Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
hundred pistoles for a chestnut nag. 'PARDIEU,' said I, 'my good `
` gentleman, I have a horse to sell, too.' 'Ay, and a very fine `
` one! I saw him yesterday; your friend's lackey was leading him.' `
` 'Do you think he is worth a hundred pistoles?' 'Yes! Will you `
` sell him to me for that sum?' 'No; but I will play for him.' `
` 'What?' 'At dice.' No sooner said than done, and I lost the `
` horse. Ah, ah! But please to observe I won back the equipage," `
` cried Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan looked much disconcerted. `
` `
` "This vexes you?" said Athos. `
` `
` "Well, I must confess it does," replied d'Artagnan. "That horse `
` was to have identified us in the day of battle. It was a pledge, `
` a remembrance. Athos, you have done wrong." `
` `
` "But, my dear friend, put yourself in my place," replied the `
` Musketeer. "I was hipped to death; and still further, upon my `
` honor, I don't like English horses. If it is only to be `
` recognized, why the saddle will suffice for that; it is quite `
` remarkable enough. As to the horse, we can easily find some `
` excuse for its disappearance. Why the devil! A horse is mortal; `
` suppose mine had had the glanders or the farcy?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan did not smile. `
` `
` "It vexes me greatly," continued Athos, "that you attach so much `
` importance to these animals, for I am not yet at the end of my `
` story." `
` `
` "What else have you done." `
` `
` "After having lost my own horse, nine against ten--see how near-- `
` I formed an idea of staking yours." `
` `
` "Yes; but you stopped at the idea, I hope?" `
` `
` "No; for I put it in execution that very minute." `
` `
` "And the consequence?" said d'Artagnan, in great anxiety. `
` `
` "I threw, and I lost." `
` `
` "What, my horse?" `
` `
` "Your horse, seven against eight; a point short--you know the `
` proverb." `
` `
` "Athos, you are not in your right senses, I swear." `
` `
` "My dear lad, that was yesterday, when I was telling you silly `
` stories, it was proper to tell me that, and not this morning. I `
` lost him then, with all his appointments and furniture." `
` `
` "Really, this is frightful." `
` `
` "Stop a minute; you don't know all yet. I should make an `
` excellent gambler if I were not too hot-headed; but I was hot- `
` headed, just as if I had been drinking. Well, I was not hot- `
` headed then--" `
` `
` "Well, but what else could you play for? You had nothing left?" `
` `
` 'Oh, yes, my friend; there was still that diamond left which `
` sparkles on your finger, and which I had observed yesterday." `
` `
` "This diamond!" said d'Artagnan, placing his hand eagerly on his `
` ring. `
` `
` "And as I am a connoisseur in such things, having had a few of my `
` own once, I estimated it at a thousand pistoles." `
` `
` "I hope," said d'Artagnan, half dead with fright, "you made no `
` mention of my diamond?" `
` `
` "On the contrary, my dear friend, this diamond became our only `
` resource; with it I might regain our horses and their harnesses, `
` and even money to pay our expenses on the road." `
` `
` "Athos, you make me tremble!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I mentioned your diamond then to my adversary, who had likewise `
` remarked it. What the devil, my dear, do you think you can wear `
` a star from heaven on your finger, and nobody observe it? `
` Impossible!" `
` `
` "Go on, go on, my dear fellow!" said d'Artagnan; "for upon my `
` honor, you will kill me with your indifference." `
` `
` "We divided, then, this diamond into ten parts of a hundred `
` pistoles each." `
` `
` "You are laughing at me, and want to try me!" said d'Artagnan, `
` whom anger began to take by the hair, as Minerva takes Achilles, `
` in the ILLIAD. `
` `
` "No, I do not jest, MORDIEU! I should like to have seen you in `
` my place! I had been fifteen days without seeing a human face, `
` and had been left to brutalize myself in the company of bottles." `
` `
` "That was no reason for staking my diamond!" replied d'Artagnan, `
` closing his hand with a nervous spasm. `
` `
` "Hear the end. Ten parts of a hundred pistoles each, in ten `
` throws, without revenge; in thirteen throws I had lost all--in `
` thirteen throws. The number thirteen was always fatal to me; it `
` was on the thirteenth of July that--" `
` `
` "VENTREBLEU!" cried d'Artagnan, rising from the table, the story `
` of the present day making him forget that of the preceding one. `
` `
` "Patience!" said Athos; "I had a plan. The Englishman was an `
` original; I had seen him conversing that morning with Grimaud, `
` and Grimaud had told me that he had made him proposals to enter `
` into his service. I staked Grimaud, the silent Grimaud, divided `
` into ten portions." `
` `
` "Well, what next?" said d'Artagnan, laughing in spite of himself. `
` `
` "Grimaud himself, understand; and with the ten parts of Grimaud, `
