trysting place
in the north of France, between Berghes and Saint Omer. Six days were
allowed as the utmost term, and D'Artagnan was sufficiently acquainted
with the good-will, the good-humor, and the relative probity of these
illustrious recruits, to be certain that not one of them would fail in
his appointment. These orders given, this rendezvous fixed, he went to
bid farewell to Planchet, who asked news of his army. D'Artagnan did
not think proper to inform him of the reduction he had made in his
personnel. He feared that the confidence of his associate would be
abated by such an avowal. Planchet was delighted to learn that the army
was levied, and that he (Planchet) found himself a kind of half king,
who from his throne-counter kept in pay a body of troops destined
to make war against perfidious Albion, that enemy of all true French
hearts. Planchet paid down in double louis, twenty thousand livres
to D'Artagnan, on the part of himself (Planchet), and twenty thousand
livres, still in double louis, in account with D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan
placed each of the twenty thousand francs in a bag, and weighing a bag
in each hand,--"This money is very embarrassing, my dear Planchet," said
he. "Do you know this weighs thirty pounds?"

"Bah! your horse will carry that like a feather."

D'Artagnan shook his head. "Don't tell me such things, Planchet: a
horse overloaded with thirty pounds, in addition to the rider and his
portmanteau, cannot cross a river so easily--cannot leap over a wall or
ditch so lightly; and the horse failing, the horseman fails. It is true
that you, Planchet, who have served in the infantry, may not be aware of
all that."

"Then what is to be done, monsieur?" said Planchet, greatly embarrassed.

"Listen to me," said D'Artagnan. "I will pay my army on its return home.
Keep my half of twenty thousand livres, which you can use during that
time."

"And my half?" said Planchet.

"I shall take that with me."

"Your confidence does me honor," said Planchet: "but supposing you
should not return?"

"That is possible, though not very probable. Then, Planchet, in case I
should not return--give me a pen! I will make my will." D'Artagnan took
a pen and some paper, and wrote upon a plain sheet,--"I, D'Artagnan,
possess twenty thousand livres, laid up cent by cent during thirty years
that I have been in the service of his majesty the king of France. I
leave five thousand to Athos, five thousand to Porthos and fiv