To this, for any other but D'Artagnan, the events of the Place de Greve might have served as a reply.

Many consciences would have been satisfied with them, but D'Artagnan was brave enough to ask himself sincerely and conscientiously if he were brave.

Therefore to this:-- "But it appears to me that I drew promptly enough, and cut and thrust pretty freely on the Place de Greve, to be satisfied of my bravery," D'Artagnan had himself replied.

"Gently, captain, that is not an answer.
I was brave that day, because they were burning my house, and there are a hundred, and even a thousand, to speak against one, that if those gentlemen of the riots had not formed that unlucky idea, their plan of attack would have succeeded, or, at least, it would not have been I who would have opposed myself to it.

Now, what will be brought against me?
I have no house to be burnt in Bretagne; I have no treasure there that can be taken from me .-- No; but I have my skin; that precious skin of M.
d'Artagnan, which to him is worth more than all the houses and all the treasures of the world.