th of
the Loire, enormous prawns from Paimboeuf, and delicious game from the
moors, constituted the principal part of it. D'Artagnan ate much, and
drank but little. Aramis drank nothing, unless it was water. After the
repast,--

"You offered me an arquebuse," said D'Artagnan.

"I did."

"Lend it me, then."

"Are you going shooting?"

"Whilst waiting for Porthos, it is the best thing I can do, I think."

"Take which you like from the trophy."

"Will you not come with me?"

"I would with great pleasure; but, alas! my friend, sporting is
forbidden to bishops."

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan, "I did not know that."

"Besides," continued Aramis, "I shall be busy till mid-day."

"I shall go alone, then?" said D'Artagnan.

"I am sorry to say you must; but come back to dinner."

"Pardieu! the eating at your house is too good to make me think of not
coming back." And thereupon D'Artagnan quitted his host, bowed to the
guests, and took his arquebuse; but instead of shooting, went straight
to the little port of Vannes. He looked in vain to observe if anybody
saw him; he could discern neither thing nor person. He engaged a little
fishing boat for twenty-five livres, and set off at half-past eleven,
convinced that he had not been followed; and that was true, he had not
been followed; only a Jesuit brother, placed in the top of the steeple
of his church, had not, since the morning, by the help of an excellent
glass, lost sight of one of his steps. At three-quarters past eleven,
Aramis was informed that D'Artagnan was sailing towards Belle-Isle. The
voyage was rapid; a good north north-east wind drove him towards the
isle. As he approached, his eyes were constantly fixed upon the coast.
He looked to see if, upon the shore or upon the fortifications the
brilliant dress and vast stature of Porthos should stand out against a
slightly clouded sky; but his search was vain. He landed without having
seen anything; and learnt from the first soldier interrogated by him,
that M. du Vallon had not yet returned from Vannes. Then, without losing
an instant, D'Artagnan ordered his little bark to put its head towards
Sarzeau. We know that the wind changes with the different hours of the
day. The breeze had veered from the north north-east to the south-east:
the wind, then, was almost as good for the return to Sarzeau, as it had
been for the voyage to Belle-Isle. In three hours D'Artagnan had touched
the continent, two hours more sufficed fo