"I
mustovertakehim，ifIkillmyhorse，"thoughtthemusketeer;andhebegantosawthemouthofthepooranimal，whilstheburiedtherowelsofhismercilessspursintohissides。？Themaddenedhorsegainedtwentytoises，andcameupwithinpistol—shotofFouquet。
"Courage！"
saidthemusketeertohimself，"courage！thewhitehorsewillperhapsgrowweaker，andifthehorsedoesnotfall，themastermustpullupatlast。"？Buthorseandriderremaineduprighttogether，gaininggroundbydifficultdegrees。？D'Artagnanutteredawildcry，whichmadeFouquetturnround，andaddedspeedtothewhitehorse。
"A
famoushorse！amadrider！"growledthecaptain。？"Hola！mordioux！？MonsieurFouquet！stop！intheking'sname！"？Fouquetmadenoreply。
"Doyouhearme？"shoutedD'Artagnan，whosehorsehadjuststumbled。
"Pardieu！"repliedFouquet，laconically;androdeonfaster。
D'Artagnanwasnearlymad;thebloodrushedboilingtohistemplesandhiseyes。？"Intheking'sname！"criedheagain，"stop，orIwillbringyoudownwithapistol—shot！"
"Do！"
repliedFouquet，withoutrelaxinghisspeed。
D'Artagnanseizedapistolandcockedit，hopingthatthedoubleclickofthespringwouldstophisenemy。？"Youhavepistolslikewise，"saidhe，"turnanddefendyourself。"
Fouquetdidturnroundatthenoise，andlookingD'Artagnanfullintheface，opened，withhisrighthand，thepartofhisdresswhichconcealedhisbody，buthedidnoteventouchhisholsters。？Therewerenotmorethantwentypacesbetweenthetwo。
"Mordioux！"saidD'Artagnan，"I
willnotassassinateyou;ifyouwillnotfireuponme，surrender！whatisaprison？"
"I
wouldratherdie！"repliedFouquet;"Ishallsufferless。"
D'Artagnan，drunkwithdespair，hurledhispistoltotheground。？"Iwilltakeyoualive！"saidhe;andbyaprodigyofskillwhichthisincomparablehorsemanalonewascapable，hethrewhishorseforwardtowithintenpacesofthewhitehorse;alreadyhishandwasstretchedouttoseizehisprey。
"Killme！killme！"criedFouquet，"'twouldbemorehumane！"
"No！
alive—alive！"murmuredthecaptain。
Atthismomenthishorsemadeafalsestepforthesecondtime，andFouquet'sagaintookthelead。？Itwasanunheard—ofspectacle，thisracebetweentwohorseswhichnowonlykeptalivebythewilloftheirriders。？ItmightbesaidthatD'Artagnanrode，carryinghishorsealongbetweenhisknees。？Tothefuriousgallophadsucceededthefasttrot，andthathadsunktowhatmightbescarcelycalledatrotatall。？Butthechaseappearedequallywarminthetwofatiguedathlet？。？D'Artagnan，quiteindespair，seizedhissecondpistol，andcockedit。
"Atyourhorse！notatyou！"criedhetoFouquet。？Andhefired。？Theanimalwashitinthequarters—hemadeafuriousbound，andplungedforward。？AtthatmomentD'Artagnan'shorsefelldead。
"I
amdishonored！"thoughtthemusketeer;"Iamamiserablewretch！forpity'ssake，M。Fouquet，throwmeoneofyourpistols，thatImayblowoutmybrains！"？ButFouquetrodeaway。
"Formercy'ssake！formercy'ssake！"criedD'Artagnan;"thatwhichyouwillnotdoatthismoment，Imyselfwilldowithinanhour，buthere，uponthisroad，Ishoulddiebravely;Ishoulddieesteemed;domethatservice，M。
Fouquet！"
M。
Fouquetmadenoreply，butcontinuedtotroton。？D'Artagnanbegantorunafterhisenemy。？Successivelyhethrewawayhishat，hiscoat，whichembarrassedhim，andthenthesheathofhissword，whichgotbetweenhislegsashewasrunning。？Theswordinhishanditselfbecametooheavy，andhethrewitafterthesheath。？Thewhitehorsebegantorattleinitsthroat;D'Artagnangaineduponhim。？Fromatrottheexhaustedanimalsunktoastaggeringwalk—thefoamfromhismouthwasmixedwithblood。？D'Artagnanmadeadesperateeffort，sprangtowardsFouquet，andseizedhimbytheleg，sayinginabroken，breathlessvoice，"Iarrestyouintheking'sname！blowmybrainsout，ifyoulike;wehavebothdoneourduty。"
