The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-23
By ALEXANDRA DUMAS

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 And who has told you this fine story, sir?" asked De Treville quietly. 'I speak of the prop of the state of my only servant-of my only friend of M le Cardinal"
 His eminence has hastily accused your majesty's musketeers, toward whom he is unjust"
 "The accusation comes from M. de la Tremouille, from the duke himself. What do you answer to that?"
 "I refer the matter to him, but upon one condition, sire" What is thatY' Tt is that your majesty will make him come here, will interrogate him yourself without witnesses and that I shall see your majesty as soon as you have seen the duke"
 What then? And you will be bound" cried the king, "by what M. de Ia Tremouille shall say ?'
 Certainly
 La Chesnaye,'' said the king, 'let some one go instantly and find NJ. de la Tremouille I wish to speak with him this evening"
 Your majesty gives me your word that you will not see any one between N. de la Tremouille and mer'
 Nobody. by the word of gentle man."
 Tomorrow, then, sire?'
 Tomorrow, monsieur, at 2 o'clock, but beware, if you and your musket- eers are guilty"
 ''Till then God preserve your maj esty."
 > NJ. de Treville ordered his three mus keteers and their companion to be with him at half past in the morning. He took them with him, without encour- aging them or promising them any thing and without concealing from them that their favor and even his own depended upon this cast of the dice.
 When arrived at the bottom of the back stairs he desired them to wait. IT the king was still irritated against them they would depart without be- ing seen.
 On arriving at the kings private an techamber M. de Treyille found La Chesnaye, who informed him that they had not been able to find M. de Ia Ire mouilIe on the preceding evening at his hotel, that he came fin too late to pre- sent himself at the Louvre, that he had only that moment arrived and that he was then with the king. This circumstance pleased M. de Ire vile much, as he thus became certain that no foreign suggestion could insin- uate itself between M. de la Tremou- ille's deposition and himself In fact ten minutes had scarcely passed away when the door of the kings closet opened and M. de Treville saw M. de Ia Tremouille come out. The duke came straight up to him and said:
 I'M. de Treville, his majesty has just sent for me in order to inquire respect ing the circumstances which took place yesterday at my hotel. I have told him the truth-that is to say, that the fault lay with my people and that I was ready to offer you my excuses .'' That's well said," said the king, who had heard all these compliments through the open door, ''only tell him. Treville, since he wishes to be con- sidered as your friend, that also wish to be one of his. Where are your mus keteers? I told you the day before yesterday to bring them with you. Why have you not done sop
 They are below, sire, and with your permission La Chesnaye will tell them to come up."
 ''Yes, yes; let them come up inn nediately. It is nearly o'clock, and at expect visit. Go. monsieur le duo, and return often. Come in, Ire ville.''
 The duke bowed and retired. At the moment he opened the door the three musketeers and D'Artagnan, conduct ed by La Chesnaye, appeared at the top of the staircase
 -fCsme in, my braves" said the king; 'come in. I am going to scold you" The musketeers advanced, lowing, D'Artagnan following closely behind them.
 What" continued the king-"seven or h1S emlnence'S guards placed hors de combat by you four in two days! That's too many, gentlemen - too many"
 Therefore, sire, your majesty sees that they are come quite contrite and repentant to offer you their excuses
 Quite contrite and repentant, hemv' | said the king. There is one yonder of Gascon look. Come hither, mon sieur."
 D'Artagnan approached, assuming a most deprecating air.
 "Why, you told me he was a young man. This is boy, Treville; mere boy! Do you mean to say that 1t was he who bestowed that severe thrust upon Jussac and those two equally fine thrusts upon Bernajoux? Why, this Bearnais is a very devil! M. de Ire