` which are not worth a ducatoon, I regained the diamond. Tell me, `
` now, if persistence is not a virtue?" `
` `
` "My faith! But this is droll," cried d'Artagnan, consoled, and `
` holding his sides with laughter. `
` `
` "You may guess, finding the luck turned, that I again staked the `
` diamond." `
` `
` "The devil!" said d'Artagnan, becoming angry again. `
` `
` "I won back your harness, then your horse, then my harness, then `
` my horse, and then I lost again. In brief, I regained your `
` harness and then mine. That's where we are. That was a superb `
` throw, so I left off there." `
` `
` D'Artagnan breathed as if the whole hostelry had been removed `
` from his breast. `
` `
` "Then the diamond is safe?" said he, timidly. `
` `
` "Intact, my dear friend; besides the harness of your Bucephalus `
` and mine." `
` `
` "But what is the use of harnesses without horses?" `
` `
` "I have an idea about them." `
` `
` "Athos, you make me shudder." `
` `
` "Listen to me. You have not played for a long time, d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "And I have no inclination to play." `
` `
` "Swear to nothing. You have not played for a long time, I said; `
` you ought, then, to have a good hand." `
` `
` "Well, what then?" `
` `
` "Well; the Englishman and his companion are still here. I `
` remarked that he regretted the horse furniture very much. You `
` appear to think much of your horse. In your place I would stake `
` the furniture against the horse." `
` `
` "But he will not wish for only one harness." `
` `
` "Stake both, PARDIEU! I am not selfish, as you are." `
` `
` "You would do so?" said d'Artagnan, undecided, so strongly did `
` the confidence of Athos begin to prevail, in spite of himself. `
` `
` "On my honor, in one single throw." `
` `
` "But having lost the horses, I am particularly anxious to `
` preserve the harnesses." `
` `
` "Stake your diamond, then." `
` `
` "This? That's another matter. Never, never!" `
` `
` "The devil!" said Athos. "I would propose to you to stake `
` Planchet, but as that has already been done, the Englishman would `
` not, perhaps, be willing." `
` `
` "Decidedly, my dear Athos," said d'Artagnan, "I should like `
` better not to risk anything." `
` `
` "That's a pity," said Athos, coolly. "The Englishman is `
` overflowing with pistoles. Good Lord, try one throw! One throw `
` is soon made!" `
` `
` "And if I lose?" `
` `
` "You will win." `
` `
` "But if I lose?" `
` `
` "Well, you will surrender the harnesses." `
` `
` "Have with you for one throw!" said d'Artagnan. `
`
` gentleman, I have a horse to sell, too.' 'Ay, and a very fine `
` one! I saw him yesterday; your friend's lackey was leading him.' `
` 'Do you think he is worth a hundred pistoles?' 'Yes! Will you `
` sell him to me for that sum?' 'No; but I will play for him.' `
` 'What?' 'At dice.' No sooner said than done, and I lost the `
` horse. Ah, ah! But please to observe I won back the equipage," `
` cried Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan looked much disconcerted. `
` `
` "This vexes you?" said Athos. `
` `
` "Well, I must confess it does," replied d'Artagnan. "That horse `
` was to have identified us in the day of battle. It was a pledge, `
` a remembrance. Athos, you have done wrong." `
` `
` "But, my dear friend, put yourself in my place," replied the `
` Musketeer. "I was hipped to death; and still further, upon my `
` honor, I don't like English horses. If it is only to be `
` recognized, why the saddle will suffice for that; it is quite `
` remarkable enough. As to the horse, we can easily find some `
` excuse for its disappearance. Why the devil! A horse is mortal; `
` suppose mine had had the glanders or the farcy?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan did not smile. `
` `
` "It vexes me greatly," continued Athos, "that you attach so much `
` importance to these animals, for I am not yet at the end of my `
` story." `
` `
` "What else have you done." `
` `
` "After having lost my own horse, nine against ten--see how near-- `
` I formed an idea of staking yours." `
` `
` "Yes; but you stopped at the idea, I hope?" `
` `
` "No; for I put it in execution that very minute." `
` `
` "And the consequence?" said d'Artagnan, in great anxiety. `
` `
` "I threw, and I lost." `
` `
` "What, my horse?" `
` `
` "Your horse, seven against eight; a point short--you know the `
` proverb." `
` `
` "Athos, you are not in your right senses, I swear." `
` `
` "My dear lad, that was yesterday, when I was telling you silly `
` stories, it was proper to tell me that, and not this morning. I `
` lost him then, with all his appointments and furniture." `
` `
` "Really, this is frightful." `
` `
` "Stop a minute; you don't know all yet. I should make an `
` excellent gambler if I were not too hot-headed; but I was hot- `
` headed, just as if I had been drinking. Well, I was not hot- `
` headed then--" `
` `
` "Well, but what else could you play for? You had nothing left?" `
` `
