"Well？"
　　askedLouisXIV。，who，onperceivinghim，threwontothetablecoveredwithpapersalargegreencloth。
　　"Theorderisexecuted，sire。"
　　"AndFouquet？"
　　"Monsieurlesurintendantfollowsme，"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"Intenminuteslethimbeintroduced，"saidtheking，dismissingD'Artagnanagainwithagesture。？Thelatterretired;buthadscarcelyreachedthecorridorattheextremityofwhichFouquetwaswaitingforhim，whenhewasrecalledbytheking'sbell。
　　"Didhenotappearastonished？"askedtheking。
　　"Who，sire？"
　　"Fouquet，"repliedtheking，withoutsayingmonsieur，apeculiaritywhichconfirmedthecaptainofthemusketeersinhissuspicions。
　　"No，sire，"repliedhe。
　　"That'swell！"？AndasecondtimeLouisdismissedD'Artagnan。
　　Fouquethadnotquittedtheterracewherehehadbeenleftbyhisguide。？Hereperusedhisnote，conceivedthus:
　　"Somethingisbeingcontrivedagainstyou。？Perhapstheywillnotdaretocarryitoutatthecastle;itwillbeonyourreturnhome。？Thehouseisalreadysurroundedbymusketeers。？Donotenter。？Awhitehorseisinwaitingforyoubehindtheesplanade！"
　　FouquetrecognizedthewritingandzealofGourville。？Notbeingwillingthat，ifanyevilhappenedtohimself，thispapershouldcompromiseafaithfulfriend，thesurintendantwasbusytearingitintoathousandmorsels，spreadaboutbythewindfromthebalustradeoftheterrace。？D'Artagnanfoundhimwatchingthesnowflakeflutteringofthelastscrapsinspace。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，"thekingawaitsyou。"
　　Fouquetwalkedwithadeliberatestepalongthelittlecorridor，whereMM。deBrienneandRosewereatwork，whilsttheDucdeSaint—Aignan，seatedonachair，likewiseinthecorridor，appearedtobewaitingfororders，withfeverishimpatience，hisswordbetweenhislegs。？ItappearedstrangetoFouquetthatMM。Brienne，Rose，anddeSaint—Aignan，ingeneralsoattentiveandobsequious，shouldscarcelytaketheleastnotice，ashe，thesurintendant，passed。？Buthowcouldheexpecttofinditotherwiseamongcourtiers，hewhomthekingnolongercalledanythingbutFouquet？？Heraisedhishead，determinedtolookeveryoneandeverythingbravelyintheface，andenteredtheking'sapartment，wherealittlebell，whichwealreadyknow，hadalreadyannouncedhimtohismajesty。
　　Theking，withoutrising，noddedtohim，andwithinterest:"Well！howareyou，MonsieurFouquet？"saidhe。
　　"I
　　aminahighfever，"repliedthesurintendant;"butIamattheking'sservice。"
　　"Thatiswell;theStatesassembleto—morrow;haveyouaspeechready？"
　　Fouquetlookedatthekingwithastonishment。？"I
　　havenot，sire，"repliedhe;"butIwillimproviseone。？Iamtoowellacquaintedwithaffairstofeelanyembarrassment。？Ihaveonlyonequestiontoask;willyourmajestypermitme？"
　　"Certainly。？Askit。"
　　"WhydidnotyourmajestydohisfirstministerthehonorofgivinghimnoticeofthisinParis？"
　　"Youwereill;Iwasnotwillingtofatigueyou。"
　　"Neverdidalabor—neverdidanexplanationfatigueme，sire;andsincethemomentiscomeformetodemandanexplanationofmyking—"
　　"Oh，MonsieurFouquet！anexplanation？？Anexplanation，pray，ofwhat？"
