"Whatisthematter？"askedFouquet。
　　"Thematteris，monseigneur，"repliedthepatronofthebark，"thatitisatrulyremarkablething—thatlightercomesalonglikeahurricane。"
　　Gourvillestarted，andmountedtothedeck，inordertoobtainabetterview。
　　Fouquetdidnotgoupwithhim，butsaidtoGourville，withrestrainedmistrust:
　　"Seewhatitis，dearfriend。"
　　Thelighterhadjustpassedtheelbow。？Itcameonsofast，thatbehinditmightbeplainlyseenthewhitewakeilluminedwiththefiresoftheday。
　　"Howtheygo，"repeatedtheskipper，"howtheygo！？Theymustbewellpaid！？Ididnotthink，"headded，"thatoarsofwoodcouldbehavebetterthanours，butyonderoarsmenprovethecontrary。"
　　"Welltheymay，"saidoneoftherowers，"theyaretwelve，andwebuteight。"
　　"Twelverowers！"repliedGourville，"twelve！impossible。"
　　Thenumberofeightrowersforalighterhadneverbeenexceeded，evenfortheking。？Thishonorhadbeenpaidtomonsieurlesurintendant，moreforthesakeofhastethanofrespect。
　　"Whatdoesitmean？"saidGourville，endeavoringtodistinguishbeneaththetent，whichwasalreadyapparent，travelerswhichthemostpiercingeyecouldnotyethavesucceededindiscovering。
　　"Theymustbeinahurry，foritisnottheking，"saidthepatron。
　　Fouquetshuddered。
　　"Bywhatsigndoyouknowthatitisnottheking？"saidGourville。
　　"Inthefirstplace，becausethereisnowhiteflagwithfleurs—de—lis，whichtheroyallighteralwayscarries。"
　　"Andthen，"saidFouquet，"becauseitisimpossibleitshouldbetheking，Gourville，asthekingwasstillinParisyesterday。"
　　Gourvillerepliedtothesurintendantbyalookwhichsaid:"Youwerethereyourselfyesterday。"
　　"Andbywhatsigndoyoumakeouttheyareinsuchhaste？"addedhe，forthesakeofgainingtime。
　　"Bythis，monsieur，"saidthepatron;"thesepeoplemusthavesetoutalongwhileafterus，andtheyhavealreadynearlyovertakenus。"
　　"Bah！"
　　saidGourville，"whotoldyouthattheydonotcomefromBeaugencyorfromMoiteven？"
　　"Wehaveseennolighterofthatshape，exceptatOrl閍ns。？ItcomesfromOrl閍ns，monsieur，andmakesgreathaste。"
　　FouquetandGourvilleexchangedaglance。？Thecaptainremarkedtheiruneasiness，and，tomisleadhim，Gourvilleimmediatelysaid:
　　"Somefriend，whohaslaidawagerhewouldcatchus;letuswinthewager，andnotallowhimtocomeupwithus。"
　　Thepatronopenedhismouthtosaythatitwasquiteimpossible，butFouquetsaidwithmuchhauteur，—"Ifitisanyonewhowishestoovertakeus，lethimcome。"
　　"Wecantry，monseigneur，"saidtheman，timidly。？"Come，youfellows，putoutyourstrength;row，row！"
　　"No，"
　　saidFouquet，"onthecontrary;stopshort。"
　　"Monseigneur！
　　whatfolly！"interruptedGourville，stoopingtowardshisear。
　　"Pullup！"repeatedFouquet。？Theeightoarsstopped，andresistingthewater，createdaretrogrademotion。？Itstopped。？Thetwelverowersintheotherdidnot，atfirst，perceivethismaneuver，fortheycontinuedtourgeontheirboatsovigorouslythatitarrivedquicklywithinmusket—shot。？Fouquetwasshort—sighted，Gourvillewasannoyedbythesun，nowfullinhiseyes;theskipperalone，withthathabitandclearnesswhichareacquiredbyaconstantstrugglewiththeelements，perceiveddistinctlythetravelersintheneighboringlighter。
