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In other parts of the forest the light could scarcely penetrate through the foliage； and the stems of two old oak trees； the refuge of the squirrel； startled by the travelers； were in deep shadow。
There came up from all nature in the dawn of day a perfume of herbs； flowers and leaves； which delighted the heart。 D'Artagnan； sick of the closeness of Paris； thought that when a man had three names of his different estates joined one to another； he ought to be very happy in such a paradise； then he shook his head； saying； 〃If I were Porthos and D'Artagnan came to make me such a proposition as I am going to make to him； I know what I should say to it。〃
As to Planchet； he thought of little or nothing； but was happy as a hunting…hound in his old master's pany。
At the extremity of the wood D'Artagnan perceived the road that had been described to him； and at the end of the road he saw the towers of an immense feudal castle。
〃Oh！ oh！〃 he said； 〃I fancied this castle belonged to the ancient branch of Orleans。 Can Porthos have negotiated for it with the Duc de Longueville？〃
〃Faith！〃 exclaimed Planchet； 〃here's land in good condition； if it belongs to Monsieur Porthos I wish him joy。〃
〃Zounds！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃don't call him Porthos； nor even Vallon； call him De Bracieux or De Pierrefonds； thou wilt knell out damnation to my mission otherwise。〃
As he approached the castle which had first attracted his eye； D'Artagnan was convinced that it could not be there that his friend dwelt； the towers； though solid and as if built yesterday； were open and broken。 One might have fancied that some giant had cleaved them with blows from a hatchet。
On arriving at the extremity of the castle D'Artagnan found himself overlooking a beautiful valley； in which； at the foot of a charming little lake； stood several scattered houses； which； humble in their aspect； and covered； some with tiles； others with thatch； seemed to acknowledge as their sovereign lord a pretty chateau； built about the beginning of the reign of Henry IV。； and surmounted by four stately； gilded weather…cocks。 D'Artagnan no longer doubted that this was Porthos's pleasant dwelling place。
The road led straight up to the chateau which； pared to its ancestor on the hill； was exactly what a fop of the coterie of the Duc d'Enghein would have been beside a knight in steel armor in the time of Charles VII。 D'Artagnan spurred his horse on and pursued his road； followed by Planchet at the same pace。
In ten minutes D'Artagnan reached the end of an alley regularly planted with fine poplars and terminating in an iron gate； the points and crossed bars of which were gilt。 In the midst of this avenue was a nobleman； dressed in green and with as much gilding about him as the iron gate； riding on a tall horse。 On his right hand and his left were two footmen； with the seams of their dresses laced。 A considerable number of clowns were assembled and rendered homage to their lord。
〃Ah！〃 said D'Artagnan to himself； 〃can this be the Seigneur du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds？ Well…a…day！ how he has shrunk since he gave up the name of Porthos！〃
〃This cannot be Monsieur Porthos；〃 observed Planchet replying； as it were； to his master's thoughts。 〃Monsieur Porthos was six feet high； this man is scarcely five。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃the people are bowing very low to this person。〃
As he spoke； he rode toward the tall horse to the man of importance and his valets。 As he approached he seemed to recognize the features of this individual。
〃Jesu！〃 cried Planchet； 〃can it be？〃
At this exclamation the man on horseback turned slowly and with a lofty air； and the two travelers could see； displayed in all their brilliancy； the large eyes； the vermilion visage； and the eloquent smile of Musqueton。
It was indeed Musqueton Musqueton； as fat as a pig； rolling about with rude health； puffed out with good living； who； recognizing D'Artagnan and acting very differently from the hypocrite Bazin； slipped off his horse and approached the officer with his hat off； so that the homage of the assembled crowd was turned toward this new sun； which eclipsed the former luminary。
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan！ Monsieur d'Artagnan！〃 cried Musqueton； his fat cheeks swelling out and his whole frame perspiring with joy； 〃Monsieur d'Artagnan！ oh！ what joy for my lord and master； Du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds！〃
〃Thou good Musqueton！ where is thy master？〃
〃You stand upon his property！〃
〃But how handsome thou art how fat！ thou hast prospered and grown stout！〃 and D'Artagnan could not restrain his astonishment at the change good fortune had produced on the once famished one。
〃Hey； yes； thank God； I am pretty well；〃 said Musqueton。
〃But hast thou nothing to say to thy friend Planchet？〃
〃How； my friend Planchet？ Planchet art thou there？〃 cried Musqueton； with open arms and eyes full of tears。
〃My very self；〃 replied Planchet； 〃but I wanted first to see if thou wert grown proud。〃
〃Proud toward an old friend？ never； Planchet！ thou wouldst not have thought so hadst thou known Musqueton well。〃
〃So far so well；〃 answered Planchet； alighting； and extending his arms to Musqueton； the two servants embraced with an emotion which touched those who were present and made them suppose that Planchet was a great lord in disguise； so highly did they estimate the position of Musqueton。
〃And now； sir；〃 resumed Musqueton； when he had rid himself of Planchet； who had in vain tried to clasp his hands behind his friend's fat back； 〃now； sir； allow me to leave you； for I could not permit my master to hear of your arrival from any but myself； he would never forgive me for not having preceded you。〃
〃This dear friend；〃 said D'Artagnan； carefully avoiding to utter either the former name borne by Porthos or his new one； 〃then he has not forgotten me？〃
〃Forgotten he！〃 cried Musqueton； 〃there's not a day； sir； that we don't expect to hear that you were made marshal either instead of Monsieur de Gassion； or of Monsieur de Bassompierre。〃
On D'Artagnan's lips there played one of those rare and melancholy smiles whic