　　"Ofyourmajesty'sintentionswithrespecttomyself。"
　　Thekingblushed。？"Ihavebeencalumniated，"continuedFouquet，warmly，"andIfeelcalledupontoadjurethejusticeofthekingtomakeinquiries。"
　　"Yousayallthistomeveryuselessly，MonsieurFouquet;IknowwhatIknow。"
　　"Yourmajestycanonlyknowthethingsthathavebeentoldtoyou;andI，onmypart，havesaidnothingtoyou，whilstothershavespokenmany，manytimes—"
　　"Whatdoyouwishtosay？"saidtheking，impatienttoputanendtothisembarrassingconversation。
　　"Iwillgostraighttothefacts，sire;andIaccuseacertainmanofhavinginjuredmeinyourmajesty'sopinion。"
　　"Nobodyhasinjuredyou，MonsieurFouquet。"
　　"Thatreplyprovestome，sire，thatIamright。"
　　"MonsieurFouquet，Idonotlikepeopletobeaccused。"
　　"Notwhenoneisaccused？"
　　"Wehavealreadyspokentoomuchaboutthisaffair。"
　　"Yourmajestywillnotallowmetojustifymyself？"
　　"IrepeatthatIdonotaccuseyou。"
　　Fouquet，withahalf—bow，madeastepbackward。？"Itiscertain，"thoughthe，"thathehasmadeuphismind。？Healonewhocannotgobackcanshowsuchobstinacy。？Nottoseethedangernowwouldbetobeblindindeed;nottoshunitwouldbestupid。"？Heresumedaloud，"Didyourmajestysendformeonbusiness？"
　　"No，MonsieurFouquet，butforsomeadviceIwishtogiveyou。"
　　"I
　　respectfullyawaitit，sire。"
　　"Restyourself，MonsieurFouquet，donotthrowawayyourstrength;thesessionoftheStateswillbeshort，andwhenmysecretariesshallhaveclosedit，IdonotwishbusinesstobetalkedofinFranceforafortnight。"
　　"HasthekingnothingtosaytomeonthesubjectofthisassemblyoftheStates？"
　　"No，MonsieurFouquet。"
　　"Nottome，thesurintendantofthefinances？"
　　"Restyourself，Ibegyou;thatisallIhavetosaytoyou。"
　　Fouquetbithislipsandhunghishead。？Hewasevidentlybusywithsomeuneasythought。？Thisuneasinessstrucktheking。？"Areyouangryathavingtorestyourself，M。Fouquet？"saidhe。
　　"Yes，sire，Iamnotaccustomedtotakerest。"
　　"Butyouareill;youmusttakecareofyourself。"
　　"Yourmajestyspokejustnowofaspeechtobepronouncedto—morrow。"
　　Hismajestymadenoreply;thisunexpectedstrokeembarrassedhim。？Fouquetfelttheweightofthishesitation。？Hethoughthecouldreaddangerintheeyesoftheyoungprince，whichfearwouldbutprecipitate。？"IfIappearfrightened，Iamlost，"thoughthe。
　　Theking，onhispart，wasonlyuneasyatthealarmofFouquet。？"Hasheasuspicionofanything？"murmuredhe。
　　"Ifhisfirstwordissevere，"againthoughtFouquet;"ifhebecomesangry，orfeignstobeangryforthesakeofapretext，howshallIextricatemyself？？Letussmooththedeclivityalittle。？Gourvillewasright。"
　　"Sire，"
　　saidhe，suddenly，"sincethegoodnessofthekingwatchesovermyhealthtothepointofdispensingwithmylabor，mayInotbeallowedtobeabsentfromthecouncilofto—morrow？？Icouldpassthedayinbed，andwillentreatthekingtograntmehisphysician，thatwemayendeavortofindaremedyagainstthisfearfulfever。"
　　"Sobeit，MonsieurFouquet，itshallbeasyoudesire;youshallhaveaholidayto—morrow，youshallhavethephysician，andshallberestoredtohealth。"
　　"Thanks！"
　　saidFouquet，bowing。？Then，openinghisgame:
　　"ShallI
