"It came to me one morning on the banks of the Loire, whilst
our beloved king, Louis XIV., was pretending to weep upon
the hand of Mademoiselle de Mancini."

"Monsieur, I declare the idea is sublime. But ---- "

"Ah! is there a but?"

"Permit me! But this is a little like the skin of that fine
bear -- you know -- that they were about to sell, but which
it was necessary to take from the back of the living bear.
Now, to take M. Monk, there will be a bit of scuffle, I
should think."

"No doubt; but as I shall raise an army to ---- "

"Yes, yes -- I understand, parbleu! -- a coup-de-main. Yes,
then, monsieur, you will triumph, for no one equals you in
such sorts of encounters."

"I certainly am lucky in them," said D'Artagnan, with a
proud simplicity. "You know that if for this affair I had my
dear Athos, my brave Porthos, and my cunning Aramis, the
business would be settled; but they are all lost, as it
appears, and nobody knows where to find them. I will do it,
then, alone. Now, do you find the business good, and the
investment advantageous?"

"Too much so -- too much so."