"I agree, but don't be too confident; and take away your handkerchief--whether it belongs to you or somebody else, perhaps you may stand in need of it to bandage up a wound. As a Gascon, I don't put off engagements for prudence's sake." "Prudence is a virtue useless enough to musketeers, I know, but indispensable to churchmen; and as I am only a temporary musketeer, I hold it best to be prudent. At two o'clock I shall have the honor of expecting you at Treville's. There I will point out the best place and time to you." The two bowed and separated. Aramis went up the street which led to the Luxembourg; while D'Artagnan, seeing that the appointed hour was coming near, took the road to the Carmes-Deschaux, saying to himself, "I certainly cannot hope to come out of these scrapes alive; but if I am doomed to be killed, it will be by a royal musketeer." THE DEFENSE OF THE BASTION SAINT-GERVAIS From 'The Three Musketeers' When D'Artagnan arrived, he found his three friends all together. Athos was thinking deeply, Porthos was twirling his mustache, and Aramis was reading his prayers out of a beautiful little book bound in blue velvet. "My faith, gentlemen!" exclaimed he, "I hope that what you have to tell me is very important, or I shall owe you a grudge for dragging me here, out of my bed, after a whole night passed in taking and dismantling a bastion! Ah, it is a thousand pities you were not there! It was warm work!" "We were somewhere else, where it was not very cold either," replied Porthos, giving his mustache another twist.... "Aramis," said Athos, "didn't you breakfast the other day at Parpaillot's?" "Yes." "Were you comfortable there?" "No, I did not like it at all. It was a fast day, and they had nothing but meat." "What, no fish to be had in a seaport town?" "They say," replied Aramis, taking up his book, "that they have all taken to the deep sea, since the Cardinal built that dike." "That is not what I was asking," replied Athos. "Were you quite free and at your ease, or did any one pay attention to you?" "Oh, nobody paid any attention to me. And if _that_ is your object, Athos, Parpaillot's will suit us very well." "Let us go at once then," said Athos, "for these walls are like paper." On the way they met Grimaud [the valet of Athos], whom Athos beckoned silently to follow them. Grimaud, according to his custom, obeyed without a word. The poor fellow had almost forgotten how to speak! It did not take them long to reach Parpaillot's, but unluckily the hour was ill chosen for a private conference. The _réveille_ had just been sounded, and the sleepy soldiers were all pouring into the inn. This state of matters delighted the landlord, but was hardly so agreeable to the four friends, who merely nodded sulkily at the salutations of the crowd.