　　nothavethehappinessofconductingyourmajestytomyresidenceofBelle—Isle？"
　　AndhelookedLouisfullintheface，tojudgeoftheeffectofsuchaproposal。？Thekingblushedagain。
　　"Doyouknow，"repliedhe，endeavoringtosmile，"thatyouhavejustsaid，'MyresidenceofBelle—Isle'？"
　　"Yes，sire。"
　　"Well！doyounotremember，"continuedthekinginthesamecheerfultone，"thatyougavemeBelle—Isle？"
　　"Thatistrueagain，sire。？Only，asyouhavenottakenit，youwilldoubtlesscomewithmeandtakepossessionofit。"
　　"Imeantodoso。"
　　"Thatwas，besides，yourmajesty'sintentionaswellasmine;andIcannotexpresstoyourmajestyhowhappyandproudIhavebeentoseealltheking'sregimentsfromParistohelptakepossession。"
　　Thekingstammeredoutthathedidnotbringthemusketeersforthatalone。
　　"Oh，Iamconvincedofthat，"saidFouquet，warmly;"yourmajestyknowsverywellthatyouhavenothingtodobuttocomealonewithacaneinyourhand，tobringtothegroundallthefortificationsofBelle—Isle。"
　　"Peste！"criedtheking;"Idonotwishthosefinefortifications，whichcostsomuchtobuild，tofallatall。？No，letthemstandagainsttheDutchandEnglish。？YouwouldnotguesswhatIwanttoseeatBelle—Isle，MonsieurFouquet;itistheprettypeasantsandwomenofthelandsonthesea—shore，whodancesowell，andaresoseducingwiththeirscarletpetticoats！？Ihaveheardgreatboastofyourprettytenants，monsieurlesurintendant;well，letmehaveasightofthem。"
　　"Wheneveryourmajestypleases。"
　　"Haveyouanymeansoftransport？？Itshallbeto—morrow，ifyoulike。"
　　Thesurintendantfeltthisstroke，whichwasnotadroit，andreplied，"No，sire;Iwasignorantofyourmajesty'swish;aboveall，IwasignorantofyourhastetoseeBelle—Isle，andIampreparedwithnothing。"
　　"Youhaveaboatofyourown，nevertheless？"
　　"Ihavefive;buttheyareallinport，oratPaimb渦f;andtojointhem，orbringthemhither，wouldrequireatleasttwenty—fourhours。？HaveIanyoccasiontosendacourier？？MustIdoso？"
　　"Waitalittle，putanendtothefever，—waittillto—morrow。"
　　"Thatistrue。？Whoknowsbutthatbyto—morrowwemaynothaveahundredotherideas？"repliedFouquet，nowperfectlyconvincedandverypale。
　　Thekingstarted，andstretchedhishandouttowardshislittlebell，butFouquetpreventedhisringing。
　　"Sire，"
　　saidhe，"Ihaveanague—Iamtremblingwithcold。？IfIremainamomentlonger，Ishallmostlikelyfaint。？Irequestyourmajesty'spermissiontogoandflingmyselfbeneaththebedclothes。"
　　"Indeed，youareinashiver;itispainfultobehold！？Come，MonsieurFouquet，begone！？Iwillsendtoinquireafteryou。"
　　"Yourmajestyoverwhelmsmewithkindness。？InanhourIshallbebetter。"
　　"Iwillcallsomeonetoreconductyou，"saidtheking。
　　"Asyouplease，sire;Iwouldgladlytakethearmofanyone。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan！"criedtheking，ringinghislittlebell。
　　"Oh，sire，"interruptedFouquet，laughinginsuchamannerasmadetheprincefeelcold，"wouldyougivemethecaptainofyourmusketeerstotakemetomylodgings？？Anequivocalhonorthat，sire！？Asimplefootman，Ibeg。"
　　"Andwhy，M。Fouquet？？M。d'Artagnanconductsmeoften，andextremelywell！"
　　"Yes，butwhenheconductsyou，sire，itistoobeyyou;whilstme—"
