" Be it so," said D'Artagnan ; " I shall know more at
Vannes in half an hour than Porthos has known at Belle-
Isle in two months. Only, in order that I may know
something, it is important that Porthos does not make
use of the only stratagem I leave at his disposal. He must
not warn Aramis of my arrival."

All the vigilance of the musketeer was then, for the
moment, devoted to watching Porthos. And let us



204 THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE.
hasten to say, Porthos did not deserve all this mistrust.
Porthos had no thoughts of evil. Perhaps, on first
seeing him, D'Artagnan had inspired him with a little
suspicion ; but almost immediately D'Artagnan had re-
conquered in that good and brave heart the place he
had always occupied, and not the least cloud darkened
the great eye of Porthos, fixed from time to time with
(fondness on his friend.
On landing, Porthos inquired if his horses were waiting,
and he soon' perceived them at the crossing of the road
which turns round Sarzeau, and which, without passing
through that little town, leads towards Vannes. These
horses were two in number, — one for M. du Vallon, and
one for his equerry; for Porthos had an equerry since
Mousqueton could use only a carriage as a means of loco-
motion. D'Artagnan expected that Porthos would pro-
pose to send forward his equerry upon one horse to bring
back another horse, and he (D'Artagnan) had made up
his mind to oppose this proposition. But nothing which
D'Artagnan had expected happened. Porthos simply
ordered the servant to dismount and await his return at
Sarzeau, while D'Artagnan would ride his horse, — which
was done.