　　"Icanseethem！"criedhe;"therearetwo。"
　　"Icanseenothing，"saidGourville。
　　"Youwillnotbelongbeforeyoudistinguishthem;intwentystrokesoftheiroarstheywillbewithintenpacesofus。"
　　Butwhatthepatronannouncedwasnotrealized;thelighterimitatedthemovementcommandedbyFouquet，andinsteadofcomingtojoinitspretendedfriends，itstoppedshortinthemiddleoftheriver。
　　"Icannotcomprehendthis，"saidthecaptain。
　　"NorI，"criedGourville。
　　"Youwhocanseesoplainlythepeopleinthatlighter，"resumedFouquet，"trytodescribethemtous，beforewearetoofaroff。"
　　"IthoughtIsawtwo，"repliedtheboatman。？"Icanonlyseeonenow，underthetent。"
　　"Whatsortofmanishe？"
　　"Heisadarkman，broad—shouldered，bull—necked。"
　　Alittlecloudatthatmomentpassedacrosstheazure，darkeningthesun。？Gourville，whowasstilllooking，withonehandoverhiseyes，becameabletoseewhathesought，andallatonce，jumpingfromthedeckintothechamberwhereFouquetawaitedhim:"Colbert！"
　　saidhe，inavoicebrokenbyemotion。
　　"Colbert！"
　　repeatedFouquet。？"Toostrange！
　　butno，itisimpossible！"
　　"ItellyouIrecognizedhim，andhe，atthesametime，soplainlyrecognizedme，thatheisjustgoneintothechamberonthepoop。？Perhapsthekinghassenthimonourtrack。"
　　"Inthatcasehewouldjoinus，insteadoflyingby。？Whatishedoingthere？"
　　"Heiswatchingus，withoutadoubt。"
　　"Idonotlikeuncertainty，"saidFouquet;"letusgostraightuptohim。"
　　"Oh！
　　monseigneur，donotdothat，thelighterisfullofarmedmen。"
　　"Hewishestoarrestme，then，Gourville？？Whydoeshenotcomeon？"
　　"Monseigneur，itisnotconsistentwithyourdignitytogotomeetevenyourruin。"
　　"Buttoallowthemtowatchmelikeamalefactor！"
　　"Nothingyetprovesthattheyarewatchingyou，monseigneur;bepatient！"
　　"Whatistobedone，then？"
　　"Donotstop;youwereonlygoingsofasttoappeartoobeytheking'sorderwithzeal。？Redoublethespeed。？Hewholiveswillsee！"
　　"Thatisbetter。？Come！"criedFouquet;
　　"sincetheyremainstock—stillyonder，letusgoon。"
　　Thecaptaingavethesignal，andFouquet'srowersresumedtheirtaskwithallthesuccessthatcouldbelookedforfrommenwhohadrested。？Scarcelyhadthelightermadeahundredfathoms，thantheother，thatwiththetwelverowers，resumeditsrapidcourse。？Thispositionlastedallday，withoutanyincreaseordiminutionofdistancebetweenthetwovessels。？TowardseveningFouquetwishedtotrytheintentionsofhispersecutor。？Heorderedhisrowerstopulltowardstheshore，asiftoeffectalanding。？Colbert'slighterimitatedthismaneuver，andsteeredtowardstheshoreinaslantingdirection。？Bythemerestchance，atthespotwhereFouquetpretendedtowishtoland，astableman，fromthech鈚eauofLangeais，wasfollowingtheflowerybanksleadingthreehorsesinhalters。？Withoutdoubtthepeopleofthetwelve—oaredlighterfanciedthatFouquetwasdirectinghiscoursetothesehorsesreadyforflight，forfourorfivemen，armedwithmuskets，jumpedfromthelighterontotheshore，andmarchedalongthebanks，asiftogaingroundonthehorseman。？Fouquet，satisfiedofhavingforcedtheenemytoademonstration，consideredhisintentionevident，andputhisboatinmotionagain。？Colbert'speoplereturnedlikewisetotheirs，andthecourseofthetwovesselswasresumedwithfreshperseverance。？Uponseeingthis，Fouquetfelthimselfthreatenedclosely，andinapropheticvoice—"Well，Gourville，"saidhe，whisperingly，"whatdidIsayatourlastrepast，atmyhouse？？AmIgoing，ornot，tomyruin？"