　　"Goon！"
　　"IfIamobligedtoreturnhomesupportedbytheleaderofthemusketeers，itwouldbeeverywheresaidyouhadhadmearrested。"
　　"Arrested！"
　　repliedtheking，whobecamepalerthanFouquethimself，—"arrested！
　　oh！"
　　"Andwhyshouldtheynotsayso？"continuedFouquet，stilllaughing;"andI
　　wouldlayawagertherewouldbepeoplefoundwickedenoughtolaughatit。"？Thissallydisconcertedthemonarch。？Fouquetwasskillfulenough，orfortunateenough，tomakeLouisXIV。recoilbeforetheappearanceofthedeedhemeditated。？M。d'Artagnan，whenheappeared，receivedanordertodesireamusketeertoaccompanythesurintendant。
　　"Quiteunnecessary，"saidthelatter;"swordforsword;IpreferGourville，whoiswaitingformebelow。？ButthatwillnotpreventmeenjoyingthesocietyofM。d'Artagnan。？IamgladhewillseeBelle—Isle，heissogoodajudgeoffortifications。"
　　D'Artagnanbowed，withoutatallcomprehendingwhatwasgoingon。？Fouquetbowedagainandlefttheapartment，affectingalltheslownessofamanwhowalkswithdifficulty。？Whenonceoutofthecastle，"Iamsaved！"saidhe。？"Oh！yes，disloyalking，youshallseeBelle—Isle，butitshallbewhenIamnolongerthere。"
　　Hedisappeared，leavingD'Artagnanwiththeking。
　　"Captain，"
　　saidtheking，"youwillfollowM。Fouquetatthedistanceofahundredpaces。"
　　"Yes，sire。"
　　"Heisgoingtohislodgingsagain。？Youwillgowithhim。"
　　"Yes，sire。"
　　"Youwillarresthiminmyname，andwillshuthimupinacarriage。"
　　"Inacarriage。？Well，sire？"
　　"Insuchafashionthathemaynot，ontheroad，eitherconversewithanyoneorthrownotestopeoplehemaymeet。"
　　"Thatwillberatherdifficult，sire。"
　　"Notatall。"
　　"Pardonme，sire，IcannotstifleM。Fouquet，andifheasksforlibertytobreathe，I
　　cannotpreventhimbyclosingboththewindowsandtheblinds。？Hewillthrowoutatthedoorsallthecriesandnotespossible。"
　　"Thecaseisprovidedfor，Monsieurd'Artagnan;acarriagewithatrelliswillobviateboththedifficultiesyoupointout。"
　　"Acarriagewithanirontrellis！"criedD'Artagnan;"butacarriagewithanirontrellisisnotmadeinhalfanhour，andyourmajestycommandsmetogoimmediatelytoM。Fouquet'slodgings。"
　　"Thecarriageinquestionisalreadymade。"
　　"Ah！thatisquiteadifferentthing，"saidthecaptain;"ifthecarriageisreadymade，verywell，then，wehaveonlytosetitinmotion。"
　　"Itisready—andthehorsesharnessed。"
　　"Ah！"
　　"Andthecoachman，withtheoutriders，iswaitinginthelowercourtofthecastle。"
　　D'Artagnanbowed。？"ThereonlyremainsformetoaskyourmajestywhitherIshallconductM。Fouquet。"
　　"TothecastleofAngers，atfirst。"
　　"Verywell，sire。"
　　"Afterwardswewillsee。"
　　"Yes，sire。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，onelastword:youhaveremarkedthat，formakingthiscaptureofM。Fouquet，Ihavenotemployedmyguards，onwhichaccountM。deGesvreswillbefurious。"
　　"Yourmajestydoesnotemployyourguards，"saidthecaptain，alittlehumiliated，"becauseyoumistrustM。deGesvres，thatisall。"
　　"Thatistosay，monsieur，thatIhavemoreconfidenceinyou。"
　　"Iknowthatverywell，sire！anditisofnousetomakesomuchofit。"
