“I am at your command, my lord,” returned D’Artagnan.
“I wish to visit in person the outposts which surround the Palais Royal; do you suppose that there is any danger in so doing?”
“Danger, my lord!” exclaimed D’Artagnan with a look of astonishment, “what danger?”
“I am told that there is a general insurrection.”
“The uniform of the king’s musketeers carries a certain respect with it, and even if that were not the case I would engage with four of my men to put to flight a hundred of these clowns.”
“Did you witness the injury sustained by Comminges?”
“Monsieur de Comminges is in the guards and not in the musketeers——”
“Which means, I suppose, that the musketeers are better soldiers than the guards.” The cardinal smiled as he spoke.
“Every one likes his own uniform best, my lord.”
“Myself excepted,” and again Mazarin smiled; “for you perceive that I have left off mine and put on yours.”