“I cannot take you, however, to the siege of La Rochelle,” said d’Artagnan.
“No; but you can place me in one of the provinces with some lady of your acquaintance—in your own country, for instance.”
“My dear little love! In my country the ladies do without chambermaids. But stop! I can manage your business for you. Planchet, go and find Aramis. Request him to come here directly. We have something very important to say to him.”
“I understand,” said Athos; “but why not Porthos? I should have thought that his duchess—”
“Oh, Porthos’s duchess is dressed by her husband’s clerks,” said d’Artagnan, laughing. “Besides, Kitty would not like to live in the Rue aux Ours. Isn’t it so, Kitty?”
“I do not care where I live,” said Kitty, “provided I am well concealed, and nobody knows where I am.”
“Meanwhile, Kitty, when we are about to separate, and you are no longer jealous of me—”
“Monsieur Chevalier, far off or near,” said Kitty, “I shall always love you.”
“Where the devil will constancy niche itself next?” murmured Athos.
“And I, also,” said d’Artagnan, “I also. I shall always love you; be sure of that. But now answer me. I attach great importance to the question I am about to put to you. Did you never hear talk of a young woman who was carried off one night?”
“There, now! Oh, Monsieur Chevalier, do you love that woman still?”