andhadbeensparedbytheQueenofNavarre，thebeautifulMargot，astheyusedtowriteandsay，too，inthosedays;because，insooth，hewastheonlyonewhocouldmakeforherthosewonderfulriding—habitswhichshesolovedtowear，seeingthattheyweremarvelouslywellsuitedtohidecertainanatomicaldefects，whichtheQueenofNavarreusedverystudiouslytoconceal。？Percerinbeingsaved，made，outofgratitude，somebeautifulblackbodices，veryinexpensivelyindeed，forQueenCatherine，whoendedbybeingpleasedatthepreservationofaHuguenotpeople，onwhomshehadlonglookedwithdetestation。？ButPercerinwasaveryprudentman;andhavinghearditsaidthattherewasnomoredangeroussignforaProtestantthantobesmileduponbyCatherine，andhavingobservedthathersmilesweremorefrequentthanusual，hespeedilyturnedCatholicwithallhisfamily;andhavingthusbecomeirreproachable，attainedtheloftypositionofmastertailortotheCrownofFrance。？UnderHenryIII。，gaykingashewas，thispositionwasagrandastheheightofoneoftheloftiestpeaksoftheCordilleras。？NowPercerinhadbeenaclevermanallhislife，andbywayofkeepinguphisreputationbeyondthegrave，tookverygoodcarenottomakeabaddeathofit，andsocontrivedtodieveryskillfully;andthatattheverymomenthefelthispowersofinventiondeclining。？Heleftasonandadaughter，bothworthyofthenametheywerecalledupontobear;theson，acutterasunerringandexactasthesquarerule;thedaughter，aptatembroidery，andatdesigningornaments。？ThemarriageofHenryIV。andMariedeMedici，andtheexquisitecourt—mourningfortheafore—mentionedqueen，togetherwithafewwordsletfallbyM。deBassompi鑢e，kingofthebeauxoftheperiod，madethefortuneofthesecondgenerationofPercerins。？M。ConcinoConcini，andhiswifeGalliga？
　　whosubsequentlyshoneattheFrenchcourt，soughttoItalianizethefashion，andintroducedsomeFlorentinetailors;butPercerin，touchedtothequickinhispatriotismandhisself—esteem，entirelydefeatedtheseforeigners，andthatsowellthatConcinowasthefirsttogiveuphiscompatriots，andheldtheFrenchtailorinsuchesteemthathewouldneveremployanyother，andthusworeadoubletofhisontheverydaythatVitryblewouthisbrainswithapistolatthePontduLouvre。
　　AndsoitwasadoubletissuingfromM。Percerin'sworkshop，whichtheParisiansrejoicedinhackingintosomanypieceswiththelivinghumanbodyitcontained。？NotwithstandingthefavorConcinoConcinihadshownPercerin，theking，LouisXIII。，hadthegenerositytobearnomalicetohistailor，andtoretainhiminhisservice。？AtthetimethatLouistheJustaffordedthisgreatexampleofequity，Percerinhadbroughtuptwosons，oneofwhommadehisd閎utatthemarriageofAnneofAustria，inventedthatadmirableSpanishcostume，inwhichRichelieudancedasaraband，madethecostumesforthetragedyof"Mirame，"andstitchedontoBuckingham'smantlethosefamouspearlswhichweredestinedtobescatteredaboutthepavementsoftheLouvre。？AmanbecomeseasilynotablewhohasmadethedressesofaDukeofBuckingham，aM。deCinq—Mars，aMademoiselleNinon，aM。deBeaufort，andaMariondeLorme。？AndthusPercerinthethirdhadattainedthesummitofhisglorywhenhisfatherdied。？ThissamePercerinIII。，old，famousandwealthy，yetfurtherdressedLouisXIV。;andhavingnoson，whichwasagreatcauseofsorrowtohim，seeingthatwithhimselfhisdynastywouldend，hehadbroughtupseveralhopefulpupils。？