“Because that young man, so handsome, so elegant, so polished — — ”

“Is a child I have adopted and who does not even know who was his father.”

“Very well; you are always the same, Athos, great and generous.

Are you still friends with Monsieur Porthos and Monsieur Aramis?”

“Add Monsieur d’Artagnan, my lord. We still remain four friends devoted to each other; but when it becomes a question of serving the cardinal or of fighting him, of being Mazarinists or Frondists, then we are only two.”

“Is Monsieur Aramis with D’Artagnan?” asked Lord de Winter.

“No,” said Athos;