- D'Artagnan: I only have a handful of men. Brave musketeers, true, but not enough of them to take a fortress. But - we can always try.
- Colbert de Voliere: Not by force, my friend. By cunning.
- Fouquet: What a cunning vixen you have become, for one so innocent.
- Louise de la Vallière: Necessity is my tutor, to my shame.
- Phillipe: Back there you called me "my lord", and you risked your own life to save mine. I must understand! What is it you want of me? Who am I?
- [loses consciousness]
- D'Artagnan: You, my prince, are the true King of France.
- D'Artagnan: He's haunted by the mystery, it would be an act of mercy to let him know.
- Colbert de Voliere: We must say nothing yet.
- D'Artagnan: We should tell him his true identity.
- Colbert de Voliere: You and I are flirting with high treason, my friend. Let Phillipe remain ignorant for his own sake, as well as our own. The rack can loosen any man's tongue - even that of a Prince.
- D'Artagnan: If you are to rule this great nation, you must learn restraint. Keep cool in battle, or in sports. Be angry - but in cold blood.
- Phillipe: As the first born, am I not the rightful heir?
- Colbert de Voliere: Right or wrong has little to do with this; it's a matter of political necessity.
- Colbert de Voliere: We must not act
- [looks meaningfully at D'Artagnan]
- Colbert de Voliere: impetuously.
- D'Artagnan: Impetuously!
- King Louis XIV: Our ballet has bored you, my dear?
- Louise de la Vallière: Your majesty misconstrues.
- King Louis XIV: Give us your opinion then.
- Louise de la Vallière: Very nice.
- King Louis XIV: Nice. We are overwhelmed by your praise.
- Fouquet: But please, don't let me interrupt your exercise.
- D'Artagnan: Nonsense, it's a welcome intrusion for an aging swordsman.
- King Louis XIV: You find a simple flower more beautiful than our creation?
- Louise de la Vallière: Only in that its beauty is natural, not painted on or contrived.
- King Louis XIV: There... .
- [the king shreds her flower to pieces]
- King Louis XIV: You see how transitory your natural beauty is.