Ten Years Later: The Vicomte of Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas Chapter 20 Page 21

“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 a 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