"But, my dear fellow, whose fault was that?" said De Guiche, laughing.
"I am a vain, conceited fellow, I know, and everybody else knows it too.
I took seriously that which was only intended as a jest, and got myself
exiled for my pains. But I saw my error. I overcame my vanity, and I
obtained my recall, by making the _amende honorable_, and by promising
myself to overcome this defect; and the consequence is, that I am so
thoroughly cured, that I now laugh at the very thing which, three or four
days ago, would have almost broken my heart. But Raoul is in love, and
is loved in return; he cannot laugh at the reports which disturb his
happiness - reports which you seem to have undertaken to interpret, when
you know, marquis, as I do, as these gentlemen do, as every one does in
fact, that all such reports are pure calumny."

"Calumny!" exclaimed De Wardes, furious at seeing himself caught in the
snare by De Guiche's coolness of temper.

"Certainly - calumny. Look at this letter from him, in which he tell me
you have spoken ill of Mademoiselle de la Valliere; and where he asks me,
if what you reported about this young girl is true or not. Do you wish
me to appeal to these gentlemen, De Wardes, to decide?" And with
admirable coolness, De Guiche read aloud the paragraph of the letter
which referred to La Valliere. "And now," continued De Guiche, "there is
no doubt in the world, as far as I am concerned, that you wished to
disturb Bragelonne's peace of mind, and that your remarks were
maliciously intended."

De Wardes looked round him, to see if he could find support from any one;
but, at the idea that De Wardes had insulted, either directly or
indirectly, the idol of the day, every one shook his head; and De Wardes