"Is he not here, then?"

"No, monsieur."

"But is he near at hand? -- is he far off?"

"Oh, can I tell, monsieur, can I tell?"

"Mordioux!" cried the musketeer, stamping with his foot, "I
am unfortunate. Porthos such a stay-at-home!"

"Monsieur, there is not a more sedentary man than
monseigneur, but ---- "

"But what?"

"When a friend presses you ---- "

"A friend?"

"Doubtless -- the worthy M. d'Herblay."

"What, has Aramis pressed Porthos?"

"This is how the thing happened, Monsieur d'Artagnan. M.
d'Herblay wrote to monseigneur ---- "

"Indeed!"

"A letter, monsieur, such a pressing letter that it threw us