"Doesthekingexileme？"
"Donotactasifyouwereplayingatthegamechildrenplayatwhentheyhavetotryandguesswhereathinghasbeenhidden，andareinformed，byabellbeingrung，whentheyareapproachingneartoit，orgoingawayfromit。"
"Speak，then。"
"Guess。"
"Youalarmme。"
"Bah！
thatisbecauseyouhavenotguessed，then。"
"Whatdidthekingsaytoyou？？Inthenameofourfriendship，donotdeceiveme。"
"Thekinghasnotsaidonewordtome。"
"Youarekillingmewithimpatience，D'Herblay。？AmIstillsuperintendent？"
"Aslongasyoulike。"
"Butwhatextraordinaryempirehaveyousosuddenlyacquiredoverhismajesty'smind？"
"Ah！
that'sthepoint。"
"Hedoesyourbidding？"
"I
believeso。"
"Itishardlycredible。"
"Soanyonewouldsay。"
"D'Herblay，byouralliance，byourfriendship，byeverythingyouholddearestintheworld，speakopenly，Iimploreyou。？BywhatmeanshaveyousucceededinovercomingLouisXIV。'sprejudices，forhedidnotlikeyou，Iamcertain。"
"Thekingwilllikemenow，"saidAramis，layingstressuponthelastword。
"Youhavesomethingparticular，then，betweenyou？"
"Yes。"
"A
secret，perhaps？"
"A
secret。"
"A
secretofsuchanatureastochangehismajesty'sinterests？"
"Youare，indeed，amanofsuperiorintelligence，monseigneur，andhavemadeaparticularlyaccurateguess。？Ihave，infact，discoveredasecret，ofanaturetochangetheinterestsofthekingofFrance。"
"Ah！"
saidFouquet，withthereserveofamanwhodoesnotwishtoaskanymorequestions。
"Andyoushalljudgeofityourself，"pursuedAramis;"andyoushalltellmeifIammistakenwithregardtotheimportanceofthissecret。"
"I
amlistening，sinceyouaregoodenoughtounbosomyourselftome;onlydonotforgetthatIhaveaskedyouaboutnothingwhichitmaybeindiscreetinyoutocommunicate。"
Aramisseemed，foramoment，asifhewerecollectinghimself。
"Donotspeak！"saidFouquet:"thereisstilltimeenough。"
"Doyouremember，"saidthebishop，castingdownhiseyes，"thebirthofLouisXIV。？"
"Asifitwereyesterday。"
"Haveyoueverheardanythingparticularrespectinghisbirth？"
"Nothing;
exceptthatthekingwasnotreallythesonofLouisXIII。"
"Thatdoesnotmattertous，orthekingdomeither;heisthesonofhisfather，saystheFrenchlaw，whosefatherisrecognizedbylaw。"
"True;
butitisagravematter，whenthequalityofracesiscalledintoquestion。"
"A
merelysecondaryquestion，afterall。？Sothat，infact，youhaveneverlearnedorheardanythinginparticular？"
"Nothing。"
"Thatiswheremysecretbegins。？Thequeen，youmustknow，insteadofbeingdeliveredofason，wasdeliveredoftwins。"
Fouquetlookedupsuddenlyashereplied:
"Andthesecondisdead？"
"Youwillsee。？Thesetwinsseemedlikelytoberegardedastheprideoftheirmother，andthehopeofFrance;buttheweaknatureoftheking，hissuperstitiousfeelings，madehimapprehendaseriesofconflictsbetweentwochildrenwhoserightswereequal;soheputoutoftheway—hesuppressed—oneofthetwins。"
"Suppressed，doyousay？"
"Havepatience。？Boththechildrengrewup;
theoneonthethrone，whoseministeryouare—theother，whoismyfriend，ingloomandisolation。"
"Goodheavens！？Whatareyousaying，Monsieurd'Herblay？？Andwhatisthispoorprincedoing？"
"Askme，rather，whathashedone。"
"Yes，yes。"
"Hewasbroughtupinthecountry，andthenthrownintoafortresswhichgoesbythenameoftheBastile。"
"Isitpossible？"criedthesurintendant，claspinghishands。
"Theonewasthemostfortunateofmen:theotherthemostunhappyandmiserableofalllivingbeings。"
"Doeshismothernotknowthis？"
"AnneofAustriaknowsitall。"
"Andtheking？"
"Knowsabsolutelynothing。"
"Somuchthebetter，"saidFouquet。
ThisremarkseemedtomakeagreatimpressiononAramis;helookedatFouquetwiththemostanxiousexpressionofcountenance。
