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To this remark, Manicamp, deep in thought, had replied, "Quite true!" "The question, then, is how to fill it?" Malicorne added. "Of course; but in what way?" "Nothing easier, my dear Monsieur Manicamp." "So much the better. How?" "A post in Monsieur's household, and the pocket is full again." "You have the post?" "That is, I have the promise of being nominated." "Well!"
De Guiche bent down. "Love," said Manicamp. "I do not understand you at all." "Say rather, you cannot understand me yet." "Explain yourself." "Very well; it is quite certain, count, that his royal highness will be the most unfortunate of husbands." "What do you mean?" "The Duke of Buckingham " "It is a name of ill omen to the princes of the house of France."
"What are they?" "In haste." Malicorne returned the recommendation; Manicamp added the words. "Good," said Malicorne, taking back the paper. Manicamp began to count out the pistoles. "There want twenty," said he. "How so?" "The twenty I have won." "In what way?" "By laying that you would have the letter from the Comte de Guiche in eight hours."
He then tried to see M. d'Artagnan, who, however, being engaged in the organization of a military household for the king, could not be found anywhere. Bragelonne next sought out De Guiche, but the count was occupied in a long conference with his tailors and with Manicamp, which consumed his whole time.
"Yes," replied Manicamp; "I am in mourning." "For whom, or for what?" "For my blue-and-gold suit, which has disappeared, and in the place of which I could find nothing but this; and I was even obliged to economize from compulsion, in order to get possession of it." "Indeed?" "It is singular you should be astonished at that, since you leave me without any money."
"De Guiche, once down, was attacked and worried by the wild boar, and wounded in the hand and in the chest." "It is a horrible accident, but it must be admitted it was De Guiche's own fault. How could he possibly have gone to hunt such an animal merely armed with pistols; he must have forgotten the fable of Adonis?" Manicamp rubbed his ear in seeming perplexity.
"You appear to me, monsieur!" exclaimed the count, looking at the astute face of his companion, "to be a most agreeable man. Your face pleases me, M. Malicorne, and you must possess some indisputably excellent qualities to have pleased that egotistical Manicamp. Be candid and tell me whether you are not some saint descended upon the earth." "Why so?"
So, Monsieur de Wardes, recommend yourself to Heaven." "Monsieur Manicamp, you cannot think of such a thing!" "On the contrary, I am thinking of it very strongly." "Would you assassinate me?" "Without the slightest remorse, at least for the present." "Are you a gentleman?" "I have given a great many proofs of that." "Let me defend my life, then, at least."
"And for whom is the second appointment destined?" asked De Guiche, "is it for anyone to whom Manicamp may happen to be affianced? In that case I pity her, poor girl! for she will have a sad fellow for a husband." "No, monsieur le comte, the second appointment is for Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere." "Unknown," said De Guiche.
"That may be so, monseigneur; but the matter having no interest whatever for me, I have never questioned De Guiche on the subject; and De Guiche, on his part, never having been questioned, did not communicate any particulars to me." "But Manicamp?" "It is true I saw Manicamp at Le Havre, and during the journey here, but I was no more inquisitive with him than I had been towards De Guiche.
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