Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
"Have with you for one throw!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` Athos went in quest of the Englishman, whom he found in the `
` stable, examining the harnesses with a greedy eye. The `
` opportunity was good. He proposed the conditions--the two `
` harnesses, either against one horse or a hundred pistoles. The `
` Englishman calculated fast; the two harnesses were worth three `
` hundred pistoles. He consented. `
` `
` D'Artagnan threw the dice with a trembling hand, and turned up `
` the number three; his paleness terrified Athos, who, however, `
` consented himself with saying, "That's a sad throw, comrade; you `
` will have the horses fully equipped, monsieur." `
` `
` The Englishman, quite triumphant, did not even give himself the `
` trouble to shake the dice. He threw them on the table without `
` looking at them, so sure was he of victory; d'Artagnan turned `
` aside to conceal his ill humor. `
` `
` "Hold, hold, hold!" said Athos, wit his quiet tone; "that throw `
` of the dice is extraordinary. I have not seen such a one four `
` times in my life. Two aces!" `
` `
` The Englishman looked, and was seized with astonishment. `
` d'Artagnan looked, and was seized with pleasure. `
` `
` "Yes," continued Athos, "four times only; once at the house of `
` Monsieur Crequy; another time at my own house in the country, in `
` my chateau at--when I had a chateau; a third time at Monsieur de `
` Treville's where it surprised us all; and the fourth time at a `
` cabaret, where it fell to my lot, and where I lost a hundred `
` louis and a supper on it." `
` `
` "Then Monsieur takes his horse back again," said the Englishman. `
` `
` "Certainly," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Then there is no revenge?" `
` `
` "Our conditions said, 'No revenge,' you will please to `
` recollect." `
` `
` "That is true; the horse shall be restored to your lackey, `
` monsieur." `
` `
` "A moment," said Athos; "with your permission, monsieur, I wish `
` to speak a word with my friend." `
` `
` "Say on." `
` `
` Athos drew d'Artagnan aside. `
` `
` "Well, Tempter, what more do you want with me?" said d'Artagnan. `
` "You want me to throw again, do you not?" `
` `
` "No, I would wish you to reflect." `
` `
` "On what?" `
` `
` "You mean to take your horse?" `
` `
` "Without doubt." `
` `
` "You are wrong, then. I would take the hundred pistoles. You `
` know you have staked the harnesses against the horse or a hundred `
` pistoles, at your choice." `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Well, then, I repeat, you are wrong. What is the use of one `
` horse for us two? I could not ride behind. We should look like `
` the two sons of Anmon, who had lost their brother. You cannot `
` think of humiliating me by prancing along by my side on that `
` magnificent charger. For my part, I should not hesitate a `
` moment; I should take the hundred pistoles. We want money for `
` our return to Paris." `
` `
` "I am much attached to that horse, Athos." `
` `
` "And there again you are wrong. A horse slips and injures a `
` joint; a horse stumbles and breaks his knees to the bone; a horse `
` eats out of a manger in which a glandered horse has eaten. There `
` is a horse, while on the contrary, the hundred pistoles feed `
` their master." `
` `
` "But how shall we get back?" `
` `
` "Upon our lackey's horses, PARDIEU. Anybody may see by our `
` bearing that we are people of condition." `
` `
` "Pretty figures we shall cut on ponies while Aramis and Porthos `
` caracole on their steeds." `
` `
` "Aramis! Porthos!" cried Athos, and laughed aloud. `
` `
` "What is it?" asked d'Artagnan, who did not at all comprehend the `
` hilarity of his friend. `
` `
` "Nothing, nothing! Go on!" `
` `
` "Your advice, then?" `
` `
` "To take the hundred pistoles, d'Artagnan. With the hundred `
` pistoles we can live well to the end of the month. We have `
` undergone a great deal of fatigue, remember, and a little rest `
` will do no harm." `
` `
` "I rest? Oh, no, Athos. Once in Paris, I shall prosecute my `
` search for that unfortunate woman!" `
` `
` "Well, you may be assured that your horse will not be half so `
