“To see if Porthos had departed on horseback.”
“And?” interrogated the bishop.
“Well, there is a horse missing, stall No. 3, Goliath.”
All this dialogue, it may be easily understood, was not exempt from a certain affectation on the part of the musketeer, and a perfect complaisance on the part of Aramis.
“Oh! I guess how it is,” said Aramis, after having considered for a moment, “Porthos is gone out to give us a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
“Yes, the canal which goes from Vannes to the sea abounds in teal and snipes; that is Porthos’s favorite sport, and he will bring us back a dozen for breakfast.”
“Do you think so?” said D’Artagnan.
“I am sure of it. Where else can he be? I would lay a wager he took a gun with him.”
“Well, that is possible,” said D’Artagnan.