Andfromthatmoment，D'Artagnan，accommodatinghisactiontothepaceofthehorse，likeatruecentaur，gaveuphisthoughtstonothing—thatistosay，toeverything。？Heaskedhimselfwhythekinghadsentforhimback;whytheIronMaskhadthrownthesilverplateatthefeetofRaoul。？Astothefirstsubject，thereplywasnegative;heknewrightwellthattheking'scallinghimwasfromnecessity。？HestillfurtherknewthatLouisXIV。mustexperienceanimperiousdesireforaprivateconversationwithonewhomthepossessionofsuchasecretplacedonalevelwiththehighestpowersofthekingdom。？Butastosayingexactlywhattheking'swishwas，D'Artagnanfoundhimselfcompletelyataloss。？Themusketeerhadnodoubts，either，uponthereasonwhichhadurgedtheunfortunatePhilippetorevealhischaracterandbirth。？Philippe，buriedforeverbeneathamaskofsteel，exiledtoacountrywherethemenseemedlittlemorethanslavesoftheelements;Philippe，deprivedevenofthesocietyofD'Artagnan，whohadloadedhimwithhonorsanddelicateattentions，hadnothingmoretoseethanodiousspectersinthisworld，and，despairbeginningtodevourhim，hepouredhimselfforthincomplaints，inthebeliefthathisrevelationswouldraiseupsomeavengerforhim。？Themannerinwhichthemusketeerhadbeennearkillinghistwobestfriends，thedestinywhichhadsostrangelybroughtAthostoparticipateinthegreatstatesecret，thefarewellofRaoul，theobscurityofthefuturewhichthreatenedtoendinamelancholydeath;allthisthrewD'Artagnanincessantlybackonlamentablepredictionsandforebodings，whichtherapidityofhispacedidnotdissipate，asitusedformerlytodo。？D'ArtagnanpassedfromtheseconsiderationstotheremembranceoftheproscribedPorthosandAramis。？Hesawthemboth，fugitives，tracked，ruined—laboriousarchitectsoffortunestheyhadlost;andasthekingcalledforhismanofexecutioninhoursofvengeanceandmalice，D'Artagnantrembledattheveryideaofreceivingsomecommissionthatwouldmakehisverysoulbleed。？Sometimes，ascendinghills，whenthewindedhorsebreathedhardfromhisrednostrils，andheavedhisflanks，thecaptain，lefttomorefreedomofthought，reflectedontheprodigiousgeniusofAramis，ageniusofacumenandintrigue，amatchtowhichtheFrondeandthecivilwarhadproducedbuttwice。？Soldier，priest，diplomatist;gallant，avaricious，cunning;Aramishadnevertakenthegoodthingsofthislifeexceptasstepping—stonestorisetogiddierends。？Generousinspirit，ifnotloftyinheart，heneverdidillbutforthesakeofshiningevenyetmorebrilliantly。？Towardstheendofhiscareer，atthemomentofreachingthegoal，likethepatricianFuscus，hehadmadeafalsestepuponaplank，andhadfallenintothesea。？ButPorthos，good，harmlessPorthos！？ToseePorthoshungry，toseeMousquetonwithoutgoldlace，imprisoned，perhaps;toseePierrefonds，Bracieux，razedtotheverystones，dishonoredeventothetimber，—theseweresomanypoignantgriefsforD'Artagnan，andeverytimethatoneofthesegriefsstruckhim，heboundedlikeahorseatthestingofagadflybeneaththevaultsoffoliagewherehehassoughtshadyshelterfromtheburningsun。？Neverwasthemanofspiritsubjectedtoennui，ifhisbodywasexposedtofatigue;neverdidthemanofhealthybodyfailtofindlifelight，ifhehadsomethingtoengagehismind。？D'Artagnan，ridingfast，thinkingasconstantly，alightedfromhishorseinPairs，freshandtenderinhismusclesastheathletepreparingforthegymnasium。？