Hepossessedacarriage，acountryhouse，men—servantsthetallestinParis;andbyspecialauthorityfromLouisXIV。，apackofhounds。？HeworkedforMM。deLyonneandLetellier，underasortofpatronage;butpoliticmanashewas，andversedinstatesecrets，heneversucceededinfittingM。Colbert。？Thisisbeyondexplanation;itisamatterforguessingorforintuition。？Greatgeniusesofeverykindliveonunseen，intangibleideas;theyactwithoutthemselvesknowingwhy。？ThegreatPercerin（for，contrarytotheruleofdynasties，itwas，aboveall，thelastofthePercerinswhodeservedthenameofGreat），thegreatPercerinwasinspiredwhenhecutarobeforthequeen，oracoatfortheking;hecouldmountamantleforMonsieur，theclockofastockingforMadame;but，inspiteofhissupremetalent，hecouldneverhitoffanythingapproachingacreditablefitforM。Colbert。？"Thatman，"heusedoftentosay，"isbeyondmyart;myneedlecanneverdothimdown。"？WeneedscarcelysaythatPercerinwasM。
　　Fouquet'stailor，andthatthesuperintendenthighlyesteemedhim。？M。Percerinwasnearlyeightyyearsold，neverthelessstillfresh，andatthesametimesodry，thecourtiersusedtosay，thathewaspositivelybrittle。？HisrenownandhisfortuneweregreatenoughforM。lePrince，thatkingoffops，totakehisarmwhentalkingoverthefashions;andforthoseleasteagertopaynevertodaretoleavetheiraccountsinarrearwithhim;forMasterPercerinwouldforthefirsttimemakeclothesuponcredit，butthesecondnever，unlesspaidfortheformerorder。
　　Itiseasytoseeatoncethatatailorofsuchrenown，insteadofrunningaftercustomers，madedifficultiesaboutobliginganyfreshones。？AndsoPercerindeclinedtofitbourgeois，orthosewhohadbutrecentlyobtainedpatentsofnobility。？AstoryusedtocirculatethatevenM。deMazarin，inexchangeforPercerinsupplyinghimwithafullsuitofceremonialvestmentsascardinal，onefinedayslippedlettersofnobilityintohispocket。
　　ItwastothehouseofthisgrandllamaoftailorsthatD'ArtagnantookthedespairingPorthos;who，astheyweregoingalong，saidtohisfriend，"Takecare，mygoodD'Artagnan，nottocompromisethedignityofamansuchasIamwiththearroganceofthisPercerin，whowill，Iexpect，beveryimpertinent;forIgiveyounotice，myfriend，thatifheiswantinginrespectIwillinfalliblychastisehim。"
　　"Presentedbyme，"repliedD'Artagnan，"youhavenothingtofear，eventhoughyouwerewhatyouarenot。"
　　"Ah！
　　'tisbecause—"
　　"What？？HaveyouanythingagainstPercerin，Porthos？"
　　"I
　　thinkthatIoncesentMoustontoafellowofthatname。"
　　"Andthen？"
　　"Thefellowrefusedtosupplyme。"
　　"Oh，amisunderstanding，nodoubt，whichitwillbenowexceedinglyeasytosetright。？Moustonmusthavemadeamistake。"
　　"Perhaps。"
　　"Hehasconfusedthenames。"
　　"Possibly。？ThatrascalMoustonnevercanremembernames。"
　　"I
　　willtakeitalluponmyself。"
　　"Verygood。"
　　"Stopthecarriage，Porthos;hereweare。"
　　"Here！
　　howhere？？WeareattheHalles;andyoutoldmethehousewasatthecorneroftheRuedel'ArbreSec。"
　　"'Tistrue，butlook。"
　　"Well，Idolook，andIsee—"
　　"What？"
　　"Pardieu！thatweareattheHalles！"
　　"Youdonot，Isuppose，wantourhorsestoclamberupontheroofofthecarriageinfrontofus？"
　　"No。"
