Chapter 49: XLVIII

XLVIII A Family Affair Athos had invented the phrase, family affair. A family affair was not subject to the investigation of the cardinal; a family affair concerned nobody. People might employ themselves in a family affair before all the world. Therefore Athos had invented the phrase, family affair. Aramis had discovered the idea, the lackeys. Porthos had discovered the means, the diamond. D’Artagnan alone had discovered nothing—he, ordinarily the most inventive of the four; but…