At this moment, my soldiers have taken or killed the rebels of Belle-Isle." D'Artagnan became pale.

"Taken or killed!" cried he.

"Oh! sire, if you thought what you tell, if you were sure you were telling me the truth, I should forget all that is just, all that is magnanimous in your words, to call you a barbarous king, and an unnatural man.

But I pardon you these words," said he, smiling with pride; "I pardon them to a young prince who does not know, who cannot comprehend what such men as M.
d'Herblay, M.du Vallon, and myself are.

Taken or killed! Ah! Ah! sire! tell me, if the news is true, how much has it cost you in men and money.
We will then reckon if the game has been worth the stakes." As he spoke thus, the king went up to him in great anger, and said, "Monsieur d'Artagnan, your replies are those of a rebel! Tell me, if you please, who is king of France?
Do you know any other ?" "Sire," replied the captain of the musketeers, coldly, "I very well remember that one morning at Vaux you addressed that question to many people who did not answer to it, whilst I, on my part, did answer to it.