A knock broke the silence.

"Come in," Treville answered, his back to the door.

Turning around expecting to see a young man who would hopefully be a recruit, he instead came face to face with a young girl. She couldn't have been more than 16 years old.

"So, you're the captain" came her voice, her eyes squinted like she was judging him.

Before he could respond, the young man he had been expecting came bounding in.

"Juliette! You know you can't speak to someone like that, especially someone like the Captain. Where are your manners?" his scolding lacked the usual heat one would expect.

"I am so sorry Captain. My sister isn't usually like this, she usually has more sense," the young man spoke once more, "Juliette, go wait outside and being the charming lady I know you can be. I'll be down in a minute,"

Juliette sized Treville up once more before sighing dramatically and making her way back outside and down into the courtyard.

"Mathieu, is it?" Treville words attempting to bring the situation back to the seriousness it was, but his eyes betraying the amusement and amazement at the young girl's brazen attitude.

The young man in front of him only nodded in response, clearly unsure of what to do or say next.

"Have a seat," Treville said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk, and sat down.

"I'm sorry," the young man said, his eyes seemingly looking down at his feet.

"It's fine," Treville said, waving his hand to indicate that apologises weren't necessary and scanning the document in front of him, "The men won't cause her any trouble,"

"It's not your men I'm worried about causing trouble," the young man spoke, his words serious but containing a sense of sarcasm.

After a few moments of silent contemplation, Treville looked up from the papers and took a good look at the young man, "Everything is in order. You would make a fine recruit for the Musketeers,"

Treville's kind words prompted the man to look up at him. Treville wasn't prepared for the hesitation that presented itself.

"If you're unsure, don't accept. I only have need for the men who truly want this life," Treville's statement bringing silent contemplation about once more.

"It's not that sir," Mathieu's eyes telling the Captain that he did want this.

"Then what is it?" Treville's question hanging in the air for a moment as Mathieu decided how best to respond.

"It's Juliette, sir," Mathieu faltering a little under Treville's puzzled stare, "She's got nowhere to go,"

"Don't you have family she can stay with?" Mathieu's face fell a little at the question.

"No, sir," His eyes now full of sadness, "There's no one left. It's just me and her,"

"I can't have a woman at the garrison," Treville's response seemingly saddening Mathieu even further, although he looked as though he had been expecting it.

"I know," he said sadly as he rose. Holding out his hand to shake the Captain's, he spoke again, "Thank you for your time,"

Treville didn't even have the time to say a word. As quickly as the young man had entered his office, he was gone.

Treville sank into his chair as he sighed. Mathieu would have made a fine recruit.