"I
begyourpardon;Iinterruptedyou，"saidFouquet。
"I
wassaying，"resumedAramis，"thatthispoorprincewastheunhappiestofhumanbeings，whenHeaven，whosethoughtsareoverallHiscreatures，undertooktocometohisassistance。"
"Oh！
inwhatway？？Tellme。"
"Youwillsee。？Thereigningking—Isaythereigningking—youcanguessverywellwhy？"
"No。？Why？"
"Becausebothofthem，beinglegitimateprinces，oughttohavebeenkings。？Isnotthatyouropinion？"
"Itis，certainly。"
"Unreservedly？"
"Mostunreservedly;twinsareonepersonintwobodies。"
"I
ampleasedthatalegistofyourlearningandauthorityshouldhavepronouncedsuchanopinion。？Itisagreed，then，thateachofthempossessedequalrights，isitnot？"
"Incontestably！
but，graciousheavens，whatanextraordinarycircumstance！"
"Wearenotattheendofityet。—Patience。"
"Oh！？Ishallfind'patience'enough。"
"Heavenwishedtoraiseupforthatoppressedchildanavenger，orasupporter，orvindicator，ifyoupreferit。？Ithappenedthatthereigningking，theusurper—youarequiteofmyopinion，I
believe，thatitisanactofusurpationquietlytoenjoy，andselfishlytoassumetherightover，aninheritancetowhichamanhasonlyhalfaright？"
"Yes，usurpationistheword。"
"Inthatcase，Icontinue。？ItwasHeaven'swillthattheusurpershouldpossess，inthepersonofhisfirstminister，amanofgreattalent，oflargeandgenerousnature。"
"Well，well，"saidFouquet，"Iunderstandyou;youhaverelieduponmetorepairthewrongwhichhasbeendonetothisunhappybrotherofLouisXIV。？Youhavethoughtwell;Iwillhelpyou。？Ithankyou，D'Herblay，Ithankyou。"
"Oh，no，itisnotthatatall;youhavenotallowedmetofinish，"saidAramis，perfectlyunmoved。
"I
willnotsayanotherword，then。"
"M。
Fouquet，Iwasobserving，theministerofthereigningsovereign，wassuddenlytakenintothegreatestaversion，andmenacedwiththeruinofhisfortune，lossofliberty，lossoflifeeven，byintrigueandpersonalhatred，towhichthekinggavetooreadilyanattentiveear。？ButHeavenpermits（still，however，outofconsiderationfortheunhappyprincewhohadbeensacrificed）thatM。Fouquetshouldinhisturnhaveadevotedfriendwhoknewthisstatesecret，andfeltthathepossessedstrengthandcourageenoughtodivulgethissecret，afterhavinghadthestrengthtocarryitlockedupinhisownheartfortwentyyears。
"Gonofarther，"saidFouquet，fullofgenerousfeelings。？"Iunderstandyou，andcanguesseverythingnow。？Youwenttoseethekingwhentheintelligenceofmyarrestreachedyou;youimploredhim，herefusedtolistentoyou;thenyouthreatenedhimwiththatsecret，threatenedtorevealit，andLouisXIV。，alarmedattheriskofitsbetrayal，grantedtotheterrorofyourindiscretionwhatherefusedtoyourgenerousintercession。？Iunderstand，I
understand;youhavethekinginyourpower;Iunderstand。"
"Youunderstandnothing—asyet，"
repliedAramis，"andagainyouinterruptme。？Then，too，allowmetoobservethatyoupaynoattentiontologicalreasoning，andseemtoforgetwhatyououghtmosttoremember。"
"Whatdoyoumean？"
"YouknowuponwhatIlaidthegreateststressatthebeginningofourconversation？"
"Yes，hismajesty'shate，invinciblehateforme;yes，butwhatfeelingofhatecouldresistthethreatofsucharevelation？"
"Sucharevelation，doyousay？thatistheverypointwhereyourlogicfailsyou。？What！doyousupposethatifIhadmadesucharevelationtotheking，Ishouldhavebeenalivenow？"
"Itisnottenminutesagothatyouwerewiththeking。"
"Thatmaybe。？Hemightnothavehadthetimetogetmekilledoutright，buthewouldhavehadthetimetogetmegaggedandthrowninadungeon。？Come，come，showalittleconsistencyinyourreasoning，mordieu！"