　　"Oh！
　　monseigneur！"
　　"Thesetwoboats，whichfolloweachotherwithsomuchemulation，asifweweredisputing，M。ColbertandI，aprizeforswiftnessontheLoire，dotheynotaptlyrepresentourfortunes;anddoyounotbelieve，Gourville，thatoneofthetwowillbewreckedatNantes？"
　　"Atleast，"objectedGourville，"thereisstilluncertainty;youareabouttoappearattheStates;youareabouttoshowwhatsortofmanyouare;
　　youreloquenceandgeniusforbusinessarethebucklerandswordthatwillservetodefendyou，ifnottoconquerwith。？TheBretonsdonotknowyou;andwhentheybecomeacquaintedwithyouyourcauseiswon！？Oh！letM。Colbertlooktoitwell，forhislighterisasmuchexposedasyourstobeingupset。？Bothgoquickly，hisfasterthanyours，itistrue;weshallseewhichwillbewreckedfirst。"
　　Fouquet，takingGourville'shand—"Myfriend，"saidhe，"everythingconsidered，remembertheproverb，'Firstcome，firstserved！'？Well！？M。Colberttakescarenottopassme。？HeisaprudentmanisM。Colbert。"
　　Hewasright;
　　thetwolightersheldtheircourseasfarasNantes，watchingeachother。？Whenthesurintendantlanded，Gourvillehopedheshouldbeabletoseekrefugeatonce，andhavetherelaysprepared。？But，atthelanding，thesecondlighterjoinedthefirst，andColbert，approachingFouquet，salutedhimonthequaywithmarksoftheprofoundestrespect—markssosignificant，sopublic，thattheirresultwasthebringingofthewholepopulationuponLaFosse。？Fouquetwascompletelyself—possessed;hefeltthatinhislastmomentsofgreatnesshehadobligationstowardshimself。？Hewishedtofallfromsuchaheightthathisfallshouldcrushsomeofhisenemies。？Colbertwasthere—somuchtheworseforColbert。？Thesurintendant，therefore，cominguptohim，replied，withthatarrogantsemi—closureoftheeyespeculiartohim—"What！isthatyou，M。Colbert？"
　　"Toofferyoumyrespects，monseigneur，"saidthelatter。
　　"Wereyouinthatlighter？"—pointingtotheonewithtwelverowers。
　　"Yes，monseigneur。"
　　"Oftwelverowers？"saidFouquet;"whatluxury，M。Colbert。？ForamomentIthoughtitwasthequeen—mother。"
　　"Monseigneur！"
　　—andColbertblushed。
　　"Thisisavoyagethatwillcostthosewhohavetopayforitdear，Monsieurl'Intendant！"saidFouquet。？"Butyouhave，happily，arrived！—Yousee，however，"addedhe，amomentafter，"thatI，whohadbuteightrowers，arrivedbeforeyou。"？Andheturnedhisbacktowardshim，leavinghimuncertainwhetherthemaneuversofthesecondlighterhadescapedthenoticeofthefirst。？Atleasthedidnotgivehimthesatisfactionofshowingthathehadbeenfrightened。？Colbert，soannoyinglyattacked，didnotgiveway。
　　"Ihavenotbeenquick，monseigneur，"hereplied，"becauseIfollowedyourexamplewheneveryoustopped。"
　　"Andwhydidyoudothat，MonsieurColbert？"criedFouquet，irritatedbythebaseaudacity;"asyouhadasuperiorcrewtomine，whydidyounoteitherjoinmeorpassme？"
