[The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas]@TWC D-Link bookThe Three Musketeers 4 THE SHOULDER OF ATHOS, THE BALDRIC OF PORTHOS AND THE HANDKERCHIEF OF
  ARAMIS 3/10  
 Vainglorious as he was, Porthos  could not afford to have a baldric wholly of gold, but had at least  half. 
  One could comprehend the necessity of the cold and the urgency of  the cloak.       "Bless me!" cried Porthos, making strong efforts to disembarrass himself  of d'Artagnan, who was wriggling about his back; "you must be mad to run  against people in this manner."    "Excuse me," said d'Artagnan, reappearing under the shoulder of the  giant, "but I am in such haste--I was running after someone and--"    "And do you always forget your eyes when you run  ?" asked Porthos.       "No," replied d'Artagnan, piqued, "and thanks to my eyes, I can see what  other people cannot see."    Whether Porthos understood him or did not understand him, giving way to  his anger, "Monsieur," said he, "you stand a chance of getting chastised  if you rub Musketeers in this fashion."    "Chastised, Monsieur!" said d'Artagnan, "the expression is strong."    "It is one that becomes a man accustomed to look his enemies in the  face."    "Ah, PARDIEU! I know full well that you don't turn your back to yours."    And the young man, delighted with his joke, went away laughing loudly.       Porthos foamed with rage, and made a movement to rush after d'Artagnan.       "Presently, presently," cried the latter, "when you haven't your cloak  on."    "At one o'clock, then, behind the Luxembourg."    "Very well, at one o'clock, then," replied d'Artagnan, turning the angle  of the street.       But neither in the street he had passed through, nor in the one which  his eager glance pervaded, could he see anyone; however slowly the  stranger had walked, he was gone on his way, or perhaps had entered some  house. 
  D'Artagnan inquired of everyone he met with, went down to  the ferry, came up again by the Rue de Seine, and the Red Cross; but  nothing, absolutely nothing! This chase was, however, advantageous to  him in one sense, for in proportion as the perspiration broke from his  forehead, his heart began to cool.       He began to reflect upon the events that had passed; they were numerous  and inauspicious. 
  It was scarcely eleven o'clock in the morning, and yet  this morning had already brought him into disgrace with M.de Treville,  who could not fail to think the manner in which d'Artagnan had left him  a little cavalier.       Besides this, he had drawn upon himself two good duels with two men,  each capable of killing three d'Artagnans--with two Musketeers, in  short, with two of those beings whom he esteemed so greatly that he  placed them in his mind and heart above all other men.       The outlook was sad. 
  Sure of being killed by Athos, it may easily be  understood that the young man was not very uneasy about Porthos. 
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