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[Illustration:  CORIOLANUS.

                           “SUCH A NATURE,
  TICKLED WITH GOOD SUCCESS, DISDAINS THE SHADOW
  WHICH HE TREADS ON AT NOON.”—­Coriolanus, Act I., Sc. 1.]

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DUMAS UP TO ARMY ESTIMATES’ DATE.

PART I.—­THE THREE VOLUNTEERS.

LIEUTENANT PORTHOS, Captain ATHOS, and Major ARAMIS were delighted with the progress discernible in every detail of the battalion to which it was their honour to belong.  Not a man that did not appear on parade conscious of the fact that he had made himself proficient—­the privates were contented, the non-commissioned officers happy.  It was, indeed, a model Regiment.  On the occasion of their inspection by Colonel D’ARTAGNAN, a man marched from the ranks, and demanded a hearing.

“And what do you want?” asked the inspecting officer.

“We wish the unjust to be made just,” returned the discontented one.  “We ask for a reform.”

PORTHOS, ATHOS, and ARAMIS would have protested, but Colonel D’ARTAGNAN motioned them to be silent.  “I am here,” he murmured, “to listen to complaints.  I must listen to his.”

“Sir,” said the complainant, “we have admirable officers—­the Lieutenant, the Captain, and the Major.  They are always at work.”

“Yes,” returned Colonel D’ARTAGNAN; “and so are you.”

“But we have merely to obey orders, and not to command.  We feel that although we pay for everything connected with the battalion, we should do something more.  We ought to subscribe a sum to pay our excellent officers for commanding us!”

And PORTHOS, ATHOS, and ARAMIS refused the suggestion, to the great disappointment of their subordinates.

PART II.—­TWENTY YEARS AFTERWARDS.

LIEUTENANT PORTHOS, Captain ATHOS, and Major ARAMIS were once again being inspected by D’ARTAGNAN, now wearing the gold and crimson scarf of a general officer.

“Yes, I have a complaint to make,” replied one of the rank and file, in reply to the customary interrogation.  “We have three officers; but they have merely to give orders, while we have to obey them.  This is unfair—­unjust.  We are always at work.”

“Yes,” returned General D’ARTAGNAN, “and so are they.”

“True enough.  We feel that, although they pay everything for the battalion, they should do more.  They ought to compensate their excellent privates for the time we devote to obeying them.”

And PORTHOS, ATHOS, and ARAMIS accepted the suggestion, to the great delight of their subordinates.

PART III.—­TEN YEARS LATER.

Lieutenant PORTHOS, Captain ATHOS, and Major ARAMIS were yet again on parade.

“I salute you, my friends,” said Field Marshal D’ARTAGNAN, the inspecting officer.  “But where is your Regiment?”