andhadbeensparedbytheQueenofNavarre，thebeautifulMargot，astheyusedtowriteandsay，too，inthosedays;because，insooth，hewastheonlyonewhocouldmakeforherthosewonderfulriding—habitswhichshesolovedtowear，seeingthattheyweremarvelouslywellsuitedtohidecertainanatomicaldefects，whichtheQueenofNavarreusedverystudiouslytoconceal。？Percerinbeingsaved，made，outofgratitude，somebeautifulblackbodices，veryinexpensivelyindeed，forQueenCatherine，whoendedbybeingpleasedatthepreservationofaHuguenotpeople，onwhomshehadlonglookedwithdetestation。？ButPercerinwasaveryprudentman;andhavinghearditsaidthattherewasnomoredangeroussignforaProtestantthantobesmileduponbyCatherine，andhavingobservedthathersmilesweremorefrequentthanusual，hespeedilyturnedCatholicwithallhisfamily;andhavingthusbecomeirreproachable，attainedtheloftypositionofmastertailortotheCrownofFrance。？UnderHenryIII。，gaykingashewas，thispositionwasagrandastheheightofoneoftheloftiestpeaksoftheCordilleras。？NowPercerinhadbeenaclevermanallhislife，andbywayofkeepinguphisreputationbeyondthegrave，tookverygoodcarenottomakeabaddeathofit，andsocontrivedtodieveryskillfully;andthatattheverymomenthefelthispowersofinventiondeclining。？Heleftasonandadaughter，bothworthyofthenametheywerecalledupontobear;theson，acutterasunerringandexactasthesquarerule;thedaughter，aptatembroidery，andatdesigningornaments。？ThemarriageofHenryIV。andMariedeMedici，andtheexquisitecourt—mourningfortheafore—mentionedqueen，togetherwithafewwordsletfallbyM。deBassompi鑢e，kingofthebeauxoftheperiod，madethefortuneofthesecondgenerationofPercerins。？M。ConcinoConcini，andhiswifeGalliga？
whosubsequentlyshoneattheFrenchcourt，soughttoItalianizethefashion，andintroducedsomeFlorentinetailors;butPercerin，touchedtothequickinhispatriotismandhisself—esteem，entirelydefeatedtheseforeigners，andthatsowellthatConcinowasthefirsttogiveuphiscompatriots，andheldtheFrenchtailorinsuchesteemthathewouldneveremployanyother，andthusworeadoubletofhisontheverydaythatVitryblewouthisbrainswithapistolatthePontduLouvre。
AndsoitwasadoubletissuingfromM。Percerin\'sworkshop，whichtheParisiansrejoicedinhackingintosomanypieceswiththelivinghumanbodyitcontained。？NotwithstandingthefavorConcinoConcinihadshownPercerin，theking，LouisXIII。，hadthegenerositytobearnomalicetohistailor，andtoretainhiminhisservice。？AtthetimethatLouistheJustaffordedthisgreatexampleofequity，Percerinhadbroughtuptwosons，oneofwhommadehisd閎utatthemarriageofAnneofAustria，inventedthatadmirableSpanishcostume，inwhichRichelieudancedasaraband，madethecostumesforthetragedyof\"Mirame，\"andstitchedontoBuckingham\'smantlethosefamouspearlswhichweredestinedtobescatteredaboutthepavementsoftheLouvre。？AmanbecomeseasilynotablewhohasmadethedressesofaDukeofBuckingham，aM。deCinq—Mars，aMademoiselleNinon，aM。deBeaufort，andaMariondeLorme。？AndthusPercerinthethirdhadattainedthesummitofhisglorywhenhisfatherdied。？ThissamePercerinIII。，old，famousandwealthy，yetfurtherdressedLouisXIV。;andhavingnoson，whichwasagreatcauseofsorrowtohim，seeingthatwithhimselfhisdynastywouldend，hehadbroughtupseveralhopefulpupils。？