“There was a moment at which the fisherman—who took me in his boat to Sainte-Marguerite—revolted, and did his best to kill me. The—the prisoner defended me instead of attempting to fly.”
The king became pale. “Enough!” said he; and D’Artagnan bowed. Louis walked about his cabinet with hasty steps. “Were you at Antibes,” said he, “when Monsieur de Beaufort came there?”
“No, sire; I was setting off when monsieur le duc arrived.”
“Ah!” which was followed by a fresh silence. “Whom did you see there?”
“A great many persons,” said D’Artagnan, coolly.
The king perceived he was unwilling to speak. “I have sent for you, monsieur le capitaine, to desire you to go and prepare my lodgings at Nantes.”
“At Nantes!” cried D’Artagnan.
“In Bretagne.”
“Yes, sire, it is in Bretagne. Will you majesty make so long a journey as to Nantes?”
“The States are assembled there,” replied the king. “I have two demands to make of them: I wish to be there.”