ld not be just."

"And yet, monsieur, we each lay down half," objected Planchet, timidly.

"Yes; but listen to this clause, my dear Planchet, and if you do not
find if equitable in every respect when it is written, well, we can
scratch it out again:--'Nevertheless, as M. d'Artagnan brings to the
association, besides his capital of twenty thousand livres, his time,
his idea, his industry, and his skin,--things which he appreciates
strongly, particularly the last,--M. d'Artagnan will keep, of the three
hundred thousand livres, two hundred thousand livres for himself, which
will make his share two-thirds."

"Very well," said Planchet.

"Is it just?" asked D'Artagnan.

"Perfectly just, monsieur."

"And you will be contented with a hundred thousand livres?"

"_Peste!_ I think so. A hundred thousand for twenty thousand!"

"And in a month, understand."

"How, in a month?"

"Yes, I only ask one month."

"Monsieur," said Planchet, generously, "I give you six weeks."

"Thank you," replied the musketeer, politely; after which the two
partners reperused their deed.

"That is perfect, monsieur," said Planchet; "and the late M. Coquenard,
the first husband of Madame la Baronne du Vallon, could not have done it
better."

"Do you find it so? Let us sign it then." And both affixed their
signatures.

"In this fashion," said D'Artagnan, "I shall be under obligations to no
one."

"But I shall be under obligations to you," said Planchet.

"No; for whatever store I set by it, Planchet, I may lose my skin
yonder, and you will lose all. _A propos--peste!_--that makes me think
of the principal, an indispensable clause. I shall write it:--'In
case of M. d'Artagnan dying in this enterprise, liquidation will be
considered made, and the Sieur Planchet will give quittance from that
moment to the shade of Messire d'Artagnan for the twenty thousand livres
paid by him into the hands of the said company.'"

This last clause made Planchet knit his brows a little, but when he saw
the brilliant eye, the muscular hand, the supple and strong back of
his associate, he regained his courage, and, without regret, he at once
added another stroke to his signature. D'Artagnan did the same. Thus was
drawn the first known company contract; perhaps such things have been
abused a little since, both in form and principle.

"Now," said Planchet, pouring out the last glass of Anjou wine for
D'Artagnan,--"now go to sleep, my dear master."

"No,"