Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/362

Rh "Sire, your majesty--"

"Yes, you are surprised; that is natural, and I expected it. Answer me, come! or I shall think you have no longer that rapidity of judgment I have so much admired in you."

"It is certain, sire, that twenty thousand livres a year make a handsome sum; but--"

"No buts! Yes or no; is it an honorable indemnity?"

"Oh! certes--"

"You will be satisfied with it? Well, that is well. It will be better to reckon the extra expenses separately; you can arrange that with Colbert. Now, let us pass to something more important."

"But, sire, I told your majesty--"

"That you wanted rest, I know you did; only I replied that I would not allow it — I am master, I suppose?"

"Yes, sire."

"That is well. You were formerly in the way of becoming captain of the musketeers?"

"Yes, sire."

"Well, here is your commission signed. I placed it in this drawer. The day on which you shall return from a certain expedition which I have to confide to you, on that day you may yourself take the commission from the drawer." D'Artagnan still hesitated, and hung down his head. "Come, monsieur," said the king, "one would believe, to look at you, that you did not know that at the court of the most Christian king, the captain-general of the musketeers takes precedence of the maréchals of France."

"Sire, I know he does."

"Then I must fancy you do not put faith in my word?"

"Oh! sire, never — never dream of such a thing."

"I have wished to prove to you that you, so good a servant, had lost a good master; am 1 anything like the master that will suit you?"

"I begin to think you are, sire."

"Then, monsieur, you will resume your functions. Your company is quite disorganized since your departure, and the men go about drinking and rioting in the cabarets, where they fight, in spite of my edicts, or those of my father. You will reorganize the service as soon as possible."

"Yes, sire."

"You will not again quit my person." "Very well, sire."

"You will march with me to the army, you will encamp round my tent."