　　"Outofrespect，"saidtheintendant，bowingtotheground。
　　Fouquetgotintoacarriagewhichthecityhadsenttohim，weknownotwhyorhow，andherepairedtolaMaisondeNantes，escortedbyavastcrowdofpeople，whoforseveraldayshadbeenagogwithexpectationofaconvocationoftheStates。？ScarcelywasheinstalledwhenGourvillewentouttoorderhorsesontheroutetoPoitiersandVannes，andaboatatPaimb渇。？Heperformedthesevariousoperationswithsomuchmystery，activity，andgenerosity，thatneverwasFouquet，thenlaboringunderanattackoffever，morenearlysaved，exceptforthecounteractionofthatimmensedisturberofhumanprojects，—chance。？Areportwasspreadduringthenight，thatthekingwascomingingreathasteonposthorses，andwouldarriveintenortwelvehoursatthelatest。？Thepeople，whilewaitingfortheking，weregreatlyrejoicedtoseethemusketeers，newlyarrived，withMonsieurd'Artagnan，theircaptain，andquarteredinthecastle，ofwhichtheyoccupiedalltheposts，inqualityofguardofhonor。？M。d'Artagnan，whowasverypolite，presentedhimself，aboutteno'clock，atthelodgingsofthesurintendanttopayhisrespectfulcompliments;
　　andalthoughtheministersufferedfromfever，althoughhewasinsuchpainastobebathedinsweat，hewouldreceiveM。d'Artagnan，whowasdelightedwiththathonor，aswillbeseenbytheconversationtheyhadtogether。
　　ChapterXXXVIII:
　　FriendlyAdvice。
　　Fouquethadgonetobed，likeamanwhoclingstolife，andwishestoeconomize，asmuchaspossible，thatslendertissueofexistence，ofwhichtheshocksandfrictionsofthisworldsoquicklywearoutthetenuity。？D'Artagnanappearedatthedoorofthischamber，andwassalutedbythesuperintendentwithaveryaffable"Goodday。"
　　"Bonjour！monseigneur，"repliedthemusketeer;"howdidyougetthroughthejourney？"
　　"Tolerablywell，thankyou。"
　　"Andthefever？"
　　"Butpoorly。？Idrink，asyouperceive。？Iamscarcelyarrived，andIhavealreadyleviedacontributionoftisaneuponNantes。"
　　"Youshouldsleepfirst，monseigneur。"
　　"Eh！corbleu！mydearMonsieurd'Artagnan，Ishouldbeverygladtosleep。"
　　"Whohindersyou？"
　　"Why，youinthefirstplace。"
　　"I？？Oh，monseigneur！"
　　"Nodoubtyoudo。？IsitatNantesasatParis？？Doyounotcomeintheking'sname？"
　　"ForHeaven'ssake，monseigneur，"repliedthecaptain，"leavethekingalone！？ThedayonwhichIshallcomeonthepartoftheking，forthepurposeyoumean，takemywordforit，Iwillnotleaveyoulongindoubt。？Youwillseemeplacemyhandonmysword，accordingtotheordonnance，andyouwillhearmysayatonce，inceremonialvoice，'Monseigneur，inthenameoftheking，Iarrestyou！'"
　　"Youpromisemethatfrankness？"saidthesuperintendent。
　　"Uponmyhonor！？Butwehavenotcometothat，believeme。"
　　"Whatmakesyouthinkthat，M。d'Artagnan？？Formypart，Ithinkquitethecontrary。"
　　"Ihaveheardspeakofnothingofthekind，"repliedD'Artagnan。
　　"Eh！
　　eh！"saidFouquet。
　　"Indeed，no。？Youareanagreeableman，inspiteofyourfever。？Thekingshouldnot，cannothelplovingyou，atthebottomofhisheart。"
　　Fouquet'sexpressionimplieddoubt。？"ButM。
　　Colbert？"saidhe;"doesM。Colbertlovemeasmuchasyousay？"