Hepossessedacarriage，acountryhouse，men—servantsthetallestinParis;andbyspecialauthorityfromLouisXIV。，apackofhounds。？HeworkedforMM。deLyonneandLetellier，underasortofpatronage;butpoliticmanashewas，andversedinstatesecrets，heneversucceededinfittingM。Colbert。？Thisisbeyondexplanation;itisamatterforguessingorforintuition。？Greatgeniusesofeverykindliveonunseen，intangibleideas;theyactwithoutthemselvesknowingwhy。？ThegreatPercerin（for，contrarytotheruleofdynasties，itwas，aboveall，thelastofthePercerinswhodeservedthenameofGreat），thegreatPercerinwasinspiredwhenhecutarobeforthequeen，oracoatfortheking;hecouldmountamantleforMonsieur，theclockofastockingforMadame;but，inspiteofhissupremetalent，hecouldneverhitoffanythingapproachingacreditablefitforM。Colbert。？\"Thatman，\"heusedoftentosay，\"isbeyondmyart;myneedlecanneverdothimdown。\"？WeneedscarcelysaythatPercerinwasM。
Fouquet\'stailor，andthatthesuperintendenthighlyesteemedhim。？M。Percerinwasnearlyeightyyearsold，neverthelessstillfresh，andatthesametimesodry，thecourtiersusedtosay，thathewaspositivelybrittle。？HisrenownandhisfortuneweregreatenoughforM。lePrince，thatkingoffops，totakehisarmwhentalkingoverthefashions;andforthoseleasteagertopaynevertodaretoleavetheiraccountsinarrearwithhim;forMasterPercerinwouldforthefirsttimemakeclothesuponcredit，butthesecondnever，unlesspaidfortheformerorder。
Itiseasytoseeatoncethatatailorofsuchrenown，insteadofrunningaftercustomers，madedifficultiesaboutobliginganyfreshones。？AndsoPercerindeclinedtofitbourgeois，orthosewhohadbutrecentlyobtainedpatentsofnobility。？AstoryusedtocirculatethatevenM。deMazarin，inexchangeforPercerinsupplyinghimwithafullsuitofceremonialvestmentsascardinal，onefinedayslippedlettersofnobilityintohispocket。
ItwastothehouseofthisgrandllamaoftailorsthatD\'ArtagnantookthedespairingPorthos;who，astheyweregoingalong，saidtohisfriend，\"Takecare，mygoodD\'Artagnan，nottocompromisethedignityofamansuchasIamwiththearroganceofthisPercerin，whowill，Iexpect，beveryimpertinent;forIgiveyounotice，myfriend，thatifheiswantinginrespectIwillinfalliblychastisehim。\"
\"Presentedbyme，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，\"youhavenothingtofear，eventhoughyouwerewhatyouarenot。\"
\"Ah！
\'tisbecause—\"
\"What？？HaveyouanythingagainstPercerin，Porthos？\"
\"I
thinkthatIoncesentMoustontoafellowofthatname。\"
\"Andthen？\"
\"Thefellowrefusedtosupplyme。\"
\"Oh，amisunderstanding，nodoubt，whichitwillbenowexceedinglyeasytosetright。？Moustonmusthavemadeamistake。\"
\"Perhaps。\"
\"Hehasconfusedthenames。\"
\"Possibly。？ThatrascalMoustonnevercanremembernames。\"
\"I
willtakeitalluponmyself。\"
\"Verygood。\"
\"Stopthecarriage，Porthos;hereweare。\"
\"Here！
howhere？？WeareattheHalles;andyoutoldmethehousewasatthecorneroftheRuedel\'ArbreSec。\"
\"\'Tistrue，butlook。\"
\"Well，Idolook，andIsee—\"
\"What？\"
\"Pardieu！thatweareattheHalles！\"
\"Youdonot，Isuppose，wantourhorsestoclamberupontheroofofthecarriageinfrontofus？\"
\"No。\"
