“Ah, indeed! I forgot to ask you — where are you taking me?”

“To the cardinal.”

“What does he want with me?”

“I do not know.

I did not even know that you were the person I was sent to fetch.”

“Impossible — you — a favorite of the minister!”

“A favorite! no, indeed!” cried D’Artagnan. “Ah, my poor friend! I am just as poor a Gascon as when I saw you at Meung, twenty-two years ago, you know; alas!” and he concluded his speech with a deep sigh.

“Nevertheless, you come as one in authority.”