Of the Embarrassment of Riches.
D'Artagnan lost no time, and as soon as the thing was suitable and opportune, he paid a visit to the lord treasurer of his majesty.He had then the satisfaction to exchange a piece of paper, covered with very ugly writing, for a prodigious number of crowns, recently stamped with the effigies of his very gracious majesty Charles II.
D'Artagnan easily controlled himself: and yet, on this occasion, he could not help evincing a joy which the reader will perhaps comprehend, if he deigns to have some indulgence for a man who, since his birth, had never seen so many pieces and rolls of pieces juxtaplaced in an order truly agreeable to the eye.The treasurer placed all the rolls in bags, and closed each bag with a stamp sealed with the arms of England, a favor which treasurers do not grant to everybody.Then impassible, and just as polite as he ought to be towards a man honored with the friendship of the king, he said to D'Artagnan:
"Take away your money, sir." Your money! These words made a thousand chords vibrate in the heart of D'Artagnan, which he had never felt before.He had the bags packed in a small cart, and returned home meditating deeply.A man who possesses three hundred thousand crowns can no longer expect to wear a smooth brow; a wrinkle for every hundred thousand livres is not too much.
D'Artagnan shut himself up, ate no dinner, closed his door to everybody, and, with a lighted lamp, and a loaded pistol on the table, he watched all night, ruminating upon the means of preventing these lovely crowns, which from the coffers of the king had passed into his coffers, from passing from his coffers into the pockets of any thief whatever.The best means discovered by the Gascon was to inclose his treasure, for the present, under locks so solid that no wrist could break them, and so complicated that no master-key could open them.D'Artagnan remembered that the English are masters in mechanics and conservative industry;and he determined to go in the morning in search of a mechanic who would sell him a strong box.He did not go far;Master Will Jobson, dwelling in Piccadilly, listened to his propositions, comprehended his wishes, and promised to make him a safety lock that should relieve him from all future fear.
"I will give you," said he, "a piece of mechanism entirely new.At the first serious attempt upon your lock, an invisible plate will open of itself and vomit forth a pretty copper bullet of the weight of a mark -- which will knock down the intruder, and not without a loud report.What do you think of it?""I think it very ingenious," cried D'Artagnan, "the little copper bullet pleases me mightily.So now, sir mechanic, the terms?""A fortnight for the execution, and fifteen hundred crowns payable on delivery," replied the artisan.
D'Artagnan's brow darkened.A fortnight was delay enough to allow the thieves of London time to remove all occasion for the strong box.As to the fifteen hundred crowns -- that would be paying too dear for what a little vigilance would procure him for nothing.
"I will think of it," said he, "thank you, sir." And he returned home at full speed; nobody had yet touched his treasure.That same day Athos paid a visit to his friend and found him so thoughtful that he could not help expressing his surprise.
"How is this?" said he, "you are rich and not gay -- you, who were so anxious for wealth!""My friend, the pleasures to which we are not accustomed oppress us more than the griefs with which we are familiar.
Give me your opinion, if you please.I can ask you, who have always had money: when we have money, what do we do with it?""That depends."
"What have you done with yours, seeing that it has not made you a miser or a prodigal? For avarice dries up the heart, and prodigality drowns it -- is not that so?""Fabricius could not have spoken more justly.But in truth, my money has never been a burden to me.""How so? Do you place it out at interest?""No; you know I have a tolerably handsome house; and that house composes the better part of my property.""I know it does."
"So that you can be as rich as I am, and, indeed more rich, whenever you like, by the same means.""But your rents, -- do you lay them by?"
"What do you think of a chest concealed in a wall?""I never made use of such a thing."
"Then you must have some confidant, some safe man of business who pays you interest at a fair rate.""Not at all."
"Good heavens! what do you do with it, then?""I spend all I have, and I only have what I spend, my dear D'Artagnan.""Ah that may be.But you are something of a prince, fifteen or sixteen thousand livres melt away between your fingers;and then you have expenses and appearances ---- ""Well, I don't see why you should be less of a noble than Iam, my friend; your money would be quite sufficient.""Three hundred thousand crowns! Two-thirds too much!""I beg your pardon -- did you not tell me? -- I thought Iheard you say -- I fancied you had a partner ---- ""Ah! Mordioux! that's true," cried D'Artagnan, coloring;"there is Planchet.I had forgotten Planchet, upon my life!
Well! there are my three hundred thousand crowns broken into.That's a pity! it was a round sum, and sounded well.
That is true, Athos; I am no longer rich.What a memory you have!""Tolerably good; yes, thank God!"
