Next morning, Aramis was digging into a hearty meal while Porthos only stared at his plate. Celeste was standing at the window, staring out. She hadn't bothered to pin her hair up but had left it down. She was dressed in a pink and gray dress.

"See?" said Aramis. "There is plenty of food in the country. But the King keeps it all going to the army instead of…"

The door opened and Athos came in.

Celeste turned. "Where…"

"He's sleeping still," said Athos. He turned to Aramis. "Now see here, Aramis, it's time you told us…"

A voluptuous serving girl leaned over Porthos to spoon food onto his plate. His eyes widened slightly and she flashed him a smile.

Celeste smiled slightly.

"I have no appetite for food, I am wasting away. Say goodbye to Porthos, for he s gone. Even women don't interest me now," he said.

That got even Athos's attention.

The serving girl moved across the room to two other serving girls. They where all three fascinated with Porthos. But their winks and giggles made Porthos even more morose.

"I tell you a secret," said Porthos. "I sleep with three women at once, not because my appetite is so great, but because now it takes three to excite me." He stood and shuffled off.

Aramis sighed, since he had heard the same thing several times before.

Celeste laughed.

Aramis looked at her. "What's funny about that?"

Celeste shook her head as she came over and sat on his knee. She perched there lightly. "You are too hard on poor Porthos, Aramis."

Athos sat down. "Who is he, Aramis?"

"Later."

"Right now!" exclaimed Athos. "We steal a man from a royal prison, we hide in a country chateau among an assortment of saints and sluts such as only you and Celeste could provide and still you tell me nothing!"

"The sluts are here for Porthos and Porthos alone," inserted Celeste. "And the estate is mine, from my mother."

"You seek facts, Athos, when it would be better to seek truth."

"You are not my priest, Aramis!" exclaimed Athos. "You would not be, even if I had one."

"Perhaps you should find one then. And ease your conciseness."

"You are bitter, Athos," said Celeste. "You are torn by grief, not only for Raoul, but for my Uncle D'Artagnan, whom you love, and now treat as an enemy."

"He who is not with us is against us!"

"That's not true!" shouted Celeste, her face red.

"Those are the words of a broken spirit," said Aramis. "My spirit however, is whole. I have trusted D'Artagnan with my deepest secrets and I will never believe he is my enemy."

"Then you are a fool," said Athos. "A fool who has never lost a son."

"Am I a fool, Athos?" asked Celeste softly. "I will never believe any of you are my enemy, even should you kill me."

Aramis looked at Athos.

Athos looked at Celeste for a moment, then turned his glare at Aramis. "What gives you the right to judge me, to play God with the lives of others? Is it because you are so much holier than everyone else!"

"There is that, of course, but mainly it is because I am so much smarter than everyone else."

That brought even a smile to Athos's face.

Celeste laughed. "I give Aramis the right to play God with me anytime."

Suddenly, the air was shattered by Porthos's bloodcurdling scream.

Aramis leapt to his feet, throwing Celeste to the ground. "Porthos!"

Athos picked Celeste up.

Aramis drew his sword and ran out of the room.

"He loves Porthos more than he would every tell anyone," said Athos.

They ran after Aramis.