Jussac the terrible sword thrust which
has made the cardinal so angry."

"He who wounded Jussac!" cried the king, "he, a boy! Treville, that's
impossible!"

"It is as I have the honor to relate it to your Majesty."

"Jussac, one of the first swordsmen in the kingdom?"

"Well, sire, for once he found his master."

"I will see this young man, Treville--I will see him; and if anything
can be done--well, we will make it our business."

"When will your Majesty deign to receive him?"

"Tomorrow, at midday, Treville."

"Shall I bring him alone?"

"No, bring me all four together. I wish to thank them all at once.
Devoted men are so rare, Treville, by the back staircase. It is useless
to let the cardinal know."

"Yes, sire."

"You understand, Treville--an edict is still an edict, it is forbidden
to fight, after all."

"But this encounter, sire, is quite out of the ordinary conditions of
a duel. It is a brawl; and the proof is that there were five of
the cardinal's Guardsmen against my three Musketeers and Monsieur
d'Artagnan."

"That is true," said the king; "but never mind, Treville, come still by
the back staircase."

Treville smiled; but as it was indeed something to have prevailed
upon this child to rebel against his master, he saluted the king
respectfully, and with this agreement, took leave of him.

That evening the three Musketeers were informed of the honor accorded
them. As they had long been acquainted with the king, they were not
much excited; but d'Artagnan, with his Gascon imagination, saw in it his
future fortune, and passed the night in golden dreams. By eight o'clock
in the morning he was at the apartment of Athos.

D'Artagnan found the Musketeer dressed and ready to go out. As the hour
to wait upon the king was not till twelve, he had made a party with
Porthos and Aramis to play a game at tennis in a tennis court situated
near the stables of the Luxembourg. Athos invited d'Artagnan to follow
them; and although ignorant of the game, which he had never played, he
accepted, not knowing what to do with his time from nine o'clock in the
morning, as it then scarcely was, till twelve.

The two Musketeers were already there, and were playing together. Athos,
who was very expert in all bodily exercises, passed with d'Artagnan to
the opposite side and challenged them; but at the first effort he made,
although he played with his left hand, he found that his wound was yet
too recent to allow of such