　　"Northecarriageinfrontofustomountontopoftheoneinfrontofit。？Northatthesecondshouldbedrivenovertheroofsofthethirtyorfortyotherswhichhavearrivedbeforeus。"
　　"No，youareright，indeed。？Whatanumberofpeople！？Andwhataretheyallabout？"
　　"'Tisverysimple。？Theyarewaitingtheirturn。"
　　"Bah！？HavethecomediansoftheH魌eldeBourgogneshiftedtheirquarters？"
　　"No;
　　theirturntoobtainanentrancetoM。Percerin'shouse。"
　　"Andwearegoingtowaittoo？"
　　"Oh，weshallshowourselvesprompterandnotsoproud。"
　　"Whatarewetodo，then？"
　　"Getdown，passthroughthefootmenandlackeys，andenterthetailor'shouse，whichIwillanswerforourdoing，ifyougofirst。"
　　"Comealong，then，"saidPorthos。
　　Theyaccordinglyalightedandmadetheirwayonfoottowardstheestablishment。？ThecauseoftheconfusionwasthatM。
　　Percerin'sdoorswereclosed，whileaservant，standingbeforethem，wasexplainingtotheillustriouscustomersoftheillustrioustailorthatjustthenM。Percerincouldnotreceiveanybody。？Itwasbruitedaboutoutsidestill，ontheauthorityofwhatthegreatlackeyhadtoldsomegreatnoblewhomhefavored，inconfidence，thatM。
　　Percerinwasengagedonfivecostumesfortheking，andthat，owingtotheurgencyofthecase，hewasmeditatinginhisofficeontheornaments，colors，andcutofthesefivesuits。？Some，contentedwiththisreason，wentawayagain，contentedtorepeatthetaletoothers，butothers，moretenacious，insistedonhavingthedoorsopened，andamongtheselastthreeBlueRibbons，intendedtotakepartsinaballet，whichwouldinevitablyfailunlessthesaidthreehadtheircostumesshapedbytheveryhandofthegreatPercerinhimself。？D'Artagnan，pushingonPorthos，whoscatteredthegroupsofpeoplerightandleft，succeededingainingthecounter，behindwhichthejourneymantailorsweredoingtheirbesttoanswerqueries。？（WeforgottomentionthatatthedoortheywantedtoputoffPorthosliketherest，butD'Artagnan，showinghimself，pronouncedmerelythesewords，"Theking'sorder，"andwasletinwithhisfriend。）？Thepoorfellowshadenoughtodo，anddidtheirbest，toreplytothedemandsofthecustomersintheabsenceoftheirmaster，leavingoffdrawingastitchtoknitasentence;andwhenwoundedpride，ordisappointedexpectation，broughtdownuponthemtoocuttingarebuke，hewhowasattackedmadeadiveanddisappearedunderthecounter。？Thelineofdiscontentedlordsformedatrulyremarkablepicture。？Ourcaptainofmusketeers，amanofsureandrapidobservation，tookitallinataglance;
　　andhavingrunoverthegroups，hiseyerestedonamaninfrontofhim。？Thisman，seateduponastool，scarcelyshowedhisheadabovethecounterthatshelteredhim。？Hewasaboutfortyyearsofage，withamelancholyaspect，paleface，andsoftluminouseyes。？HewaslookingatD'Artagnanandtherest，withhischinrestinguponhishand，likeacalmandinquiringamateur。？Onlyonperceiving，anddoubtlessrecognizing，ourcaptain，hepulledhishatdownoverhiseyes。？Itwasthisaction，perhaps，thatattractedD'Artagnan'sattention。？Ifso，thegentlemanwhohadpulleddownhishatproducedaneffectentirelydifferentfromwhathehaddesired。？Inotherrespectshiscostumewasplain，andhishairevenlycutenoughforcustomers，whowerenotcloseobservers，totakehimforameretailor'sapprentice，perchedbehindtheboard，andcarefullystitchingclothorvelvet。？Nevertheless，thismanhelduphisheadtoooftentobeveryproductivelyemployedwithhisfingers。？D'Artagnanwasnotdeceived，—nothe;andhesawatoncethatifthismanwasworkingatanything，itcertainlywasnotatvelvet。
