"And here is the second."

D'Artagnan turned in the direction pointed to by Athos, and
perceived Aramis.

"What!" cried he, in an accent of greater astonishment than
before, "your second witness is Monsieur Aramis?"

"Doubtless! Are you not aware that we are never seen one without
the others, and that we are called among the Musketeers and the
Guards, at court and in the city, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, or
the Three Inseparables? And yet, as you come from Dax or Pau--"

"From Tarbes," said d'Artagnan.

"It is probable you are ignorant of this little fact," said
Athos.

"My faith!" replied d'Artagnan, "you are well named, gentlemen;
and my adventure, if it should make any noise, will prove at
least that your union is not founded upon contrasts."

In the meantime, Porthos had come up, waved his hand to Athos,
and then turning toward d'Artagnan, stood quite astonished.

Let us say in passing that he had changed his baldric and
relinquished his cloak.

"Ah, ah!" said he, "what does this mean?"