"I have plenty of time. Are you not curious, besides, to know how things went on between the king and me?"
"If you will be good enough to tell me, I will listen with the greatest pleasure," said Athos, pointing out to D'Artagnan a large chair, into which the latter threw himself, assuming the easiest possible attitude.
"Well, I will do so willing enough," continued D'Artagnan, "for the conversation is rather curious, I must say. In the first place, the king sent for me."
"As soon as I had left?"
"You were just going down the last steps of the staircase, as the musketeers told me. I arrived. My dear Athos, he was not red in the face merely, he was positively purple. I was not aware, of course, of what had passed; only, on the ground, lying on the floor, I saw a sword broken in two.
"'Captain d'Artagnan,' cried the king, as soon as he saw me.
"'Sire,' I replied.
"'M. de la Fere has just left me; he is an insolent man.'
"'An insolent man!' I exclaimed, in such a tone that the king stopped suddenly short.
"'Captain d'Artagnan,' resumed the king, with his teeth clenched, 'you will be good enough to listen to and hear me.'