　　"Eh！"
　　saidhe，addressingthisman，"andsoyouhavebecomeatailor'sboy，MonsieurMoli鑢e！"
　　"Hush，M。d'Artagnan！"repliedtheman，softly，"youwillmakethemrecognizeme。"
　　"Well，andwhatharm？"
　　"Thefactis，thereisnoharm，but—"
　　"Youweregoingtosaythereisnogoodindoingiteither，isitnotso？"
　　"Alas！
　　no;forIwasoccupiedinexaminingsomeexcellentfigures。"
　　"Goon—goon，MonsieurMoli鑢e。？Iquiteunderstandtheinterestyoutakeintheplates—Iwillnotdisturbyourstudies。"
　　"Thankyou。"
　　"Butononecondition;thatyoutellmewhereM。Percerinreallyis。"
　　"Oh！
　　willingly;inhisownroom。？Only—
　　"
　　"Onlythatonecan'tenterit？"
　　"Unapproachable。"
　　"Foreverybody？"
　　"Everybody。？HebroughtmeheresothatImightbeatmyeasetomakemyobservations，andthenhewentaway。"
　　"Well，mydearMonsieurMoli鑢e，butyouwillgoandtellhimIamhere。"
　　"I！"
　　exclaimedMoli鑢e，inthetoneofacourageousdog，fromwhichyousnatchtheboneithaslegitimatelygained;"Idisturbmyself！？Ah！？Monsieurd'Artagnan，howhardyouareuponme！"
　　"Ifyoudon'tgodirectlyandtellM。PercerinthatIamhere，mydearMoli鑢e，"saidD'Artagnan，inalowtone，"Iwarnyouofonething:
　　thatIwon'texhibittoyouthefriendIhavebroughtwithme。"
　　Moli鑢eindicatedPorthosbyanimperceptiblegesture，"Thisgentleman，isitnot？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Moli鑢efixeduponPorthosoneofthoselookswhichpenetratethemindsandheartsofmen。？Thesubjectdoubtlessappearedaverypromisingone，forheimmediatelyroseandledthewayintotheadjoiningchamber。
　　ChapterIV:
　　ThePatterns。
　　Duringallthistimethenoblemobwasslowlyheavingaway，leavingateveryangleofthecountereitheramurmuroramenace，asthewavesleavefoamorscatteredseaweedonthesands，whentheyretirewiththeebbingtide。？InabouttenminutesMoli鑢ereappeared，makinganothersigntoD'Artagnanfromunderthehangings。？Thelatterhurriedafterhim，withPorthosintherear，andafterthreadingalabyrinthofcorridors，introducedhimtoM。
　　Percerin'sroom。？Theoldman，withhissleevesturnedup，wasgatheringupinfoldsapieceofgold—floweredbrocade，soasthebettertoexhibititsluster。？PerceivingD'Artagnan，heputthesilkaside，andcametomeethim，bynomeansradiantwithjoy，andbynomeanscourteous，but，takeitaltogether，inatolerablycivilmanner。
　　"Thecaptainoftheking'smusketeerswillexcuseme，Iamsure，forIamengaged。"
　　"Eh！
　　yes，ontheking'scostumes;Iknowthat，mydearMonsieurPercerin。？Youaremakingthree，theytellme。"
　　"Five，mydearsir，five。"
　　"Threeorfive，'tisallthesametome，mydearmonsieur;andIknowthatyouwillmakethemmostexquisitely。"
　　"Yes，Iknow。？Oncemadetheywillbethemostbeautifulintheworld，Idonotdenyit;butthattheymaybethemostbeautifulintheword，theymustfirstbemade;andtodothis，captain，Iampressedfortime。"
　　"Oh，bah！therearetwodaysyet;'tismuchmorethanyourequire，MonsieurPercerin，"saidD'Artagnan，inthecoolestpossiblemanner。
　　Percerinraisedhisheadwiththeairofamanlittleaccustomedtobecontradicted，eveninhiswhims;butD'Artagnandidnotpaytheleastattentiontotheairswhichtheillustrioustailorbegantoassume。
