“Pooh!” said Porthos, “it is always that. But tell me — — ”

“What?”

“Didn’t he speak of me in any way?”

“Ah!

yes, indeed!” cried D’Artagnan, who was afraid of disheartening his friend by telling him that the cardinal had not breathed a word about him; “yes, surely, he said — — ”

“He said?” resumed Porthos.

“Stop, I want to remember his exact words. He said, ‘As to your friend, tell him he may sleep in peace.’“

“Good, very good,” said Porthos; “that signified as clear as daylight that he still intends to make me a baron.”