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LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE

LOUISE DE LA VALLIEKE. 43 Porthos was sitting on Triichen's left, and was curling with both his hands both sides of his mustache at once, and Triichen was looking at him with a most bewitching smile. The sparkling wine of Anjou very soon produced a remark- able effect upon the three companions. D'Artagnan had hardly strength enough left to take the candlestick to light Planchet up his own staircase. Planchet was pulling Por- thos along, who was following Triichen, who was herself jovial enough. It was D'Artagnan who found out the rooms and the beds. Porthos threw himself into the one destined for him, after his friend had undressed him. D'Artagnan got into his own bed, saying to himself, '^Mordioux! I had made up my mind never to touch that light-colored wine which brings my early camp days back again. Fy! fy! if my musketeers were only to see their captain in such a state." And drawing the curtains of his bed, he added, Fortunately enough, though, they will not see me."

    • The country is very amusing," said Porthos, stretching

out his legs, which passed through the wooden footboaid, and made a tremendous noise, of which, however, no one in the house was capable of taking the slightest notice. By two o'clock in the morning every one was fast asleep. CHAPTEE VI. SHOWING WHAT COULD BE SEEN FROM PLANOHET'S HOUSE. The next morning found the three heroes sleeping soundly. Triichen had closed the outside blinds to keep the first rays of the sun from the heavy eyes of her guests, like a kind, good woman. It was still perfectly dark, then, beneath Porthos' curtains and under Planchet's canopy, when D'Artagnan, awakened by an indiscreet ray of light which made its way through the windows, jumped hastily out of bed, as if he wished to be the first at the assault. He took by assault Porthos' room, which was next to his own. The worthy Porthos was sleeping with a noise like distant thunder; in the dim obscurity of the room his gigantic frame was prominently displayed, and his swollen fist hung down outside the bed upon the carpet. D'Ar- tagnan awoke Porthos, who rubbed his eyes in a tolerably good humor. In the meantime, Planchet was dressing him- self, and met at their bedroom doors his two guests, who were still somewhat unsteady from their previous eyening's