Fouquethurledfarfromhim，intotheriver，thetwopistolsD'Artagnanmighthaveseized，anddismountingfromhishorse—"Iamyourprisoner，monsieur，"saidhe;"willyoutakemyarm，forIseeyouarereadytofaint？"
"Thanks！"
murmuredD'Artagnan，who，infact，felttheearthslidingfromunderhisfeet，andthelightofdayturningtoblacknessaroundhim;thenherolleduponthesand，withoutbreathorstrength。？Fouquethastenedtothebrinkoftheriver，dippedsomewaterinhishat，withwhichhebathedthetemplesofthemusketeer，andintroducedafewdropbetweenhislips。？D'Artagnanraisedhimselfwithdifficulty，andlookedabouthimwithawanderingeye。？HebeheldFouquetonhisknees，withhiswethatinhishand，smilinguponhimwithineffablesweetness。？"Youarenotoff，then？"criedhe。？"Oh，monsieur！thetruekingofroyalty，inheart，insoul，isnotLouisoftheLouvre，orPhilippeofSainte—Marguerite;itisyou，proscribed，condemned！"
"I，whothisdayamruinedbyasingleerror，M。d'Artagnan。"
"What，inthenameofHeaven，isthat？"
"I
shouldhavehadyouforafriend！？ButhowshallwereturntoNantes？？Weareagreatwayfromit。"
"Thatistrue，"saidD'Artagnan，gloomily。
"Thewhitehorsewillrecover，perhaps;heisagoodhorse！？Mount，Monsieurd'Artagnan;Iwillwalktillyouhaverestedalittle。"
"Poorbeast！andwounded，too？"saidthemusketeer。
"Hewillgo，Itellyou;Iknowhim;butwecandobetterstill，letusbothgetup，andrideslowly。"
"Wecantry，"saidthecaptain。？Buttheyhadscarcelychargedtheanimalwiththisdoubleload，whenhebegantostagger，andthenwithagreateffortwalkedafewminutes，thenstaggeredagain，andsankdowndeadbythesideoftheblackhorse，whichhehadjustmanagedtocomeupto。
"Wewillgoonfoot—destinywillsitso—thewalkwillbepleasant，"saidFouquet，passinghisarmthroughthatofD'Artagnan。
"Mordioux！"criedthelatter，withafixedeye，acontractedbrow，andaswellingheart—"Whatadisgracefulday！"
Theywalkedslowlythefourleagueswhichseparatedthemfromthelittlewoodbehindwhichthecarriageandescortwereinwaiting。？WhenFouquetperceivedthatsinistermachine，hesaidtoD'Artagnan，whocastdownhiseyes，ashamedofLouisXIV。，"Thereisanideathatdidnotemanatefromabraveman，Captaind'Artagnan;itisnotyours。？Whatarethesegratingsfor？"saidhe。
"Topreventyourthrowinglettersout。"
"Ingenious！"
"Butyoucanspeak，ifyoucannotwrite，"saidD'Artagnan。
"CanIspeaktoyou？"
"Why，certainly，ifyouwishtodoso。"
Fouquetreflectedforamoment，thenlookingthecaptainfullintheface，"Onesingleword，"saidhe;"willyourememberit？"
"I
willnotforgetit。"
"WillyouspeakittowhomIwish？"
"I
will。"
"Saint—Mand？;
articulatedFouquet，inalowvoice。
"Well！
andforwhom？"
"ForMadamedeBelli鑢eorP閘isson。"
"Itshallbedone。"
ThecarriagerolledthroughNantes，andtooktheroutetoAngers。
ChapterXLI:
InWhichtheSquirrelFalls，—theAdderFlies。
Itwastwoo'clockintheafternoon。？Theking，fullofimpatience，wenttohiscabinetontheterrace，andkeptopeningthedoorofthecorridor，toseewhathissecretariesweredoing。？M。Colbert，seatedinthesameplaceM。deSaint—Aignanhadsolongoccupiedinthemorning，waschattinginalowvoicewithM。deBrienne。？Thekingopenedthedoorsuddenly，andaddressedthem。？"Whatisityouaresaying？"
"WewerespeakingofthefirstsittingoftheStates，"saidM。deBrienne，rising。
"Verywell，"repliedtheking，andreturnedtohisroom。
Fiveminutesafter，thesummonsofthebellrecalledRose，whosehouritwas。
"Haveyoufinishedyourcopies？"askedtheking。
"Notyet，sire。"
"SeeifM。d'Artagnanhasreturned。"