Andbythemereuseofthisword，whichwassothoroughlyhisoldmusketeer'sexpression，forgottenbyonewhoneverseemedtoforgetanything，Fouquetcouldnotbutunderstandtowhatapitchofexaltationthecalm，impenetrablebishopofVanneshadwroughthimself。？Heshuddered。
"Andthen，"repliedthelatter，afterhavingmasteredhisfeelings，"shouldIbethemanIreallyam，shouldIbethetruefriendyoubelieveme，ifIweretoexposeyou，whomthekingalreadyhatessobitterly，toafeelingmorethanevertobedreadedinthatyoungman？？Tohaverobbedhim，isnothing;tohaveaddressedthewomanheloves，isnotmuch;buttoholdinyourkeepingbothhiscrownandhishonor，why，hewouldpluckoutyourheartwithhisownhands。"
"Youhavenotallowedhimtopenetrateyoursecret，then？"
"I
wouldsooner，farsooner，haveswallowedatonedraughtallthepoisonsthatMithridatesdrankintwentyyears，inordertotryandavoiddeath，thanhavebetrayedmysecrettotheking。"
"Whathaveyoudone，then？"
"Ah！
nowwearecomingtothepoint，monseigneur。？IthinkIshallnotfailtoexciteinyoualittleinterest。？Youarelistening，Ihope。"
"HowcanyouaskmeifIamlistening？？Goon。"
Aramiswalkedsoftlyallroundtheroom，satisfiedhimselfthattheywerealone，andthatallwassilent，andthenreturnedandplacedhimselfclosetothearmchairinwhichFouquetwasseated，awaitingwiththedeepestanxietytherevelationhehadtomake。
"I
forgottotellyou，"resumedAramis，addressinghimselftoFouquet，wholistenedtohimwiththemostabsorbedattention—"Iforgottomentionamostremarkablecircumstancerespectingthesetwins，namely，thatGodhadformedthemsostartlingly，somiraculously，likeeachother，thatitwouldbeutterlyimpossibletodistinguishtheonefromtheother。？Theirownmotherwouldnotbeabletodistinguishthem。"
"Isitpossible？"exclaimedFouquet。
"Thesamenoblecharacterintheirfeatures，thesamecarriage，thesamestature，thesamevoice。"
"Buttheirthoughts？degreeofintelligence？theirknowledgeofhumanlife？"
"Thereisinequalitythere，Iadmit，monseigneur。？Yes;fortheprisoneroftheBastileis，mostincontestably，superiorineverywaytohisbrother;andif，fromhisprison，thisunhappyvictimweretopasstothethrone，Francewouldnot，fromtheearliestperiodofitshistory，perhaps，havehadamastermorepowerfulingeniusandnobilityofcharacter。"
Fouquetburiedhisfaceinhishands，asifhewereoverwhelmedbytheweightofthisimmensesecret。？Aramisapproachedhim。
"Thereisafurtherinequality，"hesaid，continuinghisworkoftemptation，"aninequalitywhichconcernsyourself，monseigneur，betweenthetwins，bothsonsofLouisXIII。，namely，thelastcomerdoesnotknowM。
Colbert。"
Fouquetraisedhisheadimmediately—hisfeatureswerepaleanddistorted。？Thebolthadhititsmark—nothisheart，buthismindandcomprehension。
"I
understandyou，"hesaidtoAramis;"youareproposingaconspiracytome？"
"Somethinglikeit。"
"Oneofthoseattemptswhich，asyousaidatthebeginningofthisconversation，altersthefateofempires？"
"Andofsuperintendents，too;yes，monseigneur。"
"Inaword，youproposethatIshouldagreetothesubstitutionofthesonofLouisXIII。，whoisnowaprisonerintheBastile，forthesonofLouisXIII。，whoisatthismomentasleepintheChamberofMorpheus？"
Aramissmiledwiththesinisterexpressionofthesinisterthoughtwhichwaspassingthroughhisbrain。？"Exactly，"
hesaid。
"Haveyouthought，"continuedFouquet，becominganimatedwiththatstrengthoftalentwhichinafewsecondsoriginates，andmaturestheconceptionofaplan，andwiththatlargenessofviewwhichforeseesallconsequences，andembraceseveryresultataglance—"haveyouthoughtthatwemustassemblethenobility，theclergy，andthethirdestateoftherealm;thatweshallhavetodeposethereigningsovereign，todisturbbysofrightfulascandalthetomboftheirdeadfather，tosacrificethelife，thehonorofawoman，AnneofAustria，thelifeandpeaceofmindandheartofanotherwoman，MariaTheresa;andsupposethatitwerealldone，ifweweretosucceedindoingit—"
