The ball did not penetrate, but was flattened, as you see, either upon the trigger of the pistol or upon the right side of the breast-bone." "Good heavens!" said the king, seriously, "you said nothing to me about this, Monsieur de Manicamp." "Sire--" "What does all this mean, then, this invention about hunting a wild boar at nightfall?
Come, speak, monsieur." "Sire--" "It seems, then, that you are right," said the king, turning round towards his captain of musketeers, "and that a duel actually took place." The king possessed, to a greater extent than any one else, the faculty enjoyed by the great in power or position, of compromising and dividing those beneath him.

Manicamp darted a look full of reproaches at the musketeer.

D'Artagnan understood the look at once, and not wishing to remain beneath the weight of such an accusation, advanced a step forward, and said: "Sire, your majesty commanded me to go and explore the place where the cross-roads meet in the Bois-Rochin, and to report to you, according to my own ideas, what had taken place there.

I submitted my observations to you, but without denouncing any one.

It was your majesty yourself who was the first to name the Comte de Guiche." "Well, monsieur, well," said the king, haughtily; "you have done your duty, and I am satisfied with you.