"Then，"
　　saidthehonestseigneurofBracieux，"youhaverenderedmeaservice，andIthankyouforit;forifyouhadnotdeceivedme，Imighthavedeceivedmyself。？Inwhat，then，haveyoudeceivedme，tellme？"
　　"InthatIwasservingtheusurperagainstwhomLouisXIV。，atthismoment，isdirectinghisefforts。"
　　"Theusurper！"saidPorthos，scratchinghishead。？"Thatis—well，Idonotquiteclearlycomprehend！"
　　"HeisoneofthetwokingswhoarecontendingfrothecrownofFrance。"
　　"Verywell！？ThenyouwereservinghimwhoisnotLouisXIV。？"
　　"Youhavehitthematterinoneword。"
　　"Itfollowsthat—"
　　"Itfollowsthatwearerebels，mypoorfriend。"
　　"Thedevil！thedevil！"criedPorthos，muchdisappointed。
　　"Oh！
　　but，dearPorthos，becalm，weshallstillfindmeansofgettingoutoftheaffair，trustme。"
　　"Itisnotthatwhichmakesmeuneasy，"repliedPorthos;"thatwhichalonetouchesmeisthatuglywordrebels。"
　　"Ah！
　　but—"
　　"Andso，accordingtothis，theduchythatwaspromisedme—"
　　"Itwastheusurperthatwastogiveittoyou。"
　　"Andthatisnotthesamething，Aramis，"saidPorthos，majestically。
　　"Myfriend，ifithadonlydependeduponme，youshouldhavebecomeaprince。"
　　Porthosbegantobitehisnailsinamelancholyway。
　　"Thatiswhereyouhavebeenwrong，"continuedhe，"indeceivingme;forthatpromisedduchyIreckonedupon。？Oh！？Ireckoneduponitseriously，knowingyoutobeamanofyourword，Aramis。"
　　"PoorPorthos！pardonme，Iimploreyou！"
　　"So，then，"continuedPorthos，withoutreplyingtothebishop'sprayer，"sothen，it？seems，IhavequitefallenoutwithLouisXIV。？"
　　"Oh！？Iwillsettleallthat，mygoodfriend，I
　　willsettleallthat。？Iwilltakeitonmyselfalone！"
　　"Aramis！"
　　"No，no，Porthos，I
　　conjureyou，letmeact。？Nofalsegenerosity！？Noinopportunedevotedness！？Youknewnothingofmyprojects。？Youhavedonenothingofyourself。？Withmeitisdifferent。？Ialoneamtheauthorofthisplot。？Istoodinneedofmyinseparablecompanion;
　　Icalleduponyou，andyoucametomeinremembranceofourancientdevice，'Allforone，oneforall。'？MycrimeisthatIwasanegotist。"
　　"Now，thatisawordIlike，"saidPorthos;"andseeingthatyouhaveactedentirelyforyourself，itisimpossibleformetoblameyou。？Itisnatural。"
　　Anduponthissublimereflection，Porthospressedhisfriend'shandcordially。
　　Inpresenceofthisingenuousgreatnessofsoul，Aramisfelthisownlittleness。？Itwasthesecondtimehehadbeencompelledtobendbeforerealsuperiorityofheart，whichismoreimposingthanbrilliancyofmind。？Herepliedbyamuteandenergeticpressuretotheendearmentofhisfriend。
　　"Now，"
　　saidPorthos，"thatwehavecometoanexplanation，nowthatIamperfectlyawareofoursituationwithrespecttoLouisXIV。，Ithink，myfriend，itistimetomakemecomprehendthepoliticalintrigueofwhichwearethevictims—forIplainlyseethereisapoliticalintrigueatthebottomofallthis。"
　　"D'Artagnan，mygoodPorthos，D'Artagnaniscoming，andwilldetailittoyouinallitscircumstances;but，excuseme，Iamdeeplygrieved，Iamboweddownwithmentalanguish，andIhaveneedofallmypresenceofmind，allmypowersofreflection，toextricateyoufromthefalsepositioninwhichIhavesoimprudentlyinvolvedyou;butnothingcanbemoreclear，nothingmoreplain，thanyourposition，henceforth。？ThekingLouisXIV。hasnolongernowbutoneenemy:thatenemyismyself，myselfalone。？Ihavemadeyouaprisoner，youhavefollowedme，to—dayIliberateyou，youflybacktoyourprince。？Youcanperceive，Porthos，thereisnotonedifficultyinallthis。"
　　"Doyouthinkso？"saidPorthos。
　　"I
　　amquitesureofit。"
　　"Thenwhy，"saidtheadmirablegoodsenseofPorthos，"thenwhy，ifweareinsuchaneasyposition，why，myfriend，dowepreparecannon，muskets，andenginesofallsorts？？ItseemstomeitwouldbemuchmoresimpletosaytoCaptaind'Artagnan:'Mydearfriend，wehavebeenmistaken;thaterroristoberepaired;openthedoortous，letuspassthrough，andwewillsaygood—bye。'"
　　"Ah！
　　that！"saidAramis，shakinghishead。
