"Speak, monsieur," said the musketeer; "you see you are keeping us waiting." "Listen, then:--My father loved a lady of noble birth, and this lady loved my father." D'Artagnan and Athos exchanged looks.

De Wardes continued: "M.

d'Artagnan found some letters which indicated a rendezvous, substituted himself, under disguise, for the person who was expected, and took advantage of the darkness." "That is perfectly true," said D'Artagnan.
A slight murmur was heard from those present.

"Yes, I was guilty of that dishonorable action.

You should have added, monsieur, since you are so impartial, that, at the period when the circumstance which you have just related happened, I was not one-and-twenty years of age." A renewed murmur was heard, but this time of astonishment, and almost of doubt.
"It was a most shameful deception, I admit," said D'Artagnan, "and I have not waited for M.de Wardes's reproaches to reproach myself for it, and very bitterly, too.