The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-18


 themselves laughed like madmen.
 On the landing they were no longer fighting, but amused themselves with stories about women and in the ante chamber with stories about the court. On the landing D'Artagnan blushed; in the antechamber he trembled. There, to his great astonishment, D'Artagnan heard the cardinals policy which made all Europe tremble criticised aloud and openly as well as his private life.
 s'Certes, these fellows will all be ei- ther embastilled or hung," thought the terrified DArtagnan, land I, no doubt, with them, for the moment have ei- ther listened to or heard them shall be held to be an sccomplice."
 D'Artagnan begged the servant who had put question to him to request 8 moments audience of M. de Treville, . request which the other, with an air of protection, promised to convey in time and season.
 DArtagnan, little recovered from his surprise, had now leisure to study costumes and countenances.
 The center of the most animated group was musketeer of great height, of a naughty countenance and dressed In costume so peculiar as to attract general attention. He did not wear the uniform cloak, which indeed at that time, less of liberty than of still greater independence, was not obliga- tory, but a cerulean blue doublet, q little faded and worn, and over this a magnificent baldrick worked in gold, which shone like water nipples in the sun. A long cloak of crimson velvet fell in graceful folds from his shoul- ders, disclosing in front the splendid ba1drick, from which was suspended a gigantic napier.
 This musketeer had just come of guard, complained of having a cold and coughed from time to time af- fectedly. It was for this reason, he said to those around him, he had put on his cloak.
 "Ah, Porthos," cried one of his com panions, "don't think to palm upon us that you obtained that baldrick by pa- ternal generosity. It was given to you by that yelled lady. met you with the other Sunday near the gate Saint Honore."
 gentlemen, bought it with the con- tents of my own purse" answered he whom they designated under the name of Porthos. "I paid 12 pistoles for it. Is it not true, Aramis ?' said Por- thos, turning toward another mus keteer.
 This other musketeer formed a per feet contrast with his interrogator, who had just designated him by the name of Aramis. He was a stout man of about two or three and twenty, with an open, ingenious countenance, a black, mild eye and cheeks rosy and downy as an autumn peach His deli cate mustache marked perfectly straight line upon his upper lip. He appeared to dread to lower his hands lest their veins should swell, and he pinched the tips of his ears from time to time to preserve their delicate pink transparency. He answered by nod.
 This affirmation appeared to dispel all doubts with regard to the baldrick. They continued to admire it, but said no more about it, and, with one of the rapid changes of thought, the con versation passed suddenly to another subject.
 "What do you think of the story Chalais' esquire relates?" asked anoth- CT musketeer "He relates that he met at Brussels Rochefort, the tool of the cardinal, disguised as a capuchfn and that this Rochefort, thanks to his disguise, had tricked NJ. de Laigues, like simpleton as he is."
 "A simpleton indeed" said Porthos, 'but is the matter certain?'
 "I had it from Aramis," replied the musketeer.
 "Indee&" Af
 "Why, you know it is, Porthos," said Aramis 'T told you of it yesterday. Say nothing more about it.''
 Say nothing more about itp' replied Porthos. What, the cardinal sets a spy upon a gentleman, has his letters stolen from him by means of traitor, a brigand, rascal-has, with the help of this spy, and thanks to this cor respondence, Chalais' throat cut under the stupid pretext that he wanted to kill the king and marry monsieur to the queen! Let us say no more about it.
 "Well, then, let us speak about it, since you desire it," replied Aramis pa- tiently.
 'This Rochefort," cried Porthos, If I were poor Chalais' esquire, should pass a minute or two very uncomfort- ably with me-"
 And you-you would pass rather sad half hour with the Red Duke" re- piled Aramis.
 "Oh, oh, the Red Duke! Bravo, bravO-the Red Dukev' cried Porthos. "I'll circulate that saying, be assured, r,u doQr fcllnW Who says fllg AT8>