m.)

"Athos!" cried D'Artagnan, "you here!" And the two friends seized each
other's hands.

"You here!--and being here," continued the musketeer, "you are not in
the midst of all these courtiers, my dear comte! What! you, the hero
of the _fete_, you are not prancing on the left hand of the king, as
M. Monk is prancing on the right? In truth, I cannot comprehend your
character, nor that of the prince who owes you so much!"

"Always scornful, my dear D'Artagnan!" said Athos. "Will you never
correct yourself of that vile habit?"

"But you do not form part of the pageant?"

"I do not, because I was not willing to do so."

"And why were you not willing?"

"Because I am neither envoy nor ambassador, nor representative of the
king of France; and it does not become me to exhibit myself thus near
the person of another king than the one God has given me for a master."

"_Mordioux!_ you came very near to the person of the king, his father."

"That was another thing, my friend; he was about to die."

"And yet that which you did for him--"

"I did it because it was my duty to do it. But you know I hate all
ostentation. Let King Charles II., then, who no longer stands in need of
me, leave me to my rest, and the shadow; that is all I claim of him."

D'Artagnan sighed.

"What is the matter with you?" said Athos. "One would say that this
happy return of the king to London saddens you, my friend; you who have
done at least as much for his majesty as I have."

"Have I not," replied D'Artagnan, with his Gascon laugh, "have I not
done much for his majesty, without any one suspecting it?"

"Yes, yes, but the king is well aware of it, my friend," cried Athos.

"He is aware of it!" said the musketeer bitterly. "By my faith! I did
not suspect so, and I was even a moment ago trying to forget it myself."

"But he, my friend, will not forget it, I will answer for him."

"You tell me that to console me a little, Athos."

"For what?"

"_Mordioux!_ for all the expense I incurred. I have ruined myself, my
friend, ruined myself for the restoration of this young prince who has
just passed, cantering on his _isabelle_ colored horse."

"The king does not know you have ruined yourself, my friend; but he
knows he owes you much."

"And say, Athos, does that advance me in any respect? for, to do you
justice, you have labored nobly. But I--I who in appearance marred
your combinations, it was I who really made them succeed. Follow my