"Heisamanwhohasasureglancetodiscern，whenashipislaunched，whatarethedefectsandqualitiesofthatship—thatisvaluable，observe！？Natureistrulywhimsical。？Well，thisDestouchesappearedtometobeamanlikelytoproveusefulinmarineaffairs，andheissuperintendingtheconstructionofsixvesselsofseventy—eightguns，whichtheProvincesarebuildingforhismajesty。？Itresultsfromthis，mydearMonsieurd'Artagnan，thattheking，ifhewishedtoquarrelwiththeProvinces，wouldhaveaveryprettyfleet。？Now，youknowbetterthananybodyelseifthelandarmyisefficient。"
D'ArtagnanandAramislookedateachother，wonderingatthemysteriouslaborsthismanhadundertakeninsoshortatime。？Colbertunderstoodthem，andwastouchedbythisbestofflatteries。
"Ifwe，inFrance，wereignorantofwhatwasgoingon，"saidD'Artagnan，"outofFrancestilllessmustbeknown。"
"ThatiswhyItoldmonsieurl'ambassadeur，"saidColbert，"that，Spainpromisingitsneutrality，Englandhelpingus—"
"IfEnglandassistsyou，"saidAramis，"IpromisetheneutralityofSpain。"
"Itakeyouatyourword，"Colberthastenedtoreplywithhisbluntbonhomie。？"And，？proposofSpain，youhavenotthe'GoldenFleece，'Monsieurd'Alm閐a。？IheardthekingsaytheotherdaythatheshouldliketoseeyouwearthegrandcordonofSt。Michael。"
Aramisbowed。？"Oh！"thoughtD'Artagnan，"andPorthosisnolongerhere！？Whatellsofribbonswouldtherebeforhimintheselargesses！？DearPorthos！"
"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"resumedColbert，"betweenustwo，youwillhave，I
wager，aninclinationtoleadyourmusketeersintoHolland。？Canyouswim？"？Andhelaughedlikeamaninhighgoodhumor。
"Likeaneel，"repliedD'Artagnan。
"Ah！buttherearesomebitterpassagesofcanalsandmarshesyonder，Monsieurd'Artagnan，andthebestswimmersaresometimesdrownedthere。"
"Itismyprofessiontodieforhismajesty，"saidthemusketeer。？"Only，asitisseldominwarthatmuchwaterismetwithwithoutalittlefire，Ideclaretoyoubeforehand，thatI
willdomybesttochoosefire。？Iamgettingold;waterfreezesme—butfirewarms，MonsieurColbert。"
AndD'Artagnanlookedsohandsomestillinquasi—juvenilestrengthashepronouncedthesewords，thatColbert，inhisturn，couldnothelpadmiringhim。？D'Artagnanperceivedtheeffecthehadproduced。？Herememberedthatthebesttradesmanishewhofixesahighpriceuponhisgoods，whentheyarevaluable。？Hepreparedhispriceinadvance。
"So，then，"saidColbert，"wegointoHolland？"
"Yes，"
repliedD'Artagnan;"only—"
"Only？"
saidM。Colbert。
"Only，"
repeatedD'Artagnan，"therelurksineverythingthequestionofinterest，thequestionofself—love。？Itisaveryfinetitle，thatofcaptainofthemusketeers;butobservethis:wehavenowtheking'sguardsandthemilitaryhouseholdoftheking。？Acaptainofmusketeersoughttocommandallthat，andthenhewouldabsorbahundredthousandlivresayearforexpenses。"
"Well！butdoyousupposethekingwouldhagglewithyou？"saidColbert。
"Eh！
monsieur，youhavenotunderstoodme，"repliedD'Artagnan，sureofcarryinghispoint。？"IwastellingyouthatI，anoldcaptain，formerlychiefoftheking'sguard，havingprecedenceofthemar閏hauxofFrance—Isawmyselfonedayinthetrencheswithtwootherequals，thecaptainoftheguardsandthecolonelcommandingtheSwiss。？Now，atnopricewillIsufferthat。？Ihaveoldhabits，andIwillstandorfallbythem。"
Colbertfeltthisblow，buthewaspreparedforit。
"Ihavebeenthinkingofwhatyousaidjustnow，"repliedhe。
