORTIES." And he again pointed to the `
` bottles and the stewpans. `
` `
` "Not I, unfortunately!" said Porthos. "This miserable strain `
`