She made a final effort, in which she concentrated—no longer all her firmness of will, for that had long since been overcome, but all her physical strength.
"No!" she replied, weakly, "no! no! I should die from shame."
"No! you shall return like a queen. No one knows of your having left—except, indeed, D'Artagnan."
"He has betrayed me, then?"
"In what way?"
"He promised me faithfully—"
"I promised not to say anything to the king," said D'Artagnan, putting in his head through the half-opened door, "and I kept my word, I was speaking to M. de Saint-Aignan, and it was not my fault, if the king overheard me; was it, sire?"
"It is quite true," said the king, "forgive him."
La Valliere smiled, and held out her small white hand to the musketeer.
"Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the king, "be good enough to see if you can find a carriage for Mademoiselle de la Valliere."