nto an affair of
the highest importance."

"I defy your Eminence to prove it," cried Treville, with his Gascon
freedom and military frankness; "for one hour before, Monsieur Athos,
who, I will confide it to your Majesty, is really a man of the highest
quality, did me the honor after having dined with me to be conversing in
the saloon of my hotel, with the Duc de la Tremouille and the Comte de
Chalus, who happened to be there."

The king looked at the cardinal.

"A written examination attests it," said the cardinal, replying aloud to
the mute interrogation of his Majesty; "and the ill-treated people
have drawn up the following, which I have the honor to present to your
Majesty."

"And is the written report of the gownsmen to be placed in comparison
with the word of honor of a swordsman?" replied Treville haughtily.

"Come, come, Treville, hold your tongue," said the king.

"If his Eminence entertains any suspicion against one of my Musketeers,"
said Treville, "the justice of Monsieur the Cardinal is so well known
that I demand an inquiry."

"In the house in which the judicial inquiry was made," continued the
impassive cardinal, "there lodges, I believe, a young Bearnais, a friend
of the Musketeer."

"Your Eminence means Monsieur d'Artagnan."

"I mean a young man whom you patronize, Monsieur de Treville."

"Yes, your Eminence, it is the same."

"Do you not suspect this young man of having given bad counsel?"

"To Athos, to a man double his age?" interrupted Treville. "No,
monseigneur. Besides, d'Artagnan passed the evening with me."

"Well," said the cardinal, "everybody seems to have passed the evening
with you."

"Does your Eminence doubt my word?" said Treville, with a brow flushed
with anger.

"No, God forbid," said the cardinal; "only, at what hour was he with
you?"

"Oh, as to that I can speak positively, your Eminence; for as he came in
I remarked that it was but half past nine by the clock, although I had
believed it to be later."

"At what hour did he leave your hotel?"

"At half past ten--an hour after the event."

"Well," replied the cardinal, who could not for an instant suspect the
loyalty of Treville, and who felt that the victory was escaping him,
"well, but Athos WAS taken in the house in the Rue des Fossoyeurs."

"Is one friend forbidden to visit another, or a Musketeer of my company
to fraternize with a Guard of Dessessart's company?"

"Yes, when the house where he fraternizes