Thekingdidnotexpecthimsosoon，andhadjustdepartedforthechasetowardsMeudon。？D'Artagnan，insteadofridingaftertheking，ashewouldformerlyhavedone，tookoffhisboots，hadabath，andwaitedtillhismajestyshouldreturndustyandtired。？Heoccupiedtheintervaloffivehoursintaking，aspeoplesay，theairofthehouse，andinarminghimselfagainstallillchances。？Helearnedthattheking，duringthelastfortnight，hadbeengloomy;thatthequeen—motherwasillandmuchdepressed;thatMonsieur，theking'sbrother，wasexhibitingadevotionalturn;thatMadamehadthevapors;andthatM。deGuichewasgonetooneofhisestates。？HelearnedthatM。Colbertwasradiant;thatM。Fouquetconsultedafreshphysicianeveryday，whostilldidnotcurehim，andthathisprincipalcomplaintwasonewhichphysiciansdonotusuallycure，unlesstheyarepoliticalphysicians。？Theking，D'Artagnanwastold，behavedinthekindestmannertoM。Fouquet，anddidnotallowhimtobeeveroutofhissight;butthesurintendant，touchedtotheheart，likeoneofthosefinetreesawormhaspunctured，wasdecliningdaily，inspiteoftheroyalsmile，thatsunofcourttrees。？D'ArtagnanlearnedthatMademoiselledelaValli鑢ehadbecomeindispensabletotheking;thattheking，duringhissportingexcursions，ifhedidnottakeherwithhim，wrotetoherfrequently，nolongerverses，but，whichwasmuchworse，prose，andthatwholepagesatatime。？Thus，asthepoliticalPleiadofthedaysaid，thefirstkingintheworldwasseendescendingfromhishorsewithanardorbeyondcompare，andonthecrownofhishatscrawlingbombasticphrases，whichM。deSaint—Aignan，aide—de—campinperpetuity，carriedtoLaValli鑢eattheriskoffounderinghishorses。？Duringthistime，deerandpheasantswerelefttothefreeenjoymentoftheirnature，huntedsolazilythat，itwassaid，theartofveneryrangreatriskofdegeneratingatthecourtofFrance。？D'ArtagnanthenthoughtofthewishesofpoorRaoul，ofthatdespondingletterdestinedforawomanwhopassedherlifeinhoping，andasD'Artagnanlovedtophilosophizealittleoccasionally，heresolvedtoprofitbytheabsenceofthekingtohaveaminute'stalkwithMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？Thiswasaveryeasyaffair;whilethekingwashunting，LouisewaswalkingwithsomeotherladiesinoneofthegalleriesofthePalaisRoyal，exactlywherethecaptainofthemusketeershadsomeguardstoinspect。？D'Artagnandidnotdoubtthat，ifhecouldbutopentheconversationonRaoul，Louisemightgivehimgroundsforwritingaconsolatorylettertothepoorexile;andhope，oratleastconsolationforRaoul，inthestateofheartinwhichhehadlefthim，wasthesun，waslifetotwomen，whowereverydeartoourcaptain。？Hedirectedhiscourse，therefore，tothespotwhereheknewheshouldfindMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？D'ArtagnanfoundLaValli鑢ethecenterofthecircle。？Inherapparentsolitude，theking'sfavoritereceived，likeaqueen，more，perhaps，thanthequeen，ahomageofwhichMadamehadbeensoproud，whenalltheking'slooksweredirectedtoherandcommandedthelooksofthecourtiers。？D'Artagnan，althoughnosquireofdames，received，nevertheless，civilitiesandattentionsfromtheladies;hewaspolite，asabravemanalwaysis，andhisterriblereputationhadconciliatedasmuchfriendshipamongthemenasadmirationamongthewomen。？Onseeinghimenter，therefore，theyimmediatelyaccostedhim;and，asisnotunfrequentlythecasewithfairladies，openedtheattackbyquestions。？"Wherehadhebeen？？Whathadbecomeofhimsolong？？Whyhadtheynotseenhimasusualmakehisfinehorsecurvetinsuchbeautifulstyle，tothedelightandastonishmentofthecuriousfromtheking'sbalcony？"
