Bragelonne that he did not know who his mother was?"

Raoul's eye flashed, as, darting forward, he exclaimed,--"Chevalier,
this is a personal affair of my own!" At which exclamation, a smile,
full of malice, passed across De Wardes's face.

D'Artagnan put Raoul aside, saying,--"Do not interrupt me, young man."
And looking at De Wardes in an authoritative manner, he continued:--"I
am now dealing with a matter which cannot be settled by means of the
sword. I discuss it before men of honor, all of whom have more than once
had their swords in their hands in affairs of honor. I selected them
expressly. These gentlemen well know that every secret for which men
fight ceases to be a secret. I again put my question to M. de Wardes.
What was the subject of conversation when you offended this young man,
in offending his father and mother at the same time?"

"It seems to me," returned De Wardes, "that liberty of speech is
allowed, when it is supported by every means which a man of courage has
at his disposal."

"Tell me what the means are by which a man of courage can sustain a
slanderous expression."

"The sword."

"You fail, not only in logic, in your argument, but in religion and
honor. You expose the lives of many others, without referring to your
own, which seems to be full of hazard. Besides, fashions pass away,
monsieur, and the fashion of duelling has passed away, without referring
in any way to the edicts of his majesty which forbid it. Therefore, in
order to be consistent with your own chivalrous notions, you will at
once apologize to M. de Bragelonne; you will tell him how much you
regret having spoken so lightly, and that the nobility and purity of
his race are inscribed, not in his heart alone, but still more in every
action of his life. You will do and say this, M. de Wardes, as I, an old
officer, did and said just now to your boy's mustache."

"And if I refuse?" inquired De Wardes.

"In that case the result will be--"

"That which you think you will prevent," said De Wardes, laughing; "the
result will be that your conciliatory address will end in a violation of
the king's prohibition."

"Not so," said the captain, "you are quite mistaken."

"What will be the result, then?"

"The result will be that I shall go to the king, with whom I am on
tolerably good terms, to whom I have been happy enough to render certain
services dating from a period when you were not born, and who at
my request, has just sent m