Now, I am not enough of a fool to wish to appear to have lost my wits before a friend like you, Athos.

The cloak is handsome, the cloak is richly gilded, but it is new, and does not seem to fit me." Athos smiled.

"So be it," said he.

"But _a propos_ of this cloak, dear D'Artagnan, will you allow me to offer you a little advice ?" "Yes, willingly." "You will not be angry ?" "Proceed." "When wealth comes to a man late in life or all at once, that man, in order not to change, must most likely become a miser--that is to say, not spend much more money than he had done before; or else become a prodigal, and contract so many debts as to become poor again." "Oh! but what you say looks very much like a sophism, my dear philosophic friend." "I do not think so.

Will you become a miser ?" "No, _pardieu!_ I was one already, having nothing.