Herepliedthathehadjustcomefromthelandoforanges。？Thissetalltheladieslaughing。？Thoseweretimesinwhicheverybodytraveled，butinwhich，notwithstanding，ajourneyofahundredleagueswasaproblemoftensolvedbydeath。
"Fromthelandoforanges？"criedMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente。？"FromSpain？"
"Eh！
eh！"saidthemusketeer。
"FromMalta？"echoedMontalais。
"Mafoi！？Youarecomingverynear，ladies。"
"Isitanisland？"askedLaValli鑢e。
"Mademoiselle，"
saidD'Artagnan;"Iwillnotgiveyouthetroubleofseekinganyfurther;
IcomefromthecountrywhereM。deBeaufortis，atthismoment，embarkingforAlgiers。"
"Haveyouseenthearmy？"askedseveralwarlikefairones。
"AsplainlyasIseeyou，"repliedD'Artagnan。
"Andthefleet？"
"Yes，Isaweverything。"
"Haveweanyofusanyfriendsthere？"saidMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente，coldly，butinamannertoattractattentiontoaquestionthatwasnotwithoutitscalculatedaim。
"Why，"
repliedD'Artagnan，"yes;therewereM。delaGuilloti鑢e，M。deManchy，M。deBragelonne—"
LaValli鑢ebecamepale。？"M。deBragelonne！"criedtheperfidiousAthena飐。？"Eh，what！—ishegonetothewars？—he！"
Montalaistrodonhertoe，butallinvain。
"Doyouknowwhatmyopinionis？"continuedshe，addressingD'Artagnan。
"No，mademoiselle;butIshouldlikeverymuchtoknowit。"
"Myopinionis，then，thatallthemenwhogotothiswararedesperate，despondingmen，whomlovehastreatedill;andwhogototryiftheycannotfindjet—complexionedwomenmorekindthanfaironeshavebeen。"
Someoftheladieslaughed;LaValli鑢ewasevidentlyconfused;Montalaiscoughedloudenoughtowakenthedead。
"Mademoiselle，"
interruptedD'Artagnan，"youareinerrorwhenyouspeakofblackwomenatGigelli;thewomentherehavenotjetfaces;itistruetheyarenotwhite—
theyareyellow。"
"Yellow！"
exclaimedthebevyoffairbeauties。
"Eh！donotdisparageit。？Ihaveneverseenafinercolortomatchwithblackeyesandacoralmouth。"
"SomuchthebetterforM。deBragelonne，"saidMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente，withpersistentmalice。？"Hewillmakeamendsforhisloss。？Poorfellow！"
Aprofoundsilencefollowedthesewords;andD'Artagnanhadtimetoobserveandreflectthatwomen—milddoves—treateachothermorecruellythantigers。？ButmakingLaValli鑢epaledidnotsatisfyAthena飐;shedeterminedtomakeherblushlikewise。？Resumingtheconversationwithoutpause，"Doyouknow，Louise，"saidshe，"thatthereisagreatsinonyourconscience？"
"Whatsin，mademoiselle？"stammeredtheunfortunategirl，lookingroundherforsupport，withoutfindingit。
"Eh！—
why，"continuedAthena飐，"thepooryoungmanwasaffiancedtoyou;
helovedyou;youcasthimoff。"
"Well，thatisarightwhicheveryhonestwomanhas，"saidMontalais，inanaffectedtone。？"Whenweknowwecannotconstitutethehappinessofaman，itismuchbettertocasthimoff。"
