The tailor stammered.

“It would, indeed, be a very pretty compliment to pay the young prince,” continued Aramis; “but as the surintendant told me, ‘if Percerin refuse, tell him that it will not at all lower him in my opinion, and I shall always esteem him, only — ’“

“‘Only?’“ repeated Percerin, rather troubled.

“‘Only,’“ continued Aramis, “‘I shall be compelled to say to the king,’ — you understand, my dear Monsieur Percerin, that these are M. Fouquet’s words, — ’I shall be constrained to say to the king, “Sire, I had intended to present your majesty with your portrait, but owing to a feeling of delicacy, slightly