\"Northecarriageinfrontofustomountontopoftheoneinfrontofit。？Northatthesecondshouldbedrivenovertheroofsofthethirtyorfortyotherswhichhavearrivedbeforeus。\"
\"No，youareright，indeed。？Whatanumberofpeople！？Andwhataretheyallabout？\"
\"\'Tisverysimple。？Theyarewaitingtheirturn。\"
\"Bah！？HavethecomediansoftheH魌eldeBourgogneshiftedtheirquarters？\"
\"No;
theirturntoobtainanentrancetoM。Percerin\'shouse。\"
\"Andwearegoingtowaittoo？\"
\"Oh，weshallshowourselvesprompterandnotsoproud。\"
\"Whatarewetodo，then？\"
\"Getdown，passthroughthefootmenandlackeys，andenterthetailor\'shouse，whichIwillanswerforourdoing，ifyougofirst。\"
\"Comealong，then，\"saidPorthos。
Theyaccordinglyalightedandmadetheirwayonfoottowardstheestablishment。？ThecauseoftheconfusionwasthatM。
Percerin\'sdoorswereclosed，whileaservant，standingbeforethem，wasexplainingtotheillustriouscustomersoftheillustrioustailorthatjustthenM。Percerincouldnotreceiveanybody。？Itwasbruitedaboutoutsidestill，ontheauthorityofwhatthegreatlackeyhadtoldsomegreatnoblewhomhefavored，inconfidence，thatM。
Percerinwasengagedonfivecostumesfortheking，andthat，owingtotheurgencyofthecase，hewasmeditatinginhisofficeontheornaments，colors，andcutofthesefivesuits。？Some，contentedwiththisreason，wentawayagain，contentedtorepeatthetaletoothers，butothers，moretenacious，insistedonhavingthedoorsopened，andamongtheselastthreeBlueRibbons，intendedtotakepartsinaballet，whichwouldinevitablyfailunlessthesaidthreehadtheircostumesshapedbytheveryhandofthegreatPercerinhimself。？D\'Artagnan，pushingonPorthos，whoscatteredthegroupsofpeoplerightandleft，succeededingainingthecounter，behindwhichthejourneymantailorsweredoingtheirbesttoanswerqueries。？（WeforgottomentionthatatthedoortheywantedtoputoffPorthosliketherest，butD\'Artagnan，showinghimself，pronouncedmerelythesewords，\"Theking\'sorder，\"andwasletinwithhisfriend。）？Thepoorfellowshadenoughtodo，anddidtheirbest，toreplytothedemandsofthecustomersintheabsenceoftheirmaster，leavingoffdrawingastitchtoknitasentence;andwhenwoundedpride，ordisappointedexpectation，broughtdownuponthemtoocuttingarebuke，hewhowasattackedmadeadiveanddisappearedunderthecounter。？Thelineofdiscontentedlordsformedatrulyremarkablepicture。？Ourcaptainofmusketeers，amanofsureandrapidobservation，tookitallinataglance;
andhavingrunoverthegroups，hiseyerestedonamaninfrontofhim。？Thisman，seateduponastool，scarcelyshowedhisheadabovethecounterthatshelteredhim。？Hewasaboutfortyyearsofage，withamelancholyaspect，paleface，andsoftluminouseyes。？HewaslookingatD\'Artagnanandtherest，withhischinrestinguponhishand，likeacalmandinquiringamateur。？Onlyonperceiving，anddoubtlessrecognizing，ourcaptain，hepulledhishatdownoverhiseyes。？Itwasthisaction，perhaps，thatattractedD\'Artagnan\'sattention。？Ifso，thegentlemanwhohadpulleddownhishatproducedaneffectentirelydifferentfromwhathehaddesired。？Inotherrespectshiscostumewasplain，andhishairevenlycutenoughforcustomers，whowerenotcloseobservers，totakehimforameretailor\'sapprentice，perchedbehindtheboard，andcarefullystitchingclothorvelvet。？Nevertheless，thismanhelduphisheadtoooftentobeveryproductivelyemployedwithhisfingers。？D\'Artagnanwasnotdeceived，—nothe;andhesawatoncethatifthismanwasworkingatanything，itcertainlywasnotatvelvet。