"Casthimoff！orrefusehim！—that'sallverywell，"saidAthena飐，"butthatisnotthesinMademoiselledelaValli鑢ehastoreproachherselfwith。？TheactualsinissendingpoorBragelonnetothewars;andtowarsinwhichdeathissoverylikelytobemetwith。"？Louisepressedherhandoverhericybrow。？"Andifhedies，"continuedherpitilesstormentor，"youwillhavekilledhim。？Thatisthesin。"
Louise，half—dead，caughtatthearmofthecaptainofthemusketeers，whosefacebetrayedunusualemotion。？"Youwishedtospeakwithme，Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidshe，inavoicebrokenbyangerandpain。？"Whathadyoutosaytome？"
D'Artagnanmadeseveralstepsalongthegallery，holdingLouiseonhisarm;then，whentheywerefarenoughremovedfromtheothers—"WhatIhadtosaytoyou，mademoiselle，"repliedhe，"MademoiselledeTonnay—Charentehasjustexpressed;roughlyandunkindly，itistruebutstillinitsentirety。"
Sheutteredafaintcry;piercedtotheheartbythisnewwound，shewentherway，likeoneofthosepoorbirdswhich，struckuntodeath，seektheshadeofthethicketinwhichtodie。？Shedisappearedatonedoor，atthemomentthekingwasenteringbyanother。？Thefirstglanceofthekingwasdirectedtowardstheemptyseatofhismistress。？NotperceivingLaValli鑢e，afrowncameoverhisbrow;butassoonashesawD'Artagnan，whobowedtohim—"Ah！monsieur！"criedhe，"youhavebeendiligent！？Iammuchpleasedwithyou。"？Thiswasthesuperlativeexpressionofroyalsatisfaction。？Manymenwouldhavebeenreadytolaydowntheirlivesforsuchaspeechfromtheking。？Themaidsofhonorandthecourtiers，whohadformedarespectfulcircleroundthekingonhisentrance，drewback，onobservinghewishedtospeakprivatelywithhiscaptainofthemusketeers。？Thekingledthewayoutofthegallery，afterhavingagain，withhiseyes，soughteverywhereforLaValli鑢e，whoseabsencehecouldnotaccountfor。？Themomenttheywereoutofthereachofcuriousears，"Well！？Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidhe，"theprisoner？"
"Isinhisprison，sire。"
"Whatdidhesayontheroad？"
"Nothing，sire。"
"Whatdidhedo？"
"Therewasamomentatwhichthefisherman—whotookmeinhisboattoSainte—Marguerite—revolted，anddidhisbesttokillme。？The—theprisonerdefendedmeinsteadofattemptingtofly。"
Thekingbecamepale。？"Enough！"saidhe;andD'Artagnanbowed。？Louiswalkedabouthiscabinetwithhastysteps。？"WereyouatAntibes，"saidhe，"whenMonsieurdeBeaufortcamethere？"
"No，sire;
Iwassettingoffwhenmonsieurleducarrived。"
"Ah！"
whichwasfollowedbyafreshsilence。？"Whomdidyouseethere？"
"Agreatmanypersons，"saidD'Artagnan，coolly。
Thekingperceivedhewasunwillingtospeak。？"I
havesentforyou，monsieurlecapitaine，todesireyoutogoandpreparemylodgingsatNantes。"
"AtNantes！"criedD'Artagnan。
"InBretagne。"
"Yes，sire，itisinBretagne。？WillyoumajestymakesolongajourneyastoNantes？"
"TheStatesareassembledthere，"repliedtheking。？"Ihavetwodemandstomakeofthem:Iwishtobethere。"
"WhenshallIsetout？"saidthecaptain。
"Thisevening—to—morrow—to—morrowevening;foryoumuststandinneedofrest。"
"Ihaverested，sire。"
"Thatiswell。？Thenbetweenthisandto—morrowevening，whenyouplease。"
D'Artagnanbowedasiftotakehisleave;but，perceivingthekingverymuchembarrassed，"Willyoumajesty，"saidhe，steppingtwopacesforward，"takethecourtwithyou？"
"CertainlyIshall。"
"Thenyoumajestywill，doubtless，wantthemusketeers？"？Andtheeyeofthekingsankbeneaththepenetratingglanceofthecaptain。
"Takeabrigadeofthem，"repliedLouis。
