"Chevalier," said he, "you are wrong to express gratitude to me; I have not paid you a quarter of the value of the history of the box into which you put the brave general--the excellent Duke of Albemarle, I mean." And the king laughed heartily.
D'Artagnan did not think it proper to interrupt his majesty, and he bowed with much modesty.
"A propos," continued Charles, "do you think my dear Monk has really pardoned you?"
"Pardoned me! yes, I hope so, sire!"
"Eh!--but it was a cruel trick! Odds fish! to pack up the first personage of the English revolution like a herring. In your place I would not trust him, chevalier."
"But, sire--"
"Yes, I know very well Monk calls you his friend, but he has too penetrating an eye not to have a memory, and too lofty a brow not to be very proud, you know, grande supercilium."
"I shall certainly learn Latin," said D'Artagnan to himself.
"But stop," cried the merry monarch, "I must manage your reconciliation; I know how to set about it; so--"
D'Artagnan bit his mustache. "Will your majesty permit me to tell you the truth?"
"Speak, chevalier, speak."
"Well, sire, you alarm me greatly. If your majesty undertakes the affair, as you seem inclined to do, I am a lost man; the duke will have me assassinated."
The king burst into a fresh roar of laughter, which changed D'Artagnan's alarm into downright terror.
"Sire, I beg you to allow me to settle this matter myself, and if your majesty has no further need of my services--"
"No, chevalier. What, do you want to leave us?" replied Charles, with a hilarity that grew more and more alarming.
"If your majesty has no more commands for me."
Charles became more serious.
"One single thing. See my sister, the Lady Henrietta. Do you know her?"
"No, sire, but--an old soldier like me is not an agreeable spectacle for a young and gay princess."
"Ah! but my sister must know you; she must in case of need have you to depend upon."
"Sire, every one that is dear to your majesty will be sacred to me."
"Very well!--Parry! Come here, Parry!"
The side door opened and Parry entered, his face beaming with pleasure as soon as he saw D'Artagnan.
"What is Rochester doing?" said the king.
"He is on the canal with the ladies," replied Parry.