The lieutenant dismounted before a shop in the Rue desLombards, at the sign of the Pilon d'Or. A man of goodappearance, wearing a white apron, and stroking his graymustache with a large hand, uttered a cry of joy onperceiving the pied horse. "Monsieur le chevalier," said he,"ah, is that you?"

"Bon jour, Planchet," replied D'Artagnan, stooping to enterthe shop.

"Quick, somebody," cried Planchet, "to look after Monsieurd'Artagnan's horse, - somebody to get ready his room, - somebody to prepare his supper."

"Thanks, Planchet. Good-day, my children!" said D'Artagnanto the eager boys.

"Allow me to send off this coffee, this treacle, and theseraisins," said Planchet; "they are for the store-room ofmonsieur le surintendant."

"Send them off, send them off!"

"That is only the affair of a moment, then we shall sup."

"Arrange it that we may sup alone; I want to speak to you."

Planchet looked at his old master in a significant manner.

"Oh, don't be uneasy, it is nothing unpleasant," saidD'Artagnan .

"So much the better - so much the better!" And Planchetbreathed freely again, whilst D'Artagnan seated himselfquietly down in the shop, upon a bale of corks, and made asurvey of the premises. The shop was well stocked; there wasa mingled perfume of ginger, cinnamon, and ground pepper,which made D'Artagnan sneeze. The shop-boy, proud of beingin company with so renowned a warrior, of a lieutenant ofmusketeers, who approached the person of the king, began towork with an enthusiasm which was something like delirium,and to serve the customers with a disdainful haste that wasnoticed by several.

Planchet put away his money, and made up his accounts,amidst civilities addressed to his former master. Planchethad with his equals the short speech and the haughtyfamiliarity of the rich shopkeeper who serves everybody andwaits for nobody. D'Artagnan observed this habit with apleasure which we shall analyze presently. He saw night comeon by degrees, and at length Planchet conducted him to achamber on the first story, where, amidst bales and chests,a table very nicely set out awaited the two guests.

D'Artagnan took advantage of a moment's pause to examine thecountenance of Planchet, whom he had not seen for a year.The shrewd Planchet had acquired a slight protuberance infront, but his countenance was not puffed. His keen eyestill played with facility in its deep-sunk orbit; and fat,which levels all the characteristic saliences of the humanface, had not yet touched either his high cheek-bones, thesign of cunning and cupidity, or his pointed chin, the signof acuteness and perseverance. Planchet reigned with as muchmajesty in his dining-room as in his shop. He set before hismaster a frugal, but perfectly Parisian repast: roast meat,cooked at the baker's, with vegetables, salad, and a dessertborrowed from the shop itself. D'Artagnan was pleased thatthe grocer had drawn from behind the fagots a bottle of thatAnjou wine which during all his life had been D'Artagnan'sfavorite wine.

"Formerly, monsieur," said Planchet, with a smile full ofbonhomie, "it was I who drank your wine; now you do me thehonor to drink mine."

"And, thank God, friend Planchet, I shall drink it for along time to come, I hope; for at present I am free."

"Free? You have leave of absence, monsieur?"

"Unlimited."

"You are leaving the service?" said Planchet, stupefied.

"Yes, I am resting."

"And the king?" cried Planchet, who could not suppose itpossible that the king could do without the services of sucha man as D'Artagnan.

"The king will try his fortune elsewhere. But we have suppedwell, you are disposed to enjoy yourself; you invite me toconfide in you. Open your ears, then."

"They are open." And Planchet, with a laugh more frank thancunning, opened a bottle of white wine.

"Leave me my reason, at least."

"Oh, as to you losing your head - you, monsieur!"

"Now my head is my own, and I mean to take better care of itthan ever. In the first place we shall talk business. Howfares our money-box?"

"Wonderfully well, monsieur. The twenty thousand livres Ihad of you are still employed in my trade, in which theybring me nine per cent. I give you seven, so I gain two byyou."

"And you are still satisfied?"

"Delighted. Have you brought me any more?"

"Better than that. But do you want any?"