　　"MydearM。Percerin，"hecontinued，"Ibringyouacustomer。"
　　"Ah！
　　ah！"exclaimedPercerin，crossly。
　　"M。leBaronduVallondeBracieuxdePierrefonds，"continuedD'Artagnan。？Percerinattemptedabow，whichfoundnofavorintheeyesoftheterriblePorthos，who，fromhisfirstentryintotheroom，hadbeenregardingthetailoraskance。
　　"A
　　verygoodfriendofmine，"concludedD'Artagnan。
　　"I
　　willattendtomonsieur，"saidPercerin，"butlater。"
　　"Later？
　　butwhen？"
　　"WhenIhavetime。"
　　"Youhavealreadytoldmyvaletasmuch，"brokeinPorthos，discontentedly。
　　"Verylikely，"saidPercerin;"Iamnearlyalwayspushedfortime。"
　　"Myfriend，"returnedPorthos，sententiously，"thereisalwaystimetobefoundwhenonechoosestoseekit。"
　　Percerinturnedcrimson;anominoussignindeedinoldmenblanchedbyage。
　　"Monsieurisquiteatlibertytoconferhiscustomelsewhere。"
　　"Come，come，Percerin，"interposedD'Artagnan，"youarenotinagoodtemperto—day。？Well，Iwillsayonemorewordtoyou，whichwillbringyouonyourknees;monsieurisnotonlyafriendofmine，butmore，afriendofM。Fouquet's。"
　　"Ah！
　　ah！"exclaimedthetailor，"thatisanotherthing。"？ThenturningtoPorthos，"Monsieurlebaronisattachedtothesuperintendent？"heinquired。
　　"I
　　amattachedtomyself，"shoutedPorthos，attheverymomentthatthetapestrywasraisedtointroduceanewspeakerinthedialogue。？Moli鑢ewasallobservation，D'Artagnanlaughed，Porthosswore。
　　"MydearPercerin，"saidD'Artagnan，"youwillmakeadressforthebaron。？'TisIwhoaskyou。"
　　"ToyouIwillnotsaynay，captain。"
　　"Butthatisnotall;youwillmakeitforhimatonce。"
　　"'Tisimpossiblewithineightdays。"
　　"That，then，isasmuchastorefuse，becausethedressiswantedforthef阾eatVaux。"
　　"I
　　repeatthatitisimpossible，"returnedtheobstinateoldman。
　　"Bynomeans，dearMonsieurPercerin，aboveallifIaskyou，"saidamildvoiceatthedoor，asilveryvoicewhichmadeD'Artagnanprickuphisears。？ItwasthevoiceofAramis。
　　"Monsieurd'Herblay！"criedthetailor。
　　"Aramis，"murmuredD'Artagnan。
　　"Ah！
　　ourbishop！"saidPorthos。
　　"Goodmorning，D'Artagnan;goodmorning，Porthos;good—morning，mydearfriends，"saidAramis。？"Come，come，M。Percerin，makethebaron'sdress;andIwillanswerforityouwillgratifyM。Fouquet。"？Andheaccompaniedthewordswithasign，whichseemedtosay，"Agree，anddismissthem。"
　　ItappearedthatAramishadoverMasterPercerinaninfluencesuperioreventoD'Artagnan's，forthetailorbowedinassent，andturningrounduponPorthos，said，"Goandgetmeasuredontheotherside。"
　　Porthoscoloredinaformidablemanner。？D'Artagnansawthestormcoming，andaddressingMoli鑢e，saidtohim，inanundertone，"Youseebeforeyou，mydearmonsieur，amanwhoconsidershimselfdisgraced，ifyoumeasurethefleshandbonesthatHeavenhasgivenhim;studythistypeforme，MasterAristophanes，andprofitbyit。"
　　Moli鑢ehadnoneedofencouragement，andhisgazedweltlongandkeenlyontheBaronPorthos。？"Monsieur，"hesaid，"ifyouwillcomewithme，Iwillmakethemtakeyourmeasurewithouttouchingyou。"
　　"Oh！"
　　saidPorthos，"howdoyoumakethatout，myfriend？"
　　"I