"Isthatall？？Hasyourmajestynootherorderstogiveme？"
"No—ah—
yes。"
"Iamallattention，sire。"
"AtthecastleofNantes，whichIhearisveryillarranged，youwilladoptthepracticeofplacingmusketeersatthedoorofeachoftheprincipaldignitariesIshalltakewithme。"
"Oftheprincipal？"
"Yes。"
"Forinstance，atthedoorofM。deLyonne？"
"Yes。"
"AndthatofM。Letellier？"
"Yes。"
"OfM。deBrienne？"
"Yes。"
"Andofmonsieurlesurintendant？"
"Withoutdoubt。"
"Verywell，sire。？Byto—morrowIshallhavesetout。"
"Oh，yes;
butonemoreword，Monsieurd'Artagnan。？AtNantesyouwillmeetwithM。leDucdeGesvres，captainoftheguards。？Besurethatyourmusketeersareplacedbeforehisguardsarrive。？Precedencealwaysbelongstothefirstcomer。"
"Yes，sire。"
"AndifM。
deGesvresshouldquestionyou？"
"Questionme，sire！？IsitlikelythatM。deGesvresshouldquestionme？"？Andthemusketeer，turningcavalierlyonhisheel，disappeared。？"ToNantes！"saidhetohimself，ashedescendedfromthestairs。？"Whydidhenotdaretosay，fromthencetoBelle—Isle？"
Ashereachedthegreatgates，oneofM。Brienne'sclerkscamerunningafterhim，exclaiming，"Monsieurd'Artagnan！？Ibegyourpardon—"
"Whatisthematter，MonsieurAriste？"
"Thekinghasdesiredmetogiveyouthisorder。"
"Uponyourcash—box？"askedthemusketeer。
"No，monsieur;onthatofM。Fouquet。"
D'Artagnanwassurprised，buthetooktheorder，whichwasintheking'sownwriting，andwasfortwohundredpistoles。？"What！"thoughthe，afterhavingpolitelythankedM。Brienne'sclerk，"M。Fouquetistopayforthejourney，then！？Mordioux！thatisabitofpureLouisXI。？WhywasnotthisorderonthechestofM。Colbert？？Hewouldhavepaiditwithsuchjoy。"？AndD'Artagnan，faithfultohisprincipleofneverlettinganorderatsightgetcold，wentstraighttothehouseofM。Fouquet，toreceivehistwohundredpistoles。
ChapterXXXV:
TheLastSupper。
Thesuperintendenthadnodoubtreceivedadviceoftheapproachingdeparture，forhewasgivingafarewelldinnertohisfriends。？Fromthebottomtothetopofthehouse，thehurryoftheservantsbearingdishes，andthediligenceoftheregistres，denotedanapproachingchangeinofficesandkitchen。？D'Artagnan，withhisorderinhishand，presentedhimselfattheoffices，whenhewastolditwastoolatetopaycash，thechestwasclosed。？Heonlyreplied:"Ontheking'sservice。"
Theclerk，alittleputoutbytheseriousairofthecaptain，replied，that"thatwasaveryrespectablereason，butthatthecustomsofthehousewererespectablelikewise;andthat，inconsequence，hebeggedthebearertocallagainnextday。"？D'ArtagnanaskedifhecouldnotseeM。Fouquet。？TheclerkrepliedthatM。lesurintendantdidnotinterferewithsuchdetails，andrudelyclosedtheouterdoorinthecaptain'sface。？Butthelatterhadforeseenthisstroke，andplacedhisbootbetweenthedoorandthedoor—case，sothatthelockdidnotcatch，andtheclerkwasstillnosetonosewithhisinterlocutor。？Thismadehimchangehistone，andsay，withterrifiedpoliteness，"IfmonsieurwishestospeaktoM。lesurintendant，hemustgototheante—chambers;thesearetheoffices，wheremonseigneurnevercomes。"
"Oh！
verywell！？Wherearethey？"
repliedD'Artagnan。
"Ontheothersideofthecourt，"saidtheclerk，delightedtobefree。？D'Artagnancrossedthecourt，andfellinwithacrowdofservants。
"Monseigneurseesnobodyatthishour，"hewasansweredbyafellowcarryingavermeildish，inwhichwerethreepheasantsandtwelvequails。
