30 LOUISE DE LA VALLIEEE. In what way?" "You are going to Fontainebleau, are you not, where you will find Monsieur Fouquet?" "Yes." "Probably in the king's palace?" "Yes," repeated Porthos, with an air full of majesty. "Well, you will accost him with these words: 'Monsieur Fouquet, I have the honor to inform you that I have just left St. Mande.' " "And," said Porthos, with the same majestic mien, "see- ing me at Fontainebleau at the king's. Monsieur Fouquet will not be able to tell me I am not speaking the truth." "My dear Porthos, I was just on the point of opening my lips to make the same remark, but you anticipate me in everything. Oh! Porthos, how fortunately you are gifted; age has not made any impression on you." "Not overmuch, certainly." "Then there is nothing more to say?" "I think not." "All your scruples are removed?" "Quite so." "In that case I shall carry you off with me." "Exactly; and I shall go and get my horse saddled." "You have horses here, then?" "I have five." "You had them sent from Pierrefonds, I suppose?" "No, Monsieur Fouquet gave them to me." "My dear Porthos we shall not want five horses for two persons; besides, I have already three in Paris, which will make eight, and that will be too many." "It would not be too many if I had some of my servants here; but, alas! I have not got them." "Do you regret them then?" "I regret Mousqueton; I need Mousqueton." "What a good-hearted fellow you are, Porthos," said D'Artagnan; "but the best thing you can do is to leave your horses here, as you have left Mousqueton out yonder." "Why so?" "Because, by and by, it might turn out a very good thing if Monsieur Fouquet had never given you anything at all." "I don't understand you," said Porthos. "It is not necessary you should understand." "But yet " "I will explain to you later, Porthos."
- 'I'll wager it is some piece of policy or other."
