LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. 23 the partition, which it broke in. I really thought that, like Samson, I had demolished the temple. And the num- ber of pictures, the quantity of china, vases of flowers, carpets, and window-panes which fell down was really wonderful." ^'Indeed!" ^'Without reckoning that on the other side of the parti- tion was a small table laden with porcelain "
- 'Which you knocked over?"
"Which I dashed to the other side of the room," said Porthos, laughing. "Upon my word, it is, as you say, astonishing," replied D'Artagnan, beginning to laugh also; whereupon Porthos laughed louder than ever. "I broke," said Porthos, in a voice half-choked from his increasing mirth, "more than three thousand francs' worth of china — oh! oh! oh!" "Good!" said D'Artagnan. "I smashed more than four thousand francs' worth of glass — oh! oh! oh!" "Excellent." "Without counting a luster, which fell on my head and was broken into a thousand pieces — oh! oh! oh!" "Upon your head?" said D'Artagnan, holding his sides. "On the top." "But your head was broken, I suppose?" "No; since I tell you, on the contrary, my dear fellow, that it was the luster which was broken like glass, as it was, indeed." "Ah! the luster was glass, you say." "Venetian glass; a perfect curiosity, quite matchless, in- deed, and weighed two hundred pounds." "And which fell upon your head?" "Upon my head. Just imagine, a globe of crystal, gilded all over, the lower part beautifully incrusted, perfumes burning at the top, the jets from which flame issued when they were lighted." ^ "I quite understand; but they were not lighted at the time, I suppose?" "Happily not, or I should have been set on fire."
- And you were only knocked down flat, instead?"
"Not at all." "How, not at all?" "Why, the luster fell on my skull. It appears that we have upon the top of our heads an exceedingly thick crust."
