"Yes, I only ask one month."

"Monsieur," said Planchet, generously, "I give you six
weeks."

"Thank you," replied the musketeer, politely; after which
the two partners reperused their deed.

"That is perfect, monsieur," said Planchet, "and the late M.
Coquenard, the first husband of Madame la Baronne du Vallon,
could not have done it better."

"Do you find it so? Let us sign it, then." And both affixed
their signatures.

"In this fashion," said D'Artagnan, "I shall be under
obligations to no one."

"But I shall be under obligations to you," said Planchet.

"No; for whatever store I set by it, Planchet, I may lose my
skin yonder, and you will lose all. A propos -- peste! --
that makes me think of the principal, an indispensable
clause. I shall write it: -- `In the case of M. d'Artagnan
dying in this enterprise, liquidation will be considered
made, and the Sieur Planchet will give quittance from that
moment to the shade of Messire d'Artagnan for the twenty
thousand livres paid by him into the hands of the said
company.'"