Chapter XXIX. Planchet's Inventory.
Athos, during the visit made to the Luxembourg by Raoul, had gone toPlanchet's residence to inquire after D'Artagnan. The comte, onarriving at the Rue des Lombards, found the shop of the grocer in greatconfusion; but it was not the encumberment of a lucky sale, or that ofan arrival of goods. Planchet was not enthroned, as usual, on sacks andbarrels. No. A young man with a pen behind his ear, and another with anaccount-book in his hand, were setting down a number of figures, whilsta third counted and weighed. An inventory was being taken. Athos,who had no knowledge of commercial matters, felt himself a littleembarrassed by material obstacles and the majesty of those who were thusemployed. He saw several customers sent away, and asked himselfwhether he, who came to buy nothing, would not be more properly deemedimportunate. He therefore asked very politely if he could see M.Planchet. The reply, quite carelessly given, was that M. Planchet waspacking his trunks. These words surprised Athos. "What! his trunks?"said he; "is M. Planchet going away?"
"Yes, monsieur, directly."
"Then, if you please, inform him that M. le Comte de la Fere desires tospeak to him for a moment."
At the mention of the comte's name, one of the young men, no doubtaccustomed to hear it pronounced with respect, immediately went toinform Planchet. It was at this moment that Raoul, after his painfulscene with Montalais and De Guiche, arrived at the grocer's house.Planchet left his job directly he received the comte's message.
"Ah! monsieur le comte!" exclaimed he, "how glad I am to see you! Whatgood star brings you here?"
"My dear Planchet," said Athos, pressing the hand of his son, whose sadlook he silently observed,--"we are come to learn of you--But in whatconfusion do I find you! You are as white as a miller; where have youbeen rummaging?"
"Ah, _diable!_ take care, monsieur; don't come near me till I have wellshaken myself."
"What for? Flour or dust only whiten."
"No, no; what you see on my arms is arsenic."
"Arsenic?"
"Yes; I am taking my precautions against rats."
"Ay, I suppose in an establishment like this, rats play a conspicuouspart."
"It is not with this establishment I concern myself, monsieur le comte.The rats have robbed me of more here than they will ever rob me ofagain."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, you may have observed, monsieur, my inventory is being taken."
"Are you leaving trade, then?"
"Eh! _mon Dieu!_ yes. I have disposed of my business to one of my youngmen."
"Bah! you are rich, then, I suppose?"
"Monsieur, I have taken a dislike to the city; I don't know whether itis because I am growing old, and as M. d'Artagnan one day said, whenwe grow old we more often think of the adventures of our youth; butfor some time past I have felt myself attracted towards the countryand gardening. I was a countryman formerly." And Planchet marked thisconfession with a rather pretentious laugh for a man making professionof humility.
Athos made a gesture of approval, and then added: "You are going to buyan estate, then?"
"I have bought one, monsieur."
"Ah! that is still better."
"A little house at Fontainebleau, with something like twenty acres ofland round it."
"Very well, Planchet! Accept my compliments on your acquisition."
"But, monsieur, we are not comfortable here; the cursed dust makes youcough. _Corbleu!_ I do not wish to poison the most worthy gentleman inthe kingdom."
Athos did not smile at this little pleasantry which Planchet had aimedat him, in order to try his strength in mundane facetiousness.
"Yes," said Athos, "let us have a little talk by ourselves--in your ownroom, for example. You have a room, have you not?"
"Certainly, monsieur le comte."
"Upstairs, perhaps?" And Athos, seeing Planchet a little embarrassed,wished to relieve him by going first.
"It is--but--" said Planchet, hesitating.
Athos was mistaken in the cause of this hesitation, and, attributing itto a fear the grocer might have of offering humble hospitality, "Nevermind, never mind," said he, still going up, "the dwelling of a tradesmanin this quarter is not expected to be a palace. Come on."
Raoul nimbly preceded him, and entered first. Two cries were heardsimultaneously--we may say three. One of these cries dominated theothers; it emanated from a woman. Another proceeded from the mouth ofRaoul; it was an exclamation of surprise. He had no sooner uttered itthan he shut the door sharply. The third was from fright; it came fromPlanchet.
"I ask your pardon!" added he; "madame is dressing."
Raoul had, no doubt, seen that what Planchet said was true, for heturned round to go downstairs again.
"Madame--" said Athos. "Oh! pardon me, Planchet, I did not know that youhad upstairs--"
"It is Truchen," added Planchet, blushing a little.
"It is whoever you please, my good Planchet; but pardon my rudeness."
"No, no; go up now, gentlemen."
"We will do no such thing," said Athos.
"Oh! madame, having notice, has had time--"
"No, Planchet; farewell!"
