“Of posterity, Monsieur d’Artagnan?”

“Doubtless.  It is necessary, as regards posterity, that all the details of that history should remain a mystery; for, admit that this unfortunate history of the deal box should spread, and it should be asserted that you had not re-established the king loyally, and of your own free will, but in consequence of a compromise entered into at Scheveningen between you two.  It would be vain for me to declare how the thing came about, for though I know I should not be believed, it would be said that I had received my part of the cake, and was eating it.”

Monk knitted his brow. — “Glory, honor, probity!” said he, “you are but empty words.”

“Mist!” replied D’Artagnan; “nothing but mist, through which nobody can see clearly.”

“Well, then, go to France, my dear Monsieur d’Artagnan,” said Monk; “go, and to render England more attractive and agreeable to you, accept a remembrance of me.”

“What now?” thought D’Artagnan.

“I have on the banks of the Clyde,” continued Monk, “a little house in a grove, cottage as it is called here.  To this house are attached a hundred acres of land.  Accept it as a souvenir.”

“Oh, my lord! — "

“Faith! you will be there in your own home, and that will be the place of refuge you spoke of just now.”

“For me to be obliged to your lordship to such an extent!  Really, your grace, I am ashamed.”

“Not at all, not at all, monsieur,” replied Monk, with an arch smile; “it is I who shall be obliged to you.  And,” pressing the hand of the musketeer, “I shall go and draw up the deed of gift,” — and he left the room.

D’Artagnan looked at him as he went out with something of a pensive and even an agitated air.

“After all,” said he, “he is a brave man.  It is only a sad reflection that it is from fear of me, and not affection that he acts thus.  Well, I shall endeavor that affection may follow.”  Then, after an instant’s deeper reflection, — “Bah!” said he, “to what purpose?  He is an Englishman.”  And he in turn went out, a little confused after the combat.

“So,” said he, “I am a land-owner!  But how the devil am I to share the cottage with Planchet?  Unless I give him the land, and I take the chateau, or the he takes the house and I — nonsense!  M. Monk will never allow me to share a house he has inhabited, with a grocer.  He is too proud for that.  Besides, why should I say anything about it to him?  It was not with the money of the company I have acquired that property, it was with my mother-wit alone; it is all mine, then.  So, now I will go and find Athos.”  And he directed his steps towards the dwelling of the Comte de la Fere.

Chapter XXXVII:  How D’Artagnan regulated the “Assets” of the Company before he established its “Liabilities.”

“Decidedly,” said D’Artagnan to himself, “I have struck a good vein.  That star which shines once in the life of every man, which shone for Job and Iris, the most unfortunate of the Jews and the poorest of the Greeks, is come at last to shine on me.  I will commit no folly, I will take advantage of it; it comes quite late enough to find me reasonable.”