“It is hardly credible.”
“So any one would say.”
“D’Herblay, by our alliance, by our friendship, by everything you hold dearest in the world, speak openly, I implore you. By what means have you succeeded in overcoming Louis XIV.‘s prejudices, for he did not like you, I am certain.”
“The king will like me now,” said Aramis, laying stress upon the last word.
“You have something particular, then, between you?”
“Yes.”
“A secret, perhaps?”
“A secret.”
“A secret of such a nature as to change his majesty’s interests?”
“You are, indeed, a man of superior intelligence, monseigneur, and have made a particularly accurate guess. I have, in fact, discovered a secret, of a nature to change the interests of the king of France.”