　　"IamnotspeakingofM。Colbert，"repliedD'Artagnan。？"Heisanexceptionalman。？Hedoesnotloveyou;somuchisverypossible;but，mordioux！thesquirrelcanguardhimselfagainsttheadderwithverylittletrouble。"
　　"Doyouknowthatyouarespeakingtomequiteasafriend？"repliedFouquet;
　　"andthat，uponmylife！？Ihavenevermetwithamanofyourintelligence，andheart？"
　　"Youarepleasedtosayso，"repliedD'Artagnan。？"Whydidyouwaittillto—daytopaymesuchacompliment？"
　　"Blindthatweare！"murmuredFouquet。
　　"Yourvoiceisgettinghoarse，"saidD'Artagnan;"drink，monseigneur，drink！"？Andheofferedhimacupoftisane，withthemostfriendlycordiality;Fouquettookit，andthankedhimbyagentlesmile。？"Suchthingsonlyhappentome，"
　　saidthemusketeer。？"Ihavepassedtenyearsunderyourverybeard，whileyouwererollingabouttonsofgold。？Youwereclearinganannualpensionoffourmillions;youneverobservedme;andyoufindoutthereissuchapersonintheworld，justatthemomentyou—"
　　"JustatthemomentIamabouttofall，"interruptedFouquet。？"Thatistrue，mydearMonsieurd'Artagnan。"
　　"Ididnotsayso。"
　　"Butyouthoughtso;andthatisthesamething。？Well！ifIfall，takemywordastruth，Ishallnotpassasingledaywithoutsayingtomyself，asIstrikemybrow，'Fool！fool！—stupidmortal！？YouhadaMonsieurd'Artagnanunderyoureyeandhand，andyoudidnotemployhim，youdidnotenrichhim！'"
　　"Youoverwhelmme，"saidthecaptain。？"Iesteemyougreatly。"
　　"Thereexistsanotherman，then，whodoesnotthinkasM。Colbertthinks，"saidthesurintendant。
　　"HowthisM。Colbertloomsupinyourimagination！？Heisworsethanfever！"
　　"Oh！？Ihavegoodcause，"saidFouquet。？"Judgeforyourself。"？Andherelatedthedetailsofthecourseofthelighters，andthehypocriticalpersecutionofColbert。？"Isnotthisaclearsignofmyruin？"
　　D'Artagnanbecameveryserious。？"Thatistrue，"
　　hesaid。？"Yes;ithasanunsavoryodor，asM。deTr関illeusedtosay。"？AndhefixedonM。Fouquethisintelligentandsignificantlook。
　　"AmInotclearlydesignatedinthat，captain？？IsnotthekingbringingmetoNantestogetmeawayfromParis，whereIhavesomanycreatures，andtopossesshimselfofBelle—Isle？"
　　"WhereM。
　　d'Herblayis，"addedD'Artagnan。？Fouquetraisedhishead。？"Asforme，monseigneur，"continuedD'Artagnan，"Icanassureyouthekinghassaidnothingtomeagainstyou。"
　　"Indeed！"
　　"ThekingcommandedmetosetoutforNantes，itistrue;andtosaynothingaboutittoM。deGesvres。"
　　"Myfriend。"
　　"ToM。deGesvres，yes，monseigneur，"continuedthemusketeer，whoseeyesdidnotceasetospeakalanguagedifferentfromthelanguageofhislips。？"Theking，moreover，commandedmetotakeabrigadeofmusketeers，whichisapparentlysuperfluous，asthecountryisquitequiet。"
　　"A
　　brigade！"saidFouquet，raisinghimselfuponhiselbow。
　　"Ninety—sixhorsemen，yes，monseigneur。？ThesamenumberaswereemployedinarrestingMM。deChalais，deCinq—Mars，andMontmorency。"
　　Fouquetprickeduphisearsatthesewords，pronouncedwithoutapparentvalue。？"Andwhatelse？"saidhe。
　　"Oh！
　　nothingbutinsignificantorders;suchasguardingthecastle，guardingeverylodging，allowingnoneofM。deGesvres'sguardstooccupyasinglepost。"
　　"Andastomyself，"criedFouquet，"whatordershadyou？"
