\"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