to tell me
where we are bound for?"

"Why, for the bastion, of course."

"And what are we to do when we get there?"

"I told you before. We are going to breakfast."

"But why didn't we do that at Parpaillot's?"

"Because we had some important matters to discuss, and it was
impossible to talk for five minutes at that inn, with all those people
coming and going, and perpetually bowing and speaking to you. Here at
least," continued Athos, pointing to the bastion, "we shall not be
interrupted."

"It seems to me," said D'Artagnan, with the caution which was as much
his characteristic as his foolhardy courage, "it seems to me that we
might have found some secluded place among the sand-hills on the
sea-shore."

"Oh, somebody would have seen, and in a quarter of an hour spies would
have informed the Cardinal that we were holding council."

"Yes," said Aramis. "Athos is right. _Animadvertuntur in desertis._"

"A desert would have done very well," replied Porthos; "but first we
should have to find it."

"There is no desert where a bird cannot fly overhead, or a fish jump
out of the water, or a rabbit run out of his hole; and bird, fish, and
rabbit have all become spies of the Cardinal. Much better to go on
with our adventure, which we cannot now give up without dishonor. We
have made a bet, and a bet on the spur of the moment; a bet of which I
defy any one to guess the true meaning. To win it, we must hold the
bastion for an hour. Either they will attack us, or they won't. If we
are left unmolested, we shall have plenty of time to talk without any
one overhearing us, for I will answer for the walls of this bastion
having no ears. If they try to dislodge us, we can talk all the same,
and in defending our position shall cover ourselves with glory. You
see that from every point of view we have the whip hand."

"Yes," said D'Artagnan, "but most certainly we shall attract some
stray bullet."

"My good fellow," remarked Athos, "do you really think that the
enemy's bullets are those we have most cause to fear?"

"But surely, if we were embarking on such an expedition, we ought to
have brought our muskets?"

"Porthos, you are a goose! What would be the good of burdening
ourselves with anything so useless?"

"I should hardly think that a heavy musket, a dozen cartridges, and a
powder flask would be useless when one is in the presence of an
enemy."

"Dear me!" said Athos, "didn't you hear what D'Artagnan was saying?"