` 'Oh, yes, my friend; there was still that diamond left which `
` sparkles on your finger, and which I had observed yesterday." `
` `
` "This diamond!" said d'Artagnan, placing his hand eagerly on his `
` ring. `
` `
` "And as I am a connoisseur in such things, having had a few of my `
` own once, I estimated it at a thousand pistoles." `
` `
` "I hope," said d'Artagnan, half dead with fright, "you made no `
` mention of my diamond?" `
` `
` "On the contrary, my dear friend, this diamond became our only `
` resource; with it I might regain our horses and their harnesses, `
` and even money to pay our expenses on the road." `
` `
` "Athos, you make me tremble!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I mentioned your diamond then to my adversary, who had likewise `
` remarked it. What the devil, my dear, do you think you can wear `
` a star from heaven on your finger, and nobody observe it? `
` Impossible!" `
` `
` "Go on, go on, my dear fellow!" said d'Artagnan; "for upon my `
` honor, you will kill me with your indifference." `
` `
` "We divided, then, this diamond into ten parts of a hundred `
` pistoles each." `
` `
` "You are laughing at me, and want to try me!" said d'Artagnan, `
` whom anger began to take by the hair, as Minerva takes Achilles, `
` in the ILLIAD. `
` `
` "No, I do not jest, MORDIEU! I should like to have seen you in `
` my place! I had been fifteen days without seeing a human face, `
` and had been left to brutalize myself in the company of bottles." `
` `
` "That was no reason for staking my diamond!" replied d'Artagnan, `
` closing his hand with a nervous spasm. `
` `
` "Hear the end. Ten parts of a hundred pistoles each, in ten `
` throws, without revenge; in thirteen throws I had lost all--in `
` thirteen throws. The number thirteen was always fatal to me; it `
` was on the thirteenth of July that--" `
` `
` "VENTREBLEU!" cried d'Artagnan, rising from the table, the story `
` of the present day making him forget that of the preceding one. `
` `
` "Patience!" said Athos; "I had a plan. The Englishman was an `
` original; I had seen him conversing that morning with Grimaud, `
` and Grimaud had told me that he had made him proposals to enter `
` into his service. I staked Grimaud, the silent Grimaud, divided `
` into ten portions." `
` `
` "Well, what next?" said d'Artagnan, laughing in spite of himself. `
` `
` "Grimaud himself, understand; and with the ten parts of Grimaud, `
` which are not worth a ducatoon, I regained the diamond. Tell me, `
` now, if persistence is not a virtue?" `
` `
` "My faith! But this is droll," cried d'Artagnan, consoled, and `
` holding his sides with laughter. `
` `
` "You may guess, finding the luck turned, that I again staked the `
` diamond." `
` `
` "The devil!" said d'Artagnan, becoming angry again. `
` `
` "I won back your harness, then your horse, then my harness, then `
` my horse, and then I lost again. In brief, I regained your `
` harness and then mine. That's where we are. That was a superb `
` throw, so I left off there." `
` `
` D'Artagnan breathed as if the whole hostelry had been removed `
` from his breast. `
` `
` "Then the diamond is safe?" said he, timidly. `
` `
` "Intact, my dear friend; besides the harness of your Bucephalus `
` and mine." `
` `
` "But what is the use of harnesses without horses?" `
` `
` "I have an idea about them." `
` `
` "Athos, you make me shudder." `
` `
` "Listen to me. You have not played for a long time, d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "And I have no inclination to play." `
` `
` "Swear to nothing. You have not played for a long time, I said; `
` you ought, then, to have a good hand." `
` `
` "Well, what then?" `
` `
` "Well; the Englishman and his companion are still here. I `
` remarked that he regretted the horse furniture very much. You `
` appear to think much of your horse. In your place I would stake `
` the furniture against the horse." `
` `
` "But he will not wish for only one harness." `
` `
` "Stake both, PARDIEU! I am not selfish, as you are." `
` `
` "You would do so?" said d'Artagnan, undecided, so strongly did `
` the confidence of Athos begin to prevail, in spite of himself. `
` `
` "On my honor, in one single throw." `
` `
` "But having lost the horses, I am particularly anxious to `
` preserve the harnesses." `
` `
` "Stake your diamond, then." `
` `
` "This? That's another matter. Never, never!" `
` `
` "The devil!" said Athos. "I would propose to you to stake `
` Planchet, but as that has already been done, the Englishman would `
` not, perhaps, be willing." `
` `
` "Decidedly, my dear Athos," said d'Artagnan, "I should like `
` better not to risk anything." `
` `
` "That's a pity," said Athos, coolly. "The Englishman is `
` overflowing with pistoles. Good Lord, try one throw! One throw `
` is soon made!" `
` `
` "And if I lose?" `
` `
` "You will win." `
` `
` "But if I lose?" `
` `
` "Well, you will surrender the harnesses." `
` `
` "Have with you for one throw!" said d'Artagnan. `
`