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f04 EOTTISE DE LA VALLTERE. "At the Kond-point, in that part of the forest called the Bois-Rochin. That will do. Call Monsieur d'Artagnan." St. Aignan obeyed, and the musketeer entered. "Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the king, "you will leave this place by the little door of the private staircase." "Yes, sire." "You will mount your horse." "Yes, sire." "And you will proceed to the Eond-pointdu Bois-Rochin. Do you know the spot?" "Yes, sire. I have fought there twice." "What!" exclaimed the king, amazed at the reply. "Under the edicts, sire, of Cardinal Richelieu," returned D'Artagnan, with his usual impassibility. "That is very different, monsieur. You will, therefore, go there and will examine the locality very carefully. A man has been wounded there, and you will find a horse lying dead. You will tell me what your opinion is upon the whole affair." "Very good, sire." "It is a matter of course that it is your own opinion T require, and not that of any one else." "You shall have it in an hour's time, sire." "I prohibit your speaking with any one, whoever it may be." "Except with the person who must give me a lantern," said D'Artagnan. "Oh! that is a matter of course," said the king, laughing at the liberty, which he tolerated in no one but his captain of musketeers. D'Artagnan left by the little staircase. "Now, let my physician be sent for," said Louis. Ten minutes afterward the king's physician arrived, quite out of breath. "You will go, monsieur,*' said the king to him, "and accompany Monsieur de St. Aignan wherever he may take you; you will render me an account of the state of the person you may see in the house you will be taken to." The physician obeyed without a remark, as at that time people began to obey Louis XIV., and left the room preced- ing St. Aignan. "Do you, St. Aignan, send Manicamp to me before the physician can possibly have spoken to him." And St. Aignan left in his turn.