He saw that the duke was searching for a means of making him accept something and the idea that the blood of his friends and himself was about to be paid for with English gold was strangely repugnant to him.
"Let us understand each other, my Lord," replied d'Artagnan, "and let us make things clear beforehand in order that there may be no mistake.

I am in the service of the King and Queen of France, and form part of the company of Monsieur Dessessart, who, as well as his brother-in-law, Monsieur de Treville, is particularly attached to their Majesties.
What I have done, then, has been for the queen, and not at all for your Grace.

And still further, it is very probable I should not have done anything of this, if it had not been to make myself agreeable to someone who is my lady, as the queen is yours." "Yes," said the duke, smiling, "and I even believe that I know that other person; it is--" "My Lord, I have not named her!" interrupted the young man, warmly.
"That is true," said the duke; "and it is to this person I am bound to discharge my debt of gratitude." "You have said, my Lord; for truly, at this moment when there is question of war, I confess to you that I see nothing in your Grace but an Englishman, and consequently an enemy whom I should have much greater pleasure in meeting on the field of battle than in the park at Windsor or the corridors of the Louvre--all which, however, will not prevent me from executing to the very point my commission or from laying down my life, if there be need of it, to accomplish it; but I repeat it to your Grace, without your having personally on that account more to thank me for in this second interview than for what I did for you in the first." "We say, 'Proud as a Scotsman,'" murmured the Duke of Buckingham.
"And we say, 'Proud as a Gascon,'" replied d'Artagnan.

"The Gascons are the Scots of France." D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and was retiring.
"Well, are you going away in that manner?
Where, and how ?" "That's true!" "Fore Gad, these Frenchmen have no consideration!" "I had forgotten that England was an island, and that you were the king of it." "Go to the riverside, ask for the brig SUND, and give this letter to the captain; he will convey you to a little port, where certainly you are not expected, and which is ordinarily only frequented by fishermen." "The name of that port ?" "St.Valery; but listen.

When you have arrived there you will go to a mean tavern, without a name and without a sign--a mere fisherman's hut.
You cannot be mistaken; there is but one." "Afterward ?" "You will ask for the host, and will repeat to him the word 'Forward!'" "Which means ?" "In French, EN AVANT.