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40 TEN TEARS LATER. "State it, then." "Do you know who has just been nominated captain-gen- eral of the musketeers — an ajapointment more valuable than a peerage; for it gives precedence over all the marechals of France?" Eaoul's color mounted in bis face; for he saw the object De Wardes had in view. "No; who has been appointed? In any case it must have been very recently, for the appoint- ment was vacant eight days ago; a proof of which is, that the king refused Monsieur, who solicited the post for one of h.B proteges.'^ "Well, the king refused it to Monsieur's protege, in order to bestow it upon the Chevalier d'Artagnan, a younger brother of some Gascon family, who has been training his sword in the antechambers during the last thirty years." "Forgive me if I interrupt you," said Kaoul, darting a glance full of severity at De Wardes; "but you give me the impression of being unacquainted with the gentleman of whom you are speaking." "I unacquainted with Monsieur d'Artagnan? Can you tell me, monsieur, who does know him?" "Those who know him, monsieur," replied Eaoul, with still greater calmness and sternness of manner, "are in the habit of saying that if he is not as good a gentleman as the king — which is not his fault — he is the equal of all the kings of the earth in courage and loyalty. Such is my opinion, monsieur; and I thank Heaven I have known Monsieur d'Artagnan from my birth." De AVardes was about to reply when De Guiche inter- rupted him. CHAPTER VII. THE PORT-RAIT OF MADAME. The discussion was becoming full of bitterness. De Guiche perfectly understood the whole matter, for there was in Bragelonne's look something distinctively hostile, while in that of De Wardes there was something like a determina- tion to ofi'end. Without inquiring into the different feel- ings Avhich actuated his two friends, De Guiche resolved to ward off the blow which he felt was on the point of being dealt by one of them, and perhaps by both. "Gentlemen," he said, "we must take our leave of one another; I must