Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
they must immediately prepare their outfits. `
` `
` `
` The four philosophers looked at one another in a state of `
` bewilderment. M. de Treville never jested in matters relating to `
` discipline. `
` `
` "And what do you reckon your outfit will cost?" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Oh, we can scarcely say. We have made our calculations with `
` Spartan economy, and we each require fifteen hundred livres." `
` `
` "Four times fifteen makes sixty--six thousand livres," said `
` Athos. `
` `
` "It seems to me," said d'Artagnan, "with a thousand livres each-- `
` I do not speak as a Spartan, but as a procurator--" `
` `
` This word PROCURATOR roused Porthos. "Stop," said he, "I have an `
` idea." `
` `
` "Well, that's something, for I have not the shadow of one," said `
` Athos coolly; "but as to d'Artagnan, gentlemen, the idea of `
` belonging to OURS has driven him out of his senses. A thousand `
` livres! For my part, I declare I want two thousand." `
` `
` "Four times two makes eight," then said Aramis; "it is eight `
` thousand that we want to complete our outfits, toward which, it `
` is true, we have already the saddles." `
` `
` "Besides," said Athos, waiting till d'Artagnan, who went to thank `
` Monsieur de Treville, had shut the door, "besides, there is that `
` beautiful ring which beams from the finger of our friend. What `
` the devil! D'Artagnan is too good a comrade to leave his `
` brothers in embarrassment while he wears the ransom of a king on `
` his finger." `
` `
` `
` `
` 29 HUNTING FOR THE EQUIPMENTS `
` `
` The most preoccupied of the four friends was certainly `
` d'Artagnan, although he, in his quality of Guardsman, would be `
` much more easily equipped than Messieurs the Musketeers, who were `
` all of high rank; but our Gascon cadet was, as may have been `
` observed, of a provident and almost avaricious character, and `
` with that (explain the contradiction) so vain as almost to rival `
` Porthos. To this preoccupation of his vanity, d'Artagnan at this `
` moment joined an uneasiness much less selfish. Notwithstanding `
` all his inquiries respecting Mme. Bonacieux, he could obtain no `
` intelligence of her. M. de Treville had spoken of her to the `
` queen. The queen was ignorant where the mercer's young wife was, `
` but had promised to have her sought for; but this promise was `
` very vague and did not at all reassure d'Artagnan. `
` `
` Athos did not leave his chamber; he made up his mind not to take `
` a single step to equip himself. `
` `
` "We have still fifteen days before us," said he to his friends. `
` "well, if at the end of a fortnight I have found nothing, or `
` rather if nothing has come to find me, as I, too good a `
` Catholic to kill myself with a pistol bullet, I will seek a good `
` quarrel with four of his Eminence's Guards or with eight `
` Englishmen, and I will fight until one of them has killed me, `
` which, considering the number, cannot fail to happen. It will `
` then be said of me that I died for the king; so that I shall have `
` performed my duty without the expense of an outfit." `
` `
` Porthos continued to walk about with his hands behind him, `
` tossing his head and repeating, "I shall follow up on my idea." `
` `
` Aramis, anxious and negligently dressed, said nothing. `
` `
` It may be seen by these disastrous details that desolation `
` reigned in the community. `
` `
` The lackeys on their part, like the coursers of Hippolytus, `
` shared the sadness of their masters. Mousqueton collected a `
` store of crusts; Bazin, who had always been inclined to devotion, `
` never quit the churches; Planchet watched the flight of flies; `
` and Grimaud, whom the general distress could not induce to break `
` the silence imposed by his master, heaved sighs enough to soften `
` the stones. `
` `
` The three friends--for, as we have said, Athos had sworn not to `
` stir a foot to equip himself--went out early in the morning, and `
` returned late at night. They wandered about the streets, looking `
` at the pavement as if to see whether the passengers had not left a `
` purse behind them. They might have been supposed to be following `
` tracks, so observant were they wherever they went. When they met `
` they looked desolately at one another, as much as to say, "Have `
` you found anything?" `
` `
` However, as Porthos had first found an idea, and had thought of `
` it earnestly afterward, he was the first to act. He was a man of `
` execution, this worthy Porthos. D'Artagnan perceived him one day `
` walking toward the church of St. Leu, and followed him `
` instinctively. He entered, after having twisted his mustache and `
` elongated his imperial, which always announced on his part the `
` most triumphant resolutions. As d'Artagnan took some precautions `
` to conceal himself, Porthos believed he had not been seen. `
` d'Artagnan entered behind him. Porthos went and leaned against `
` the side of a pillar. D'Artagnan, still unperceived, supported `
` himself against the other side. `
