ally seized with admiration, and said no
more about going away.

The life of the four young men had become fraternal. D'Artagnan, who
had no settled habits of his own, as he came from his province into the
midst of his world quite new to him, fell easily into the habits of his
friends.

They rose about eight o'clock in the winter, about six in summer,
and went to take the countersign and see how things went on at M. de
Treville's. D'Artagnan, although he was not a Musketeer, performed the
duty of one with remarkable punctuality. He went on guard because he
always kept company with whoever of his friends was on duty. He was well
known at the Hotel of the Musketeers, where everyone considered him
a good comrade. M. de Treville, who had appreciated him at the first
glance and who bore him a real affection, never ceased recommending him
to the king.

On their side, the three Musketeers were much attached to their young
comrade. The friendship which united these four men, and the need they
felt of seeing another three or four times a day, whether for dueling,
business, or pleasure, caused them to be continually running after one
another like shadows; and the Inseparables were constantly to be met
with seeking one another, from the Luxembourg to the Place St. Sulpice,
or from the Rue du Vieux-Colombier to the Luxembourg.

In the meanwhile the promises of M. de Treville went on prosperously.
One fine morning the king commanded M. de Chevalier Dessessart to admit
d'Artagnan as a cadet in his company of Guards. D'Artagnan, with a
sigh, donned his uniform, which he would have exchanged for that of
a Musketeer at the expense of ten years of his existence. But M. de
Treville promised this favor after a novitiate of two years--a novitiate
which might besides be abridged if an opportunity should present itself
for d'Artagnan to render the king any signal service, or to distinguish
himself by some brilliant action. Upon this promise d'Artagnan withdrew,
and the next day he began service.

Then it became the turn of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis to mount guard
with d'Artagnan when he was on duty. The company of M. le Chevalier
Dessessart thus received four instead of one when it admitted
d'Artagnan.

8 CONCERNING A COURT INTRIGUE

In the meantime, the forty pistoles of King Louis XIII, like all other
things of this world, after having had a beginning had an end, and after
this end our four companions began to be somewhat em