The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-17

Porthos ate his wing of the fowl l very timidly. He also drank half a glass of this sparingly served wine and found it to be nothing but that horri.
 b1e Monreuil, the terror of all prac- ticed palates.
 Master Coquenard saw him swallow
 ing this wine undiluted and sighed deeply.
 "will you eat any of these beans. Cousin Porthos?" said Mme. Coque-
 nard in that tone which says, '.Take my. advice; don't touch them" Thank you,, my dear cousin. have
 no more appetite"
 A general silence prevailed. Porthos was quite at loss The procureur repeated several times: "Ah, Mime. Coquenard. accept my compliments Your dinner has been a
 real feast. Lord, how have eatenr' Porthos fancied they were mystify.
 ing him and began to curl his mus tache and knit his eyebrow, but the knee of Mme. Coquenard came and
 gently advised him to be patient This silence and this interruption in serving, which were .unintelligible to Porthos, had, on the contrary. terri
 ble meaning for the clerks, Upon a
 look from the attorney, accompanied
 by q smile from Mme. Coquenard, they arose slowly from the table, folded their napkins moro slowly still, bowed and retired. z
 ."Go. young men. Go and promote d. gestion by working 2 said their master gravely.
 Master Coquenard, after the luxuries of such a repast. felt the want of a siesta. He was not satisfied till he was close to his chest, upon the edge of which. for still greater precaution, he placed hig feet s,<l His wife took Porthos into an ad-
 joining chamber. and they; began to
 lay the basis of reconciliation.
 "You can come and dine three times f . week." said Mime. e Coquenard Thanks, madame" said Porthos, 'sbut don't like to abuse your kind
 ness. Besides, must think of this equipment"
 That's true," said she, groaning- ''that unfortunate equipment!' T
 "Alas, yes." said Porthos, '4it Is so!' "But how much, then, will the equip ment of your corps cost, M. Porthos P "Oh," said Porthos, .it does not ex. ceed 2,50O Hvres. even think that,
 with economy, could manage 1t with 2y000 Hvres." [ What" cried she. "2,O00 hvres! | Why, that is fortunew Porthos made a most significant grimace. Mime. CoquenArd under stood 1t.
 "I should like to know the details, ' l said she, because having many re- lations in business, I was almost sure
 of obtaining things at ,100 per cent
 less than you could get them your
 self. For instance, don't you. in the first place, want horseY' 'Yes, a horse.': | "Well, then, I. can just suit you" | "Ah," said Porthos, frightening.
 'that's well as regards my horse,
 then. But must have the horse ap- pointments complete, which are com
 posed of objects that a musketeer
 alone can purchase and which will
 not amount, besides, to more than 300 l livres."
 'Three hundred livres! Then put
 down 300 livres," said the procureuse, I with sigh.
 Porthos smiled. It may be remem-
 came from Buckingham. The 300
 livres then he reckoned upon putting
 snugly into his pocket. 1 Then" continued he, "there is a
 horse for my lackey and my valise. As to my arms, 1t is useless to trouble
 you about them. have them."
 "A horse for your lackey?'' resumed
 she. hesitatingly. But that is doing
 things in a very noble style, my friend"
 "Well, madame" said Porthos
 haughtily, "do you take me for a beg. garY'
 1 "No, mol! only thought that pret- ty mule made sometimes as good an l appearance as a horse, and H seemed
 to me that by getting pretty mule
 for Mosqueton"- l Well, agreed for a pretty mule,' ,' | said Porthos. "You are right. have
 seen very great Spanish nobles whose whole suit were mounted on mules
 Then there remains the valise." 1 "Oh, don't let that disturb your
 cried Mime. Coquenard. My husband
 has five or six valises. You shall l choose the best"
 l "Ah, but the valise I want" cried 1 Porthos, "is well filled one, my dear!' 1 Madame uttered. fresh sfghs. IT
 short, the rest of the equipment was successively debated in the same man l ner, and the result of the sitting was
 that Mme Coquenard should give S0(
 livres in money and should furnish thu
 horse and the mule which should have
 the honor to carry Porthos and Nous queton to ghGy.