` `
` There happened to be a sermon, which made the church very full of `
` people. Porthos took advantage of this circumstance to ogle the `
` women. Thanks to the cares of Mousqueton, the exterior was far `
` from announcing the distress of the interior. His hat was a `
` little napless, his feather was a little faded, his gold lace was `
` a little tarnished, his laces were a trifle frayed; but in the `
` obscurity of the church these things were not seen, and Porthos `
` was still the handsome Porthos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan observed, on the bench nearest to the pillar against `
` which Porthos leaned, a sort of ripe beauty, rather yellow and `
` rather dry, but erect and haughty under her black hood. The eyes `
` of Porthos were furtively cast upon this lady, and then roved `
` about at large over the nave. `
` `
` On her side the lady, who from time to time blushed, darted with `
` the rapidity of lightning a glance toward the inconstant Porthos; `
` and then immediately the eyes of Porthos wandered anxiously. It `
` was plain that this mode of proceeding piqued the lady in the `
` black hood, for she bit her lips till they bled, scratched the `
` end of her nose, and could not sit still in her seat. `
` `
` Porthos, seeing this, retwisted his mustache, elongated his `
` imperial a second time, and began to make signals to a beautiful `
` lady who was near the choir, and who not only was a beautiful `
` lady, but still further, no doubt, a great lady--for she had `
` behind her a Negro boy who had brought the cushion on which she `
` knelt, and a female servant who held the emblazoned bag in which `
` was placed the book from which she read the Mass. `
` `
` The lady with the black hood followed through all their `
` wanderings the looks of Porthos, and perceived that they rested `
` upon the lady with the velvet cushion, the little Negro, and the `
` maid-servant. `
` `
` During this time Porthos played close. It was almost `
` imperceptible motions of his eyes, fingers placed upon the lips, `
` little assassinating smiles, which really did assassinate the `
` disdained beauty. `
` `
` Then she cried, "Ahem!" under cover of the MEA CULPA, striking `
` her breast so vigorously that everybody, even the lady with the `
` red cushion, turned round toward her. Porthos paid no attention. `
` Nevertheless, he understood it all, but was deaf. `
` `
` The lady with the red cushion produced a great effect--for she `
` was very handsome--upon the lady with he black hood, who saw in `
` her a rival really to be dreaded; a great effect upon Porthos, `
` who thought her much prettier than the lady with the black hood; `
` a great effect upon d'Artagnan, who recognized in her the lady of `
` Meung, of Calais, and of Dover, whom his persecutor, the man with `
` the scar, had saluted by the name of Milady. `
` `
` D'Artagnan, without losing sight of the lady of the red cushion, `
` continued to watch the proceedings of Porthos, which amused him `
` greatly. He guessed that the lady of the black hood was the `
` procurator's wife of the Rue aux Ours, which was the more `
` probable from the church of St. Leu being not far from that `
` locality. `
` `
` He guessed, likewise, by induction, that Porthos was taking his `
` revenge for the defeat of Chantilly, when the procurator's wife `
` had proved so refractory with respect to her purse. `
` `
` Amid all this, d'Artagnan remarked also that not one countenance `
` responded to the gallantries of Porthos. There were only `
` chimeras and illusions; but for real love, for true jealousy, is `
` there any reality except illusions and chimeras? `
` `
` The sermon over, the procurator's wife advanced toward the holy `
` font. Porthos went before her, and instead of a finger, dipped `
` his whole hand in. The procurator's wife smiled, thinking that `
` it was for her Porthos had put himself to this trouble; but she `
` was cruelly and promptly undeceived. When she was only about `
` three steps from him, he turned his head round, fixing his eyes `
` steadfastly upon the lady with the red cushion, who had risen and `
` was approaching, followed by her black boy and her woman. `
` `
` When the lady of the red cushion came close to Porthos, Porthos `
` drew his dripping hand from the font. The fair worshipper `
` touched the great hand of Porthos with her delicate fingers, `
` smiled, made the sign of the cross, and left the church. `
` `
` This was too much for the procurator's wife; she doubted not `
` there was an intrigue between this lady and Porthos. If she had `
` been a great lady she would have fainted; but as she was only a `
` procurator's wife, she contented herself saying to the Musketeer `
` with concentrated fury, "Eh, Monsieur Porthos, you don't offer me `
` any holy water?" `
` `
` Porthos, at the sound of that voice, started like a man awakened `
` from a sleep of a hundred years. `
` `
` "Ma-madame!" cried he; "is that you? How is your husband, our `
` dear Monsieur Coquenard? Is he still as stingy as ever? Where `
