“You mean——”
“I mean I do not know you.”
“I am more fortunate than you, sir,” replied D’Artagnan, “for I have had the honor of knowing your family, and particularly my lord Duke of Buckingham, your illustrious father.”
“My father?” said Buckingham. “Well, I think I now remember. Monsieur le Chevalier d’Artagnan, do you say?”
D’Artagnan bowed. “In person,” said he.
“Pardon me, but are you one of those Frenchmen who had secret relations with my father?”
“Exactly, my lord duke, I am one of those Frenchmen.”
“Then, sir, permit me to say that it was strange my father never heard of you during his lifetime.”
“No, monsieur, but he heard of me at the moment of his death: it was I who sent to him, through the hands of the valet de chambre of Anne of Austria, notice of the dangers which threatened him; unfortunately, it came too late.”
“Never mind, monsieur,” said Buckingham. “I understand now, that, having had the intention of rendering a service to the father, you have come to claim the protection of the son.”