40 A TERRIBLE VISION
The cardinal leaned his elbow on his manuscript, his cheek upon his hand, and looked intently at the young man for a moment. No one had a more searching eye than the Cardinal de Richelieu, and d’Artagnan felt this glance run through his veins like a fever.
He however kept a good countenance, holding his hat in his hand and awaiting the good pleasure of his Eminence, without too much assurance, but also without too much humility.
“ Monsieur,” said the cardinal, “are you a d’Artagnan from Bearn?”
“ Yes, monseigneur,” replied the young man.
“ There are several branches of the d’Artagnans at Tarbes and in its environs,” said the cardinal; “to which do you belong?”
“ I am the son of him who served in the Religious Wars under the great King Henry, the father of his
