A man seen is a man judged of." D'Artagnan increased his pace, and, which was not very difficult, by-the-by, soon got in advance of the soldier.
Not only did he observe that his face showed a tolerable amount of intelligence and resolution, but he noticed also that his nose was a little red.

"He has a weakness for brandy, I see," said D'Artagnan to himself.

At the same moment that he remarked his red nose, he saw that the soldier had a white paper in his belt.
"Good, he has a letter," added D'Artagnan.

The only difficulty was to get hold of the letter.

But a soldier would, of course, be too delighted at having been selected by M.de Baisemeaux for a special messenger, and would not be likely to sell his message.