` serviceable to you for that purpose as good golden louis. Take `
` the hundred pistoles, my friend; take the hundred pistoles!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan only required one reason to be satisfied. This last `
` reason appeared convincing. Besides, he feared that by resisting `
` longer he should appear selfish in the eyes of Athos. He `
` acquiesced, therefore, and chose the hundred pistoles, which the `
` Englishman paid down on the spot. `
` `
` They then determined to depart. Peace with the landlord, in `
` addition to Athos's old horse, cost six pistoles. D'Artagnan and `
` Athos took the nags of Planchet and Grimaud, and the two lackeys `
` started on foot, carrying the saddles on their heads. `
` `
` However ill our two friends were mounted, they were soon far in `
` advance of their servants, and arrived at Creveccoeur. From a `
` distance they perceived Aramis, seated in a melancholy manner at `
` his window, looking out, like Sister Anne, at the dust in the `
` horizon. `
` `
` "HOLA, Aramis! What the devil are you doing there?" cried the `
` two friends. `
` `
` "Ah, is that you, d'Artagnan, and you, Athos?" said the young `
` man. "I was reflecting upon the rapidity with which the `
` blessings of this world leave us. My English horse, which has `
` just disappeared amid a cloud of dust, has furnished me with a `
` living image of the fragility of the things of the earth. Life `
` itself may be resolved into three words: ERAT, EST, FUIT." `
` `
` "Which means--" said d'Artagnan, who began to suspect the truth. `
` `
` "Which means that I have just been duped-sixty louis for a horse `
` which by the manner of his gait can do at least five leagues an `
` hour." `
` `
` D'Artagnan and Athos laughed aloud. `
` `
` "My dear d'Artagnan," said Aramis, "don't be too angry with me, I `
` beg. Necessity has no law; besides, I am the person punished, as `
` that rascally horsedealer has robbed me of fifty louis, at least. `
` Ah, you fellows are good managers! You ride on our lackey's `
` horses, and have your own gallant steeds led along carefully by `
` hand, at short stages." `
` `
` At the same instant a market cart, which some minutes before had `
` appeared upon the Amiens road, pulled up at the inn, and Planchet `
` and Grimaud came out of it with the saddles on their heads. The `
` cart was returning empty to Paris, and the two lackeys had `
` agreed, for their transport, to slake the wagoner's thirst along `
` the route. `
` `
` "What is this?" said Aramis, on seeing them arrive. "Nothing but `
` saddles?" `
` `
` "Now do you understand?" said Athos. `
` `
` "My friends, that's exactly like me! I retained my harness by `
` instinct. HOLA, Bazin! Bring my new saddle and carry it along `
` with those of these gentlemen." `
` `
` "And what have you done with your ecclesiastics?" asked `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "My dear fellow, I invited them to a dinner the next day," `
` replied Aramis. "They have some capital wine here--please to `
` observe that in passing. I did my best to make them drunk. Then `
` the curate forbade me to quit my uniform, and the Jesuit `
` entreated me to get him made a Musketeer." `
` `
` "Without a thesis?" cried d'Artagnan, "without a thesis? I `
` demand the suppression of the thesis." `
` `
` "Since then," continued Aramis, "I have lived very agreeably. I `
` have begun a poem in verses of one syllable. That is rather `
` difficult, but the merit in all things consists in the `
` difficulty. The matter is gallant. I will read you the first `
` canto. It has four hundred lines, and lasts a minute." `
` `
` "My faith, my dear Aramis," said d'Artagnan, who detested verses `
` almost as much as he did Latin, "add to the merit of the `
` difficulty that of the brevity, and you are sure that your poem `
` will at least have two merits." `
` `
` "You will see," continued Aramis, "that it breathes `
` irreproachable passion. And so, my friends, we return to Paris? `
` Bravo! I am ready. We are going to rejoin that good fellow, `
` Porthos. So much the better. You can't think how I have missed `
` him, the great simpleton. To see him so self-satisfied `
