"Oh, good Lord! then it was for some duel?" said D'Artagnan.

"No, monsieur, there were only these words: `Dear Porthos,
set out, if you would wish to arrive before the Equinox. I
expect you.'"

"Mordioux!" said D'Artagnan, thoughtfully, "that was
pressing, apparently."

"I think so; therefore," continued Mousqueton, "monseigneur
set out the very same day with his secretary, in order to
endeavor to arrive in time."

"And did he arrive in time?"

"I hope so. Monseigneur, who is hasty, as you know,
monsieur, repeated incessantly, `Tonno Dieu! What can this
mean? The Equinox? Never mind, a fellow must be well mounted
to arrive before I do.'"

"And you think Porthos will have arrived first, do you?"
asked D'Artagnan.

"I am sure of it. This Equinox, however rich he may be, has
certainly no horses so good as monseigneur's."

D'Artagnan repressed his inclination to laugh, because the
brevity of Aramis's letter gave rise to reflection. He
followed Mousqueton, or rather Mousqueton's chariot, to the