"Because I know you well, monsieur; you cannot repent of having drawn your sword for me.""Well, in that your majesty is deceived, and greatly; yes, Ido repent of having drawn my sword on account of the results that action produced; the poor men who were hung, sire, were neither your enemies nor mine; and they could not defend themselves."The king preserved silence for a moment."And your companion, M.d'Artagnan, does he partake of your repentance?""My companion?"
"Yes, you were not alone, I have been told.""Alone, where?"
"At the Place de Greve."
"No, sire, no," said D'Artagnan, blushing at the idea that the king might have a suspicion that he, D'Artagnan, had wished to engross to himself all the glory that belonged to Raoul; "no, mordioux! and as your majesty says, I had a companion, and a good companion, too.""A young man?"
"Yes, sire; a young man.Oh! your majesty must accept my compliments, you are as well informed of things out of doors as things within.It is M.Colbert who makes all these fine reports to the king.""M.Colbert has said nothing but good of you, M.d'Artagnan, and he would have met with a bad reception if he had come to tell me anything else.""That is fortunate!"
"But he also said much good of that young man.""And with justice," said the musketeer.
"In short, it appears that this young man is a fire-eater,"said Louis, in order to sharpen the sentiment which he mistook for envy.
"A fire-eater! Yes, sire," repeated D'Artagnan, delighted on his part to direct the king's attention to Raoul.
"Do you not know his name?"
"Well, I think ---- "
"You know him then?"
"I have known him nearly five-and-twenty years, sire.""Why, he is scarcely twenty-five years old!" cried the king.
"Well, sire! I have known him ever since he was born, that is all.""Do you affirm that?"
"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "your majesty questions me with a mistrust in which I recognize another character than your own.M.Colbert, who has so well informed you, has he not forgotten to tell you that this young man is the son of my most intimate friend?""The Vicomte de Bragelonne?"
"Certainly, sire.The father of the Vicomte de Bragelonne is M.le Comte de la Fere, who so powerfully assisted in the restoration of king Charles II.Bragelonne comes of a valiant race, sire.""Then he is the son of that nobleman who came to me, or rather to M.Mazarin, on the part of King Charles II., to offer me his alliance?""Exactly, sire."
"And the Comte de la Fere is a great soldier, say you?""Sire, he is a man who has drawn his sword more times for the king, your father, than there are, at present, months in the happy life of your majesty."It was Louis XIV.who now bit his lip.
"That is well, M.d'Artagnan, very well! And M.le Comte de la Fere is your friend, say you?""For about forty years; yes, sire.Your majesty may see that I do not speak to you of yesterday.""Should you be glad to see this young man, M.d'Artagnan?""Delighted, sire."
The king touched his bell, and an usher appeared."Call M.
de Bragelonne," said the king.
"Ah! ah! he is here?" said D'Artagnan.
"He is on guard to-day, at the Louvre, with the company of the gentlemen of monsieur le prince."The king had scarcely ceased speaking, when Raoul presented himself, and, on seeing D'Artagnan, smiled on him with that charming smile which is only found upon the lips of youth.
"Come, come," said D'Artagnan, familiarly, to Raoul, "the king will allow you to embrace me; only tell his majesty you thank him."Raoul bowed so gracefully, that Louis, to whom all superior qualities were pleasing when they did not overshadow his own, admired his beauty, strength and modesty.