　　saythattheyshallapplyneitherlinenorruletotheseamsofyourdress。？Itisanewmethodwehaveinventedformeasuringpeopleofquality，whoaretoosensitivetoallowlow—bornfellowstotouchthem。？Weknowsomesusceptiblepersonswhowillnotputupwithbeingmeasured，aprocesswhich，asIthink，woundsthenaturaldignityofaman;andifperchancemonsieurshouldbeoneofthese—"
　　"Corb渦f！？IbelieveIamtoo！"
　　"Well，thatisacapitalandmostconsolatorycoincidence，andyoushallhavethebenefitofourinvention。"
　　"Buthowintheworldcanitbedone？"askedPorthos，delighted。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidMoli鑢e，bowing，"ifyouwilldeigntofollowme，youwillsee。"
　　Aramisobservedthisscenewithallhiseyes。？PerhapshefanciedfromD'Artagnan'slivelinessthathewouldleavewithPorthos，soasnottolosetheconclusionofascenewellbegun。？But，clear—sightedashewas，Aramisdeceivedhimself。？PorthosandMoli鑢elefttogether:D'ArtagnanremainedwithPercerin。？Why？？Fromcuriosity，doubtless;probablytoenjoyalittlelongerthesocietyofhisgoodfriendAramis。？AsMoli鑢eandPorthosdisappeared，D'ArtagnandrewnearthebishopofVannes，aproceedingwhichappearedparticularlytodisconcerthim。
　　"A
　　dressforyou，also，isitnot，myfriend？"
　　Aramissmiled。？"No，"saidhe。
　　"YouwillgotoVaux，however？"
　　"I
　　shallgo，butwithoutanewdress。？Youforget，dearD'Artagnan，thatapoorbishopofVannesisnotrichenoughtohavenewdressesforeveryf阾e。"
　　"Bah！"
　　saidthemusketeer，laughing，"anddowewritenomorepoemsnow，either？"
　　"Oh！？D'Artagnan，"exclaimedAramis，"I
　　havelongagogivenupallsuchtomfoolery。"
　　"True，"
　　repeatedD'Artagnan，onlyhalfconvinced。？AsforPercerin，hewasoncemoreabsorbedincontemplationofthebrocades。
　　"Don'tyouperceive，"saidAramis，smiling，"thatwearegreatlyboringthisgoodgentleman，mydearD'Artagnan？"
　　"Ah！
　　ah！"murmuredthemusketeer，aside;"thatis，Iamboringyou，myfriend。"？Thenaloud，"Well，then，letusleave;Ihavenofurtherbusinesshere，andifyouareasdisengagedasI，Aramis—"
　　"No，notI—Iwished—"
　　"Ah！
　　youhadsomethingparticulartosaytoM。Percerin？？Whydidyounottellmesoatonce？"
　　"Somethingparticular，certainly，"repeatedAramis，"butnotforyou，D'Artagnan。？But，atthesametime，I
　　hopeyouwillbelievethatIcanneverhaveanythingsoparticulartosaythatafriendlikeyoumaynothearit。"
　　"Oh，no，no！？Iamgoing，"saidD'Artagnan，impartingtohisvoiceanevidenttoneofcuriosity;forAramis'sannoyance，welldissembledasitwas，hadnotawhitescapedhim;andheknewthat，inthatimpenetrablemind，everything，eventhemostapparentlytrivial，wasdesignedtosomeend;anunknownone，butanendthat，fromtheknowledgehehadofhisfriend'scharacter，themusketeerfeltmustbeimportant。
　　Onhispart，AramissawthatD'Artagnanwasnotwithoutsuspicion，andpressedhim。？"Stay，byallmeans，"hesaid，"thisiswhatitis。"？Thenturningtowardsthetailor，"MydearPercerin，"saidhe，—"Iamevenveryhappythatyouarehere，D'Artagnan。"
　　"Oh，indeed，"exclaimedtheGascon，forthethirdtime，evenlessdeceivedthistimethanbefore。
　　Percerinnevermoved。？Aramisrousedhimviolently，bysnatchingfromhishandsthestuffuponwhichhewasengaged。？"MydearPercerin，"
　　saidhe，"Ihave，nearhand，M。Lebrun，oneofM。Fouquet'spainters。"
　　"Ah，verygood，"thoughtD'Artagnan;"butwhyLebrun？"
