He surveyed the courtier from head to foot, and two flashes beamed from beneath his bent brows.

But, after a struggle,--"Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan, my lord," replied he, quietly.
"Pardon me, sir, that teaches me your name, but nothing more." "You mean--" "I mean I do not know you." "I am more fortunate than you, sir," replied D'Artagnan, "for I have had the honor of knowing your family, and particularly my lord Duke of Buckingham, your illustrious father." "My father ?" said Buckingham.

"Well, I think I now remember.

Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan, do you say ?" D'Artagnan bowed.

"In person," said he.
"Pardon me, but are you one of those Frenchmen who had secret relations with my father ?" "Exactly, my lord duke, I am one of those Frenchmen." "Then, sir, permit me to say that it was strange my father never heard of you during his lifetime." "No, monsieur, but he heard of me at the moment of his death: it was I who sent to him, through the hands of the _valet de chambre_ of Anne of Austria, notice of the dangers which threatened him; unfortunately, it came too late." "Never mind, monsieur," said Buckingham.