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The Man in the Iron Mask, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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CHAPTER V - Where, Probably, Moliere Obtained His First Idea of the Bourgeois Gentilhomme |
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_ D'Artagnan found Porthos in the adjoining chamber; but no longer an irritated Porthos, or a disappointed Porthos, but Porthos radiant, blooming, fascinating, and chattering with Moliere, who was looking upon him with a species of idolatry, and as a man would who had not only never seen anything greater, but not even ever anything so great. Aramis went straight up to Porthos and offered him his white hand, which lost itself in the gigantic clasp of his old friend, - an operation which Aramis never hazarded without a certain uneasiness. But the friendly pressure having been performed not too painfully for him, the bishop of Vannes passed over to Moliere. "Well, monsieur," said he, "will you come with me to Saint-Mande?" "I will go anywhere you like, monseigneur," answered Moliere. "To Saint-Mande!" cried Porthos, surprised at seeing the proud bishop of "Yes," said Aramis, smiling, "our work is pressing." "And besides, my dear Porthos," continued D'Artagnan, "M. Moliere is not "In what way?" asked Porthos. "Why, this gentleman is one of M. Percerin's chief clerks, and is "'Tis precisely so," said Moliere. "Yes, monsieur." "Come, then, my dear M. Moliere," said Aramis, "that is, if you have "We have finished," replied Porthos. "And you are satisfied?" asked D'Artagnan. "Completely so," replied Porthos. Moliere took his leave of Porthos with much ceremony, and grasped the "Pray, monsieur," concluded Porthos, mincingly, "above all, be exact." "You will have your dress the day after to-morrow, monsieur le baron," Then D'Artagnan, taking Porthos's arm, "What has this tailor done for "What has he done for me, my friend! done for me!" cried Porthos, "Yes, I ask you, what has he done for you?" "My friend, he has done that which no tailor ever yet accomplished: he "Ah, bah! tell me how he did it." "First, then, they went, I don't know where, for a number of lay figures, "Indeed!" "It is exactly as I tell you, D'Artagnan; but he is a great man, or at "What did he do, then?" "Oh! it is a very simple matter. I'faith, 'tis an unheard-of thing that "Not to mention of the costumes, my dear Porthos." "Yes, thirty dresses." "Well, my dear Porthos, come, tell me M. Moliere's plan." "Moliere? You call him so, do you? I shall make a point of recollecting "Yes; or Poquelin, if you prefer that." "No; I like Moliere best. When I wish to recollect his name, I shall "Capital!" returned D'Artagnan. "And M. Moliere's plan?" "'Tis this: instead of pulling me to pieces, as all these rascals do - of "Moliere!" "Ah! yes, Moliere - Moliere. And as the fear of being measured still "In fact," said D'Artagnan, "you saw yourself in the glass; but where did "My good friend, it is the very glass in which the king is used to look "Yes; but the king is a foot and a half shorter than you are." "Ah! well, I know not how that may be; it is, no doubt, a cunning way of "Oh, Porthos! what excellent words you have command of. Where in the "At Belle-Isle. Aramis and I had to use such words in our strategic D'Artagnan recoiled, as though the sesquipedalian syllables had knocked "Ah! very good. Let us return to the looking-glass, my friend." "Then, this good M. Voliere - " "Moliere." "Yes - Moliere - you are right. You will see now, my dear friend, that I "In reality," said D'Artagnan, "that is an excellent maxim, which is, "That is why I found it all the more astonishing, when he expatiated upon "Ah! he expatiated?" "_Parbleu!_" "Let me hear his theory." "'Seeing that,' he continued, 'one may, in awkward circumstances, or in a "True," said D'Artagnan. "'And so,' continued M. Voliere - " "Moliere." "Moliere, yes. 'And so,' went on M. Moliere, 'you want to draw your "'I take it off,' I answered. "'Well, no,' he replied. "'How no?' "'I say that the dress should be so well made, that it will in no way "'Ah, ah!' "'Throw yourself on guard,' pursued he. "I did it with such wondrous firmness, that two panes of glass burst out "''Tis nothing, nothing,' said he. 'Keep your position.' "I raised my left arm in the air, the forearm gracefully bent, the ruffle "Yes," said D'Artagnan, "'tis the true guard - the academic guard." "You have said the very word, dear friend. In the meanwhile, Voliere - " "Moliere." "Hold! I should certainly, after all, prefer to call him - what did you "Poquelin." "I prefer to call him Poquelin." "And how will you remember this name better than the other?" "You understand, he calls himself Poquelin, does he not?" "Yes." "If I were to call to mind Madame Coquenard." "Good." "And change _Coc_ into _Poc_, _nard_ into _lin_; and instead of Coquenard "'Tis wonderful," cried D'Artagnan, astounded. "Go on, my friend, I am "This Coquelin sketched my arm on the glass." "I beg your pardon - Poquelin." "What did I say, then?" "You said Coquelin." "Ah! true. This Poquelin, then, sketched my arm on the glass; but he "'Does it weary you?' he asked. "'A little,' I replied, bending a little in my hands, 'but I could hold "'No, no, I will not allow it; the willing fellows will make it a duty to "'Very good,' I answered. "'That will not be humiliating to you?' "'My friend,' said I, 'there is, I think, a great difference between "The distinction is full of the soundest sense," interrupted D'Artagnan. "Then," continued Porthos, "he made a sign: two lads approached; one "'Another, my man,' cried he. A third approached. 'Support monsieur by "So that you were at rest?" asked D'Artagnan. "Perfectly; and Pocquenard drew me on the glass." "Poquelin, my friend." "Poquelin - you are right. Stay, decidedly I prefer calling him Voliere." "Yes; and then it was over, wasn't it?" "During that time Voliere drew me as I appeared in the mirror." "'Twas delicate in him." "I much like the plan; it is respectful, and keeps every one in his "And there it ended?" "Without a soul having touched me, my friend." "Except the three _garcons_ who supported you." "Doubtless; but I have, I think, already explained to you the difference "'Tis true," answered D'Artagnan; who said afterwards to himself, "What are you laughing at?" asked D'Artagnan. "Must I confess? Well, I was laughing over my good fortune." "Oh, that is true; I don't know a happier man than you. But what is this "Well, my dear fellow, congratulate me." "I desire nothing better." "It seems that I am the first who has had his measure taken in that "Are you so sure of it?' "Nearly so. Certain signs of intelligence which passed between Voliere "Well, my friend, that does not surprise me from Moliere," said "Voliere, my friend." "Oh, no, no, indeed! I am very willing to leave you to go on saying "It will be of great use to him by and by, I am sure." "Won't it be of use to him, indeed? I believe you, it will, and that in On this observation, neither the application nor depth of which we shall |