"Think so, indeed! do you suppose he was sent to London for no other
purpose than to go there and return again immediately? No, no; he was
sent to London to remain there."

"Ah! De Wardes," said De Guiche, grasping De Wardes's hand, "that is a
very serious suspicion concerning Bragelonne, which completely confirms
what he wrote to me from Boulogne."

De Wardes resumed his former coldness of manner: his love of raillery had
led him too far, and by his own imprudence, he had laid himself open to
attack.

"Well, tell me, what did he write to you about?" he inquired.

"He told me that you had artfully insinuated some injurious remarks
against La Valliere, and that you had seemed to laugh at his great
confidence in that young girl."

"Well, it is perfectly true I did so," said De Wardes, "and I was quite
ready, at the time, to hear from the Vicomte de Bragelonne that which
every man expects from another whenever anything may have been said to
displease him. In the same way, for instance, if I were seeking a
quarrel with you, I should tell you that Madame after having shown the
greatest preference for the Duke of Buckingham, is at this moment
supposed to have sent the handsome duke away for your benefit."

"Oh! that would not wound me in the slightest degree, my dear De Wardes,"
said De Guiche, smiling, notwithstanding the shiver that ran through his
whole frame. "Why, such a favor would be too great a happiness."