"Mine and mine only; yes, sire."

"Well! but it could not be otherwise--the prisoner always lodges with
his conqueror."

Monk colored in his turn. "Ah! that is true," said he, "I am M.
d'Artagnan's prisoner."

"Without doubt, duke, since you are not yet ransomed, but have no care
of that; it was I who took you out of M. d'Artagnan's hands, and it is I
who will pay your ransom."

The eyes of D'Artagnan regained their gayety and their brilliancy. The
Gascon began to understand. Charles advanced towards him.

"The general," said he, "is not rich, and cannot pay you what he is
worth. I am richer, certainly, but now that he is a duke, and if not a
king, almost a king, he is worth a sum I could not perhaps pay. Come, M.
d'Artagnan, be moderate with me; how much do I owe you?"

D'Artagnan, delighted at the turn things were taking, but not for a
moment losing his self-possession, replied,--"Sire, your majesty has no
occasion to be alarmed. When I had the good fortune to take his grace,
M. Monk was only a general; it is therefore only a general's ransom that
is due to me. But if the general will have the kindness to deliver me
his sword, I shall consider myself paid; for there is nothing in the
world but the general's sword which is worth so much as himself."

"Odds fish! as my father said," cried Charles. "That is a gallant
proposal, and a gallant man, is he not, duke?"

"Upon my honor, yes, sire," and he drew his sword. "Monsieur," said he
to D'Artagnan, "here is what you demand. Many may have handled a better
blade; but however modest mine may be, I have never surrendered it to
any one."

D'Artagnan received with pride the sword which had just made a king.

"Oh! oh!" cried Charles II.; "what, a sword that has restored me to my
throne--to go out of the kingdom--and not, one day, to figure among the
crown jewels. No, on my soul! that shall not be! Captain d'Artagnan, I
will give you two hundred thousand crowns for your sword! If that is too
little, say so."

"It is too little, sire," replied D'Artagnan, with inimitable
seriousness. "In the first place, I do not at all wish to sell it; but
your majesty desires me to do so, and that is an order. I obey, then,
but the respect I owe to the illustrious warrior who hears me commands
me to estimate at a third more the reward of my victory. I ask then
three hundred thousand crowns for the sword, or I shall give it to your
majesty for nothing." And taking it by the poin