Well, we are going to put our poets in uniform, and enroll them in a regiment for the king." "Oh, very well, I understand; a surprise M.Fouquet is getting up for the king.

Be at ease; if that is the secret about M.Lebrun, I will not mention it." "Always agreeable, my friend.

No, Monsieur Lebrun has nothing to do with this part of it; the secret which concerns him is far more important than the other." "Then, if it is so important as all that, I prefer not to know it," said D'Artagnan, making a show of departure.
"Come in, M.Lebrun, come in," said Aramis, opening a side-door with his right hand, and holding back D'Artagnan with his left.
"I'faith, I too, am quite in the dark," quoth Percerin.
Aramis took an "opportunity," as is said in theatrical matters.
"My dear M.de Percerin," Aramis continued, "you are making five dresses for the king, are you not?
One in brocade; one in hunting-cloth; one in velvet; one in satin; and one in Florentine stuffs." "Yes; but how--do you know all that, monseigneur ?" said Percerin, astounded.
"It is all very simple, my dear monsieur; there will be a hunt, a banquet, concert, promenade and reception; these five kinds of dress are required by etiquette." "You know everything, monseigneur!" "And a thing or two in addition," muttered D'Artagnan.
"But," cried the tailor, in triumph, "what you do not know, monseigneur--prince of the church though you are--what nobody will know--what only the king, Mademoiselle de la Valliere, and myself do know, is the color of the materials and nature of the ornaments, and the cut, the _ensemble_, the finish of it all!" "Well," said Aramis, "that is precisely what I have come to ask you, dear Percerin." "Ah, bah!" exclaimed the tailor, terrified, though Aramis had pronounced these words in his softest and most honeyed tones.

The request appeared, on reflection, so exaggerated, so ridiculous, so monstrous to M.
Percerin that first he laughed to himself, then aloud, and finished with a shout.

D'Artagnan followed his example, not because he found the matter so "very funny," but in order not to allow Aramis to cool.
"At the outset, I appear to be hazarding an absurd question, do I not ?" said Aramis.