Porthos alone made no reply.
“Yes, horse. Are we not eating a horse, Porthos? And perhaps his saddle, therewith.”
“No, gentlemen, I have kept the harness,” said Porthos.
“My faith,” said Aramis, “we are all alike. One would think we had tipped the wink.”
“What could I do?” said Porthos. “This horse made my visitors ashamed of theirs, and I don’t like to humiliate people.”
“Then your duchess is still at the waters?” asked D’Artagnan.
“Still,” replied Porthos. “And, my faith, the governor of the province—one of the gentlemen I expected today—seemed to have such a wish for him, that I gave him to him.”
“Gave him?” cried D’Artagnan.
“My God, yes, gave, that is the word,” said Porthos; “for the animal was worth at least a hundred and fifty louis, and the stingy fellow would only give me eighty.”
“Without the saddle?” said Aramis.