Chapter 53

Chapter LIII
Louis XIV
The King was seated in his cabinet, with his back turned towards the door of entrance. In front of him was a mirror in which while turning over his papers he could see with a glance those who came in. He did not take any notice of the entrance of d’Artagnan, but laid over his letters and plans the large silk cloth which he made use of to conceal his secrets from the importunate. D’Artagnan understood his play, and kept in the background; so that at the end of a minute, the King, who heard nothing and could see only with the corner of his eye, was obliged to cry, “Is not M. d’Artagnan there?”

“I am here, Sire,” replied the musketeer, advancing.

“Well, Monsieur,” said the King, fixing his clear eye upon d’Artagnan, “what have you to say to me?”

“I, Sire!” replied the latter, who watched the first blow of his adversary to make a good retort; “I have nothing to say to your Majesty, unless it be that you have caused me to be arrested, and here I am.”

The King was going to reply that he had not had d’Artagnan arrested, but the sentence appeared too much like an excuse, and he was silent. D’Artagnan likewise preserved an obstinate silence.

“Monsieur,” at length resumed the King, “what did I charge you to go and do at Belle-Isle? Tell me, if you please.”

The King, while speaking these words, looked fixedly at his captain. Here d’Artagnan was too fortunate,- the King gave him so fine an opening.

“I believe,” replied he, “that your Majesty does me the honor to ask what I went to Belle-Isle to do?”

“Yes, Monsieur.”

“Well, Sire, I know nothing about it; it is not of me that that question should be asked, but of that infinite number of officers of all kinds to whom have been given an infinite number of orders of all kinds, while to me, head of the expedition, nothing precise was ordered.”

The King was wounded; he showed it by his reply. “Monsieur,” said he, “Orders have only been given to such as were judged faithful.”

“And therefore I have been astonished, Sire,” retorted the musketeer, “that a captain like myself, who rank with a marshal of France, should have found himself under the orders of five or six lieutenants or majors, good to make spies of, possibly, but not at all fit to conduct warlike expeditions. It was upon this subject I came to demand an explanation of your Majesty, when I found the door closed against me, which, the last insult offered to a brave man, has led me to quit your Majesty’s service.”

“Monsieur,” replied the King, “you still believe you are living in an age when kings