every day; at least, so I was told by persons of judgment;
and that is a long period for heroism, trust me, sire, a
period of five years. Nevertheless, I have faith in what
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these people told me, for they were good judges. They were
named M. de Richelieu, M. de Buckingham, M. de Beaufort, M.
de Retz, a mighty genius himself in street warfare, — in
short, the king, Louis XIII., and even the queen, your noble
mother, who one day condescended to say, `Thank you.’ I
don’t know what service I had had the good fortune to render
her. Pardon me, sire, for speaking so boldly; but what I
relate to you, as I have already had the honor to tell your
majesty, is history.”
The king bit his lips, and threw himself violently on a
chair.
“I appear importunate to your majesty,” said the lieutenant.
“Eh! sire, that is the fate of truth; she is a stern
companion; she bristles all over with steel; she wounds
those whom she attacks, and sometimes him who speaks her.”
“No, monsieur,” replied the king; “I bade you speak — speak
then.”
“After the service of the king and the cardinal came the
service of the regency, sire; I fought pretty well in the
Fronde — much less, though, than the first time. The men
began to diminish in stature. I have, nevertheless, led your
majesty’s musketeers on some perilous occasions, which stand
upon the orders of the day of the company. Mine was a
beautiful luck at that time. I was the favorite of M. de
Mazarin. Lieutenant here! lieutenant there! lieutenant to
the right! lieutenant to the left! There was not a buffet
dealt in France, of which your humble servant did not have
the dealing; but soon France was not enough. The cardinal
sent me to England on Cromwell’s account; another gentleman
who was not over gentle, I assure you, sire. I had the honor
of knowing him, and I was well able to appreciate him. A
great deal was promised me on account of that mission. So,
as I did much more than I had been bidden to do, I was
generously paid, for I was at length appointed captain of
the musketeers, that is to say, the most envied position in
court, which takes precedence over the marshals of France,
and justly, for who says captain of the musketeers says the
flower of chivalry and king of the brave.”
“Captain, monsieur!” interrupted the king, “you make a
mistake. Lieutenant, you mean.”
“Not at all, sire — I make no mistake; your majesty may
rely upon me in that respect. Monsieur le cardinal gave me
the commission himself.”
“Well!”
“But M. de Mazarin, as you know better than anybody, does
not often give, and sometimes takes back what he has given;
he took it back again as soon as peace was made and he was
no longer in want of me. Certainly I was not worthy to
replace M. de Treville, of illustrious memory; but they had
promised me, and they had given me; they ought to have
stopped there.”
“Is that what dissatisfies you, monsieur? Well I shall make
inquiries. I love justice; and your claim, though made in
military fashion, does not displease me.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Oh, sire!” said the officer, “your majesty has ill
understood me; I no longer claim anything now.”
“Excess of delicacy, monsieur; but I will keep my eye upon
your affairs, and later —- ”
“Oh, sire! what a word! — later! Thirty years have I lived
upon that promising word, which has been pronounced by so
many great personages, and which your mouth has, in its
turn, just pronounced. Later — that is how I have received
a score of wounds, and how I have reached fifty-four years
of age without ever having had a louis in my purse, and
without ever having met with a protector on my way, — I who
have protected so many people! So I change my formula, sire;
and when any one says to me `Later,’ I reply `Now.’ It is