liberty? Your majesty
would condemn me to the lowest, when I have gained the highest?"

"Who gave you permission, monsieur to fathom my designs, or to reckon
with me?" replied Louis, in a voice almost angry; "who told you what I
shall do or what you will yourself do?"

"Sire," said the musketeer, quietly, "as far as I see, freedom is
not the order of the conversation, as it was on the day we came to an
explanation at Blois."

"No, monsieur; everything is changed."

"I tender your majesty my sincere compliments upon that, but----"

"But you don't believe it?"

"I am not a great statesman, and yet I have my eye upon affairs; it
seldom fails; now, I do not see exactly as your majesty does, sire. The
reign of Mazarin is over, but that of the financiers is begun. They have
the money; your majesty will not often see much of it. To live under
the paw of these hungry wolves is hard for a man who reckoned upon
independence."

At this moment some one scratched at the door of the cabinet; the king
raised his head proudly. "Your pardon, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said he;
"it is M. Colbert, who comes to make me a report. Come in M. Colbert."

D'Artagnan drew back. Colbert entered with papers in his hand, and went
up to the king. There can be little doubt that the Gascon did not lose
the opportunity of applying his keen, quick glance to the new figure
which presented itself.

"Is the inquiry made?"

"Yes, sire."

"And the opinion of the inquisitors?"

"Is that the accused merit confiscation and death."

"Ah! ah!" said the king, without changing countenance, and casting an
oblique look at D'Artagnan. "And your own opinion, M. Colbert?" said he.

Colbert looked at D'Artagnan in his turn. That imposing countenance
checked the words upon his lips. Louis perceived this. "Do not disturb
yourself," said he; "it is M. d'Artagnan,--do you not know M. d'Artagnan
again?"

These two men looked at each other--D'Artagnan, with eyes open and
bright as the day--Colbert, with his half closed, and dim. The frank
intrepidity of the one annoyed the other; the circumspection of the
financier disgusted the soldier. "Ah! ah! this is the gentleman who made
that brilliant stroke in England," said Colbert. And he bowed slightly
to D'Artagnan.

"Ah! ah!" said the Gascon, "this is the gentleman who clipped off the
lace from the uniform of the Swiss! A praiseworthy piece of economy."

The financier thought to pierce the musketeer; but the muske