a large chair, into which the latter threw himself, assuming the easiest possible attitude.

“Well, I will do so willingly enough,” continued D’Artagnan, “for the conversation is rather curious, I must say. In the first place the king sent for me.”

“As soon as I had left?”

“You were just going down the last steps of the staircase, as the musketeers told me. I arrived. My dear Athos, he was not red in the face merely, he was positively purple.

I was not aware, of course, of what had passed; only, on the ground, lying on the floor, I saw a sword broken in two.”

“‘Captain d’Artagnan,’ cried the king, as soon as he saw me.