　　"Itisonlyforthesakeofarrivingatthis，monsieur，thatif，fromthismoment，itshouldhappenthatbyanychancewhateverM。Fouquetshouldescape—suchchanceshavebeen，monsieur—"
　　"Oh！veryoften，sire;butforothers，notforme。"
　　"Andwhynotwithyou？"
　　"BecauseI，sire，have，foraninstant，wishedtosaveM。Fouquet。"
　　Thekingstarted。？"Because，"continuedthecaptain，"Ihadthenarighttodoso，havingguessedyourmajesty'splan，withoutyouhavingspokentomeofit，andthatItookaninterestinM。
　　Fouquet。？Now，wasInotatlibertytoshowmyinterestinthisman？"
　　"Intruth，monsieur，youdonotreassuremewithregardtoyourservices。"
　　"IfIhadsavedhimthen，Ishouldhavebeenperfectlyinnocent;Iwillsaymore，I
　　shouldhavedonewell，forM。Fouquetisnotabadman。？Buthewasnotwilling;hisdestinyprevailed;heletthehouroflibertyslipby。？Somuchtheworse！？NowIhaveorders，Iwillobeythoseorders，andM。Fouquetyoumayconsiderasamanarrested。？HeisatthecastleofAngers，thisveryM。Fouquet。"
　　"Oh！youhavenotgothimyet，captain。"
　　"Thatconcernsme;everyonetohistrade，sire;only，oncemore，reflect！？DoyouseriouslygivemeorderstoarrestM。
　　Fouquet，sire？"
　　"Yes，athousandtimes，yes！"
　　"Inwriting，sire，then。"
　　"Hereistheorder。"
　　D'Artagnanreadit，bowedtotheking，andlefttheroom。？FromtheheightoftheterraceheperceivedGourville，whowentbywithajoyousairtowardsthelodgingsofM。Fouquet。
　　ChapterXL:
　　TheWhiteHorseandtheBlack。
　　"Thatisrathersurprising，"saidD'Artagnan;"Gourvillerunningaboutthestreetssogayly，whenheisalmostcertainthatM。Fouquetisindanger;whenitisalmostequallycertainthatitwasGourvillewhowarnedM。Fouquetjustnowbythenotewhichwastornintoathousandpiecesupontheterrace，andgiventothewindsbymonsieurlesurintendant。？Gourvilleisrubbinghishands;thatisbecausehehasdonesomethingclever。？WhencecomesM。Gourville？？GourvilleiscomingfromtheRueauxHerbes。？WhitherdoestheRueauxHerbeslead？"？AndD'Artagnanfollowed，alongthetopsofthehousesofNantes，dominatedbythecastle，thelinetracedbythestreets，ashewouldhavedoneuponatopographicalplan;only，insteadofthedead，flatpaper，thelivingchartroseinreliefwiththecries，themovements，andtheshadowsofmenandthings。？Beyondtheinclosureofthecity，thegreatverdantplainsstretchedout，borderingtheLoire，andappearedtoruntowardsthepinkhorizon，whichwascutbytheazureofthewatersandthedarkgreenofthemarshes。？ImmediatelyoutsidethegatesofNantestwowhiteroadswereseendiverginglikeseparatefingersofagigantichand。？D'Artagnan，whohadtakeninallthepanoramaataglancebycrossingtheterrace，wasledbythelineoftheRueauxHerbestothemouthofoneofthoseroadswhichtookitsriseunderthegatesofNantes。？Onestepmore，andhewasabouttodescendthestairs，takehistrellisedcarriage，andgotowardsthelodgingsofM。Fouquet。？Butchancedecreed，atthemomentofplungingintothestaircase，thathewasattractedbyamovingpointthengaininggrounduponthatroad。
