by Alexandre Dumas

“ These were the first words he had spoken.
"From pure zeal?" resumed Mazarin, with his artful smile; "from pure zeal and devotion then?"
"My lord has, perhaps, no faith in those words?" said D'Artagnan.
"Have you, Monsieur le Gascon?" asked Mazarin, supporting his elbows on his desk and his chin on his hands.
"I," replied the Gascon, "I believe in devotion as a word at one's baptism, for instance, which naturally comes before one's proper name; every one is naturally more or less devout, certainly; but there should be at the end of one's devotion something to gain." ”

“ To that exclamation of Porthos's succeeded a groaning, low and profound, which seemed to come from behind a door. D'Artagnan, who had just dismounted, then saw, outlined against the wall, the enormous stomach of Musqueton, whose down-drawn mouth emitted sounds of distress.
"And you, too, my poor Monsieur Mouston, are out of place in this poor hotel, are you not?" asked D'Artagnan, in that rallying tone which may indicate either compassion or mockery.
"He finds the cooking detestable," replied Porthos. ”

“ Mouston breathed a sigh; he couldn't understand visits of ceremony made under arms.
"Indeed," said Porthos, looking complacently at his old lackey as he went away, "you are right, D'Artagnan; Mouston will do; Mouston has a very fine appearance."
D'Artagnan smiled.
"But you, my friend - are you not going to change your dress?"
"No, I shall go as I am. This traveling dress will serve to show the cardinal my haste to obey his commands."
They set out on Vulcan and Bayard, followed by Musqueton on Phoebus, and arrived at the Palais Royal at about a quarter to seven. ”