"Eh, gentlemen! you would not disoblige me by thus standing on thestaircase, or by going away without having sat down."
"If we had known you had a lady upstairs," replied Athos, with hiscustomary coolness, "we would have asked permission to pay our respectsto her."
Planchet was so disconcerted by this little extravagance, that he forcedthe passage, and himself opened the door to admit the comte and his son.Truchen was quite dressed: in the costume of the shopkeeper's wife,rich yet coquettish; German eyes attacking French eyes. She left theapartment after two courtesies, and went down into the shop--but notwithout having listened at the door, to know what Planchet's gentlemenvisitors would say of her. Athos suspected that, and therefore turnedthe conversation accordingly. Planchet, on his part, was burning togive explanations, which Athos avoided. But, as certain tenacities arestronger than others, Athos was forced to hear Planchet recite his idylsof felicity, translated into a language more chaste than that of Longus.So Planchet related how Truchen had charmed the years of his advancingage, and brought good luck to his business, as Ruth did to Boaz.
"You want nothing now, then, but heirs to your property."
"If I had one he would have three hundred thousand livres," saidPlanchet.
"Humph! you must have one, then," said Athos, phlegmatically, "if onlyto prevent your little fortune being lost."
This word _little fortune_ placed Planchet in his rank, like the voiceof the sergeant when Planchet was but a _piqueur_ in the regiment ofPiedmont, in which Rochefort had placed him. Athos perceived that thegrocer would marry Truchen, and, in spite of fate, establish a family.This appeared the more evident to him when he learned that the young manto whom Planchet was selling the business was her cousin. Having heardall that was necessary of the happy prospects of the retiring grocer,"What is M. d'Artagnan about?" said he; "he is not at the Louvre."
"Ah! monsieur le comte, Monsieur d'Artagnan has disappeared."
"Disappeared!" said Athos, in surprise.
"Oh! monsieur, we know what that means."
"But _I_ do not know."
"Whenever M. d'Artagnan disappears it is always for some mission or somegreat affair."
"Has he said anything to you about it?"
"Never."
"You were acquainted with his departure for England formerly, were younot?"
"On account of the speculation." said Planchet, heedlessly.
"The speculation!"
"I mean--" interrupted Planchet, quite confused.
"Well, well; neither your affairs nor those of your master are inquestion; the interest we take in him alone has induced me to apply toyou. Since the captain of the musketeers is not here, and as we cannotlearn from you where we are likely to find M. d'Artagnan, we will takeour leave of you. _Au revoir_, Planchet, _au revoir_. Let us be gone,Raoul."
/> "Monsieur le comte, I wish I were able to tell you--"
"Oh, not at all; I am not the man to reproach a servant withdiscretion."
This word "servant" struck rudely on the ears of the _demi-millionnaire_Planchet, but natural respect and _bonhomie_ prevailed over pride."There is nothing indiscreet in telling you, monsieur le comte, M.d'Artagnan came here the other day--"
"Aha?"
"And remained several hours consulting a geographical chart."
"You are right, then, my friend; say no more about it."
"And the chart is there as a proof," added Planchet, who went to fetchfrom the neighboring wall, where it was suspended by a twist, forming atriangle with the bar of the window to which it was fastened, the planconsulted by the captain on his last visit to Planchet. This plan, whichhe brought to the comte, was a map of France, upon which the practicedeye of that gentleman discovered an itinerary, marked out with smallpins; wherever a pin was missing, a hole denoted its having been there.Athos, by following with his eye the pins and holes, saw thatD'Artagnan had taken the direction of the south, and gone as far as theMediterranean, towards Toulon. It was near Cannes that the marks andthe punctured places ceased. The Comte de la Fere puzzled his brains forsome time, to divine what the musketeer could be going to do at Cannes,and what motive could have led him to examine the banks of the Var. Thereflections of Athos suggested nothing. His accustomed perspicacity wasat fault. Raoul's researches were not more successful than his father's.
"Never mind," said the young man to the comte, who silently, and withhis finger, had made him understand the route of D'Artagnan; "we mustconfess that there is a Providence always occupied in connecting ourdestiny with that of M. d'Artagnan. There he is on the coast of Cannes,and you, monsieur, will, at least, conduct me as far as Toulon. Beassured that we shall meet with him more easily upon our route than onthis map."
Then, taking leave of Planchet, who was scolding his shopmen, even thecousin of Truchen, his successor, the gentlemen set out to pay a visitto M. de Beaufort. On leaving the grocer's shop, they saw a coach, thefuture depository of the charms of Mademoiselle Truchen and Planchet'sbags of crowns.
"Every one journeys towards happiness by the route he chooses," saidRaoul, in a melancholy tone.
"Road to Fontainebleau!" cried Planchet to his coachman.
The Man in the Iron Mask Page 29