` reconciles me with myself. He would not sell his horse; not for `
`
` `
` Athos went in quest of the Englishman, whom he found in the `
` stable, examining the harnesses with a greedy eye. The `
` opportunity was good. He proposed the conditions--the two `
` harnesses, either against one horse or a hundred pistoles. The `
` Englishman calculated fast; the two harnesses were worth three `
` hundred pistoles. He consented. `
` `
` D'Artagnan threw the dice with a trembling hand, and turned up `
` the number three; his paleness terrified Athos, who, however, `
` consented himself with saying, "That's a sad throw, comrade; you `
` will have the horses fully equipped, monsieur." `
` `
` The Englishman, quite triumphant, did not even give himself the `
` trouble to shake the dice. He threw them on the table without `
` looking at them, so sure was he of victory; d'Artagnan turned `
` aside to conceal his ill humor. `
` `
` "Hold, hold, hold!" said Athos, wit his quiet tone; "that throw `
` of the dice is extraordinary. I have not seen such a one four `
` times in my life. Two aces!" `
` `
` The Englishman looked, and was seized with astonishment. `
` d'Artagnan looked, and was seized with pleasure. `
` `
` "Yes," continued Athos, "four times only; once at the house of `
` Monsieur Crequy; another time at my own house in the country, in `
` my chateau at--when I had a chateau; a third time at Monsieur de `
` Treville's where it surprised us all; and the fourth time at a `
` cabaret, where it fell to my lot, and where I lost a hundred `
` louis and a supper on it." `
` `
` "Then Monsieur takes his horse back again," said the Englishman. `
` `
` "Certainly," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Then there is no revenge?" `
` `
` "Our conditions said, 'No revenge,' you will please to `
` recollect." `
` `
` "That is true; the horse shall be restored to your lackey, `
` monsieur." `
` `
` "A moment," said Athos; "with your permission, monsieur, I wish `
` to speak a word with my friend." `
` `
` "Say on." `
` `
` Athos drew d'Artagnan aside. `
` `
` "Well, Tempter, what more do you want with me?" said d'Artagnan. `
` "You want me to throw again, do you not?" `
` `
` "No, I would wish you to reflect." `
` `
` "On what?" `
` `
` "You mean to take your horse?" `
` `
` "Without doubt." `
` `
` "You are wrong, then. I would take the hundred pistoles. You `
` know you have staked the harnesses against the horse or a hundred `
` pistoles, at your choice." `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Well, then, I repeat, you are wrong. What is the use of one `
` horse for us two? I could not ride behind. We should look like `
` the two sons of Anmon, who had lost their brother. You cannot `
` think of humiliating me by prancing along by my side on that `
` magnificent charger. For my part, I should not hesitate a `
` moment; I should take the hundred pistoles. We want money for `
` our return to Paris." `
` `
` "I am much attached to that horse, Athos." `
` `
` "And there again you are wrong. A horse slips and injures a `
` joint; a horse stumbles and breaks his knees to the bone; a horse `
` eats out of a manger in which a glandered horse has eaten. There `
` is a horse, while on the contrary, the hundred pistoles feed `
` their master." `
` `
` "But how shall we get back?" `
` `
` "Upon our lackey's horses, PARDIEU. Anybody may see by our `
` bearing that we are people of condition." `
` `
` "Pretty figures we shall cut on ponies while Aramis and Porthos `
` caracole on their steeds." `
` `
` "Aramis! Porthos!" cried Athos, and laughed aloud. `
` `
` "What is it?" asked d'Artagnan, who did not at all comprehend the `
` hilarity of his friend. `
` `
` "Nothing, nothing! Go on!" `
` `
` "Your advice, then?" `
` `
` "To take the hundred pistoles, d'Artagnan. With the hundred `
` pistoles we can live well to the end of the month. We have `
` undergone a great deal of fatigue, remember, and a little rest `
` will do no harm." `
` `
` "I rest? Oh, no, Athos. Once in Paris, I shall prosecute my `
` search for that unfortunate woman!" `
` `
` "Well, you may be assured that your horse will not be half so `
` serviceable to you for that purpose as good golden louis. Take `
