LOUISE DE LA VALLIERB. 51 lowered ever since the appearance and comparison with him of the two great gentlemen. Such, however, is a woman's nature; they are anxious to possess what they have not got, and disdain it as soon as it is acquired. After having rendered this service to his friend Planchet, D'Artagnan said in a low tone of voice to Porthos: "That is a very beau- tiful ring you have on your finger."
- 'It is worth three hundred pistoles," said Porthos.
"Madame Triichen will remember you better if you leave her that ring," replied D'Artagnan, a suggestion which Por- thos seemed to hesitate to adopt. "You think it is not beautiful enough, perhaps," said the musketeer. "I understand your feelings; a great lord as you are would not think of accepting the hospitality of an old servant without paying him most handsomely for it; but I am quite sure that Planchet is too good-hearted a fellow to remember that you have an income of a hundred thousand francs a year." "I have more than half a mind," said Porthos, flattered by the remark, "to make Madame Triichen a present of my little farm at Bracieux; it has twelve acres.'* "It is too much, my good Porthos, too much just at present. Keep it for a future occasion." He then took the ring off Porthos' finger, and approaching Triichen, said to her: "Madame, Monsieur le Baron hardly knows how to entreat you, out of your regard for him, to accept this little ring. Monsieur du Vallon is one of the most generous and discreet men of my acquaintance. He wished to offer you a farm that he has at Bracieux, but I dissuaded him from it." "Oh!" said Triichen, looking eagerly at the diamond. "Monsieur le Baron!'* exclaimed Planchet, quite over- come. "My good friend,'* stammered out Porthos, delighted at having been so well represented by D'Artagnan. These several exclamations uttered at the same moment, made quite a pathetic winding up of a day which might have finished in a very ridiculous manner. But D'Artagnan was there, and, on every occasion, wherever D'Artagnan had exercised any control, matters had ended only just in the way he wished and desired. There were general embrac- ings; Triichen, whom the baron's munificence had restored to her proper position, very timidly, and blushing all the while, presented her forehead to the great lord with whom she had been on such very excellent terms the evening be-
