ight, my friend, a hundred
times right."

D'Artagnan sighed, and preceded his friend under the porch of the
mansion Monk inhabited, at the extremity of the city. "Permit me,"
said he, "to leave my purse at home; for if in the crowd those clever
pickpockets of London, who are much boasted of, even in Paris, were to
steal from me the remainder of my poor crowns, I should not be able to
return to France. Now, content I left France, and wild with joy I should
return to it, seeing that all my prejudices of former days against
England have returned, accompanied by many others."

Athos made no reply.

"So then, my dear friend, one second, and I will follow you," said
D'Artagnan. "I know you are in a hurry to go yonder to receive your
reward, but, believe me, I am not less eager to partake of your joy,
although from a distance. Wait for me." And D'Artagnan was already
passing through the vestibule, when a man, half servant, half soldier,
who filled in Monk's establishment the double functions of porter and
guard, stopped our musketeer, saying to him in English:

"I beg your pardon, my Lord d'Artagnan!"

"Well," replied the latter: "what is it? Is the general going to dismiss
me? I only needed to be expelled by him."

These words, spoken in French, made no impression upon the person to
whom they were addressed and who himself only spoke an English mixed
with the rudest Scotch. But Athos was grieved at them, for he began to
think D'Artagnan was not wrong.

The Englishman showed D'Artagnan a letter: "From the general," said he.

"Aye! that's it, my dismissal!" replied the Gascon. "Must I read it,
Athos?"

"You must be deceived," said Athos, "or I know no more honest people in
the world but you and myself."

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and unsealed the letter, while the
impassible Englishman held for him a large lantern, by the light of
which he was enabled to read it.

"Well, what is the matter?" said Athos, seeing the countenance of the
reader change.

"Read it yourself," said the musketeer.

Athos took the paper and read:

"Monsieur d'Artagnan.--The king regrets very much you did not come to St.
Paul's with his cortege. He missed you, as I also have missed you, my
dear captain. There is but one means of repairing all this. His majesty
expects me at nine o'clock at the palace of St. James's: will you be
there at the same time with me? His gracious majesty appoints that hour
for an audience he grants you