“How completely Spanish!”
“I told him so, and he then added this: ‘Whoever advises me to spare expense, I shall look upon as my enemy.'”
“It is Positive madness; and that portrait too!”
“What portrait?” said Aramis.
“That of the King; that surprise.”
“That surprise?”
“Yes, for which you procured some samples at Percerin’s.” D’Artagnan paused. The shaft was discharged, and all he had to do was to wait and watch its effect.
“That is merely an act of graceful attention,” replied Aramis.
D’Artagnan went up to his friend, took hold of both his hands, and looking him full in the eyes said, “Aramis, do you still care for me a little?”
“What a question to ask!”
“Very good. One favor, then. Why did you take some samples of the King’s costumes at Percerin’s?”
“Come with me and ask poor Lebrun, who has been working upon them for the last two days and two nights.”
“Aramis, that may be the truth for everybody else; but for me-”
“Upon my word, d’Artagnan, you astonish me.”
“Be a little considerate for me. Tell me the exact truth; you would not like anything disagreeable to happen to me, would you?”
“My dear friend, you are becoming quite incomprehensible. What devil of a suspicion have you, then?”
“Do you believe in my instincts? Formerly you had faith in them. Well, then, an instinct tells me that you have some concealed project on foot.”
“I- a project?”
“I am not sure of it.”
“What nonsense!”
“I am not sure of it, but I would swear to it.”
“Indeed, d’Artagnan, you cause me the greatest pain. Is it likely, if I have any project in hand that I ought to keep secret from you, I shall tell you about it? If I had one that I ought to reveal to you, I should have already told it to you.”
“No, Aramis, no. There are certain projects which are never revealed until the favorable opportunity arrives.”
“In that case, my dear fellow,” returned the bishop, laughing, “the only thing now is, that the ‘opportunity’ has not yet arrived.”
D’Artagnan shook his head with a sorrowful expression. “Oh, friendship, friendship!” he said, “what an idle word! Here is a man who, if I were but to ask it, would suffer himself to be cut in pieces for my sake.”
“You are right,” said Aramis, nobly.
“And this man, who would shed every drop of blood in his veins for me, will not open the smallest corner of his heart. Friendship, I repeat, is nothing but a shadow and a delusion, like everything else that shines in this world.”
“It is not thus you should speak of our friendship,” replied the bishop, in a firm, assured voice; “for ours is not of the same nature as those of which you have been speaking!”
“Look at us, Aramis! We are three out of the four. You are deceiving me, I suspect you, and Porthos sleeps; an admirable trio of friends, don’t you think so?- a beautiful relic!”
“I can only tell you one thing, d’Artagnan, and I swear it on the Bible: I love you just as much as formerly. If I ever distrust you, it is on account of others, and not on account of either of us. In everything I may do and succeed in, you will find your share. Will you promise me the same favor?”
“If I am not mistaken, Aramis, these words of yours, at the moment you pronounce them, are full of generous intention.”
“That is true.”
“You are conspiring against M. Colbert. If that be all, mordioux! tell me so at once. I have the instrument, and will pull out the tooth.”
Aramis could not restrain a smile of disdain which passed across his noble features. “And supposing that I were conspiring against Colbert, and what harm would there be in that?”
“No, no; that would be too trifling a matter for you to take in hand, and it was not on that account you asked Percerin for those samples of the King’s costumes. Oh, Aramis, we are not enemies, we are brothers! Tell me what you wish to undertake, and, upon the word of d’Artagnan, if I cannot help you, I will swear to remain neutral.”