\"Eh！\"
saidhe，addressingthisman，\"andsoyouhavebecomeatailor\'sboy，MonsieurMoli鑢e！\"
\"Hush，M。d\'Artagnan！\"repliedtheman，softly，\"youwillmakethemrecognizeme。\"
\"Well，andwhatharm？\"
\"Thefactis，thereisnoharm，but—\"
\"Youweregoingtosaythereisnogoodindoingiteither，isitnotso？\"
\"Alas！
no;forIwasoccupiedinexaminingsomeexcellentfigures。\"
\"Goon—goon，MonsieurMoli鑢e。？Iquiteunderstandtheinterestyoutakeintheplates—Iwillnotdisturbyourstudies。\"
\"Thankyou。\"
\"Butononecondition;thatyoutellmewhereM。Percerinreallyis。\"
\"Oh！
willingly;inhisownroom。？Only—
\"
\"Onlythatonecan\'tenterit？\"
\"Unapproachable。\"
\"Foreverybody？\"
\"Everybody。？HebroughtmeheresothatImightbeatmyeasetomakemyobservations，andthenhewentaway。\"
\"Well，mydearMonsieurMoli鑢e，butyouwillgoandtellhimIamhere。\"
\"I！\"
exclaimedMoli鑢e，inthetoneofacourageousdog，fromwhichyousnatchtheboneithaslegitimatelygained;\"Idisturbmyself！？Ah！？Monsieurd\'Artagnan，howhardyouareuponme！\"
\"Ifyoudon\'tgodirectlyandtellM。PercerinthatIamhere，mydearMoli鑢e，\"saidD\'Artagnan，inalowtone，\"Iwarnyouofonething:
thatIwon\'texhibittoyouthefriendIhavebroughtwithme。\"
Moli鑢eindicatedPorthosbyanimperceptiblegesture，\"Thisgentleman，isitnot？\"
\"Yes。\"
Moli鑢efixeduponPorthosoneofthoselookswhichpenetratethemindsandheartsofmen。？Thesubjectdoubtlessappearedaverypromisingone，forheimmediatelyroseandledthewayintotheadjoiningchamber。
ChapterIV:
ThePatterns。
Duringallthistimethenoblemobwasslowlyheavingaway，leavingateveryangleofthecountereitheramurmuroramenace，asthewavesleavefoamorscatteredseaweedonthesands，whentheyretirewiththeebbingtide。？InabouttenminutesMoli鑢ereappeared，makinganothersigntoD\'Artagnanfromunderthehangings。？Thelatterhurriedafterhim，withPorthosintherear，andafterthreadingalabyrinthofcorridors，introducedhimtoM。
Percerin\'sroom。？Theoldman，withhissleevesturnedup，wasgatheringupinfoldsapieceofgold—floweredbrocade，soasthebettertoexhibititsluster。？PerceivingD\'Artagnan，heputthesilkaside，andcametomeethim，bynomeansradiantwithjoy，andbynomeanscourteous，but，takeitaltogether，inatolerablycivilmanner。
\"Thecaptainoftheking\'smusketeerswillexcuseme，Iamsure，forIamengaged。\"
\"Eh！
yes，ontheking\'scostumes;Iknowthat，mydearMonsieurPercerin。？Youaremakingthree，theytellme。\"
\"Five，mydearsir，five。\"
\"Threeorfive，\'tisallthesametome，mydearmonsieur;andIknowthatyouwillmakethemmostexquisitely。\"
\"Yes，Iknow。？Oncemadetheywillbethemostbeautifulintheworld，Idonotdenyit;butthattheymaybethemostbeautifulintheword，theymustfirstbemade;andtodothis，captain，Iampressedfortime。\"
\"Oh，bah！therearetwodaysyet;\'tismuchmorethanyourequire，MonsieurPercerin，\"saidD\'Artagnan，inthecoolestpossiblemanner。
Percerinraisedhisheadwiththeairofamanlittleaccustomedtobecontradicted，eveninhiswhims;butD\'Artagnandidnotpaytheleastattentiontotheairswhichtheillustrioustailorbegantoassume。
