Chapter XLVIII. — A FAMILY AFFAIR

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 it must be also said that the very na…