The host desired himself to serve him; which d'Artagnan perceiving, ordered two glasses to be brought, and commenced the following conversation.
"My faith, my good host," said d'Artagnan, filling the two glasses, "I asked for a bottle of your best wine, and if you have deceived me, you will be punished in what you have sinned; for seeing that I hate drinking my myself, you shall drink with me.

Take your glass, then, and let us drink.

But what shall we drink to, so as to avoid wounding any susceptibility?
Let us drink to the prosperity of your establishment." "Your Lordship does me much honor," said the host, "and I thank you sincerely for your kind wish." "But don't mistake," said d'Artagnan, "there is more selfishness in my toast than perhaps you may think--for it is only in prosperous establishments that one is well received.

In hotels that do not flourish, everything is in confusion, and the traveler is a victim to the embarrassments of his host.

Now, I travel a great deal, particularly on this road, and I wish to see all innkeepers making a fortune." "It seems to me," said the host, "that this is not the first time I have had the honor of seeing Monsieur." "Bah, I have passed perhaps ten times through Chantilly, and out of the ten times I have stopped three or four times at your house at least.