nevertheless I believe she runs some great peril from which your Grace alone can extricate her.”
“I!” cried Buckingham. “What is it? I should be too happy to be of any service to her. Speak, speak!”
“Take this letter,” said d’Artagnan.
“This letter! From whom comes this letter?”
“From Her Majesty, as I think.”
“From Her Majesty!” said Buckingham, becoming so pale that d’Artagnan feared he would faint as he broke the seal.
“What is this rent?” said he, showing d’Artagnan a place where it had been pierced through.
“Ah,” said d’Artagnan, “I did not see that; it was the sword of the Comte de Wardes which made that hole, when he gave me a good thrust in the breast.”