not re-established the king loyally, and of
your own free will, but in consequence of a compromise entered into at
Scheveningen between you two. It would be vain for me to declare how the
thing came about, for though I know I should not be believed, it would
be said that I had received my part of the cake, and was eating it."

Monk knitted his brow.--"Glory, honor, probity!" said he, "you are but
empty words."

"Mist!" replied D'Artagnan; "nothing but mist, through which nobody can
see clearly."

"Well, then, go to France, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Monk; "go,
and to render England more attractive and agreeable to you, accept a
remembrance of me."

"What now?" thought D'Artagnan.

"I have on the banks of the Clyde," continued Monk, "a little house in
a grove, cottage as it is called here. To this house are attached a
hundred acres of land. Accept it as a souvenir."

"Oh, my lord!--"

"Faith! you will be there in your own home, and that will be the place
of refuge you spoke of just now."

"For me to be obliged to your lordship to such an extent! Really, your
grace, I am ashamed."

"Not at all, not at all, monsieur," replied Monk, with an arch smile;
"it is I who shall be obliged to you. And," pressing the hand of the
musketeer, "I shall go and draw up the deed of gift,"--and he left the
room.

D'Artagnan looked at him as he went out with something of a pensive and
even an agitated air.

"After all," said he, "he is a brave man. It is only a sad reflection
that it is from fear of me, and not affection that he acts thus. Well,
I shall endeavor that affection may follow." Then, after an instant's
deeper reflection,--"Bah!" said he, "to what purpose? He is an
Englishman." And he in turn went out, a little confused after the
combat.

"So," said he, "I am a land-owner! But how the devil am I to share
the cottage with Planchet? Unless I give him the land, and I take the
chateau, or the he takes the house and I--nonsense! M. Monk will never
allow me to share a house he has inhabited, with a grocer. He is too
proud for that. Besides, why should I say anything about it to him? It
was not with the money of the company I have acquired that property, it
was with my mother-wit alone; it is all mine, then. So, now I will go
and find Athos." And he directed his steps towards the dwelling of the
Comte de la Fere.

Chapter XXXVII. How D'Artagnan regulated the "Assets" of the Company
before he established it