“Really that’s all! I shall be about again, however, in a few days.”

While Porthos and Mousqueton were breakfasting with the appetites of convalescents, and with that brotherly cordiality which unites men in misfortune, D’Artagnan related how Aramis had been wounded, and was obliged to stop at Crèvecœur; how he had left Athos fighting at Amiens with four men, who accused him of being a counterfeiter; and how he, D’Artagnan, had been forced to pass over the Comte de Wardes’s body in order to reach England.

But there D’Artagnan’s disclosure ended.

At that moment Planchet entered. He informed his master that the horses were sufficiently refreshed, and that it would be possible to sleep at Clermont.

As D’Artagnan was tolerably reassured with regard to Porthos, and as he was anxious to obtain news of his two other friends, he held out his hand to the sick man, and told him he was going to resume his route in order to prosecute his researches. However, as he reckoned upon returning by the same road, if, in seven or eight days, Porthos were still at the hotel of the Great St. Martin, he would call for him on his way.

Porthos replied that, according to all probability, his sprain would not permit him to depart during that time.

D’Artagnan, after having again recommended Porthos to the care of Mousqueton, and paid his reckoning to the landlord, resumed his route with Planchet.