“Very well, monsieur — do it at once!”

“No, sire; for there is no question of my resignation at the present moment. Your majesty took up your pen just now to send me to the Bastile, — why should you change your intention?”

“D’Artagnan! Gascon that you are! who is king, allow me to ask, — you or myself?”

“You, sire, unfortunately.”

“What do you mean by ‘unfortunately’?”

“Yes, sire; for if it were I — ”

“If it were you, you would approve of M.

d’Artagnan’s rebellious conduct, I suppose?”