\"MydearM。Percerin，\"hecontinued，\"Ibringyouacustomer。\"
\"Ah！
ah！\"exclaimedPercerin，crossly。
\"M。leBaronduVallondeBracieuxdePierrefonds，\"continuedD\'Artagnan。？Percerinattemptedabow，whichfoundnofavorintheeyesoftheterriblePorthos，who，fromhisfirstentryintotheroom，hadbeenregardingthetailoraskance。
\"A
verygoodfriendofmine，\"concludedD\'Artagnan。
\"I
willattendtomonsieur，\"saidPercerin，\"butlater。\"
\"Later？
butwhen？\"
\"WhenIhavetime。\"
\"Youhavealreadytoldmyvaletasmuch，\"brokeinPorthos，discontentedly。
\"Verylikely，\"saidPercerin;\"Iamnearlyalwayspushedfortime。\"
\"Myfriend，\"returnedPorthos，sententiously，\"thereisalwaystimetobefoundwhenonechoosestoseekit。\"
Percerinturnedcrimson;anominoussignindeedinoldmenblanchedbyage。
\"Monsieurisquiteatlibertytoconferhiscustomelsewhere。\"
\"Come，come，Percerin，\"interposedD\'Artagnan，\"youarenotinagoodtemperto—day。？Well，Iwillsayonemorewordtoyou，whichwillbringyouonyourknees;monsieurisnotonlyafriendofmine，butmore，afriendofM。Fouquet\'s。\"
\"Ah！
ah！\"exclaimedthetailor，\"thatisanotherthing。\"？ThenturningtoPorthos，\"Monsieurlebaronisattachedtothesuperintendent？\"heinquired。
\"I
amattachedtomyself，\"shoutedPorthos，attheverymomentthatthetapestrywasraisedtointroduceanewspeakerinthedialogue。？Moli鑢ewasallobservation，D\'Artagnanlaughed，Porthosswore。
\"MydearPercerin，\"saidD\'Artagnan，\"youwillmakeadressforthebaron。？\'TisIwhoaskyou。\"
\"ToyouIwillnotsaynay，captain。\"
\"Butthatisnotall;youwillmakeitforhimatonce。\"
\"\'Tisimpossiblewithineightdays。\"
\"That，then，isasmuchastorefuse，becausethedressiswantedforthef阾eatVaux。\"
\"I
repeatthatitisimpossible，\"returnedtheobstinateoldman。
\"Bynomeans，dearMonsieurPercerin，aboveallifIaskyou，\"saidamildvoiceatthedoor，asilveryvoicewhichmadeD\'Artagnanprickuphisears。？ItwasthevoiceofAramis。
\"Monsieurd\'Herblay！\"criedthetailor。
\"Aramis，\"murmuredD\'Artagnan。
\"Ah！
ourbishop！\"saidPorthos。
\"Goodmorning，D\'Artagnan;goodmorning，Porthos;good—morning，mydearfriends，\"saidAramis。？\"Come，come，M。Percerin，makethebaron\'sdress;andIwillanswerforityouwillgratifyM。Fouquet。\"？Andheaccompaniedthewordswithasign，whichseemedtosay，\"Agree，anddismissthem。\"
ItappearedthatAramishadoverMasterPercerinaninfluencesuperioreventoD\'Artagnan\'s，forthetailorbowedinassent，andturningrounduponPorthos，said，\"Goandgetmeasuredontheotherside。\"
Porthoscoloredinaformidablemanner。？D\'Artagnansawthestormcoming，andaddressingMoli鑢e，saidtohim，inanundertone，\"Youseebeforeyou，mydearmonsieur，amanwhoconsidershimselfdisgraced，ifyoumeasurethefleshandbonesthatHeavenhasgivenhim;studythistypeforme，MasterAristophanes，andprofitbyit。\"
Moli鑢ehadnoneedofencouragement，andhisgazedweltlongandkeenlyontheBaronPorthos。？\"Monsieur，\"hesaid，\"ifyouwillcomewithme，Iwillmakethemtakeyourmeasurewithouttouchingyou。\"
\"Oh！\"
saidPorthos，\"howdoyoumakethatout，myfriend？\"
\"I
