smell, from this place, even, a
most delectable perfume of fine roast meat, and to see the scullions
in a row by the hedge, hailing our approach. Ah! sir, what a cook must
Monsieur Pierrefonds have, when he was so fond of eating and drinking,
even whilst he was only called Monsieur Porthos!"

"Say no more!" cried D'Artagnan. "If the reality corresponds with
appearances I am lost; for a man so well off will never change his
happy condition, and I shall fail with him, as I have already done with
Aramis."

11. How D'Artagnan, in discovering the Retreat of Porthos, perceives
that Wealth does not necessarily produce Happiness.

D'Artagnan passed through the iron gate and arrived in front of the
chateau. He alighted as he saw a species of giant on the steps. Let us
do justice to D'Artagnan. Independently of every selfish wish, his heart
palpitated with joy when he saw that tall form and martial demeanor,
which recalled to him a good and brave man.

He ran to Porthos and threw himself into his arms; the whole body of
servants, arranged in a semi-circle at a respectful distance, looked on
with humble curiosity. Mousqueton, at the head of them, wiped his eyes.
Porthos linked his arm in that of his friend.

"Ah! how delightful to see you again, dear friend!" he cried, in a voice
which was now changed from a baritone into a bass, "you've not then
forgotten me?"

"Forget you! oh! dear Du Vallon, does one forget the happiest days
of flowery youth, one's dearest friends, the dangers we have dared
together? On the contrary, there is not an hour we have passed together
that is not present to my memory."

"Yes, yes," said Porthos, trying to give to his mustache a curl which it
had lost whilst he had been alone. "Yes, we did some fine things in our
time and we gave that poor cardinal a few threads to unravel."

And he heaved a sigh.

"Under any circumstances," he resumed, "you are welcome, my dear friend;
you will help me to recover my spirits; to-morrow we will hunt the hare
on my plain, which is a superb tract of land, or pursue the deer in my
woods, which are magnificent. I have four harriers which are considered
the swiftest in the county, and a pack of hounds which are unequalled
for twenty leagues around."

And Porthos heaved another sigh.

"But, first," interposed D'Artagnan, "you must present me to Madame du
Vallon."

A third sigh from Porthos.

"I lost Madame du Vallon two years ago," he said, "and yo