then."

"After the service of the king and the cardinal, came the service of the
regency, sire; I fought pretty well in the Fronde--much less, though,
than the first time. The men began to diminish in stature. I have,
nevertheless, led your majesty's musketeers on some perilous occasions,
which stand upon the orders of the day of the company. Mine was a
beautiful luck at that time. I was the favorite of M. de Mazarin.
Lieutenant here! lieutenant there! lieutenant to the right! lieutenant
to the left! There was not a buffet dealt in France, of which your
humble servant did not have the dealing; but soon France was not enough.
The cardinal sent me to England on Cromwell's account; another gentleman
who was not over gentle, I assure you, sire. I had the honor of knowing
him, and I was well able to appreciate him. A great deal was promised
me on account of that mission. So, as I did much more than I had been
bidden to do, I was generously paid, for I was at length appointed
captain of the musketeers; that is to say, the most envied position in
court, which takes precedence over the marshals of France, and justly;
for who says captain of the musketeers says the flower of chivalry and
king of the brave."

"Captain, monsieur!" interrupted the king; "you make a mistake.
Lieutenant, you mean."

"Not at all, sire--I make no mistake; your majesty may rely upon me in
that respect. Monsieur le cardinal gave me the commission himself."

"Well!"

"But M. de Mazarin, as you know better than anybody, does not often
give, and sometimes takes back what he has given; he took it back again
as soon as peace was made and he was no longer in want of me. Certainly
I was not worthy to replace M. de Treville, of illustrious memory; but
they had promised me, and they had given me; they ought to have stopped
there."

"Is that what dissatisfies you monsieur? Well, I shall make inquiries. I
love justice; and your claim, though made in military fashion, does not
displease me."

"Oh, sire!" said the officer, "your majesty has ill understood me; I no
longer claim anything now."

"Excess of delicacy, monsieur; but I will keep my eye upon your affairs,
and later--"

"Oh, sire! what a word!--later! Thirty years have I lived upon that
promising word, which has been pronounced by so many great personages,
and which your mouth has, in its turn, just pronounced. Later--that is
how I have received a score of wounds, and how I have reached fifty-four