Athos takes down the second glass and pours the wine with a studied carefulness, avoiding the moment when he will approach the table. When he turns to face them, he doesn’t miss the tension in Aramis’ face, or the direction of Porthos’ concern, and he wonders if it wouldn’t be best if he left.

In the end, he must, at least, set the wine beside Aramis at the table. “I don’t see what purpose I could serve,” he says quietly as he comes to stand next to them, staring into his glass.