Only there were then privileges for the sons of kings, to whom nobody refused to become a creditor, whether from respect or the persuasion that they would some day be paid.
Athos and Raoul found the mansion of the duke in as much confusion as that of Planchet.

The duke, likewise, was making his inventory; that is to say, he was distributing to his friends everything of value he had in his house.

Owing nearly two millions--an enormous amount in those days--M.

de Beaufort had calculated that he could not set out for Africa without a good round sum, and, in order to find that sum, he was distributing to his old creditors plate, arms, jewels, and furniture, which was more magnificent in selling it, and brought him back double.
In fact, how could a man to whom ten thousand livres were owing, refuse to carry away a present worth six thousand, enhanced in estimation from having belonged to a descendant of Henry IV.?
And how, after having carried away that present, could he refuse ten thousand livres more to this generous noble?
This, then, was what had happened.

The duke had no longer a dwelling-house--that had become useless to an admiral whose place of residence is his ship; he had no longer need of superfluous arms, when he was placed amidst his cannons; no more jewels, which the sea might rob him of; but he had three or four hundred thousand crowns fresh in his coffers.