Part 100 (2/2)

”What?”

”That there shall be five hundred crowns for you, and five hundred crowns for me.”

”Don't dream it, Athos. I don't need the quarter of such a sum--I who am still only in the Guards--and by selling my saddles, I shall procure it.

What do I want? A horse for Planchet, that's all. Besides, you forget that I have a ring likewise.”

”To which you attach more value, it seems, than I do to mine; at least, I have thought so.”

”Yes, for in any extreme circ.u.mstance it might not only extricate us from some great embarra.s.sment, but even a great danger. It is not only a valuable diamond, but it is an enchanted talisman.”

”I don't at all understand you, but I believe all you say to be true.

Let us return to my ring, or rather to yours. You shall take half the sum that will be advanced upon it, or I will throw it into the Seine; and I doubt, as was the case with Polycrates, whether any fish will be sufficiently complaisant to bring it back to us.”

”Well, I will take it, then,” said d'Artagnan.

At this moment Grimaud returned, accompanied by Planchet; the latter, anxious about his master and curious to know what had happened to him, had taken advantage of the opportunity and brought the garments himself.

d'Artagnan dressed himself, and Athos did the same. When the two were ready to go out, the latter made Grimaud the sign of a man taking aim, and the lackey immediately took down his musketoon, and prepared to follow his master.

They arrived without accident at the Rue des Fossoyeurs. Bonacieux was standing at the door, and looked at d'Artagnan hatefully.

”Make haste, dear lodger,” said he; ”there is a very pretty girl waiting for you upstairs; and you know women don't like to be kept waiting.”

”That's Kitty!” said d'Artagnan to himself, and darted into the pa.s.sage.

Sure enough! Upon the landing leading to the chamber, and crouching against the door, he found the poor girl, all in a tremble. As soon as she perceived him, she cried, ”You have promised your protection; you have promised to save me from her anger. Remember, it is you who have ruined me!”

”Yes, yes, to be sure, Kitty,” said d'Artagnan; ”be at ease, my girl.

But what happened after my departure?”

”How can I tell!” said Kitty. ”The lackeys were brought by the cries she made. She was mad with pa.s.sion. There exist no imprecations she did not pour out against you. Then I thought she would remember it was through my chamber you had penetrated hers, and that then she would suppose I was your accomplice; so I took what little money I had and the best of my things, and I got away.

”Poor dear girl! But what can I do with you? I am going away the day after tomorrow.”

”Do what you please, Monsieur Chevalier. Help me out of Paris; help me out of France!”

”I cannot take you, however, to the siege of La Roch.e.l.le,” aid d'Artagnan.

”No; but you can place me in one of the provinces with some lady of your acquaintance--in your own country, for instance.”

”My dear little love! In my country the ladies do without chambermaids.

But stop! I can manage your business for you. Planchet, go and find Aramis. Request him to come here directly. We have something very important to say to him.”

”I understand,” said Athos; ”but why not Porthos? I should have thought that his d.u.c.h.ess--”

<script>