set out to pay a visit
to M. de Beaufort. On leaving the grocer's shop, they saw a coach, the
future depositary of the charms of Mademoiselle Truechen and the bags of
crowns of Planchet.

"Every one journeys toward happiness by the route he chooses," said
Raoul, in a melancholy tone.

"Road to Fontainebleau!" cried Planchet to his coachman.

CHAPTER CIV.

THE INVENTORY OF M. DE BEAUFORT.

To have talked of D'Artagnan with Planchet, to have seen Planchet quit
Paris to bury himself in his county retreat, had been for Athos and his
son like a last farewell to the noise of the capital--to their life of
former days. What, in fact, did these men leave behind them--one of whom
had exhausted the past age in glory, and the other the present age in
misfortune? Evidently, neither of them had anything to ask of his
contemporaries. They had only to pay a visit to M. de Beaufort, and
arrange with him the particulars of the departure. The duc was lodged
magnificently in Paris. He had one of those superb establishments
pertaining to great fortunes, which certain old men remembered to have
seen flourish in the times of wasteful liberality in Henry III.'s reign.
Then, really, several great nobles were richer than the king. They knew
it, used it, and never deprived themselves of the pleasure of
humiliating his royal majesty when they had an opportunity. It was this
egotistical aristocracy which Richelieu had constrained to contribute,
with its blood, its purse, and its duties, to what was from his time
styled the king's service. From Louis XI.--that terrible mower down of
the great--to Richelieu, how many families had raised their heads! How
many from Richelieu to Louis XIV. had bowed their heads never to raise
them again. But M. de Beaufort was born a prince, and of a blood which
is not shed upon scaffolds, unless by the decree of peoples. This prince
had kept up a grand style of living. How did he maintain his horses, his
people, and his table? Nobody knew; himself less than others. Only there
were then privileges for the sons of kings, to whom nobody refused to
become a creditor, whether from respect, devotedness, or a persuasion
that they would some day be paid.

Athos and Raoul found the mansion of the duc in as much confusion as
that of Planchet. The duc, likewise, was making his inventory; that is
to say, he was distributing to his friends everything of value he had in
his house. Owing nearly two millions--an enormou