　　"Whatisthat？"saidthemusketeertohimself;"ahorsegalloping，—arunawayhorse，nodoubt。？Whatarateheisgoingat！"？Themovingpointbecamedetachedfromtheroad，andenteredintothefields。？"Awhitehorse，"continuedthecaptain，whohadjustobservedthecolorthrownluminouslyagainstthedarkground，"andheismounted;itmustbesomeboywhosehorseisthirstyandhasrunawaywithhim。"
　　Thesereflections，rapidaslightning，simultaneouswithvisualperception，D'Artagnanhadalreadyforgottenwhenhedescendedthefirststepsofthestaircase。？Somemorselsofpaperwerespreadoverthestairs，andshoneoutwhiteagainstthedirtystones。？"Eh！eh！"saidthecaptaintohimself，"herearesomeofthefragmentsofthenotetornbyM。
　　Fouquet。？Poorman！hehasgivenhissecrettothewind;thewindwillhavenomoretodowithit，andbringsitbacktotheking。？Decidedly，Fouquet，youplaywithmisfortune！thegameisnotafairone，—fortuneisagainstyou。？ThestarofLouisXIV。obscuresyours;theadderisstrongerandmorecunningthanthesquirrel。"？D'Artagnanpickeduponeofthesemorselsofpaperashedescended。？"Gourville'sprettylittlehand！"criedhe，whilstexaminingoneofthefragmentsofthenote;"Iwasnotmistaken。"？Andhereadtheword"horse。"？"Stop！"saidhe;andheexaminedanother，uponwhichtherewasnotalettertraced。？Uponathirdhereadtheword"white;""whitehorse，"repeatedhe，likeachildthatisspelling。？"Ah，mordioux！"criedthesuspiciousspirit，"awhitehorse！"？And，likethatgrainofpowderwhich，burning，dilatesintotenthousandtimesitsvolume，D'Artagnan，enlightenedbyideasandsuspicions，rapidlyreascendedthestairstowardstheterrace。？ThewhitehorsewasstillgallopinginthedirectionoftheLoire，attheextremityofwhich，meltingintothevaporsofthewater，alittlesailappeared，wave—balancedlikeawater—butterfly。？"Oh！"criedthemusketeer，"onlyamanwhowantstoflywouldgoatthatpaceacrossplowedlands;thereisbutoneFouquet，afinancier，toridethusinopendayuponawhitehorse;thereisnoonebutthelordofBelle—Islewhowouldmakehisescapetowardsthesea，whiletherearesuchthickforestsonland，andthereisbutoneD'ArtagnanintheworldtocatchM。Fouquet，whohashalfanhour'sstart，andwhowillhavegainedhisboatwithinanhour。"？Thisbeingsaid，themusketeergaveordersthatthecarriagewiththeirontrellisshouldbetakenimmediatelytoathicketsituatedjustoutsidethecity。？Heselectedhisbesthorse，jumpeduponhisback，gallopedalongtheRueauxHerbes，taking，nottheroadFouquethadtaken，butthebankitselfoftheLoire，certainthatheshouldgaintenminutesuponthetotaldistance，and，attheintersectionofthetwolines，comeupwiththefugitive，whocouldhavenosuspicionofbeingpursuedinthatdirection。？Intherapidityofthepursuit，andwiththeimpatienceoftheavenger，animatinghimselfasinwar，D'Artagnan，somild，sokindtowardsFouquet，wassurprisedtofindhimselfbecomeferocious—almostsanguinary。？Foralongtimehegallopedwithoutcatchingsightofthewhitehorse。？Hisrageassumedfury，hedoubtedhimself，—hesuspectedthatFouquethadburiedhimselfinsomesubterraneanroad，orthathehadchangedthewhitehorseforoneofthosefamousblackones，asswiftasthewind，whichD'Artagnan，atSaint—Mand？hadsofrequentlyadmiredandenviedfortheirvigorandtheirfleetness。