"Notyet，sire。"
"Itisverystrange，"murmuredtheking。？"CallM。Colbert。"
Colbertentered;hehadbeenexpectingthisallthemorning。
"MonsieurColbert，"saidtheking，verysharply;"youmustascertainwhathasbecomeofM。d'Artagnan。"
Colbertinhiscalmvoicereplied，"Wheredoesyourmajestydesirehimtobesoughtfor？"
"Eh！
monsieur！doyounotknowonwhatIhavesenthim？"repliedLouis，acrimoniously。
"Yourmajestydidnotinformme。"
"Monsieur，therearethingsthatmustbeguessed;andyou，aboveall，areapttoguessthem。"
"I
mighthavebeenabletoimagine，sire;butIdonotpresumetobepositive。"
Colberthadnotfinishedthesewordswhenaroughervoicethanthatofthekinginterruptedtheinterestingconversationthusbegunbetweenthemonarchandhisclerk。
"D'Artagnan！"
criedtheking，withevidentjoy。
D'Artagnan，paleandinevidentlybadhumor，criedtotheking，asheentered，"Sire，isityourmajestywhohasgivenorderstomymusketeers？"
"Whatorders？"saidtheking。
"AboutM。Fouquet'shouse？"
"None！"
repliedLouis。
"Ha！"
saidD'Artagnan，bitinghismustache;"Iwasnotmistaken，then;itwasmonsieurhere;"andhepointedtoColbert。
"Whatorders？？Letmeknow，"saidtheking。
"Orderstoturnthehousetopsy—turvy，tobeatM。Fouquet'sservants，toforcethedrawers，togiveoverapeacefulhousetopillage！？Mordioux！thesearesavageorders！"
"Monsieur！"
saidColbert，turningpale。
"Monsieur，"
interruptedD'Artagnan，"thekingalone，understand，—thekingalonehasarighttocommandmymusketeers;but，astoyou，Iforbidyoutodoit，andI
tellyousobeforehismajesty;gentlemenwhocarryswordsdonotslingpensbehindtheirears。"
"D'Artagnan！？D'Artagnan！"murmuredtheking。
"Itishumiliating，"continuedthemusketeer;"mysoldiersaredisgraced。？Idonotcommandre顃res，thankyou，norclerksoftheintendant，mordioux！"
"Well！
butwhatisallthisabout？"saidthekingwithauthority。
"Aboutthis，sire;monsieur—monsieur，whocouldnotguessyourmajesty'sorders，andconsequentlycouldnotknowIwasgonetoarrestM。Fouquet;monsieur，whohascausedtheironcagetobeconstructedforhispatronofyesterday—hassentM。deRoncherollestothelodgingsofM。Fouquet，and，underthepretenseofsecuringthesurintendant'spapers，theyhavetakenawaythefurniture。？Mymusketeershavebeenpostedroundthehouseallthemorning;suchweremyorders。？Whydidanyonepresumetoorderthemtoenter？？Why，byforcingthemtoassistinthispillage，havetheybeenmadeaccomplicesinit？？Mordioux！weservetheking，wedo;butwedonotserveM。Colbert！"
Transcriber'snote:Dumashere，andlaterinthechapter，usesthenameRoncherat。？Roncherollesistheactualnameoftheman。
—JB
"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidtheking，sternly，"takecare;itisnotinmypresencethatsuchexplanations，andmadeinsuchatone，shouldtakeplace。"
"I
haveactedforthegoodoftheking，"saidColbert，inafalteringvoice。？"Itishardtobesotreatedbyoneofyourmajesty'sofficers，andthatwithoutredress，onaccountoftherespectIowetheking。"
"Therespectyouowetheking，"criedD'Artagnan，hiseyesflashingfire，"consists，inthefirstplace，inmakinghisauthorityrespected，andhispersonbeloved。？Everyagentofapowerwithoutcontrolrepresentsthatpower，andwhenpeoplecursethehandwhichstrikesthem，itistheroyalhandthatGodreproaches，doyouhear？？Mustasoldier，hardenedbyfortyyearsofwoundsandblood，giveyouthislesson，monsieur？？Mustmercybeonmyside，andferocityonyours？？Youhavecausedtheinnocenttobearrested，bound，andimprisoned！"
"Accomplices，perhaps，ofM。Fouquet，"saidColbert。
