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44 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. entertainment. Although it was yet very early, the whole household was already up. The cook was mercilessly slaughtering poultry in the poultry-yard, and Celestin was gathering cherries in the garden. Porthos, brisk and lively as ever, held out his hand to Planchet, and D'Artagnan re- quested permission to embrace Mme. Triichen. The latter, to show that she bore no ill-will, approached Porthos, upon whom she conferred the same favor. Porthos embraced Mme. Triichen, heaving an enormous sigh. Planchet took both his friends by the hand. "lam going to show you over the house," he said; when we arrived last evening it was as dark as an oven, and we were unable to see anything; but in broad daylight every- thing looks different, and you will be satisfied, I hope." "If we begin by the view you have," said D'Artagnan, "that charms me beyond everything; I have always lived in royal mansions, you know, and royal personages have some very good ideas upon the selection of points of view." "I am a great stickler for a good view myself," said Por- thos. "At my Chateau de Pierrefonds, I have had four avenues laid out, at the end of each is a landscape of a different character altogether to the others." "You shall see my prospect," said Planchet; and he led his two guests to a window. "Ah!" said D'Artagnan, "this is the Rue de Lyon." "Yes, I have two windows on this side, a paltry, insig- nificant view, for there is always that bustling and noisy inn, which is a very disagreeable neighbor. I had four windows here, but I have only kept two." "Let us go on," said D'Artagnan. They entered a corridor leading to the bedrooms, and Planchet pushed open the outside blinds. "Halloo! what is that out yonder?" said Porthos. "The forest," said Planchet. "It is the horizon, athick line of green, which is yellow in the spring, green in the summer, red in the autumn, and white in the winter." "All very well, but it is like a curtain, which prevents one seeing a greater distance." "Yes," said Planchet; "still one can see, at all events, evervthing between." "Ah, the open country," said Porthos. "But what is that I see out there — crosses and stones?" "Ah! that is the cemetery," exclaimed D'Artagnan. "Precisely," said Planchet, "I assure you it is very curious. Hardly a day passes that some one is not buried