　　"Astoyou，monseigneur？—notthesmallestword。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，mysafety，myhonor，perhapsmylifeareatstake。？Youwouldnotdeceiveme？"
　　"I？—towhatend？？Areyouthreatened？？Onlytherereallyisanorderwithrespecttocarriagesandboats—"
　　"Anorder？"
　　"Yes;butitcannotconcernyou—asimplemeasureofpolice。"
　　"Whatisit，captain？—whatisit？"
　　"ToforbidallhorsesorboatstoleaveNantes，withoutapass，signedbytheking。"
　　"GreatGod！
　　but—"
　　D'Artagnanbegantolaugh。？"AllthatisnottobeputintoexecutionbeforethearrivalofthekingatNantes。？Sothatyouseeplainly，monseigneur，theorderinnowiseconcernsyou。"
　　Fouquetbecamethoughtful，andD'Artagnanfeignednottoobservehispreoccupation。？"Itisevident，bymythusconfidingtoyoutheorderswhichhavebeengiventome，thatIamfriendlytowardsyou，andthatIamtryingtoprovetoyouthatnoneofthemaredirectedagainstyou。"
　　"Withoutdoubt！—withoutdoubt！"saidFouquet，stillabsent。
　　"Letusrecapitulate，"saidthecaptain，hisglancebeamingwithearnestness。？"Aspecialguardaboutthecastle，inwhichyourlodgingistobe，isitnot？"
　　"Doyouknowthecastle？"
　　"Ah！
　　monseigneur，aregularprison！？TheabsenceofM。deGesvres，whohasthehonorofbeingoneofyourfriends。？Theclosingofthegatesofthecity，andoftheriverwithoutapass;but，onlywhenthekingshallhavearrived。？Pleasetoobserve，MonsieurFouquet，thatif，insteadofspeakingtomanlikeyou，whoareoneofthefirstinthekingdom，Iwerespeakingtoatroubled，uneasyconscience—Ishouldcompromisemyselfforever。？Whatafineopportunityforanyonewhowishedtobefree！？Nopolice，noguards，noorders;thewaterfree，theroadsfree，Monsieurd'Artagnanobligedtolendhishorses，ifrequired。？Allthisoughttoreassureyou，MonsieurFouquet，forthekingwouldnothaveleftmethusindependent，ifhehadanysinisterdesigns。？Intruth，MonsieurFouquet，askmewhateveryoulike，Iamatyourservice;and，inreturn，ifyouwillconsenttodoit，domeaservice，thatofgivingmycomplimentstoAramisandPorthos，incaseyouembarkforBelle—Isle，asyouhavearighttodowithoutchangingyourdress，immediately，inyourrobedechambre—justasyouare。"？Sayingthesewords，andwithaprofoundbow，themusketeer，whoselookshadlostnoneoftheirintelligentkindness，lefttheapartment。？Hehadnotreachedthestepsofthevestibule，whenFouquet，quitebesidehimself，hungtothebell—rope，andshouted，"Myhorses！—mylighter！"？Butnobodyanswered。？Thesurintendantdressedhimselfwitheverythingthatcametohand。
　　"Gourville！
　　—Gourville！"criedhe，whileslippinghiswatchintohispocket。？Andthebellsoundedagain，whilstFouquetrepeated，"Gourville！—Gourville！"
　　Gourvilleatlengthappeared，breathlessandpale。
　　"Letusbegone！？Letusbegone！"criedFouquet，assoonashesawhim。
　　"Itistoolate！"saidthesurintendant'spoorfriend。
　　"Toolate！
　　—why？"
　　"Listen！"？Andtheyheardthesoundsoftrumpetsanddrumsinfrontofthecastle。
　　"Whatdoesthatmean，Gourville？"
　　"Itmeansthekingiscome，monseigneur。"
　　"Theking！"
　　"Theking，whohasriddendoublestages，whohaskilledhorses，andwhoiseighthoursinadvanceofallourcalculations。"
