Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/142

130 "Good heavens! is that possible?"

"I think it will be more," replied D'Artagnan coolly; "but I like to lay it at the lowest."

"The devil!" said Planchet, drawing nearer. "Why, monsieur, that is magnificent! Can one place much money in it?"

"Twenty thousand livres each, Planchet."

"Why, that is all you have, monsieur. For how long a time?"

"For a month."

"And that will give us—— "

"Fifty thousand livres each, profit."

"It is monstrous! It is worth while to fight for such interest as that!"

"In fact, I believe it will be necessary to fight not little," said D'Artagnan, with the same tranquillity; "but this time there are two of us, Planchet, and I will take all the blows to myself."

"Oh, monsieur! I will not allow that."

"Planchet, you cannot be concerned in it; you would be obliged to leave your business and your family."

"The affair is not in Paris, then?"

"No."

"Abroad?"

"In England."

"A speculative country, that is true," said Planchet; "a country I am well acquainted with. What sort of an affair, monsieur, without too much curiosity?"

"Planchet, it is a restoration."

"Of monuments?"

"Yes, of monuments; we will restore Whitehall."

"That is important. And in a month, you think?"

"I will undertake it."

"That concerns you, monsieur, and when once you are engaged—— "

"Yes, that concerns me. I know that I am about; nevertheless, I will freely consult with you."

"You do me great honor; but I know very little about architecture."

"Planchet, you are wrong; you are an excellent architect, quite as good as I am, for the case in question."

"Thanks, monsieur. But your old friends of the musketeers?"

"I have been, I confess, tempted to name the thing to those gentlemen, but they are ail absent from their houses. It is vexatious, for I know none more bold or more able."