"Tellhim，"saidthecaptain，layingholdoftheservantbytheendofhisdish，"thatIamM。d'Artagnan，captainofhismajesty'smusketeers。"
Thefellowutteredacryofsurprise，anddisappeared;D'Artagnanfollowinghimslowly。？HearrivedjustintimetomeetM。P閘issonintheante—chamber:thelatter，alittlepale，camehastilyoutofthedining—roomtolearnwhatwasthematter。？D'Artagnansmiled。
"Thereisnothingunpleasant，MonsieurP閘isson;onlyalittleordertoreceivethemoneyfor。"
"Ah！"
saidFouquet'sfriend，breathingmorefreely;andhetookthecaptainbythehand，and，dragginghimbehindhim，ledhimintothedining—room，whereanumberoffriendssurroundedthesurintendant，placedinthecenter，andburiedinthecushionsofafauteuil。？TherewereassembledalltheEpicureanswhosolatelyatVauxhaddonethehonorsofthemansionofwitandmoneyinaidofM。Fouquet。？Joyousfriends，forthemostpartfaithful，theyhadnotfledtheirprotectorattheapproachofthestorm，and，inspiteofthethreateningheavens，inspiteofthetremblingearth，theyremainedthere，smiling，cheerful，asdevotedinmisfortuneastheyhadbeeninprosperity。？OntheleftofthesurintendantsatMadamedeBelli鑢e;onhisrightwasMadameFouquet;asifbravingthelawsoftheworld，andputtingallvulgarreasonsofproprietytosilence，thetwoprotectingangelsofthismanunitedtooffer，atthemomentofthecrisis，thesupportoftheirtwinedarms。？MadamedeBelli鑢ewaspale，trembling，andfullofrespectfulattentionsformadamelasurintendante，who，withonehandonherhusband's，waslookinganxiouslytowardsthedoorbywhichP閘issonhadgoneouttobringD'Artagnan。？Thecaptainenteredatfirstfullofcourtesy，andafterwardsofadmiration，when，withhisinfallibleglance，hehaddivinedaswellastakenintheexpressionofeveryface。？Fouquetraisedhimselfupinhischair。
"Pardonme，Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidhe，"ifIdidnotmyselfreceiveyouwhencomingintheking'sname。"？Andhepronouncedthelastwordswithasortofmelancholyfirmness，whichfilledtheheartsofallhisfriendswithterror。
"Monseigneur，"
repliedD'Artagnan，"Ionlycometoyouintheking'snametodemandpaymentofanorderfortwohundredpistoles。"
ThecloudspassedfromeverybrowbutthatofFouquet，whichstillremainedovercast。
"Ah！
then，"saidhe，"perhapsyoualsoaresettingoutforNantes？"
"I
donotknowwhitherIamsettingout，monseigneur。"
"But，"
saidMadameFouquet，recoveredfromherfright，"youarenotgoingsosoon，monsieurlecapitaine，asnottodousthehonortotakeaseatwithus？"
"Madame，Ishouldesteemthatagreathonordoneme，butIamsopressedfortime，that，yousee，Ihavebeenobligedtopermitmyselftointerruptyourrepasttoprocurepaymentofmynote。"
"Thereplytowhichshallbegold，"saidFouquet，makingasigntohisintendant，whowentoutwiththeorderD'Artagnanhandedhim。
"Oh！"
saidthelatter，"Iwasnotuneasyaboutthepayment;thehouseisgood。"
A
painfulsmilepassedoverthepalefeaturesofFouquet。
"Areyouinpain？"askedMadamedeBelli鑢e。
"Doyoufeelyourattackcomingon？"askedMadameFouquet。
"Neither，thankyouboth，"saidFouquet。
"Yourattack？"saidD'Artagnan，inhisturn;"areyouunwell，monseigneur？"
"I
haveatertianfever，whichseizedmeafterthef阾eatVaux。"
"Caughtcoldinthegrottos，atnight，perhaps？"
"No，no;nothingbutagitation，thatwasall。"
