that you undertook the marvelous carrying off of M.Monk." "Pardon me, sire; it was for myself." "And did you succeed ?" "Like the captains of the fifteenth century, _coups-de-main_ and adventures." "What do you call succeeding ?--a fortune ?" "A hundred thousand crowns, sire, which I now possess--that is, in one week three times as much money as I ever had in fifty years." "It is a handsome sum.

But you are ambitious, I perceive." "I, sire?
The quarter of that would be a treasure; and I swear to you I have no thought of augmenting it." "What! you contemplate remaining idle ?" "Yes, sire." "You mean to drop the sword ?" "That I have already done." "Impossible, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Louis, firmly.
"But, sire--" "Well ?" "And why, sire ?" "Because it is _my_ wish you should not!" said the young prince, in a voice so stern and imperious that D'Artagnan evinced surprise and even uneasiness.
"Will your majesty allow me one word of reply ?" said he.
"Speak." "I formed that resolution when I was poor and destitute." "So be it.

Go on." "Now, when by my energy I have acquired a comfortable means of subsistence, would your majesty despoil me of my liberty?
Your majesty would condemn me to the lowest, when I have gained the highest ?" "Who gave you permission, monsieur, to fathom my designs, or to reckon with me ?" replied Louis, in a voice almost angry; "who told you what I shall do or what you will yourself do ?" "Sire," said the musketeer, quietly, "as far as I see, freedom is not the order of the conversation, as it was on the day we came to an explanation at Blois." "No, monsieur; everything is changed." "I tender your majesty my sincere compliments upon that, but--" "But you don't believe it ?" "I am not a great statesman, and yet I have my eye upon affairs; it seldom fails; now, I do not see exactly as your majesty does, sire.

The reign of Mazarin is over, but that of the financiers is begun.

They have the money; your majesty will not often see much of it.