oor a
large cover, and emptied the first bag into it. Planchet did the same
with the second; then D'Artagnan, all in a tremble, let out the precious
bowels of the third with a knife. When Planchet heard the provoking
sound of the silver and gold--when he saw bubbling out of the bags the
shining crowns, which glittered like fish from the sweep-net--when he
felt himself plunging his hands up to the elbow in that still rising
tide of yellow and white coins, a giddiness seized him, and like a man
struck by lightning, he sank heavily down upon the enormous heap, which
his weight caused to roll away in all directions. Planchet, suffocated
with joy, had lost his senses. D'Artagnan threw a glass of white wine in
his face, which incontinently recalled him to life.

"Ah! good heavens! good heavens! good heavens!" said Planchet, wiping
his mustache and beard.

At that time, as they do now, grocers wore the cavalier mustache and the
lansquenet beard, only the money baths, already rare in those days, have
become almost unknown now.

"Mordieux!" said D'Artagnan, "there are a hundred thousand crowns for
you, partner. Draw your share, if you please, and I will draw mine."

"Oh! the lovely sum! Monsieur d'Artagnan, the lovely sum!"

"I confess that half an hour ago I regretted that I had to give you so
much, but I now no longer regret it; thou art a brave grocer, Planchet.
There, let us close our accounts, for, as they say, short reckonings
make long friends."

"Oh! rather, in the first place, tell me the whole history," said
Planchet; "that must be better than the money."

"Ma foi!" said D'Artagnan, stroking his mustache, "I can't say no, and
if ever the historian turns to me for information, he will be able
to say he has not dipped his bucket into a dry spring. Listen, then,
Planchet, I will tell you all about it."

"And I shall build piles of crowns," said Planchet. "Begin, my dear
master."

"Well, this is it," said D'Artagnan, drawing breath.

"And that is it," said Planchet, picking up his first handful of crowns.

CHAPTER 39. Mazarin's Gaming Party

In a large chamber of the Palais Royal, hung with a dark colored velvet,
which threw into strong relief the gilded frames of a great number
of magnificent pictures, on the evening of the arrival of the two
Frenchmen, the whole court was assembled before the alcove of M. le
Cardinal de Mazarin, who gave a card party to the king and queen.

A small screen separa