t he presented it to the
king. Charles broke into hilarious laughter.

"A gallant man, and a merry companion! Odds fish! is he not, duke? is he
not, comte? He pleases me! I like him! Here, Chevalier d'Artagnan, take
this." And going to the table, he took a pen and wrote an order upon his
treasurer for three hundred thousand crowns.

D'Artagnan took it, and turning gravely towards Monk: "I have still
asked too little, I know," said he, "but believe me, your grace, I would
rather have died than allow myself to be governed by avarice."

The king began to laugh again, like the happiest cockney of his kingdom.

"You will come and see me again before you go, chevalier?" said he; "I
shall want to lay in a stock of gayety now my Frenchmen are leaving me."

"Ah! sire, it will not be with the gayety as with the duke's sword; I
will give it to your majesty gratis," replied D'Artagnan, whose feet
scarcely seemed to touch the ground.

"And you, comte," added Charles, turning towards Athos, "come again,
also, I have an important message to confide to you. Your hand, duke."
Monk pressed the hand of the king.

"Adieu! gentlemen," said Charles, holding out each of his hands to the
two Frenchmen, who carried them to their lips.

"Well," said Athos, when they were out of the palace, "are you
satisfied?"

"Hush!" said D'Artagnan, wild with joy, "I have not yet returned from
the treasurer's--a shutter may fall upon my head."

CHAPTER 34. Of the Embarrassment of Riches

D'Artagnan lost no time, and as soon as the thing was suitable and
opportune, he paid a visit to the lord treasurer of his majesty. He had
then the satisfaction to exchange a piece of paper, covered with very
ugly writing, for a prodigious number of crowns, recently stamped with
the effigies of his very gracious majesty Charles II.

D'Artagnan easily controlled himself: and yet, on this occasion, he
could not help evincing a joy which the reader will perhaps comprehend,
if he deigns to have some indulgence for a man who, since his birth, had
never seen so many pieces and rolls of pieces juxtaplaced in an order
truly agreeable to the eye. The treasurer placed all the rolls in bags,
and closed each bag with a stamp sealed with the arms of England, a
favor which treasurers do not grant to everybody. Then impassible,
and just as polite as he ought to be towards a man honored with the
friendship of the king, he said to D'Artagnan:

"Take away your money, s