And what have you attributed my satisfaction to ?" "That your business was going on very well: that your purchases of rice, prunes, raw sugar, dried apples and pears, and treacle, were advantageous.

You were always very picturesque in your notions and ideas, Planchet; and I was not in the slightest degree surprised to find you had selected grocery as an occupation, which is of all trades the most varied, and the very pleasantest, as far as character is concerned; inasmuch as one handles so many natural and perfumed productions." "Perfectly true, monsieur; but you are very greatly mistaken." "In what way ?" "In thinking that I leave here every fortnight to collect my money, or to make purchases.

Oh, oh! how could you possibly have thought such a thing?
Oh, oh, oh!" And Planchet began to laugh in a manner that inspired D'Artagnan with very serious misgivings as to his sanity.
"I confess," said the musketeer, "that I do not precisely catch your meaning." "Very true, monsieur." "What do you mean by 'very true ?'" "It must be true, since you say it; but pray, be assured that it in no way lessens my opinion of you." "Ah! that is very fortunate." "No; you are a man of genius; and whenever the question happens to be of war, tactics, surprises, or good honest blows to be dealt, why, kings are all nonsense, compared to you.

But for the consolations of the mind, the proper care of the body, the agreeable things of life, if one may say so--ah! monsieur, don't talk to me about men of genius; they are nothing short of executioners." "Good," said D'Artagnan, quite fidgety with curiosity; "upon my word you interest me in the highest degree." "You feel already less bored than you did just now, do you not ?" "I was not bored; yet since you have been talking to me I feel more amused." "Very good, then; that is not a bad beginning.

I will cure you, rely upon that." "There is nothing I should like better." "Will you let me try then ?" "Immediately, if you like." "Very well.