"So that, Monsieur le Baron," continued the grocer, "I again beg you to be kind enough to call me Planchet, as you used to do; and to speak to me as familiarly as in old times. You cannot possibly imagine the pleasure that it would give me." "If that be the case, my dear Planchet, I will do so, certainly," replied Porthos. And as he was quite close to Planchet, he raised his hand, as if to strike him on the shoulder, in token of friendly cordiality; but a fortunate movement of the horse made him miss his aim, so that his hand fell on the crupper of Planchet's horse, instead; which made the animal's legs almost give way. D'Artagnan burst out laughing, as he said, "Take care, Planchet; for if Porthos begins to like you too much, he will caress you; and if he caresses you, he will knock you as flat as a pancake. Porthos is still as strong as ever, you know." "Oh," said Planchet, "Mousqueton is not dead, and yet Monsieur le Baron is very fond of him." "Certainly," said Porthos, with a sigh which made all the three horses rear; "and I was only saying, this very morning, to D'Artagnan, how much I regretted him. But tell me, Planchet?" "Thank you, Monsieur le Baron, thank you." "Good lad, good lad! How many acres of park have you got?" "Of park?" "Yes; we will reckon up the meadows presently, and the woods afterward." "Whereabouts, monsieur?" "At your chateau." "Oh, Monsieur le Baron; I have neither chateau, nor park, nor meadows, nor woods." "What have you got, then?" inquired Porthos, "and why do you call it a country-seat?" "I did not call it a country-seat, Monsieur le Baron," replied Planchet, somewhat humiliated, "but a country-box." "Ah, ah! I understand. You are modest." "No, Monsieur le Baron; I speak the plain truth. I have rooms for a couple of friends, that is all." "But, in that case, whereabouts do your friends walk?" "In the first place, they can walk about the king's forest, which is very beautiful." "Yes, I know the forest is very fine," said Porthos; "nearly as beautiful as my forest at Berry." Planchet opened his eyes very wide. "Have you a forest of the same kind as the forest at Fontainebleau, Monsieur le Baron?" he stammered out. "Yes; I have two, indeed, but the one at Berry is my favorite." "Why so?" asked Planchet. "Because I don't know where it ends; and, also, because it is full of poachers." "How can the poachers make the forest so agreeable to you?" "Because they hunt my game, and I hunt them--which in these peaceful times is for me a picture of war on a small scale."