Fouquet, I have the honor to inform you that I have just left St.Mande.'" "And," said Porthos, with the same majestic mien, "seeing me at Fontainebleau at the king's, M.Fouquet will not be able to tell me I am not speaking the truth." "My dear Porthos, I was just on the point of opening my lips to make the same remark, but you anticipate me in everything.

Oh! Porthos, how fortunately you are gifted; age has not made any impression on you." "Not overmuch, certainly." "Then there is nothing more to say ?" "I think not." "All your scruples are removed ?" "Quite so." "In that case I shall carry you off with me." "Exactly; and I shall go and get my horses saddled." "You have horses here, then ?" "I have five." "You had them sent from Pierrefonds, I suppose ?" "No, M.Fouquet gave them to me." "My dear Porthos, we shall not want five horses for two persons; besides, I have already three in Paris, which will make eight, and that will be too many." "It would not be too many if I had some of my servants here; but, alas! I have not got them." "Do you regret them, then ?" "I regret Mousqueton; I need Mousqueton." "What a good-hearted fellow you are, Porthos," said D'Artagnan; "but the best thing you can do is to leave your horses here, as you have left Mousqueton out yonder." "Why so ?" "Because, by-and-by, it might turn out a very good thing if M.Fouquet had never given you anything at all." "I don't understand you," said Porthos.
"It is not necessary you should understand." "But yet--" "I will explain to you later, Porthos." "I'll wager it is some piece of policy or other." "And of the most subtle character," returned D'Artagnan.
Porthos bent his head at this word policy; then, after a moment's reflection, he added: "I confess, D'Artagnan, that I am no politician." "I know that well." "Oh! no one knows what you told me yourself, you the bravest of the brave." "What did I tell you, Porthos ?" "That every man has his day.

You told me so, and I have experienced it myself.

There are certain days when one feels less pleasure than others in exposing one's self to a bullet or a sword-thrust." "Exactly my own idea." "And mine, too, although I can hardly believe in blows or thrusts which kill outright." "The deuce! and yet you have killed a few in your time." "Yes; but I have never been killed." "Your reason is a very good one." "Therefore I do not believe I shall ever die from a thrust of a sword or a gunshot." "In that case, then, you are afraid of nothing.

Ah! water, perhaps ?" "Oh, I swim like an otter." "Of a quartan fever, then ?" "I never had one yet, and I don't believe I ever shall; but there is one thing I will admit;" and Porthos dropped his voice.
"What is that ?" asked D'Artagnan, adopting the same tone of voice as Porthos.
"I must confess," repeated Porthos, "that I am horribly afraid of political matters." "Ah! bah!" exclaimed D'Artagnan.
"Upon my word, it's true," said Porthos, in a stentorian voice.