"WhotoldyouM。Fouquethadaccomplices，oreventhathewasguilty？？Thekingaloneknowsthat;hisjusticeisnotblind！？Whenhesays，'Arrestandimprison'suchandsuchaman，heisobeyed。？Donottalktome，then，anymoreoftherespectyouowetheking，andbecarefulofyourwords，thattheymaynotchancetoconveytheslightestmenace;forthekingwillnotallowthosetobethreatenedwhodohimservicebyotherswhodohimdisservice;andifincaseIshouldhave，whichGodforbid！amastersoungrateful，Iwouldmakemyselfrespected。"
Thussaying，D'Artagnantookhisstationhaughtilyintheking'scabinet，hiseyesflashing，hishandonhissword，hislipstrembling，affectingmuchmoreangerthanhereallyfelt。？Colbert，humiliatedanddevouredwithrage，bowedtothekingasiftoaskhispermissiontoleavetheroom。？Theking，thwartedalikeinprideandincuriosity，knewnotwhichparttotake。？D'Artagnansawhimhesitate。？Toremainlongerwouldhavebeenamistake:
itwasnecessarytoscoreatriumphoverColbert，andtheonlymethodwastotouchthekingsonearthequick，thathismajestywouldhavenoothermeansofextricationbutchoosingbetweenthetwoantagonists。？D'ArtagnanbowedasColberthaddone;buttheking，who，inpreferencetoeverythingelse，wasanxioustohavealltheexactdetailsofthearrestofthesurintendantofthefinancesfromhimwhohadmadehimtrembleforamoment，—theking，perceivingthattheill—humorofD'Artagnanwouldputoffforhalfanhouratleastthedetailshewasburningtobeacquaintedwith，—Louis，wesay，forgotColbert，whohadnothingnewtotellhim，andrecalledhiscaptainofthemusketeers。
"Inthefirstplace，"saidhe，"letmeseetheresultofyourcommission，monsieur;youmayrestyourselfhereafter。"
D'Artagnan，whowasjustpassingthroughthedoorway，stoppedatthevoiceoftheking，retracedhissteps，andColbertwasforcedtoleavethecloset。？Hiscountenanceassumedalmostapurplehue，hisblackandthreateningeyesshonewithadarkfirebeneaththeirthickbrows;hesteppedout，bowedbeforetheking，halfdrewhimselfupinpassingD'Artagnan，andwentawaywithdeathinhisheart。？D'Artagnan，onbeingleftalonewiththeking，softenedimmediately，andcomposinghiscountenance:"Sire，"saidhe，"youareayoungking。？Itisbythedawnthatpeoplejudgewhetherthedaywillbefineordull。？How，sire，willthepeople，whomthehandofGodhasplacedunderyourlaw，argueofyourreign，ifbetweenthemandyou，youallowangryandviolentministerstointerposetheirmischief？？Butletusspeakofmyself，sire，letusleaveadiscussionthatmayappearidle，andperhapsinconvenienttoyou。？Letusspeakofmyself。？IhavearrestedM。Fouquet。"
"Youtookplentyoftimeaboutit，"saidtheking，sharply。
D'Artagnanlookedattheking。？"IperceivethatIhaveexpressedmyselfbadly。？I
announcedtoyourmajestythatIhadarrestedMonsieurFouquet。"
"Youdid;andwhatthen？"
"Well！？IoughttohavetoldyourmajestythatM。
Fouquethadarrestedme;thatwouldhavebeenmorejust。？Ire—establishthetruth，then;IhavebeenarrestedbyM。Fouquet。"
ItwasnowtheturnofLouisXIV。tobesurprised。？Hismajestywasastonishedinhisturn。
D'Artagnan，withhisquickglance，appreciatedwhatwaspassingintheheartofhismaster。？Hedidnotallowhimtimetoputanyquestions。？Herelated，withthatpoetry，thatpicturesqueness，whichperhapshealonepossessedatthatperiod，theescapeofFouquet，thepursuit，thefuriousrace，and，lastly，theinimitablegenerosityofthesurintendant，whomighthavefledtentimesover，whomighthavekilledtheadversaryinthepursuit，butwhohadpreferredimprisonment，perhapsworse，tothehumiliationofonewhowishedtorobhimofhisliberty。？Inproportionasthetaleadvanced，thekingbecameagitated，devouringthenarrator'swords，anddrummingwithhisfinger—nailsuponthetable。