` can my eyes have been not to have seen you during the two hours `
`
` `
` `
` The four philosophers looked at one another in a state of `
` bewilderment. M. de Treville never jested in matters relating to `
` discipline. `
` `
` "And what do you reckon your outfit will cost?" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Oh, we can scarcely say. We have made our calculations with `
` Spartan economy, and we each require fifteen hundred livres." `
` `
` "Four times fifteen makes sixty--six thousand livres," said `
` Athos. `
` `
` "It seems to me," said d'Artagnan, "with a thousand livres each-- `
` I do not speak as a Spartan, but as a procurator--" `
` `
` This word PROCURATOR roused Porthos. "Stop," said he, "I have an `
` idea." `
` `
` "Well, that's something, for I have not the shadow of one," said `
` Athos coolly; "but as to d'Artagnan, gentlemen, the idea of `
` belonging to OURS has driven him out of his senses. A thousand `
` livres! For my part, I declare I want two thousand." `
` `
` "Four times two makes eight," then said Aramis; "it is eight `
` thousand that we want to complete our outfits, toward which, it `
` is true, we have already the saddles." `
` `
` "Besides," said Athos, waiting till d'Artagnan, who went to thank `
` Monsieur de Treville, had shut the door, "besides, there is that `
` beautiful ring which beams from the finger of our friend. What `
` the devil! D'Artagnan is too good a comrade to leave his `
` brothers in embarrassment while he wears the ransom of a king on `
` his finger." `
` `
` `
` `
` 29 HUNTING FOR THE EQUIPMENTS `
` `
` The most preoccupied of the four friends was certainly `
` d'Artagnan, although he, in his quality of Guardsman, would be `
` much more easily equipped than Messieurs the Musketeers, who were `
` all of high rank; but our Gascon cadet was, as may have been `
` observed, of a provident and almost avaricious character, and `
` with that (explain the contradiction) so vain as almost to rival `
` Porthos. To this preoccupation of his vanity, d'Artagnan at this `
` moment joined an uneasiness much less selfish. Notwithstanding `
` all his inquiries respecting Mme. Bonacieux, he could obtain no `
` intelligence of her. M. de Treville had spoken of her to the `
` queen. The queen was ignorant where the mercer's young wife was, `
` but had promised to have her sought for; but this promise was `
` very vague and did not at all reassure d'Artagnan. `
` `
` Athos did not leave his chamber; he made up his mind not to take `
` a single step to equip himself. `
` `
` "We have still fifteen days before us," said he to his friends. `
` "well, if at the end of a fortnight I have found nothing, or `
` rather if nothing has come to find me, as I, too good a `
` Catholic to kill myself with a pistol bullet, I will seek a good `
` quarrel with four of his Eminence's Guards or with eight `
` Englishmen, and I will fight until one of them has killed me, `
` which, considering the number, cannot fail to happen. It will `
` then be said of me that I died for the king; so that I shall have `
` performed my duty without the expense of an outfit." `
` `
` Porthos continued to walk about with his hands behind him, `
` tossing his head and repeating, "I shall follow up on my idea." `
` `
` Aramis, anxious and negligently dressed, said nothing. `
` `
` It may be seen by these disastrous details that desolation `
` reigned in the community. `
` `
` The lackeys on their part, like the coursers of Hippolytus, `
` shared the sadness of their masters. Mousqueton collected a `
` store of crusts; Bazin, who had always been inclined to devotion, `
` never quit the churches; Planchet watched the flight of flies; `
` and Grimaud, whom the general distress could not induce to break `
` the silence imposed by his master, heaved sighs enough to soften `
` the stones. `
` `
` The three friends--for, as we have said, Athos had sworn not to `
` stir a foot to equip himself--went out early in the morning, and `
` returned late at night. They wandered about the streets, looking `
` at the pavement as if to see whether the passengers had not left a `
` purse behind them. They might have been supposed to be following `
` tracks, so observant were they wherever they went. When they met `
` they looked desolately at one another, as much as to say, "Have `
` you found anything?" `
` `
` However, as Porthos had first found an idea, and had thought of `
` it earnestly afterward, he was the first to act. He was a man of `
` execution, this worthy Porthos. D'Artagnan perceived him one day `
` walking toward the church of St. Leu, and followed him `
` instinctively. He entered, after having twisted his mustache and `
` elongated his imperial, which always announced on his part the `
` most triumphant resolutions. As d'Artagnan took some precautions `
` to conceal himself, Porthos believed he had not been seen. `
` d'Artagnan entered behind him. Porthos went and leaned against `
` the side of a pillar. D'Artagnan, still unperceived, supported `
` himself against the other side. `
` `
` There happened to be a sermon, which made the church very full of `
