Riding on horseback is unpleasant to me; the sea fatigues me.

I am a poor, ailing priest, always complaining, always grumbling, and inclined to the austerities which appear to accord with old age,--preliminary parleyings with death.

I linger, my dear D'Artagnan, I linger." "Well, that is all the better, my friend, for we shall probably be neighbors soon." "Bah!" said Aramis with a degree of surprise he did not even seek to dissemble.

"You my neighbor!" "_Mordioux!_ yes." "How so ?" "I am about to purchase some very profitable salt-mines, which are situated between Piriac and Le Croisic.

Imagine, my dear friend, a clear profit of twelve per cent.