　　Atsuchmoments，whenthewindcuthiseyessoastomakethetearsspringfromthem，whenthesaddlehadbecomeburninghot，whenthegalledandspurredhorserearedwithpain，andthrewbehindhimashowerofdustandstones，D'Artagnan，raisinghimselfinhisstirrups，andseeingnothingonthewaters，nothingbeneaththetrees，lookedupintotheairlikeamadman。？Hewaslosinghissenses。？Intheparoxysmsofeagernesshedreamtofaerialways，—thediscoveryoffollowingcentury;hecalledtohismindD鎑alusandthevastwingsthathadsavedhimfromtheprisonsofCrete。？Ahoarsesighbrokefromhislips，asherepeated，devouredbythefearofridicule，"I！？I！dupedbyaGourville！？I！？TheywillsaythatIamgrowingold，—theywillsayIhavereceivedamilliontoallowFouquettoescape！"？Andheagaindughisspursintothesidesofhishorse:hehadriddenastonishinglyfast。？Suddenly，attheextremityofsomeopenpasture—ground，behindthehedges，hesawawhiteformwhichshoweditself，disappeared，andatlastremaineddistinctlyvisibleagainsttherisingground。？D'Artagnan'sheartleapedwithjoy。？Hewipedthestreamingsweatfromhisbrow，relaxedthetensionofhisknees，—bywhichthehorsebreathedmorefreely，—and，gatheringuphisreins，moderatedthespeedofthevigorousanimal，hisactiveaccompliceonthisman—hunt。？Hehadthentimetostudythedirectionoftheroad，andhispositionwithregardtoFouquet。？Thesuperintendenthadcompletelywindedhishorsebycrossingthesoftground。？Hefeltthenecessityofgainingafirmerfooting，andturnedtowardstheroadbytheshortestsecantline。？D'Artagnan，onhispart，hadnothingtodobuttoridestraighton，concealedbytheslopingshore;sothathewouldcuthisquarryofftheroadwhenhecameupwithhim。？Thentherealracewouldbegin，—thenthestrugglewouldbeinearnest。
　　D'Artagnangavehishorsegoodbreathing—time。？Heobservedthatthesuperintendenthadrelaxedintoatrot，whichwastosay，he，too，wasfavoringhishorse。？Butbothofthemweretoomuchpressedfortimetoallowthemtocontinuelongatthatpace。？Thewhitehorsesprangofflikeanarrowthemomenthisfeettouchedfirmground。？D'Artagnandroppedhishead，andhisblackhorsebrokeintoagallop。？Bothfollowedthesameroute;
　　thequadrupleechoesofthisnewrace—coursewereconfounded。？FouquethadnotyetperceivedD'Artagnan。？Butonissuingfromtheslope，asingleechostrucktheair;itwasthatofthestepsofD'Artagnan'shorse，whichrolledalonglikethunder。？Fouquetturnedround，andsawbehindhim，withinahundredpaces，hisenemybentovertheneckofhishorse。？Therecouldbenodoubt—theshiningbaldrick，theredcassock—itwasamusketeer。？Fouquetslackenedhishandlikewise，andthewhitehorseplacedtwentyfeetmorebetweenhisadversaryandhimself。
　　"Oh，but，"thoughtD'Artagnan，becomingveryanxious，"thatisnotacommonhorseM。Fouquetisupon—letussee！"？Andheattentivelyexaminedwithhisinfallibleeyetheshapeandcapabilitiesofthecourser。？Roundfullquarters—athinlongtail—largehocks—thinlegs，asdryasbarsofsteel—hoofshardasmarble。？Hespurredhisown，butthedistancebetweenthetworemainedthesame。？D'Artagnanlistenedattentively;notabreathofthehorsereachedhim，andyetheseemedtocuttheair。？Theblackhorse，onthecontrary，begantopufflikeanyblacksmith'sbellows。