"Aboutwhat，monsieur？"
"Wewerespeakingofcanalsandmarshesinwhichpeoplearedrowned。"
"Well！"
"Well！iftheyaredrowned，itisforwantofaboat，aplank，orastick。"
"Ofastick，howevershortitmaybe，"saidD'Artagnan。
"Exactly，"
saidColbert。？"And，therefore，I
neverheardofaninstanceofamar閏halofFrancebeingdrowned。"
D'Artagnanbecameverypalewithjoy，andinanotveryfirmvoice，"Peoplewouldbeveryproudofmeinmycountry，"saidhe，"ifIwereamar閏halofFrance;butamanmusthavecommandedanexpeditioninchieftoobtaintheb鈚on。"
"Monsieur！"
saidColbert，"hereisinthispocket—bookwhichyouwillstudy，aplanofcampaignyouwillhavetoleadabodyoftroopstocarryoutinthenextspring。"
Transcriber'snote:Thisparticularcampaigndidnotactuallyoccuruntil1673。—JB
D'Artagnantookthebook，tremblingly，andhisfingersmeetingthoseofColbert，theministerpressedthehandofthemusketeerloyally。
"Monsieur，"
saidhe，"wehadbotharevengetotake，oneovertheother。？Ihavebegun;itisnowyourturn！"
"Iwilldoyoujustice，monsieur，"repliedD'Artagnan，"andimploreyoutotellthekingthatthefirstopportunitythatshalloffer，hemaydependuponavictory，ortobeholdmedead—orboth。"
"ThenI
willhavethefleurs—de—lisforyourmar閏hal'sb鈚onpreparedimmediately，"saidColbert。
Onthemorrow，Aramis，whowassettingoutforMadrid，tonegotiatetheneutralityofSpain，cametoembraceD'Artagnanathishotel。
"Letusloveeachotherforfour，"saidD'Artagnan。？"Wearenowbuttwo。"
"Andyouwill，perhaps，neverseemeagain，dearD'Artagnan，"saidAramis;"ifyouknewhowIhavelovedyou！？Iamold，Iamextinct—ah，Iamalmostdead。"
"Myfriend，"saidD'Artagnan，"youwilllivelongerthanIshall:
diplomacycommandsyoutolive;but，formypart，honorcondemnsmetodie。"
"Bah！suchmenasweare，monsieurlemar閏hal，"saidAramis，"onlydiesatisfiedwithjoyinglory。"
"Ah！"
repliedD'Artagnan，withamelancholysmile，"Iassureyou，monsieurleduc，Ifeelverylittleappetiteforeither。"
Theyoncemoreembraced，and，twohoursafter，separated—forever。
TheDeathofD'Artagnan。？Contrarytothatwhichgenerallyhappens，whetherinpoliticsormorals，eachkepthispromises，anddidhonortohisengagements。
ThekingrecalledM。deGuiche，andbanishedM。leChevalierdeLorraine;sothatMonsieurbecameillinconsequence。？MadamesetoutforLondon，wheresheappliedherselfsoearnestlytomakeherbrother，CharlesII。，acquireatasteforthepoliticalcounselsofMademoiselledeK閞oualle，thatthealliancebetweenEnglandandFrancewassigned，andtheEnglishvessels，ballastedbyafewmillionsofFrenchgold，madeaterriblecampaignagainstthefleetsoftheUnitedProvinces。？CharlesII。hadpromisedMademoiselledeK閞ouallealittlegratitudeforhergoodcounsels;hemadeherDuchessofPortsmouth。？Colberthadpromisedthekingvessels，munitions，victories。？Hekepthisword，asiswellknown。？AtlengthAramis，uponwhosepromisestherewasleastdependencetobeplaced，wroteColbertthefollowingletter，onthesubjectofthenegotiationswhichhehadundertakenatMadrid:
