said the musketeer. “I understand your feelings; a great lord such as you would not think of accepting the hospitality of an old servant without paying him most handsomely for it: but I am sure that Planchet is too good-hearted a fellow to remember that you have an income of a hundred thousand francs a year.”

“I have more than half a mind,” said Porthos, flattered by the remark, “to make Madame Truchen a present of my little farm at Bracieux; it has twelve acres.”

“It is too much, my good Porthos, too much just at present� Keep it for a future occasion.” He then took the ring off Porthos’s finger, and approaching Truchen, said to her: — ”Madame, monsieur le baron hardly knows how to entreat you, out of your regard for him, to accept this little ring.