“ Pardon me,” said he, smiling, “pardon me my dear compatriot, but I had wholly forgotten you. But what help is there for it! A captain is nothing but a father of a family, charged with even a greater responsibility than the father of an ordinary family. Soldiers are big children; but as I maintain that the orders of the king, and more particularly the orders of the cardinal, should be executed--”
D’Artagnan could not restrain a smile. By this smile M. de Treville judged that he had not to deal with a fool, and changing the conversation, came straight to the point.
“ I respected your father very much,” said he. “What can I do for the son? Tell me quickly; my time is not my own.”
“ Monsieur,” said d’Artagnan, “on quitting Tarbes and coming hither, it was my intention to request of you
