ve industry;
and he determined to go in the morning in search of a mechanic who would
sell him a strong box. He did not go far; Master Will Jobson, dwelling
in Piccadilly, listened to his propositions, comprehended his wishes,
and promised to make him a safety lock that should relieve him from all
future fear.

"I will give you," said he, "a piece of mechanism entirely new. At the
first serious attempt upon your lock, an invisible plate will open
of itself and vomit forth a pretty copper bullet the weight of a
mark--which will knock down the intruder, and not with a loud report.
What do you think of it?"

"I think it very ingenuous," cried D'Artagnan; "the little copper bullet
pleases me mightily. So now, sir mechanic, the terms?"

"A fortnight for the execution, and fifteen hundred livres payable on
delivery," replied the artisan.

D'Artagnan's brow darkened. A fortnight was delay enough to allow the
thieves of London time to remove all occasion for the strong box. As
to the fifteen hundred livres--that would be paying too dear for what a
little vigilance would procure him for nothing.

"I will think of it," said he; "thank you, sir." And he returned home
at full speed; nobody had yet touched his treasure. That same day Athos
paid a visit to his friend and found him so thoughtful that he could not
help expressing his surprise.

"How is this?" said he, "you are rich and not gay--you, who were so
anxious for wealth!"

"My friend, the pleasures to which we are not accustomed oppress us more
than the griefs with which we are familiar. Give me your opinion, if you
please. I can ask you, who have always had money: when we have money,
what do we do with it?"

"That depends."

"What have you done with yours, seeing that it has not made you a miser
or a prodigal? For avarice dries up the heart, and prodigality drowns
it--is that not so?"

"Fabricius could not have spoken more justly. But in truth, my money has
never been a burden to me."

"How so? Do you place it out at interest?"

"No; you know I have a tolerably handsome house; and that house composes
the better part of my property."

"I know it does."

"So that you can be as rich as I am, and, indeed, more rich, whenever
you like, by the same means."

"But your rents,--do you lay them by?"

"No."

"What do you think of a chest concealed in a wall?"

"I never made use of such a thing."

"Then you must have some confidant, some safe man of business w