It will easily be conjectured that all these rival interests, gathering together in vapors, necessarily produced clouds, and that the clouds were likely to be followed by a tempest.

The king had no mustache to gnaw, and therefore kept biting the handle of his whip instead, with ill-concealed impatience.

How could he get out of it?
D'Artagnan looked as agreeable as possible, and Colbert as sulky as he could.

Who was there he could get in a passion with?
"We will consult the queen," said Louis XIV., bowing to the royal ladies.

And this kindness of consideration softened Maria Theresa's heart, who, being of a kind and generous disposition, when left to her own free-will, replied: "I shall be delighted to do whatever your majesty wishes." "How long will it take us to get to Vaux ?" inquired Anne of Austria, in slow and measured accents, placing her hand upon her bosom, where the seat of her pain lay.
"An hour for your majesty's carriages," said D'Artagnan; "the roads are tolerably good." The king looked at him.