"Oh, the devil, no!" said D'Artagnan, "the division cannot
be made by half; that would not be just."

"And yet, monsieur; we each lay down half," objected
Planchet, timidly.

"Yes; but listen to this clause, my dear Planchet, and if
you do not find it equitable in every respect when it is
written, well, we can scratch it out again: --
`Nevertheless, as M. d'Artagnan brings to the association,
besides his capital of twenty thousand livres, his time, his
idea, his industry and his skin, -- things which he
appreciates strongly, particularly the last, -- M.
d'Artagnan will keep, of the three hundred thousand livres
two hundred thousand livres for himself, which will make his
share two-thirds."

"Very well," said Planchet.

"Is it just?" asked D'Artagnan.

"Perfectly just, monsieur."

"And you will be contented with a hundred thousand livres?"

"Peste! I think so. A hundred thousand for twenty thousand!"

"And in a month, understand."

"How, in a month?"