　　AramislookedatD'Artagnan，whoseemedtobeoccupiedwithanengravingofMarkAntony。？"AndyouwishthatI
　　shouldmakehimadress，similartothoseoftheEpicureans？"answeredPercerin。？Andwhilesayingthis，inanabsentmanner，theworthytailorendeavoredtorecapturehispieceofbrocade。
　　"AnEpicurean'sdress？"askedD'Artagnan，inatoneofinquiry。
　　"I
　　see，"saidAramis，withamostengagingsmile，"itiswrittenthatourdearD'Artagnanshallknowalloursecretsthisevening。？Yes，friend，youhavesurelyheardspeakofM。Fouquet'sEpicureans，haveyounot？"
　　"Undoubtedly。？Isitnotakindofpoeticalsociety，ofwhichLaFontaine，Loret，P閘isson，andMoli鑢earemembers，andwhichholdsitssittingsatSaint—Mand？;
　　"Exactlyso。？Well，wearegoingtoputourpoetsinuniform，andenrolltheminaregimentfortheking。"
　　"Oh，verywell，Iunderstand;asurpriseM。Fouquetisgettingupfortheking。？Beatease;ifthatisthesecretaboutM。
　　Lebrun，Iwillnotmentionit。"
　　"Alwaysagreeable，myfriend。？No，MonsieurLebrunhasnothingtodowiththispartofit;thesecretwhichconcernshimisfarmoreimportantthantheother。"
　　"Then，ifitissoimportantasallthat，Iprefernottoknowit，"saidD'Artagnan，makingashowofdeparture。
　　"Comein，M。Lebrun，comein，"saidAramis，openingaside—doorwithhisrighthand，andholdingbackD'Artagnanwithhisleft。
　　"I'faith，Itoo，amquiteinthedark，"quothPercerin。
　　Aramistookan"opportunity，"asissaidintheatricalmatters。
　　"MydearM。dePercerin，"Aramiscontinued，"youaremakingfivedressesfortheking，areyounot？？Oneinbrocade;oneinhunting—cloth;oneinvelvet;oneinsatin;andoneinFlorentinestuffs。"
　　"Yes;
　　buthow—doyouknowallthat，monseigneur？"saidPercerin，astounded。
　　"Itisallverysimple，mydearmonsieur;therewillbeahunt，abanquet，concert，promenadeandreception;thesefivekindsofdressarerequiredbyetiquette。"
　　"Youknoweverything，monseigneur！"
　　"Andathingortwoinaddition，"mutteredD'Artagnan。
　　"But，"
　　criedthetailor，intriumph，"whatyoudonotknow，monseigneur—princeofthechurchthoughyouare—whatnobodywillknow—whatonlytheking，MademoiselledelaValli鑢e，andmyselfdoknow，isthecolorofthematerialsandnatureoftheornaments，andthecut，theensemble，thefinishofitall！"
　　"Well，"
　　saidAramis，"thatispreciselywhatIhavecometoaskyou，dearPercerin。"
　　"Ah，bah！"exclaimedthetailor，terrified，thoughAramishadpronouncedthesewordsinhissoftestandmosthoneyedtones。？Therequestappeared，onreflection，soexaggerated，soridiculous，somonstroustoM。Percerinthatfirsthelaughedtohimself，thenaloud，andfinishedwithashout。？D'Artagnanfollowedhisexample，notbecausehefoundthematterso"veryfunny，"butinordernottoallowAramistocool。
　　"Attheoutset，Iappeartobehazardinganabsurdquestion，doInot？"saidAramis。？"ButD'Artagnan，whoisincarnatewisdomitself，willtellyouthatIcouldnotdootherwisethanaskyouthis。"
　　"Letussee，"saidtheattentivemusketeer;perceivingwithhiswonderfulinstinctthattheyhadonlybeenskirmishingtillnow，andthatthehourofbattlewasapproaching。
　　"Letussee，"saidPercerin，incredulously。
　　"Why，now，"continuedAramis，"doesM。Fouquetgivethekingaf阾e？—Isitnottopleasehim？"
　　"Assuredly，"
　　saidPercerin。？D'Artagnannoddedassent。