“I agree, Monsieur; but do not be too confident. Take your handkerchief; whether it belongs to you or another, you may perhaps stand in need of it.”

“Monsieur is a Gascon?” asked Aramis.

“Yes. M. does not postpone an interview through prudence?”

“Prudence, Monsieur, is a virtue sufficiently useless to Musketeers, I know, but indispensable to churchmen; and as I am only a musketeer provisionally, I hold it good to be prudent. At two o’clock I shall have the honor of expecting you at the hotel of M. de Tréville. There I will indicate to you the best place and time.”