"I
donotunderstandyou，"continuedAramis，coldly。？"Thereisnotasinglesyllableofsenseinallyouhavejustsaid。"
"What！"
saidthesuperintendent，surprised，"amanlikeyourefusetoviewthepracticalbearingofthecase！？Doyouconfineyourselftothechildishdelightofapoliticalillusion，andneglectthechancesofitsbeingcarriedintoexecution;inotherwords，therealityitself，isitpossible？"
"Myfriend，"saidAramis，emphasizingthewordwithakindofdisdainfulfamiliarity，"whatdoesHeavendoinordertosubstituteonekingforanother？"
"Heaven！"
exclaimedFouquet—"Heavengivesdirectionstoitsagent，whoseizesuponthedoomedvictim，hurrieshimaway，andseatsthetriumphantrivalontheemptythrone。？Butyouforgetthatthisagentiscalleddeath。？Oh！？Monsieurd'Herblay，inHeaven'sname，tellmeifyouhavehadtheidea—"
"Thereisnoquestionofthat，monseigneur;？youaregoingbeyondtheobjectinview。？WhospokeofLouisXIV。'sdeath？whospokeofadoptingtheexamplewhichHeavensetsinfollowingoutthestrictexecutionofitsdecrees？？No，IwishyoutounderstandthatHeaveneffectsitspurposeswithoutconfusionordisturbance，withoutexcitingcommentorremark，withoutdifficultyorexertion;andthatmen，inspiredbyHeaven，succeedlikeHeavenitself，inalltheirundertakings，inalltheyattempt，inalltheydo。"
"Whatdoyoumean？"
"I
mean，myfriend，"returnedAramis，withthesameintonationonthewordfriendthathehadappliedtoitthefirsttime—"Imeanthatiftherehasbeenanyconfusion，scandal，andeveneffortinthesubstitutionoftheprisonerfortheking，Idefyyoutoproveit。"
"What！"
criedFouquet，whiterthanthehandkerchiefwithwhichhewipedhistemples，"whatdoyousay？"
"Gototheking'sapartment，"continuedAramis，tranquilly，"andyouwhoknowthemystery，IdefyevenyoutoperceivethattheprisoneroftheBastileislyinginhisbrother'sbed。"
"Buttheking，"stammeredFouquet，seizedwithhorrorattheintelligence。
"Whatking？"saidAramis，inhisgentlesttone;"theonewhohatesyou，ortheonewholikesyou？"
"Theking—of—yesterday。"
"Thekingofyesterday！bequiteeasyonthatscore;hehasgonetotaketheplaceintheBastilewhichhisvictimoccupiedforsomanyyears。"
"GreatGod！？Andwhotookhimthere？"
"I。"
"You？"
"Yes，andinthesimplestway。？Icarriedhimawaylastnight。？Whilehewasdescendingintomidnight，theotherwasascendingintoday。？Idonotthinktherehasbeenanydisturbancewhatever。？Aflashoflightningwithoutthunderawakensnobody。"
Fouquetutteredathick，smotheredcry，asifhehadbeenstruckbysomeinvisibleblow，andclaspinghisheadbetweenhisclenchedhands，hemurmured:"Youdidthat？"
"Cleverlyenough，too;whatdoyouthinkofit？"
"Youdethronedtheking？imprisonedhim，too？"
"Yes，thathasbeendone。"
"Andsuchanactionwascommittedhere，atVaux？"
"Yes，here，atVaux，intheChamberofMorpheus。？Itwouldalmostseemthatithadbeenbuiltinanticipationofsuchanact。"
"Andatwhattimediditoccur？"
"Lastnight，betweentwelveandoneo'clock。"
FouquetmadeamovementasifhewereonthepointofspringinguponAramis;herestrainedhimself。？"AtVaux;
undermyroof！"hesaid，inahalf—strangledvoice。
"I
believeso！foritisstillyourhouse，anditislikelytocontinueso，sinceM。Colbertcannotrobyouofitnow。"
"Itwasundermyroof，then，monsieur，thatyoucommittedthiscrime？"
"Thiscrime？"saidAramis，stupefied。
"Thisabominablecrime！"pursuedFouquet，becomingmoreandmoreexcited;