"Thetoomuchheartyoudisplayedinyourreceptionoftheking，"saidLaFontaine，quietly，withoutsuspicionthathewasutteringasacrilege。
"Wecannotdevotetoomuchhearttothereceptionofourking，"saidFouquet，mildly，tohispoet。
"Monsieurmeanttosaythetoogreatardor，"interruptedD'Artagnan，withperfectfranknessandmuchamenity。？"Thefactis，monseigneur，thathospitalitywasneverpracticedasatVaux。"
MadameFouquetpermittedhercountenancetoshowclearlythatifFouquethadconductedhimselfwelltowardstheking，thekinghadhardlydonetheliketotheminister。？ButD'Artagnanknewtheterriblesecret。？HealonewithFouquetknewit;thosetwomenhadnot，theonethecouragetocomplain，theothertherighttoaccuse。？Thecaptain，towhomthetwohundredpistoleswerebrought，wasabouttotakehisleave，whenFouquet，rising，tookaglassofwine，andorderedonetobegiventoD'Artagnan。
"Monsieur，"
saidhe，"tothehealthoftheking，whatevermayhappen。"
"Andtoyourhealth，monseigneur，whatevermayhappen，"saidD'Artagnan。
Hebowed，withthesewordsofevilomen，toallthecompany，whoroseassoonastheyheardthesoundofhisspursandbootsatthebottomofthestairs。
"I，foramoment，thoughtitwasIandnotmymoneyhewanted，"saidFouquet，endeavoringtolaugh。
"You！"
criedhisfriends;"andwhatfor，inthenameofHeaven！"
"Oh！
donotdeceiveyourselves，mydearbrothersinEpicurus，"saidthesuperintendent;"Idonotwishtomakeacomparisonbetweenthemosthumblesinnerontheearth，andtheGodweadore，butremember，hegaveonedaytohisfriendsarepastwhichiscalledtheLastSupper，andwhichwasnothingbutafarewelldinner，likethatwhichwearemakingatthismoment。"
A
painfulcryofdenialarosefromallpartsofthetable。？"Shutthedoors，"saidFouquet，andtheservantsdisappeared。？"Myfriends，"continuedFouquet，loweringhisvoice，"whatwasI
formerly？？WhatamInow？？Consultamongyourselvesandreply。？Amanlikemesinkswhenhedoesnotcontinuetorise。？Whatshallwesay，then，whenhereallysinks？？Ihavenomoremoney，nomorecredit;Ihavenolongeranythingbutpowerfulenemies，andpowerlessfriends。"
"Quick！"
criedP閘isson。？"Sinceyouexplainyourselfwithsuchfrankness，itisourdutytobefrank，likewise。？Yes，youareruined—yes，youarehasteningtoyourruin—stop。？And，inthefirstplace，whatmoneyhaveweleft？"
"Sevenhundredthousandlivres，"saidtheintendant。
"Bread，"
murmuredMadameFouquet。
"Relays，"
saidP閘isson，"relays，andfly！"
"Whither？"
"ToSwitzerland—toSavoy—butfly！"
"Ifmonseigneurflies，"saidMadameBelli鑢e，"itwillbesaidthathewasguilty—wasafraid。"
"Morethanthat，itwillbesaidthatIhavecarriedawaytwentymillionswithme。"
"Wewilldrawupmemoirstojustifyyou，"saidLaFontaine。？"Fly！"
"I
willremain，"saidFouquet。？"And，besides，doesnoteverythingserveme？"
"YouhaveBelle—Isle，"criedtheAbb？Fouquet。
"AndIamnaturallygoingthere，whengoingtoNantes，"repliedthesuperintendent。？"Patience，then，patience！"
"BeforearrivingatNantes，whatadistance！"saidMadameFouquet。
"Yes，Iknowthatwell，"repliedFouquet。？"Butwhatistobedonethere？？ThekingsummonsmetotheStates。？Iknowwellitisforthepurposeofruiningme;buttorefusetogowouldbetoevinceuneasiness。"
"Well，Ihavediscoveredthemeansofreconcilingeverything，"criedP閘isson。？"YouaregoingtosetoutforNantes。"
Fouquetlookedathimwithanairofsurprise。