This excellent M.Moliere set to work tracing out lines on the mirror, with a piece of Spanish chalk, following in all the make of my arms and my shoulders, all the while expounding this maxim, which I thought admirable: 'It is advisable that a dress should not incommode its wearer.'" "In reality," said D'Artagnan, "that is an excellent maxim, which is, unfortunately, seldom carried out in practice." "That is why I found it all the more astonishing, when he expatiated upon it." "Ah! he expatiated ?" "_Parbleu!_" "Let me hear his theory." "'Seeing that,' he continued, 'one may, in awkward circumstances, or in a troublesome position, have one's doublet on one's shoulder, and not desire to take one's doublet off--'" "True," said D'Artagnan.
"'And so,' continued M.Voliere--" "Moliere." "Moliere, yes.

'And so,' went on M.Moliere, 'you want to draw your sword, monsieur, and you have your doublet on your back.

What do you do ?' "'I take it off,' I answered.
"'Well, no,' he replied.
"'How no ?' "'I say that the dress should be so well made, that it will in no way encumber you, even in drawing your sword.' "'Ah, ah!' "'Throw yourself on guard,' pursued he.
"I did it with such wondrous firmness, that two panes of glass burst out of the window.
"''Tis nothing, nothing,' said he.

'Keep your position.' "I raised my left arm in the air, the forearm gracefully bent, the ruffle drooping, and my wrist curved, while my right arm, half extended, securely covered my wrist with the elbow, and my breast with the wrist." "Yes," said D'Artagnan, "'tis the true guard--the academic guard." "You have said the very word, dear friend.

In the meanwhile, Voliere--" "Moliere." "Hold! I should certainly, after all, prefer to call him--what did you say his other name was ?" "Poquelin." "I prefer to call him Poquelin." "And how will you remember this name better than the other ?" "You understand, he calls himself Poquelin, does he not ?" "Yes." "If I were to call to mind Madame Coquenard." "Good." "And change _Coc_ into _Poc_, _nard_ into _lin_; and instead of Coquenard I shall have Poquelin." "'Tis wonderful," cried D'Artagnan, astounded.