"And little beauty," added Athos, pitilessly. This last bolt buried itself deep in the king's heart, and made him almost bound from his seat.
"You have a good memory, monsieur," he said.
"I invariably have, on all occasions when I have had the distinguished honor of an interview with your majesty," retorted the comte, without being in the least disconcerted.
"Very good; it is admitted I said all that."
"And I thanked your majesty for your remarks at the time, because they testified an interest in M. de Bragelonne, which did him much honor."
"And you may possibly remember," said the king, very deliberately, "that you had the greatest repugnance for this marriage."
"Quite true, sire."
"And that you solicited my permission, much against your own inclination?"
"Yes, sire."
"And, finally, I remember, for I have a memory nearly as good as your own; I remember, I say, that you observed at the time: 'I do not believe that Mademoiselle de la Valliere loves M. de Bragelonne.' Is that true?"