“Would you have given up the letter, Aramis?” said d’Artagnan.

“I,” said Aramis, in his most flutelike tone, “I had made up my mind.  If he had insisted upon the letter being given up to him, I would have presented the letter to him with one hand, and with the other I would have run my sword through his body.”

“I expected as much,” said Athos; “and that was why I threw myself between you and him.  Indeed, this man is very much to blame for talking thus to other men; one would say he had never had to do with any but women and children.”

“My dear Athos, I admire you, but nevertheless we were in the wrong, after all.”

“How, in the wrong?” said Athos.  “Whose, then, is the air we breathe?  Whose is the ocean upon which we look?  Whose is the sand upon which we were reclining?  Whose is that letter of your mistress?  Do these belong to the cardinal?  Upon my honor, this man fancies the world belongs to him.  There you stood, stammering, stupefied, annihilated.  One might have supposed the Bastille appeared before you, and that the gigantic Medusa had converted you into stone.  Is being in love conspiring?  You are in love with a woman whom the cardinal has caused to be shut up, and you wish to get her out of the hands of the cardinal.  That’s a match you are playing with his Eminence; this letter is your game.  Why should you expose your game to your adversary?  That is never done.  Let him find it out if he can!  We can find out his!”

“Well, that’s all very sensible, Athos,” said d’Artagnan.

“In that case, let there be no more question of what’s past, and let Aramis resume the letter from his cousin where the cardinal interrupted him.”

Aramis drew the letter from his pocket; the three friends surrounded him, and the three lackeys grouped themselves again near the wine jar.

“You had only read a line or two,” said d’Artagnan; “read the letter again from the commencement.”

“Willingly,” said Aramis.

“My dear Cousin, I think I shall make up my mind to set out for Bethune, where my sister has placed our little servant in the convent of the Carmelites; this poor child is quite resigned, as she knows she cannot live elsewhere without the salvation of her soul being in danger.  Nevertheless, if the affairs of our family are arranged, as we hope they will be, I believe she will run the risk of being damned, and will return to those she regrets, particularly as she knows they are always thinking of her.  Meanwhile, she is not very wretched; what she most desires is a letter from her intended.  I know that such viands pass with difficulty through convent gratings; but after all, as I have given you proofs, my dear cousin, I am not unskilled in such affairs, and I will take charge of the commission.  My sister thanks you for your good and eternal remembrance.  She has experienced much anxiety; but she is now at length a little reassured, having sent her secretary away in order that nothing may happen unexpectedly.