"Oh, oh!" said D'Artagnan; "what would M. de Mazarin say to
that if he heard it?" And he returned to his bed, asking
himself how Aramis always contrived to be protected by the
most powerful personages in the kingdom. "Is it that he has
more luck than I, or that I am a greater fool than he? Bah!"
that was the concluding word by the aid of which D'Artagnan,
having become wise, now terminated every thought and every
period of his style. Formerly he said, "Mordioux!" which was
a prick of the spur, but now he had become older, and he
murmured that philosophical "Bah!" which served as a bridle
to all the passions.




CHAPTER 18

In which D'Artagnan seeks Porthos, and only finds Mousqueton



When D'Artagnan had perfectly convinced himself that the
absence of the Vicar-General d'Herblay was real, and that
his friend was not to be found at Melun or in its vicinity,
he left Bazin without regret, cast an ill-natured glance at
the magnificent Chateau de Vaux which was beginning to shine
with that splendor which brought on its ruin, and,
compressing his lips like a man full of mistrust and
suspicion, he put spurs to his pied horse, saying, "Well,