"Itresultsfromallthis，sire，inmyeyes，atleast，thatthemanwhoconductshimselfthusisagallantman，andcannotbeanenemytotheking。？Thatismyopinion，andIrepeatittoyourmajesty。？Iknowwhatthekingwillsaytome，andIbowtoit，—reasonsofstate。？Sobeit！？Tomyearsthatsoundshighlyrespectable。？ButIamasoldier，andIhavereceivedmyorders，myordersareexecuted—veryunwillinglyonmypart，itistrue，buttheyareexecuted。？Isaynomore。"
"WhereisM。Fouquetatthismoment？"askedLouis，afterashortsilence。
"M。
Fouquet，sire，"repliedD'Artagnan，"isintheironcagethatM。
Colberthadpreparedforhim，andisgallopingasfastasfourstronghorsescandraghim，towardsAngers。"
"Whydidyouleavehimontheroad？"
"BecauseyourmajestydidnottellmetogotoAngers。？Theproof，thebestproofofwhatIadvance，isthatthekingdesiredmetobesoughtforbutthisminute。？AndthenIhadanotherreason。"
"Whatisthat？"
"WhilstIwaswithhim，poorM。Fouquetwouldneverattempttoescape。"
"Well！"
criedtheking，astonished。
"Yourmajestyoughttounderstand，anddoesunderstand，certainly，thatmywarmestwishistoknowthatM。Fouquetisatliberty。？Ihavegivenhimoneofmybrigadiers，themoststupidIcouldfindamongmymusketeers，inorderthattheprisonermighthaveachanceofescaping。"
"Areyoumad，Monsieurd'Artagnan？"criedtheking，crossinghisarmsonhisbreast。？"Dopeopleuttersuchenormities，evenwhentheyhavethemisfortunetothinkthem？"
"Ah！
sire，youcannotexpectthatIshouldbeanenemytoM。Fouquet，afterwhathehasjustdoneforyouandme。？No，no;
ifyoudesirethatheshouldremainunderyourlockandbolt，nevergivehiminchargetome;howevercloselywiredmightbethecage，thebirdwould，intheend，takewing。"
"I
amsurprised，"saidtheking，inhissternesttone，"youdidnotfollowthefortunesofthemanM。Fouquetwishedtoplaceuponmythrone。？Youhadinhimallyouwant—affection，gratitude。？Inmyservice，monsieur，youwillonlyfindamaster。"
"IfM。FouquethadnotgonetoseekyouintheBastile，sire，"repliedD'Artagnan，withadeeplyimpressivemanner，"onesinglemanwouldhavegonethere，andIshouldhavebeenthatman—youknowthatrightwell，sire。"
Thekingwasbroughttoapause。？Beforethatspeechofhiscaptainofthemusketeers，sofranklyspokenandsotrue，thekinghadnothingtooffer。？OnhearingD'Artagnan，LouisrememberedtheD'Artagnanofformertimes;himwho，atthePalaisRoyal，heldhimselfconcealedbehindthecurtainsofhisbed，whenthepeopleofParis，ledbyCardinaldeRetz，cametoassurethemselvesofthepresenceoftheking;theD'Artagnanwhomhesalutedwithhishandatthedoorofhiscarriage，whenrepairingtoNotreDameonhisreturntoParis;thesoldierwhohadquittedhisserviceatBlois;thelieutenanthehadrecalledtobebesidehispersonwhenthedeathofMazarinrestoredhispower;themanhehadalwaysfoundloyal，courageous，devoted。？LouisadvancedtowardsthedoorandcalledColbert。？Colberthadnotleftthecorridorwherethesecretarieswereatwork。？Hereappeared。
"Colbert，didyoumakeaperquisitiononthehouseofM。Fouquet？"
"Yes，sire。"
"Whathasitproduced？"
"M。
deRoncherolles，whowassentwithyourmajesty'smusketeers，hasremittedmesomepapers，"repliedColbert。
"I
willlookatthem。？Givemeyourhand。"
"Myhand，sire！"
"Yes，thatImayplaceitinthatofM。d'Artagnan。？Infact，M。d'Artagnan，"addedhe，withasmile，turningtowardsthesoldier，who，atsightoftheclerk，hadresumedhishaughtyattitude，"youdonotknowthisman;makehisacquaintance。"？AndhepointedtoColbert。？"Hehasbeenmadebutamoderatelyvaluableservantinsubalternpositions，buthewillbeagreatmanifIraisehimtotheforemostrank。"
"Sire！"