"MONSIEURCOLBERT，—IhavethehonortoexpeditetoyoutheR。P。Oliva，generaladinterimoftheSocietyofJesus，myprovisionalsuccessor。？Thereverendfatherwillexplaintoyou，MonsieurColbert，thatIpreservetomyselfthedirectionofalltheaffairsoftheorderwhichconcernFranceandSpain;butthatIamnotwillingtoretainthetitleofgeneral，whichwouldthrowtoohighaside—lightontheprogressofthenegotiationswithwhichHisCatholicMajestywishestointrustme。？Ishallresumethattitlebythecommandofhismajesty，whenthelaborsIhaveundertakeninconcertwithyou，forthegreatgloryofGodandHisChurch，shallbebroughttoagoodend。？TheR。P。Olivawillinformyoulikewise，monsieur，oftheconsentHisCatholicMajestygivestothesignatureofatreatywhichassurestheneutralityofSpainintheeventofawarbetweenFranceandtheUnitedProvinces。？ThisconsentwillbevalidevenifEngland，insteadofbeingactive，shouldsatisfyherselfwithremainingneutral。？AsforPortugal，ofwhichyouandIhavespoken，monsieur，IcanassureyouitwillcontributewithallitsresourcestoassisttheMostChristianKinginhiswar。？Ibegyou，MonsieurColbert，topreserveyourfriendshipandalsotobelieveinmyprofoundattachment，andtolaymyrespectatthefeetofHisMostChristianMajesty。？Signed，"LE
DUCD'ALM蒁A。"
Transcriber'snote:Jean—PaulOlivawastheactualgeneraloftheJesuitsfrom1664—1681。—JB
Aramishadperformedmorethanhehadpromised;itremainedtobeseenhowtheking，M。Colbert，andD'Artagnanwouldbefaithfultoeachother。？Inthespring，asColberthadpredicted，thelandarmyenteredonitscampaign。？Itpreceded，inmagnificentorder，thecourtofLouisXIV。，who，settingoutonhorseback，surroundedbycarriagesfilledwithladiesandcourtiers，conductedthe閘iteofhiskingdomtothissanguinaryf阾e。？Theofficersofthearmy，itistrue，hadnoothermusicsavetheartilleryoftheDutchforts;butitwasenoughforagreatnumber，whofoundinthiswarhonor，advancement，fortune—ordeath。
M。
d'Artagnansetoutcommandingabodyoftwelvethousandmen，cavalry，andinfantry，withwhichhewasorderedtotakethedifferentplaceswhichformknotsofthatstrategicnetworkcalledLaFrise。？Neverwasanarmyconductedmoregallantlytoanexpedition。？Theofficersknewthattheirleader，prudentandskillfulashewasbrave，wouldnotsacrificeasingleman，noryieldaninchofgroundwithoutnecessity。？Hehadtheoldhabitsofwar，toliveuponthecountry，keepinghissoldierssingingandtheenemyweeping。？Thecaptainoftheking'smusketeerswellknewhisbusiness。？Neverwereopportunitiesbetterchosen，coups—de—mainbettersupported，errorsofthebesiegedmorequicklytakenadvantageof。
ThearmycommandedbyD'Artagnantooktwelvesmallplaceswithinamonth。？Hewasengagedinbesiegingthethirteenth，whichhadheldoutfivedays。？D'Artagnancausedthetrenchestobeopenedwithoutappearingtosupposethatthesepeoplewouldeverallowthemselvestobetaken。？Thepioneersandlaborerswere，inthearmyofthisman，abodyfullofideasandzeal，becausetheircommandertreatedthemlikesoldiers，knewhowtorendertheirworkglorious，andneverallowedthemtobekilledifhecouldhelpit。？ItshouldhavebeenseenwithwhateagernessthemarshyglebesofHollandwereturnedover。？Thoseturf—heaps，moundsofpotter'sclay，meltedatthewordofthesoldierslikebutterinthefrying—pansofFrieslandhousewives。
M。
d'Artagnandispatchedacouriertothekingtogivehimanaccountofthelastsuccess，whichredoubledthegoodhumorofhismajestyandhisinclinationtoamusetheladies。？ThesevictoriesofM。
d'Artagnangavesomuchmajestytotheprince，thatMadamedeMontespannolongercalledhimanythingbutLouistheInvincible。？SothatMademoiselledelaValli鑢e，whoonlycalledthekingLouistheVictorious，lostmuchofhismajesty'sfavor。？Besides，hereyeswerefrequentlyred，andtoanInvinciblenothingismoredisagreeablethanamistresswhoweepswhileeverythingissmilingroundher。？ThestarofMademoiselledelaValli鑢ewasbeingdrownedincloudsandtears。？ButthegayetyofMadamedeMontespanredoubledwiththesuccessesoftheking，andconsoledhimforeveryotherunpleasantcircumstance。？ItwastoD'Artagnanthekingowedthis;andhismajestywasanxioustoacknowledgetheseservices;
