You do not consecrate your days and nights wholly to the king's service." D'Artagnan colored.
"In fact," said the cardinal, placing his hand upon a bundle of papers, "I have here a whole pile which concerns you.

I know you to be a man of resolution; and your services, well directed, instead of leading you to ill, might be very advantageous to you.

Come; reflect, and decide." "Your goodness confounds me, monseigneur," replied d'Artagnan, "and I am conscious of a greatness of soul in your Eminence that makes me mean as an earthworm; but since Monseigneur permits me to speak freely--" D'Artagnan paused.
"Yes; speak." "Then, I will presume to say that all my friends are in the king's Musketeers and Guards, and that by an inconceivable fatality my enemies are in the service of your Eminence; I should, therefore, be ill received here and ill regarded there if I accepted what Monseigneur offers me." "Do you happen to entertain the haughty idea that I have not yet made you an offer equal to your value ?" asked the cardinal, with a smile of disdain.
"Monseigneur, your Eminence is a hundred times too kind to me; and on the contrary, I think I have not proved myself worthy of your goodness.
The siege of La Rochelle is about to be resumed, monseigneur.

I shall serve under the eye of your Eminence, and if I have the good fortune to conduct myself at the siege in such a manner as merits your attention, then I shall at least leave behind me some brilliant action to justify the protection with which you honor me.

Everything is best in its time, monseigneur.