red to D'Artagnan, who, thanks to his four trusses of straw, was in
the act of making up and tasting, by anticipation, the luxury of a bed
so soft, so well stuffed at the head, so well covered at the foot, that
it would have excited the envy of the king himself, if his majesty had
not been fast asleep in his own. D'Artagnan could on no account consent
to pull his bed to pieces again for Porthos, but for a consideration of
four louis that the latter paid him for it, he consented that Porthos
should share his couch with him. He laid his sword at the head, his
pistols by his side, stretched his cloak over his feet, placed his felt
hat on the top of his cloak and extended himself luxuriously on the
straw, which rustled under him. He was already enjoying the sweet dream
engendered by the possession of two hundred and nineteen louis, made in
a quarter of an hour, when a voice was heard at the door of the hall,
which made him stir.

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" it cried.

"Here!" cried Porthos, "here!"

Porthos foresaw that if D'Artagnan was called away he should remain the
sole possessor of the bed. An officer approached.

"I am come to fetch you, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

"From whom?"

"His eminence sent me."

"Tell my lord that I'm going to sleep, and I advise him, as a friend, to
do the same."

"His eminence is not gone to bed and will not go to bed, and wants you
instantly."

"The devil take Mazarin, who does not know when to sleep at the proper
time. What does he want with me? Is it to make me a captain? In that
case I will forgive him."

And the musketeer rose, grumbling, took his sword, hat, pistols,
and cloak, and followed the officer, whilst Porthos, alone and sole
possessor of the bed, endeavored to follow the good example of falling
asleep, which his predecessor had set him.

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the cardinal, on perceiving him, "I have not
forgotten with what zeal you have served me. I am going to prove to you
that I have not."

"Good," thought the Gascon, "this is a promising beginning."

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," he resumed, "do you wish to become a captain?"

"Yes, my lord."

"And your friend still longs to be made a baron?"

"At this very moment, my lord, he no doubt dreams that he is one
already."

"Then," said Mazarin, taking from his portfolio the letter which he had
already shown D'Artagnan, "take this dispatch and carry it to England."

D'Artagnan looked at the envelope; there was no ad