hewrotetoM。Colbert:
"MONSIEURCOLBERT，—WehaveapromisetofulfilwithM。d'Artagnan，whosowellkeepshis。？Thisistoinformyouthatthetimeiscomeforperformingit。？Allprovisionsforthispurposeyoushallbefurnishedwithinduetime。
LOUIS。"
Inconsequenceofthis，Colbert，detainingD'Artagnan'senvoy，placedinthehandsofthatmessengeraletterfromhimself，andasmallcofferofebonyinlaidwithgold，notveryimportantinappearance，butwhich，withoutdoubt，wasveryheavy，asaguardoffivemenwasgiventothemessenger，toassisthimincarryingit。？ThesepeoplearrivedbeforetheplacewhichD'Artagnanwasbesiegingtowardsdaybreak，andpresentedthemselvesatthelodgingsofthegeneral。？TheyweretoldthatM。d'Artagnan，annoyedbyasortiewhichthegovernor，anartfulman，hadmadetheeveningbefore，andinwhichtheworkshadbeendestroyedandseventy—sevenmenkilled，andthereparationofthebreachescommenced，hadjustgonewithtwentycompaniesofgrenadierstoreconstructtheworks。
M。
Colbert'senvoyhadorderstogoandseekM。d'Artagnan，whereverhemightbe，oratwhateverhourofthedayornight。？Hedirectedhiscourse，therefore，towardsthetrenches，followedbyhisescort，allonhorseback。？TheyperceivedM。d'Artagnanintheopenplain，withhisgold—lacedhat，hislongcane，andgiltcuffs。？Hewasbitinghiswhitemustache，andwipingoff，withhislefthand，thedustwhichthepassingballsthrewupfromthegroundtheyplowedsonearhim。？Theyalsosaw，amidstthisterriblefire，whichfilledtheairwithwhistlinghisses，officershandlingtheshovel，soldiersrollingbarrows，andvastfascines，risingbybeingeithercarriedordraggedbyfromtentotwentymen，coverthefrontofthetrenchreopenedtothecenterbythisextraordinaryeffortofthegeneral。？Inthreehours，allwasreinstated。？D'Artagnanbegantospeakmoremildly;andhebecamequitecalmwhenthecaptainofthepioneersapproachedhim，hatinhand，totellhimthatthetrenchwasagaininproperorder。？Thismanhadscarcelyfinishedspeaking，whenaballtookoffoneofhislegs，andhefellintothearmsofD'Artagnan。？Thelatterlifteduphissoldier，andquietly，withsoothingwords，carriedhimintothetrench，amidsttheenthusiasticapplauseoftheregiments。？Fromthattimeitwasnolongeraquestionofvalor—thearmywasdelirious;twocompaniesstoleawaytotheadvancedposts，whichtheyinstantlydestroyed。
Whentheircomrades，restrainedwithgreatdifficultybyD'Artagnan，sawthemlodgeduponthebastions，theyrushedforwardlikewise;andsoonafuriousassaultwasmadeuponthecounterscarp，uponwhichdependedthesafetyoftheplace。？D'Artagnanperceivedtherewasonlyonemeansleftofcheckinghisarmy—totaketheplace。？Hedirectedallhisforcetothetwobreaches，wherethebesiegedwerebusyinrepairing。？Theshockwasterrible;eighteencompaniestookpartinit，andD'Artagnanwentwiththerest，withinhalfcannon—shotoftheplace，tosupporttheattackby閏helons。？ThecriesoftheDutch，whowerebeingponiardedupontheirgunsbyD'Artagnan'sgrenadiers，weredistinctlyaudible。？Thestrugglegrewfiercerwiththedespairofthegovernor，whodisputedhispositionfootbyfoot。？D'Artagnan，toputanendtotheaffair，andtosilencethefire，whichwasunceasing，sentafreshcolumn，whichpenetratedlikeaverywedge;andhesoonperceivedupontheramparts，throughthefire，theterrifiedflightofthebesieged，pursuedbythebesiegers。
