“Certainly.”

“Very good. Besides, my only reason for going out is to try and get that reply, — you know what I mean?”

“That sentence, you mean — ”

“Stay, I have something of the old Roman in me.

This morning, when I got up, I remarked that my sword had got caught in one of the aiguillettes, and that my shoulder-belt had slipped quite off. That is an infallible sign.”

“Of prosperity?”

“Yes, be sure of it; for every time that that confounded belt of mine stuck fast to my back, it always signified a punishment from M. de Treville, or a refusal of money by M. de Mazarin.