` the hundred pistoles, my friend; take the hundred pistoles!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan only required one reason to be satisfied. This last `
` reason appeared convincing. Besides, he feared that by resisting `
` longer he should appear selfish in the eyes of Athos. He `
` acquiesced, therefore, and chose the hundred pistoles, which the `
` Englishman paid down on the spot. `
` `
` They then determined to depart. Peace with the landlord, in `
` addition to Athos's old horse, cost six pistoles. D'Artagnan and `
` Athos took the nags of Planchet and Grimaud, and the two lackeys `
` started on foot, carrying the saddles on their heads. `
` `
` However ill our two friends were mounted, they were soon far in `
` advance of their servants, and arrived at Creveccoeur. From a `
` distance they perceived Aramis, seated in a melancholy manner at `
` his window, looking out, like Sister Anne, at the dust in the `
` horizon. `
` `
` "HOLA, Aramis! What the devil are you doing there?" cried the `
` two friends. `
` `
` "Ah, is that you, d'Artagnan, and you, Athos?" said the young `
` man. "I was reflecting upon the rapidity with which the `
` blessings of this world leave us. My English horse, which has `
` just disappeared amid a cloud of dust, has furnished me with a `
` living image of the fragility of the things of the earth. Life `
` itself may be resolved into three words: ERAT, EST, FUIT." `
` `
` "Which means--" said d'Artagnan, who began to suspect the truth. `
` `
` "Which means that I have just been duped-sixty louis for a horse `
` which by the manner of his gait can do at least five leagues an `
` hour." `
` `
` D'Artagnan and Athos laughed aloud. `
` `
` "My dear d'Artagnan," said Aramis, "don't be too angry with me, I `
` beg. Necessity has no law; besides, I am the person punished, as `
` that rascally horsedealer has robbed me of fifty louis, at least. `
` Ah, you fellows are good managers! You ride on our lackey's `
` horses, and have your own gallant steeds led along carefully by `
` hand, at short stages." `
` `
` At the same instant a market cart, which some minutes before had `
` appeared upon the Amiens road, pulled up at the inn, and Planchet `
` and Grimaud came out of it with the saddles on their heads. The `
` cart was returning empty to Paris, and the two lackeys had `
` agreed, for their transport, to slake the wagoner's thirst along `
` the route. `
` `
` "What is this?" said Aramis, on seeing them arrive. "Nothing but `
` saddles?" `
` `
` "Now do you understand?" said Athos. `
` `
` "My friends, that's exactly like me! I retained my harness by `
` instinct. HOLA, Bazin! Bring my new saddle and carry it along `
` with those of these gentlemen." `
` `
` "And what have you done with your ecclesiastics?" asked `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "My dear fellow, I invited them to a dinner the next day," `
` replied Aramis. "They have some capital wine here--please to `
` observe that in passing. I did my best to make them drunk. Then `
` the curate forbade me to quit my uniform, and the Jesuit `
` entreated me to get him made a Musketeer." `
` `
` "Without a thesis?" cried d'Artagnan, "without a thesis? I `
` demand the suppression of the thesis." `
` `
` "Since then," continued Aramis, "I have lived very agreeably. I `
` have begun a poem in verses of one syllable. That is rather `
` difficult, but the merit in all things consists in the `
` difficulty. The matter is gallant. I will read you the first `
` canto. It has four hundred lines, and lasts a minute." `
` `
` "My faith, my dear Aramis," said d'Artagnan, who detested verses `
` almost as much as he did Latin, "add to the merit of the `
` difficulty that of the brevity, and you are sure that your poem `
` will at least have two merits." `
` `
` "You will see," continued Aramis, "that it breathes `
` irreproachable passion. And so, my friends, we return to Paris? `
` Bravo! I am ready. We are going to rejoin that good fellow, `
` Porthos. So much the better. You can't think how I have missed `
` him, the great simpleton. To see him so self-satisfied `
` reconciles me with myself. He would not sell his horse; not for `
`