Atthismomentthegeneral，breathingfeelyandfullofjoy，heardavoicebehindhim，saying，"Monsieur，ifyouplease，fromM。Colbert。"
Hebrokethesealoftheletter，whichcontainedthesewords:
"MONSIEURD'ARTAGNAN:—Thekingcommandsmetoinformyouthathehasnominatedyoumar閏halofFrance，asarewardforyourmagnificentservices，andthehonoryoudotohisarms。？Thekingishighlypleased，monsieur，withthecapturesyouhavemade;hecommandsyou，inparticular，tofinishthesiegeyouhavecommenced，withgoodfortunetoyou，andsuccessforhim。"
D'Artagnanwasstandingwitharadiantcountenanceandsparklingeye。？Helookeduptowatchtheprogressofhistroopsuponthewalls，stillenvelopedinredandblackvolumesofsmoke。？"Ihavefinished，"repliedhetothemessenger;"thecitywillhavesurrenderedinaquarterofanhour。"？Hethenresumedhisreading:
"Thecoffret，Monsieurd'Artagnan，ismyownpresent。？Youwillnotbesorrytoseethat，whilstyouwarriorsaredrawingtheswordtodefendtheking，Iammovingthepacificartstoornamentapresentworthyofyou。？Icommendmyselftoyourfriendship，monsieurlemar閏hal，andbegyoutobelieveinmine。
COLBERT"
D'Artagnan，intoxicatedwithjoy，madeasigntothemessenger，whoapproached，withhiscoffretinhishands。？Butatthemomentthemar閏halwasgoingtolookatit，aloudexplosionresoundedfromtheramparts，andcalledhisattentiontowardsthecity。？"Itisstrange，"saidD'Artagnan，"thatIdon'tyetseetheking'sflagonthewalls，orhearthedrumsbeatthechamade。"？Helaunchedthreehundredfreshmen，underahigh—spiritedofficer，andorderedanotherbreachtobemade。？Then，moretranquilly，heturnedtowardsthecoffret，whichColbert'senvoyheldouttohim。—Itwashistreasure—hehadwonit。
D'Artagnanwasholdingouthishandtoopenthecoffret，whenaballfromthecitycrushedthecoffretinthearmsoftheofficer，struckD'Artagnanfullinthechest，andknockedhimdownuponaslopingheapofearth，whilstthefleur—de—lisedb鈚on，escapingfromthebrokenbox，camerollingunderthepowerlesshandofthemar閏hal。？D'Artagnanendeavoredtoraisehimself。？Itwasthoughthehadbeenknockeddownwithoutbeingwounded。？Aterriblecrybrokefromthegroupofterrifiedofficers;themar閏halwascoveredwithblood;thepallorofdeathascendedslowlytohisnoblecountenance。？Leaninguponthearmsheldoutonallsidestoreceivehim，hewasableoncemoretoturnhiseyestowardstheplace，andtodistinguishthewhiteflagatthecrestoftheprincipalbastion;hisears，alreadydeaftothesoundsoflife，caughtfeeblytherollingofthedrumwhichannouncedthevictory。？Then，claspinginhisnervelesshandtheb鈚on，ornamentedwithitsfleurs—de—lis，hecastonithiseyes，whichhadnolongerthepoweroflookingupwardstowardsHeaven，andfellback，murmuringstrangewords，whichappearedtothesoldierscabalistic—wordswhichhadformerlyrepresentedsomanythingsonearth，andwhichnonebutthedyingmananylongercomprehended:
"Athos—Porthos，farewelltillwemeetagain！？Aramis，adieuforever！"
Ofthefourvaliantmenwhosehistorywehaverelated，therenowremainedbutone。？Heavenhadtakentoitselfthreenoblesouls。
Transcriber'snote:Inearliereditions，thelastlinereads，"Ofthefourvaliantmenwhosehistorywehaverelated，therenownolongerremainedbutonesinglebody;Godhadresumedthesouls。"？JB