"It is hard to be so treated by one of your majesty's officers, and that without redress, on account of the respect I owe the king." "The respect you owe the king," cried D'Artagnan, his eyes flashing fire, "consists, in the first place, in making his authority respected, and his person beloved.

Every agent of a power without control represents that power, and when people curse the hand which strikes them, it is the royal hand that God reproaches, do you hear?
Must a soldier, hardened by forty years of wounds and blood, give you this lesson, monsieur?
Must mercy be on my side, and ferocity on yours?
You have caused the innocent to be arrested, bound, and imprisoned!" "Accomplices, perhaps, of M.Fouquet," said Colbert.
"Who told you M.Fouquet had accomplices, or even that he was guilty?
The king alone knows that; his justice is not blind! When he says, 'Arrest and imprison' such and such a man, he is obeyed.

Do not talk to me, then, any more of the respect you owe the king, and be careful of your words, that they may not chance to convey the slightest menace; for the king will not allow those to be threatened who do him service by others who do him disservice; and if in case I should have, which God forbid! a master so ungrateful, I would make myself respected." Thus saying, D'Artagnan took his station haughtily in the king's cabinet, his eyes flashing, his hand on his sword, his lips trembling, affecting much more anger than he really felt.

Colbert, humiliated and devoured with rage, bowed to the king as if to ask his permission to leave the room.

The king, thwarted alike in pride and in curiosity, knew not which part to take.