` people. Porthos took advantage of this circumstance to ogle the `
` women. Thanks to the cares of Mousqueton, the exterior was far `
` from announcing the distress of the interior. His hat was a `
` little napless, his feather was a little faded, his gold lace was `
` a little tarnished, his laces were a trifle frayed; but in the `
` obscurity of the church these things were not seen, and Porthos `
` was still the handsome Porthos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan observed, on the bench nearest to the pillar against `
` which Porthos leaned, a sort of ripe beauty, rather yellow and `
` rather dry, but erect and haughty under her black hood. The eyes `
` of Porthos were furtively cast upon this lady, and then roved `
` about at large over the nave. `
` `
` On her side the lady, who from time to time blushed, darted with `
` the rapidity of lightning a glance toward the inconstant Porthos; `
` and then immediately the eyes of Porthos wandered anxiously. It `
` was plain that this mode of proceeding piqued the lady in the `
` black hood, for she bit her lips till they bled, scratched the `
` end of her nose, and could not sit still in her seat. `
` `
` Porthos, seeing this, retwisted his mustache, elongated his `
` imperial a second time, and began to make signals to a beautiful `
` lady who was near the choir, and who not only was a beautiful `
` lady, but still further, no doubt, a great lady--for she had `
` behind her a Negro boy who had brought the cushion on which she `
` knelt, and a female servant who held the emblazoned bag in which `
` was placed the book from which she read the Mass. `
` `
` The lady with the black hood followed through all their `
` wanderings the looks of Porthos, and perceived that they rested `
` upon the lady with the velvet cushion, the little Negro, and the `
` maid-servant. `
` `
` During this time Porthos played close. It was almost `
` imperceptible motions of his eyes, fingers placed upon the lips, `
` little assassinating smiles, which really did assassinate the `
` disdained beauty. `
` `
` Then she cried, "Ahem!" under cover of the MEA CULPA, striking `
` her breast so vigorously that everybody, even the lady with the `
` red cushion, turned round toward her. Porthos paid no attention. `
` Nevertheless, he understood it all, but was deaf. `
` `
` The lady with the red cushion produced a great effect--for she `
` was very handsome--upon the lady with he black hood, who saw in `
` her a rival really to be dreaded; a great effect upon Porthos, `
` who thought her much prettier than the lady with the black hood; `
` a great effect upon d'Artagnan, who recognized in her the lady of `
` Meung, of Calais, and of Dover, whom his persecutor, the man with `
` the scar, had saluted by the name of Milady. `
` `
` D'Artagnan, without losing sight of the lady of the red cushion, `
` continued to watch the proceedings of Porthos, which amused him `
` greatly. He guessed that the lady of the black hood was the `
` procurator's wife of the Rue aux Ours, which was the more `
` probable from the church of St. Leu being not far from that `
` locality. `
` `
` He guessed, likewise, by induction, that Porthos was taking his `
` revenge for the defeat of Chantilly, when the procurator's wife `
` had proved so refractory with respect to her purse. `
` `
` Amid all this, d'Artagnan remarked also that not one countenance `
` responded to the gallantries of Porthos. There were only `
` chimeras and illusions; but for real love, for true jealousy, is `
` there any reality except illusions and chimeras? `
` `
` The sermon over, the procurator's wife advanced toward the holy `
` font. Porthos went before her, and instead of a finger, dipped `
` his whole hand in. The procurator's wife smiled, thinking that `
` it was for her Porthos had put himself to this trouble; but she `
` was cruelly and promptly undeceived. When she was only about `
` three steps from him, he turned his head round, fixing his eyes `
` steadfastly upon the lady with the red cushion, who had risen and `
` was approaching, followed by her black boy and her woman. `
` `
` When the lady of the red cushion came close to Porthos, Porthos `
` drew his dripping hand from the font. The fair worshipper `
` touched the great hand of Porthos with her delicate fingers, `
` smiled, made the sign of the cross, and left the church. `
` `
` This was too much for the procurator's wife; she doubted not `
` there was an intrigue between this lady and Porthos. If she had `
` been a great lady she would have fainted; but as she was only a `
` procurator's wife, she contented herself saying to the Musketeer `
` with concentrated fury, "Eh, Monsieur Porthos, you don't offer me `
` any holy water?" `
` `
` Porthos, at the sound of that voice, started like a man awakened `
` from a sleep of a hundred years. `
` `
` "Ma-madame!" cried he; "is that you? How is your husband, our `
` dear Monsieur Coquenard? Is he still as stingy as ever? Where `
` can my eyes have been not to have seen you during the two hours `
`