LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. 407 tagnan, "for the conversation is rather curious, I must say. In the first place, the king sent for me." "As soon as I had left?" "You were just going down the last steps of the staircase, as the musketeers told me. I arrived. My dear Athos, he was not red in the face merely, he was positively purple. I was not aware, of course, of what had passed; only, on the ground, lying on the floor, I saw a sword broken in two. " 'Captain d'Artagnan,' cried the king, as soon as he saw me. " 'Sire/ I replied.
- 'Monsieur de la Free has just left me; he is an insolent
man.' " 'An insolent man!' I exclaimed, in such a tone that the king stopped suddenly short. " 'Captain d'Artagnan,' resumed the king, with his teeth clinched, 'you will be good enough to listen to and hear me.' " 'That is my duty, sire.' " 'I have, out of consideration for Monsieur de la Fere, wished to spare him, of whom I still retain some kind recol- lections, the discredit of being arrested in my palace. You will, therefore, take a carriage.' "At this I made a slight movement. " 'If you object to arrest him yourself,' continued the king, 'send me my captain of the guards here.' " 'Sire,' I replied, 'there is no necessity for the captain of the guards, since I am on duty.' " 'I should not like to annoy you,' said the king kindly,
- for you have always served me well, Monsieur d'Artagnan.'
" 'You do not "annoy" me, sire,' I replied; 'I am on duty, that is all.' " 'But,' said the king, in astonishment, 'I believe the comte is your friend?' " 'If he were my father, sire, it would not make me less on duty than I am.' "The king looked at me; he saw how unmoved my face was, and seemed satisfied. " 'You will arrest Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, then?' he inquired. " 'Most certainly, sire, if you give me the order to do so.' " 'Very well; I order you to do so.* "I bowed, and replied: " 'Where is the comte, sire?'
- 'You will look for him.*
