I have given him one of my brigadiers, the most stupid I could find among my musketeers, in order that the prisoner might have a chance of escaping." "Are you mad, Monsieur d'Artagnan ?" cried the king, crossing his arms on his breast.

"Do people utter such enormities, even when they have the misfortune to think them ?" "Ah! sire, you cannot expect that I should be an enemy to M.Fouquet, after what he has just done for you and me.

No, no; if you desire that he should remain under your lock and bolt, never give him in charge to me; however closely wired might be the cage, the bird would, in the end, take wing." "I am surprised," said the king, in his sternest tone, "you did not follow the fortunes of the man M.Fouquet wished to place upon my throne.

You had in him all you want--affection, gratitude.

In my service, monsieur, you will only find a master." "If M.Fouquet had not gone to seek you in the Bastile, sire," replied D'Artagnan, with a deeply impressive manner, "one single man would have gone there, and I should have been that man--you know that right well, sire." The king was brought to a pause.