ose.

"But," continued D'Artagnan, "you shall judge of him for yourself. He is
coming to play with us this evening."

"Oho!" said Porthos, his eyes glistening at the news. "Is he rich?"

"He's the son of one of the wealthiest merchants in London."

"And knows lansquenet?"

"Adores it."

"Basset?"

"His mania."

"Biribi?"

"Revels in it."

"Good," said Porthos; "we shall pass an agreeable evening."

"The more so, as it will be the prelude to a better."

"How so?"

"We invite him to play to-night; he has invited us in return to-morrow.
But wait. To-night we stop at Derby; and if there is a bottle of wine
in the town let Mousqueton buy it. It will be well to prepare a light
supper, of which you, Athos and Aramis, are not to partake--Athos,
because I told him you had a fever; Aramis, because you are a knight of
Malta and won't mix with fellows like us. Do you understand?"

"That's no doubt very fine," said Porthos; "but deuce take me if I
understand at all."

"Porthos, my friend, you know I am descended on the father's side from
the Prophets and on the mother's from the Sybils, and that I only speak
in parables and riddles. Let those who have ears hear and those who have
eyes see; I can tell you nothing more at present."

"Go ahead, my friend," said Athos; "I am sure that whatever you do is
well done."

"And you, Aramis, are you of that opinion?"

"Entirely so, my dear D'Artagnan."

"Very good," said D'Artagnan; "here indeed are true believers; it is
a pleasure to work miracles before them; they are not like that
unbelieving Porthos, who must see and touch before he will believe."

"The fact is," said Porthos, with an air of finesse, "I am rather
incredulous."

D'Artagnan gave him playful buffet on the shoulder, and as they had
reached the station where they were to breakfast, the conversation ended
there.

At five in the evening they sent Mousqueton on before as agreed upon.
Blaisois went with him.

In crossing the principal street in Derby the four friends perceived
Blaisois standing in the doorway of a handsome house. It was there a
lodging was prepared for them.

At the hour agreed upon Groslow came. D'Artagnan received him as he
would have done a friend of twenty years' standing. Porthos scanned him
from head to foot and smiled when he discovered that in spite of the
blow he had administered to Parry's brother, he was not nearly so
strong as himself. Athos and Aramis suppressed as well