"Who could deny you?" asks Aramis with a smile, though it fades when Porthos' does. "Athos has a speech of his own to torment him," he reminds Porthos. "If anyone might help you, I would think it is Allison."

Aramis shifts onto his side so he does not have to turn his head to look at him. "What troubles you?" he asks, stroking fingers soothingly against Porthos' back. "If it is Athos' speech, believe me, we all fear it."