May you not have been philandering a little also, Monsieur Bonacieux?
Oh, the devil! That's unpardonable in a man of your age, and who besides, has such a pretty wife as yours." "Oh, Lord! no," said Bonacieux, "but yesterday I went to St.Mande to make some inquiries after a servant, as I cannot possibly do without one; and the roads were so bad that I brought back all this mud, which I have not yet had time to remove." The place named by Bonacieux as that which had been the object of his journey was a fresh proof in support of the suspicions d'Artagnan had conceived.

Bonacieux had named Mande because Mande was in an exactly opposite direction from St.Cloud.This probability afforded him his first consolation.

If Bonacieux knew where his wife was, one might, by extreme means, force the mercer to open his teeth and let his secret escape.

The question, then, was how to change this probability into a certainty.
"Pardon, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, if I don't stand upon ceremony," said d'Artagnan, "but nothing makes one so thirsty as want of sleep.
I am parched with thirst.

Allow me to take a glass of water in your apartment; you know that is never refused among neighbors." Without waiting for the permission of his host, d'Artagnan went quickly into the house, and cast a rapid glance at the bed.