stammeredColbert，confusedwithpleasureandfear。
"I
alwaysunderstoodwhy，"murmuredD'Artagnanintheking'sear;"hewasjealous。"
"Precisely，andhisjealousyconfinedhiswings。"
"Hewillhenceforwardbeawinged—serpent，"grumbledthemusketeer，witharemnantofhatredagainsthisrecentadversary。
ButColbert，approachinghim，offeredtohiseyesaphysiognomysodifferentfromthatwhichhehadbeenaccustomedtoseehimwear;heappearedsogood，somild，soeasy;hiseyestooktheexpressionofanintelligencesonoble，thatD'Artagnan，aconnoisseurinphysiognomies，wasmoved，andalmostchangedinhisconvictions。？Colbertpressedhishand。
"Thatwhichthekinghasjusttoldyou，monsieur，proveshowwellhismajestyisacquaintedwithmen。？TheinveterateoppositionIhavedisplayed，uptothisday，againstabusesandnotagainstmen，provesthatIhaditinviewtoprepareformykingagloriousreign，formycountryagreatblessing。？Ihavemanyideas，M。d'Artagnan。？Youwillseethemexpandinthesunofpublicpeace;andifIhavenotthegoodfortunetoconquerthefriendshipofhonestmen，Iamatleastcertain，monsieur，thatI
shallobtaintheiresteem。？Fortheiradmiration，monsieur，Iwouldgivemylife。"
Thischange，thissuddenelevation，thismuteapprobationoftheking，gavethemusketeermatterforprofoundreflection。？HebowedcivillytoColbert，whodidnottakehiseyesoffhim。？Theking，whenhesawtheywerereconciled，dismissedthem。？Theylefttheroomtogether。？Assoonastheywereoutofthecabinet，thenewminister，stoppingthecaptain，said:
"Isitpossible，M。d'Artagnan，thatwithsuchaneyeasyours，youdidnot，atthefirstglance，atthefirstimpression，discoverwhatsortofmanIam？"
"MonsieurColbert，"repliedthemusketeer，"arayofthesuninoureyespreventsusfromseeingthemostvividflame。？Themaninpowerradiates，youknow;andsinceyouarethere，whyshouldyoucontinuetopersecutehimwhohadjustfallenintodisgrace，andfallenfromsuchaheight？"
"I，monsieur！"saidColbert;"oh，monsieur！？Iwouldneverpersecutehim。？Iwishedtoadministerthefinancesandtoadministerthemalone，becauseIamambitious，and，aboveall，becauseIhavethemostentireconfidenceinmyownmerit;becauseIknowthatallthegoldofthiscountrywillebbandflowbeneathmyeyes，andIlovetolookattheking'sgold;
because，ifIlivethirtyyears，inthirtyyearsnotad閚irofitwillremaininmyhands;because，withthatgold，Iwillbuildgranaries，castles，cities，andharbors;becauseIwillcreateamarine，IwillequipnaviesthatshallwaftthenameofFrancetothemostdistantpeople;becauseIwillcreatelibrariesandacademies;becauseIwillmakeFrancethefirstcountryintheworld，andthewealthiest。？ThesearethemotivesformyanimosityagainstM。Fouquet，whopreventedmyacting。？Andthen，whenIshallbegreatandstrong，whenFranceisgreatandstrong，inmyturn，then，willIcry，'Mercy'！"
"Mercy，didyousay？thenaskhislibertyoftheking。？Thekingisonlycrushinghimonyouraccount。"
Colbertagainraisedhishead。？"Monsieur，"saidhe，"youknowthatisnotso，andthatthekinghashisownpersonalanimosityagainstM。Fouquet;itisnotformetoteachyouthat。"
"Butthekingwillgrowtired;hewillforget。"
"Thekingneverforgets，M。d'Artagnan。？Hark！thekingcalls。？Heisgoingtoissueanorder。？Ihavenotinfluencedhim，haveI？？Listen。"
Theking，infact，wascallinghissecretaries。？"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidhe。
"I
amhere，sire。"
"GivetwentyofyourmusketeerstoM。deSaint—Aignan，toformaguardforM。
Fouquet。"
D'ArtagnanandColbertexchangedlooks。？"AndfromAngers，"continuedtheking，"theywillconducttheprisonertotheBastile，inParis。"
"Youwereright，"saidthecaptaintotheminister。