s II. himself, 'Nescio vos'----"

"I don't understand English," said Planchet.

"Yes, but I understand it," said D'Artagnan. "'Nescio vos' means 'I do
not know you.' This M. Monk, the most important man in England, when he
shall have swallowed it----"

"Well?" asked Planchet.

"Well, my friend, I shall go over yonder, and with my forty men, I shall
carry him off, pack him up, and bring him into France, where two modes
of proceeding present themselves to my dazzled eyes."

"Oh! and to mine too," cried Planchet, transported with enthusiasm. "We
will put him in a cage and show him for money."

"Well, Planchet, that is a third plan, of which I had not thought."

"Do you think it a good one?"

"Yes, certainly, but I think mine better."

"Let us see yours, then."

"In the first place, I shall set a ransom on him."

"Of how much?"

"Peste! a fellow like that must be well worth a hundred thousand
crowns."

"Yes, yes!"

"You see, then--in the first place, a ransom of a hundred thousand
crowns."

"Or else----"

"Or else, what is much better, I deliver him up to King Charles, who,
having no longer either a general or an army to fear, nor a diplomatist
to trick him, will restore himself, and when once restored, will pay
down to me the hundred thousand crowns in question. That is the idea I
have formed; what do you say to it, Planchet?"

"Magnificent, monsieur!" cried Planchet, trembling with emotion. "How
did you conceive that idea?"

"It came to me one morning on the banks of the Loire, whilst our beloved
king, Louis XIV., was pretending to weep upon the hand of Mademoiselle
de Mancini."

"Monsieur, I declare the idea is sublime. But----"

"Ah! is there a but?"

"Permit me! But this is a little like the skin of that fine bear--you
know--that they were about to sell, but which it was necessary to take
from the back of the living bear. Now, to take M. Monk, there will be a
bit of scuffle, I should think."

"No doubt; but as I shall raise an army to----"

"Yes, yes--I understand, parbleu!--a coup-de-main. Yes, then, monsieur,
you will triumph, for no one equals you in such sorts of encounters."

"I certainly am lucky in them," said D'Artagnan, with a proud
simplicity. "You know that if for this affair I had my dear Athos, my
brave Porthos, and my cunning Aramis, the business would be settled; but
they are all lost, as it appears, and nobody knows where to find them.
I will do it, then, alone. Now, do