"But D'Artagnan, who is incarnate wisdom itself, will tell you that I could not do otherwise than ask you this." "Let us see," said the attentive musketeer; perceiving with his wonderful instinct that they had only been skirmishing till now, and that the hour of battle was approaching.
"Let us see," said Percerin, incredulously.
"Why, now," continued Aramis, "does M.Fouquet give the king a _fete ?_--Is it not to please him ?" "Assuredly," said Percerin.

D'Artagnan nodded assent.
"By delicate attentions?
by some happy device?
by a succession of surprises, like that of which we were talking ?--the enrolment of our Epicureans." "Admirable." "Well, then; this is the surprise we intend.

M.Lebrun here is a man who draws most excellently." "Yes," said Percerin; "I have seen his pictures, and observed that his dresses were highly elaborated.

That is why I at once agreed to make him a costume--whether to agree with those of the Epicureans, or an original one." "My dear monsieur, we accept your offer, and shall presently avail ourselves of it; but just now, M.Lebrun is not in want of the dresses you will make for himself, but of those you are making for the king." Percerin made a bound backwards, which D'Artagnan--calmest and most appreciative of men, did not consider overdone, so many strange and startling aspects wore the proposal which Aramis had just hazarded.

"The king's dresses! Give the king's dresses to any mortal whatever! Oh! for once, monseigneur, your grace is mad!" cried the poor tailor in extremity.
"Help me now, D'Artagnan," said Aramis, more and more calm and smiling.
"Help me now to persuade monsieur, for _you_ understand; do you not ?" "Eh! eh!--not exactly, I declare." "What! you do not understand that M.Fouquet wishes to afford the king the surprise of finding his portrait on his arrival at Vaux; and that the portrait, which be a striking resemblance, ought to be dressed exactly as the king will be on the day it is shown ?" "Oh! yes, yes," said the musketeer, nearly convinced, so plausible was this reasoning.