saythattheyshallapplyneitherlinenorruletotheseamsofyourdress。？Itisanewmethodwehaveinventedformeasuringpeopleofquality，whoaretoosensitivetoallowlow—bornfellowstotouchthem。？Weknowsomesusceptiblepersonswhowillnotputupwithbeingmeasured，aprocesswhich，asIthink，woundsthenaturaldignityofaman;andifperchancemonsieurshouldbeoneofthese—\"
\"Corb渦f！？IbelieveIamtoo！\"
\"Well，thatisacapitalandmostconsolatorycoincidence，andyoushallhavethebenefitofourinvention。\"
\"Buthowintheworldcanitbedone？\"askedPorthos，delighted。
\"Monsieur，\"
saidMoli鑢e，bowing，\"ifyouwilldeigntofollowme，youwillsee。\"
Aramisobservedthisscenewithallhiseyes。？PerhapshefanciedfromD\'Artagnan\'slivelinessthathewouldleavewithPorthos，soasnottolosetheconclusionofascenewellbegun。？But，clear—sightedashewas，Aramisdeceivedhimself。？PorthosandMoli鑢elefttogether:D\'ArtagnanremainedwithPercerin。？Why？？Fromcuriosity，doubtless;probablytoenjoyalittlelongerthesocietyofhisgoodfriendAramis。？AsMoli鑢eandPorthosdisappeared，D\'ArtagnandrewnearthebishopofVannes，aproceedingwhichappearedparticularlytodisconcerthim。
\"A
dressforyou，also，isitnot，myfriend？\"
Aramissmiled。？\"No，\"saidhe。
\"YouwillgotoVaux，however？\"
\"I
shallgo，butwithoutanewdress。？Youforget，dearD\'Artagnan，thatapoorbishopofVannesisnotrichenoughtohavenewdressesforeveryf阾e。\"
\"Bah！\"
saidthemusketeer，laughing，\"anddowewritenomorepoemsnow，either？\"
\"Oh！？D\'Artagnan，\"exclaimedAramis，\"I
havelongagogivenupallsuchtomfoolery。\"
\"True，\"
repeatedD\'Artagnan，onlyhalfconvinced。？AsforPercerin，hewasoncemoreabsorbedincontemplationofthebrocades。
\"Don\'tyouperceive，\"saidAramis，smiling，\"thatwearegreatlyboringthisgoodgentleman，mydearD\'Artagnan？\"
\"Ah！
ah！\"murmuredthemusketeer，aside;\"thatis，Iamboringyou，myfriend。\"？Thenaloud，\"Well，then，letusleave;Ihavenofurtherbusinesshere，andifyouareasdisengagedasI，Aramis—\"
\"No，notI—Iwished—\"
\"Ah！
youhadsomethingparticulartosaytoM。Percerin？？Whydidyounottellmesoatonce？\"
\"Somethingparticular，certainly，\"repeatedAramis，\"butnotforyou，D\'Artagnan。？But，atthesametime，I
hopeyouwillbelievethatIcanneverhaveanythingsoparticulartosaythatafriendlikeyoumaynothearit。\"
\"Oh，no，no！？Iamgoing，\"saidD\'Artagnan，impartingtohisvoiceanevidenttoneofcuriosity;forAramis\'sannoyance，welldissembledasitwas，hadnotawhitescapedhim;andheknewthat，inthatimpenetrablemind，everything，eventhemostapparentlytrivial，wasdesignedtosomeend;anunknownone，butanendthat，fromtheknowledgehehadofhisfriend\'scharacter，themusketeerfeltmustbeimportant。
Onhispart，AramissawthatD\'Artagnanwasnotwithoutsuspicion，andpressedhim。？\"Stay，byallmeans，\"hesaid，\"thisiswhatitis。\"？Thenturningtowardsthetailor，\"MydearPercerin，\"saidhe，—\"Iamevenveryhappythatyouarehere，D\'Artagnan。\"
\"Oh，indeed，\"exclaimedtheGascon，forthethirdtime，evenlessdeceivedthistimethanbefore。
Percerinnevermoved。？Aramisrousedhimviolently，bysnatchingfromhishandsthestuffuponwhichhewasengaged。？\"MydearPercerin，\"
saidhe，\"Ihave，nearhand，M。Lebrun，oneofM。Fouquet\'spainters。\"
\"Ah，verygood，\"thoughtD\'Artagnan;\"butwhyLebrun？\"
