D'Artagnan, with a sigh, "that
disinterestedness was the finest thing in the world."

"Well, and you, my friend," resumed Athos, "are you not in the same
situation as myself? If I have properly understood your words, you
allowed yourself to be affected by the misfortunes of this young man;
that, on your part, was much greater than it was upon mine, for I had a
duty to fulfill, whilst you were under no obligation to the son of the
martyr. You had not, on your part, to pay him the price of that precious
drop of blood which he let fall upon my brow, through the floor of his
scaffold. That which made you act was heart alone--the noble and good
heart which you possess beneath your apparent skepticism and sarcastic
irony; you have engaged the fortune of a servitor, and your own, I
suspect, my benevolent miser! and your sacrifice is not acknowledged!
Of what consequence is it? You wish to repay Planchet his money. I can
comprehend that, my friend: for it is not becoming in a gentleman
to borrow from his inferior, without returning to him principal and
interest. Well, I will sell La Fere if necessary, and if not, some
little farm. You shall pay Planchet, and there will be enough, believe
me, of corn left in my granaries for us two and Raoul. In this way, my
friend, you will be under obligations to nobody but yourself, and, if
I know you well, it will not be a small satisfaction to your mind to be
able to say, 'I have made a king!' Am I right?"

"Athos! Athos!" murmured D'Artagnan, thoughtfully, "I have told you
more than once that the day on which you will preach I shall attend the
sermon; the day on which you will tell me there is a hell--Mordioux! I
shall be afraid of the gridiron and the pitchforks. You are better than
I, or rather, better than anybody, and I only acknowledge the possession
of one quality, and that is, of not being jealous. Except that defect,
damme, as the English say, if I have not all the rest."

"I know no one equal to D'Artagnan," replied Athos; "but here we
are, having quietly reached the house I inhabit. Will you come in, my
friend?"

"Eh! why, this is the tavern of the Corne du Cerf, I think," said
D'Artagnan.

"I confess I chose it on purpose. I like old acquaintances; I like to
sit down on that place, whereon I sank, overcome by fatigue, overwhelmed
with despair, when you returned on the 31st of January."

"After having discovered the abode of the masked executioner? Yes, that
was a terribl