"thiscrimemoreexecrablethananassassination！thiscrimewhichdishonorsmynameforever，andentailsuponmethehorrorofposterity。"
"Youarenotinyoursenses，monsieur，"repliedAramis，inanirresolutetoneofvoice;"youarespeakingtooloudly;takecare！"
"I
willcalloutsoloudly，thatthewholeworldshallhearme。"
"MonsieurFouquet，takecare！"
Fouquetturnedroundtowardstheprelate，whomhelookedatfullintheface。？"Youhavedishonoredme，"hesaid，"incommittingsofoulanactoftreason，soheinousacrimeuponmyguest，upononewhowaspeacefullyreposingbeneathmyroof。？Oh！woe，woeisme！"
"Woetotheman，rather，whobeneathyourroofmeditatedtheruinofyourfortune，yourlife。？Doyouforgetthat？"
"Hewasmyguest，mysovereign。"
Aramisrose，hiseyesliterallybloodshot，hismouthtremblingconvulsively。？"HaveIamanoutofhissensestodealwith？"hesaid。
"Youhaveanhonorablemantodealwith。"
"Youaremad。"
"A
manwhowillpreventyouconsummatingyourcrime。"
"Youaremad，Isay。"
"A
manwhowouldsooner，oh！farsooner，die;whowouldkillyoueven，ratherthanallowyoutocompletehisdishonor。"
AndFouquetsnatcheduphissword，whichD'Artagnanhadplacedattheheadofhisbed，andclencheditresolutelyinhishand。？Aramisfrowned，andthrusthishandintohisbreastasifinsearchofaweapon。？ThismovementdidnotescapeFouquet，who，fullofnoblenessandprideinhismagnanimity，threwhisswordtoadistancefromhim，andapproachedAramissocloseastotouchhisshoulderwithhisdisarmedhand。？"Monsieur，"hesaid，"Iwouldsoonerdiehereonthespotthansurvivethisterribledisgrace;andifyouhaveanypityleftforme，I
entreatyoutotakemylife。"
Aramisremainedsilentandmotionless。
"Youdonotreply？"saidFouquet。
Aramisraisedhisheadgently，andaglimmerofhopemightbeseenoncemoretoanimatehiseyes。？"Reflect，monseigneur，"hesaid，"uponeverythingwehavetoexpect。？Asthematternowstands，thekingisstillalive，andhisimprisonmentsavesyourlife。"
"Yes，"
repliedFouquet，"youmayhavebeenactingonmybehalf，butIwillnot，donot，acceptyourservices。？But，firstofall，Idonotwishyourruin。？Youwillleavethishouse。"
Aramisstifledtheexclamationwhichalmostescapedhisbrokenheart。
"I
amhospitabletowardsallwhoaredwellersbeneathmyroof，"continuedFouquet，withanairofinexpressiblemajesty;"youwillnotbemorefatallylostthanhewhoseruinyouhaveconsummated。"
"Youwillbeso，"saidAramis，inahoarse，propheticvoice，"youwillbeso，believeme。"
"I
accepttheaugury，Monsieurd'Herblay;butnothingshallpreventme，nothingshallstopme。？YouwillleaveVaux—
youmustleaveFrance;Igiveyoufourhourstoplaceyourselfoutoftheking'sreach。"
"Fourhours？"saidAramis，scornfullyandincredulously。
"UponthewordofFouquet，nooneshallfollowyoubeforetheexpirationofthattime。？Youwillthereforehavefourhours'advanceofthosewhomthekingmaywishtodispatchafteryou。"
Fourhours！"repeatedAramis，inathick，smotheredvoice。
"ItismorethanyouwillneedtogetonboardavesselandfleetoBelle—Isle，whichIgiveyouasaplaceofrefuge。"
"Ah！"
murmuredAramis。
"Belle—Isleisasmuchmineforyou，asVauxisminefortheking。？Go，D'Herblay，go！aslongasIlive，notahairofyourheadshallbeinjured。"
"Thankyou，"saidAramis，withacoldironyofmanner。
"Goatonce，then，andgivemeyourhand，beforewebothhastenaway;youtosaveyourlife，Itosavemyhonor。"
Aramiswithdrewfromhisbreastthehandhehadconcealedthere;itwasstainedwithhisblood。？Hehaddughisnailsintohisflesh，asifinpunishmentforhavingnursedsomanyprojects，morevain，insensate，andfleetingthanthelifeofthemanhimself。？Fouquetwashorror—stricken，andthenhisheartsmotehimwithpity。？Hethrewopenhisarmsasiftoembracehim。