AramislookedatD\'Artagnan，whoseemedtobeoccupiedwithanengravingofMarkAntony。？\"AndyouwishthatI
shouldmakehimadress，similartothoseoftheEpicureans？\"answeredPercerin。？Andwhilesayingthis，inanabsentmanner，theworthytailorendeavoredtorecapturehispieceofbrocade。
\"AnEpicurean\'sdress？\"askedD\'Artagnan，inatoneofinquiry。
\"I
see，\"saidAramis，withamostengagingsmile，\"itiswrittenthatourdearD\'Artagnanshallknowalloursecretsthisevening。？Yes，friend，youhavesurelyheardspeakofM。Fouquet\'sEpicureans，haveyounot？\"
\"Undoubtedly。？Isitnotakindofpoeticalsociety，ofwhichLaFontaine，Loret，P閘isson，andMoli鑢earemembers，andwhichholdsitssittingsatSaint—Mand？;
\"Exactlyso。？Well，wearegoingtoputourpoetsinuniform，andenrolltheminaregimentfortheking。\"
\"Oh，verywell，Iunderstand;asurpriseM。Fouquetisgettingupfortheking。？Beatease;ifthatisthesecretaboutM。
Lebrun，Iwillnotmentionit。\"
\"Alwaysagreeable，myfriend。？No，MonsieurLebrunhasnothingtodowiththispartofit;thesecretwhichconcernshimisfarmoreimportantthantheother。\"
\"Then，ifitissoimportantasallthat，Iprefernottoknowit，\"saidD\'Artagnan，makingashowofdeparture。
\"Comein，M。Lebrun，comein，\"saidAramis，openingaside—doorwithhisrighthand，andholdingbackD\'Artagnanwithhisleft。
\"I\'faith，Itoo，amquiteinthedark，\"quothPercerin。
Aramistookan\"opportunity，\"asissaidintheatricalmatters。
\"MydearM。dePercerin，\"Aramiscontinued，\"youaremakingfivedressesfortheking，areyounot？？Oneinbrocade;oneinhunting—cloth;oneinvelvet;oneinsatin;andoneinFlorentinestuffs。\"
\"Yes;
buthow—doyouknowallthat，monseigneur？\"saidPercerin，astounded。
\"Itisallverysimple，mydearmonsieur;therewillbeahunt，abanquet，concert，promenadeandreception;thesefivekindsofdressarerequiredbyetiquette。\"
\"Youknoweverything，monseigneur！\"
\"Andathingortwoinaddition，\"mutteredD\'Artagnan。
\"But，\"
criedthetailor，intriumph，\"whatyoudonotknow，monseigneur—princeofthechurchthoughyouare—whatnobodywillknow—whatonlytheking，MademoiselledelaValli鑢e，andmyselfdoknow，isthecolorofthematerialsandnatureoftheornaments，andthecut，theensemble，thefinishofitall！\"
\"Well，\"
saidAramis，\"thatispreciselywhatIhavecometoaskyou，dearPercerin。\"
\"Ah，bah！\"exclaimedthetailor，terrified，thoughAramishadpronouncedthesewordsinhissoftestandmosthoneyedtones。？Therequestappeared，onreflection，soexaggerated，soridiculous，somonstroustoM。Percerinthatfirsthelaughedtohimself，thenaloud，andfinishedwithashout。？D\'Artagnanfollowedhisexample，notbecausehefoundthematterso\"veryfunny，\"butinordernottoallowAramistocool。
\"Attheoutset，Iappeartobehazardinganabsurdquestion，doInot？\"saidAramis。？\"ButD\'Artagnan，whoisincarnatewisdomitself，willtellyouthatIcouldnotdootherwisethanaskyouthis。\"
\"Letussee，\"saidtheattentivemusketeer;perceivingwithhiswonderfulinstinctthattheyhadonlybeenskirmishingtillnow，andthatthehourofbattlewasapproaching。
\"Letussee，\"saidPercerin，incredulously。
\"Why，now，\"continuedAramis，\"doesM。Fouquetgivethekingaf阾e？—Isitnottopleasehim？\"
\"Assuredly，\"
saidPercerin。？D\'Artagnannoddedassent。