“I appreciate your majesty’s considerate and generous intentions on my behalf; but I take the liberty of recalling to you that I undertook to approach you as an ambassador.” “An ambassador, comte, frequently asks, but does not always obtain what he asks.” “But, sire, it will be such a blow for De Bragelonne.” “My hand shall deal the blow; I will speak to the vicomte.” “Love, sire, is overwhelming in its might.” “Love can be resisted, comte. I myself can assure you of that.” “When one has the soul of a king,--your own, for instance, sire.” “Do not make yourself uneasy on the subject. I have certain views for De Bragelonne. I do not say that he shall not marry Mademoiselle de la Vallière, but I do not wish him to marry so young; I do not wish him to marry her until she has acquired a fortune; and he, on his side, no less deserves favor, such as I wish to confer upon him. In a word, comte, I wish them to wait.” “Yet once more, sire.” “Comte, you told me you came here to request a favor.” “Assuredly, sire.” “Grant me one, then, instead; let us speak no longer upon this matter. It is probable that, before long, war may be declared. I require men about me who are unfettered. I should hesitate to send under fire a married man, or a father of a family. I should hesitate also, on De Bragelonne’s account, to endow with a fortune, without some sound reason for it, a young girl, a perfect stranger; such an act would sow jealousy amongst my nobility.” Athos bowed, and remained silent. “Is that all you wished to ask me?” added Louis XIV. “Absolutely all, sire; and I take my leave of your majesty. Is it, however, necessary that I should inform Raoul?” “Spare yourself the trouble and annoyance. Tell the vicomte that at my _levee_ to-morrow morning I will speak to him. I shall expect you this evening, comte, to join my card-table.” “I am in traveling-costume, sire.” “A day will come, I hope, when you will leave me no more. Before long, comte, the monarchy will be established in such a manner as to enable me to offer a worthy hospitality to men of your merit.” “Provided, sire, a monarch reigns grandly in the hearts of his subjects, the palace he inhabits matters little, since he is worshipped in a temple.” With these words Athos left the cabinet, and found De Bragelonne, who was awaiting him anxiously. “Well, monsieur?” said the young man. “The king, Raoul, is well intentioned towards us both; not, perhaps, in the sense you suppose, but he is kind, and generously disposed to our house.” “You have bad news to communicate to me, monsieur,” said the young man, turning very pale. “The king himself will inform you to-morrow morning that it is not bad news.” “The king has not signed, however?” “The king wishes himself to settle the terms of the contract, and he desires to make it so grand that he requires time for consideration. Throw the blame rather on your own impatience, than on the king’s good feelings towards you.”