　　"Wearelost！"murmuredFouquet。？"BraveD'Artagnan，allisover，thouhasspokentometoolate！"
　　Theking，infact，wasenteringthecity，whichsoonresoundedwiththecannonfromtheramparts，andfromavesselwhichrepliedfromthelowerpartsoftheriver。？Fouquet'sbrowdarkened;hecalledhisvaletsdechambreanddressedinceremonialcostume。？Fromhiswindow，behindthecurtains，hecouldseetheeagernessofthepeople，andthemovementofalargetroop，whichhadfollowedtheprince。？Thekingwasconductedtothecastlewithgreatpomp，andFouquetsawhimdismountundertheportcullis，andsaysomethingintheearofD'Artagnan，whoheldhisstirrup。？D'Artagnan，whenthekinghadpassedunderthearch，directedhisstepstowardsthehouseFouquetwasin;butsoslowly，andstoppingsofrequentlytospeaktohismusketeers，drawnuplikeahedge，thatitmightbesaidhewascountingtheseconds，orthesteps，beforeaccomplishinghisobject。？Fouquetopenedthewindowtospeaktohiminthecourt。
　　"Ah！"
　　criedD'Artagnan，onperceivinghim，"areyoustillthere，monseigneur？"
　　AndthatwordstillcompletedtheprooftoFouquetofhowmuchinformationandhowmanyusefulcounselswerecontainedinthefirstvisitthemusketeerhadpaidhim。？Thesurintendantsigheddeeply。？"Goodheavens！yes，monsieur，"repliedhe。？"ThearrivalofthekinghasinterruptedmeintheprojectsIhadformed。"
　　"Oh，thenyouknowthatthekinghasarrived？"
　　"Yes，monsieur，Ihaveseenhim;andthistimeyoucomefromhim—"
　　"Toinquireafteryou，monseigneur;and，ifyourhealthisnottoobad，tobegyoutohavethekindnesstorepairtothecastle。"
　　"Directly，Monsieurd'Artagnan，directly！"
　　"Ah，mordioux！"saidthecaptain，"nowthekingiscome，thereisnomorewalkingforanybody—nomorefreewill;thepasswordgovernsallnow，youasmuchasme，measmuchasyou。"
　　Fouquetheavedalastsigh，climbedwithdifficultyintohiscarriage，sogreatwashisweakness，andwenttothecastle，escortedbyD'Artagnan，whosepolitenesswasnotlessterrifyingthistimethanithadjustbeforebeenconsolingandcheerful。
　　ChapterXXXIX:
　　HowtheKing，LouisXIV。，PlayedHisLittlePart。
　　AsFouquetwasalightingfromhiscarriage，toenterthecastleofNantes，amanofmeanappearancewentuptohimwithmarksofthegreatestrespect，andgavehimaletter。？D'ArtagnanendeavoredtopreventthismanfromspeakingtoFouquet，andpushedhimaway，butthemessagehadbeengiventothesurintendant。？Fouquetopenedtheletterandreadit，andinstantlyavagueterror，whichD'Artagnandidnotfailtopenetrate，waspaintedonthecountenanceofthefirstminister。？Fouquetputthepaperintotheportfoliowhichhehadunderhisarm，andpassedontowardstheking'sapartments。？D'Artagnan，throughthesmallwindowsmadeateverylandingofthedonjonstairs，saw，ashewentupbehindFouquet，themanwhohaddeliveredthenote，lookingroundhimontheplaceandmakingsignstoseveralpersons，whodisappearedintheadjacentstreets，afterhavingthemselvesrepeatedthesignals。？Fouquetwasmadetowaitforamomentontheterraceofwhichwehavespoken，—aterracewhichabuttedonthelittlecorridor，attheendofwhichthecabinetofthekingwaslocated。？HereD'Artagnanpassedonbeforethesurintendant，whom，tillthattime，hehadrespectfullyaccompanied，andenteredtheroyalcabinet。