Colbert opened his eyes and interrogated the chief of the watch with a look—“Ah! it is very true,” said the latter, “that this gentleman saved us.”
“Why did you not tell me monsieur, that you came to relate me this?” said Colbert with envy, “everything is explained, and more favorably for you than for anybody else.”
“You are in error, monsieur l’intendant, I did not at all come for the purpose of relating that to you.”
“It is an exploit, nevertheless.”
“Oh!” said the musketeer carelessly, “constant habit blunts the mind.”
“To what do I owe the honor of your visit, then?”
“Simply to this: the king ordered me to come to you.”
“Ah!” said Colbert, recovering himself when he saw D’Artagnan draw a paper from his pocket; “it is to demand some money of me?”
“Precisely, monsieur.’
“Have the goodness to wait, if you please, monsieur, till I have dispatched the report of the watch.”