“M. d’Artagnan.”

“Still my young scapegrace. Positively, these four men must be mine.”

That same evening the cardinal spoke to M. de Trèville of the morning’s exploit, which was the talk of the whole camp. M. de Tréville, who had received the account of the adventure from the very mouths of the heroes of it, related it in all its details to his Eminence, not forgetting the episode of the napkin.

“Very well, Monsieur de Tréville,” said the cardinal; “pray let me have that napkin. I will have three fleurs- de-lis embroidered on it in gold, and will give it to your company as a standard.”

“Monseigneur,” said M. de Tréville, “that will hardly be doing justice to the guards. M. d’Artagnan is not mine; he serves under M. des Essarts.”

“Well, then, take him,” said the cardinal; “when four men are so much attached to one another, it is only fair that they should serve in the same company.”

That same evening M. de Tréville announced this good news to the three musketeers and D’Artagnan, inviting all four to breakfast with him next morning.

D’Artagnan was beside himself with joy. We know that the dream of his life had been to become a musketeer.

The three friends were likewise greatly delighted.

That evening D’Artagnan went to present his compliments to M. des Essarts, and to inform him of his promotion.

M. des Essarts, who esteemed D’Artagnan, offered to aid him in any way, as this change of corps would entail expenses for outfit.

D’Artagnan respectfully declined, but thinking the opportunity a good one, he begged him to have the diamond he put into his hand valued, as he wished to turn it into money.

By eight o’clock next morning M. des Essarts’s valet came to D’Artagnan’s lodging, and gave him a purse containing seven thousand livres.

This was the price of the queen’s diamond.