Page:Louise de la Valliere text.djvu/35

LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. 25 the head has gained a certain advantage, so that your head is now too full of science.'* "Do you think so?" "I am sure of it. The result is, that, instead of allowing any foreign matter to penetrate the interior of the head, your bony box or skull, which is already too full, avails itself of the openings which are made in it allowing this excess to escape." "Ah!" said Porthos, to whom this explanation appeared clearer than that of the doctor. "The five protuberances, caused by the five ornaments of the luster, must certainly have been scientific masses brought to the surface by the force of circumstances." "In fact," said Porthos, "the real truth is, that I felt far worse outside my head than inside. I will even confess that when I put my hat upon my head, clapping it on my head with that graceful energy which we gentlemen of the sword possess, if my fist was not very gently applied, I ex- perienced the most painful sensations." "I quite believe you, Porthos." "Therefore, my friend," said the giant, "Monsieur Fou- quet decided, seeing how slightly built the house was, to give me another lodging, and so they brought me here." "It is the private park, I think, is it not?" "Yes." "Where the rendezvous are made; that park, indeed, which is so celebrated in some of those mysterious stories about the surintendant." "I don't know; I have had no rendezvous or heard mys- terious stories myself, but they have authorized me to exer- cise my muscles, and I take advantage of the permission by rooting up some of the trees." "What for?" "To keep my hand in, and also to take some birds' nests; I find that more convenient than climbing up the trees." "You are as pastoral as Tyrcis, my dear Porthos." "Yes, I like the small eggs; I like them very much bet- ter than larger ones. You have no idea how delicate an omelet is if made of four or five hundred eggs of linnets, chaflSnches, starlings, blackbirds, and thrushes." "But five hundred eggs is perfectly monstrous!" "A salad-bowl will hold them easily enough," said Porthos. D'Artagnan looked at Porthos admiringly for full five minutes, as if he had seen him for the first time, while B Dumas— Vol. XYI.