"Ah, you e how it is," said Athos, being still paler, but yet attempting to laugh; "I was sure it was so--the hanging of people is my nightmare."
"Yes, yes," replied d''Artagnan. "I remember now; yes, it was about--stop a minute--yes, it was about a woman."
"That''s it," replied Athos, being almost livid; "that is my grand story of the fair lady, and when I relate that, I must be very drunk."
"Yes, that was it," said d''Artagnan, "the story of a tall, fair lady, with blue eyes."
"Yes, who was hanged."
"By her husband, who was a nobleman of your acquaintance," tinued d''Artagnan, looking ily at Athos.
"Well, you e how a man may promi himlf when he does not know what he says," replied Athos, shrugging his shoulders as if he thought himlf an objebsp;of pity. "I certainly never will get drunk again, d''Artagnan; it is too bad a habit."
D''Artagnan remained silent; and then ging the versation all at onbsp;Athos said:
"By the by, I thank you for the hor you have brought me."
"Is it to your mind?" asked d''Artagnan.
"Yes; but it is not a hor for hard work."
"You are mistaken; I rode him nearly ten leagues in less than an hour and a half, and he appeared no more distresd than if he had only made the tour of the Plabsp;St. Sulpice."
"Ah, you begin to awaken my regret."
&quret?"
"Yes; I have parted with him."
"How?"
"Why, here is the simple fabsp;This m I awoke at six o''clobsp;You were still fast asleep, and I did not know what to do with mylf; I was still stupid from our yesterday''s debaubsp;As I came into the publibsp;room, I saw one of our Englishman bargaining with a dealer for a hor, his own having died yesterday from bleeding. I drew near, and found he was bidding a hundred pistoles for a chestnut nag. ''PARDIEU,'' said I, ''my good gentleman, I have a hor to ll, too.'' ''Ay, and a very fine one! I saw him yesterday; your friend''s lackey was leading him.'' ''Do you think he is worth a hundred pistoles?'' ''Yes! Will you ll him to me for that sum?'' ''No; but I will play for him.'' ''What?'' ''At dice.'' No sooner said than done, and I lost the hor. Ah, ah! But plea to obrve I won babsp;the equipage," cried Athos.