"Oh! not at all. Every one is willing to trust me now. I amextending my business."

"That was your intention."

"I play the banker a little. I buy goods of my needybrethren; I lend money to those who are not ready for theirpayments."

"Without usury?"

"Oh! monsieur, in the course of the last week I have had twomeetings on the boulevards, on account of the word you havejust pronounced."

"What?"

"You shall see: it concerned a loan. The borrower gives mein pledge some raw sugars, on condition that I should sellif repayment were not made within a fixed period. I lend athousand livres. He does not pay me and I sell the sugarsfor thirteen hundred livres. He learns this and claims ahundred crowns. Ma foi! I refused, pretending that I couldnot sell them for more than nine hundred livres. He accusedme of usury. I begged him to repeat that word to me behindthe boulevards. He was an old guard, and he came: and Ipassed your sword through his left thigh."

"Tu dieu! what a pretty sort of banker you make!" saidD'Artagnan.

"For above thirteen per cent. I fight," replied Planchet;"that is my character."

"Take only twelve," said D'Artagnan, "and call the restpremium and brokerage."

"You are right, monsieur; but to your business."

"Ah! Planchet, it is very long and very hard to speak."

"Do speak it, nevertheless."

D'Artagnan twisted his mustache like a man embarrassed withthe confidence he is about to make and mistrustful of hisconfidant.

"Is it an investment?" asked Planchet.

"Why, yes."

"At good profit?"

"A capital profit, - four hundred per cent., Planchet."

Planchet gave such a blow with his fist upon the table, thatthe bottles bounded as if they had been frightened.

"Good heavens! is that possible?"

"I think it will be more," replied D'Artagnan coolly; "but Ilike to lay it at the lowest!"

"The devil!" said Planchet, drawing nearer. "Why monsieur,that is magnificent! Can one put much money in it?"

"Twenty thousand livres each, Planchet."

"Why, that is all you have, monsieur. For how long a time?"

"For a month."

"And that will give us - - "

"Fifty thousand livres each, profit."

"It is monstrous! It is worth while to fight for suchinterest as that!"

"In fact, I believe it will be necessary to fight not alittle," said D'Artagnan, with the same tranquillity; "butthis time there are two of us, Planchet, and I shall takeall the blows to myself."

"Oh! monsieur, I will not allow that."

"Planchet, you cannot be concerned in it; you would beobliged to leave your business and your family."

"The affair is not in Paris, then?"

"No."

"Abroad?"

"In England."

"A speculative country, that is true," said Planchet, - "acountry that I know well. What sort of an affair, monsieur,without too much curiosity?"

"Planchet, it is a restoration."

"Of monuments?"

"Yes, of monuments; we shall restore Whitehall."

"That is important. And in a month, you think?"

"I shall undertake it."

"That concerns you, monsieur, and when once you are engaged- - "

"Yes, that concerns me. I know what I am about;nevertheless, I will freely consult with you."

"You do me great honor; but I know very little aboutarchitecture."

"Planchet, you are wrong; you are an excellent architect,quite as good as I am, for the case in question."

"Thanks, monsieur. But your old friends of the musketeers?"

"I have been, I confess, tempted to speak of the thing tothose gentlemen, but they are all absent from their houses.It is vexatious, for I know none more bold or more able."

"Ah! then it appears there will be an opposition, and theenterprise will be disputed?"

"Oh, yes, Planchet, yes."

"I burn to know the details, monsieur."

"Here they are, Planchet - close all the doors tight."

"Yes, monsieur." And Planchet double-locked them.

"That is well; now draw near." Planchet obeyed.

"And open the window, because the noise of the passers-byand the carts will deafen all who might hear us." Planchetopened the window as desired, and the gust of tumult whichfilled the chamber with cries, wheels, barkings, and stepsdeafened D'Artagnan himself, as he had wished. He thenswallowed a glass of white wine and began in these terms:"Planchet, I have an idea."

"Ah! monsieur, I recognize you so well in that!" repliedPlanchet, panting with emotion.