THE THREE MUSKETEERS.
26
" The devil " exclaimed the host, at his wit's end. " But it is of no consequence," continued d' Artagnan, with his native assurance; "the money is nothing, the I had rather have lost a thousand letter is all I want. He might as well have made it pistoles than that " twenty thousand, but a certain youthful modesty restrained sudden flash of light illumined the mind of the him. host, who was uttering maledictions at finding nothing. " This letter is not lost " he cried. " Isn't it ? " said d' Artagnan. " No, it has been taken from you." " Taken and by whom ? " " By the stranger, yesterday ; he went into the kitchen, !
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where your doublet was lying ; he was there for a time ; and I will lay a wager it was he who stole it from you." " You really think so ? " said d' Artagnan, only half convinced, for he knew better than anybody the strictly personal value of the letter, and saw nothing in it to The fact is, that none of the servants excite cupidity. or travellers who were there could have gained anything by the theft. "You say, then," continued d' Artagnan, "that you suspect this impertinent gentleman ? " I tell you that I am quite certain of it," said the host "when I informed him that your worship was \ho. protegi of M. de Treville, and that you had a letter for that illustrious noble, he appeared much disturbed, demanded where the letter was, and immediately went into the kitchen, where your doublet was lying." " Then he is the robber," said d'Artagnan ; " I will complain to M. de Treville, and he will lay my complaint entirely alone
before his majesty." And he majestically drew from his pocket two crowns, which he handed to the host, who followed him, cap in hand, to the archway, where he remounted his yellow horse, which carried him without further accident to the gate of St. Antoine, at Paris. There its owner sold the