“Only reflect, my good fellow,” said Athos, “it is but dying rather sooner.”

“Pooh! a little sooner or a little later, it isn’t worth quarreling over.”

“If I am astonished at anything,” remarked Porthos, sententiously, “it is that it has not already happened.”

“Oh, it will happen, you may be sure,” said D’Artagnan.

“So it is agreed, and if Porthos makes no objection — — ”

“I,” said Porthos, “I will do whatever you please; and besides, I think what the Comte de la Fere said just now is very good.”

“But your future career, D’Artagnan