　　"Whydoyousay'that'？？Doyounotapproveofmyplan，myfriend？"
　　"I
　　seeadifficultyinit。"
　　"Whatisit？"
　　"ThehypothesisthatD'Artagnanmaycomewithorderswhichwillobligeustodefendourselves。"
　　"What！
　　defendourselvesagainstD'Artagnan？？Folly！？AgainstthegoodD'Artagnan！"
　　Aramisoncemorerepliedbyshakinghishead。
　　"Porthos，"
　　atlengthsaidhe，"ifIhavehadthematcheslightedandthegunspointed，ifIhavehadthesignalofalarmsounded，ifIhavecalledeverymantohispostupontheramparts，thosegoodrampartsofBelle—Islewhichyouhavesowellfortified，itwasnotfornothing。？Waittojudge;orrather，no，donotwait—"
　　"WhatcanIdo？"
　　"IfIknew，myfriend，Iwouldhavetoldyou。"
　　"Butthereisonethingmuchmoresimplethandefendingourselves:—aboat，andawayforFrance—where—"
　　"Mydearfriend，"saidAramis，smilingwitha？strongshadeofsadness，"donotletusreasonlikechildren;letusbemenincouncilandinexecution。—But，hark！？Ihearahailforlandingattheport。？Attention，Porthos，seriousattention！"
　　"ItisD'Artagnan，nodoubt，"saidPorthos，inavoiceofthunder，approachingtheparapet。
　　"Yes，itisI，"repliedthecaptainofthemusketeers，runninglightlyupthestepsofthemole，andgainingrapidlythelittleesplanadeonwhichhistwofriendswaitedforhim。？Assoonashecametowardsthem，PorthosandAramisobservedanofficerwhofollowedD'Artagnan，treadingapparentlyinhisverysteps。？Thecaptainstoppeduponthestairsofthemole，whenhalf—wayup。？Hiscompanionsimitatedhim。
　　"Makeyourmendrawback，"criedD'ArtagnantoPorthosandAramis;"letthemretireoutofhearing。"？Thisorder，givenbyPorthos，wasexecutedimmediately。？ThenD'Artagnan，turningtowardshimwhofollowedhim:
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，"wearenolongeronboardtheking'sfleet，where，invirtueofyourorder，youspokesoarrogantlytome，justnow。"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　repliedtheofficer，"Ididnotspeakarrogantlytoyou;Isimply，butrigorously，obeyedinstructions。？Iwascommandedtofollowyou。？Ifollowyou。？Iamdirectednottoallowyoutocommunicatewithanyonewithouttakingcognizanceofwhatyoudo;Iamindutybound，accordingly，tooverhearyourconversations。"
　　D'Artagnantrembledwithrage，andPorthosandAramis，whoheardthisdialogue，trembledlikewise，butwithuneasinessandfear。？D'Artagnan，bitinghismustachewiththatvivacitywhichdenotedinhimexasperation，closelytobefollowedbyanexplosion，approachedtheofficer。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，inalowvoice，somuchthemoreimpressive，that，affectingcalm，itthreatenedtempest—"monsieur，whenIsentacanoehither，youwishedtoknowwhatIwrotetothedefendersofBelle—Isle。？Youproducedanordertothateffect;and，inmyturn，I
　　instantlyshowedyouthenoteIhadwritten。？Whentheskipperoftheboatsentbymereturned，whenIreceivedthereplyofthesetwogentlemen"（andhepointedtoAramisandPorthos），"youheardeverywordofwhatthemessengersaid。？Allthatwasplainlyinyourorders，allthatwaswellexecuted，verypunctually，wasitnot？"
　　"Yes，monsieur，"stammeredtheofficer;"yes，withoutdoubt，but—"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　continuedD'Artagnan，growingwarm—"monsieur，whenImanifestedtheintentionofquittingmyvesseltocrosstoBelle—Isle，youdemandedtoaccompanyme;Ididnothesitate;Ibroughtyouwithme。？YouarenowatBelle—Isle，areyounot？"
　　"Yes，monsieur;but—"
　　"But—thequestionnolongerisofM。Colbert，whohasgivenyouthatorder，orofwhomsoeverintheworldyouarefollowingtheinstructions;thequestionnowisofamanwhoisacloguponM。d'Artagnan，andwhoisalonewithM。d'Artagnanuponstepswhosefeetarebathedbythirtyfeetofsaltwater;abadpositionforthatman，abadposition，monsieur！？Iwarnyou。"
　　"But，monsieur，ifIamarestraintuponyou，"saidtheofficer，timidly，andalmostfaintly，"itismydutywhich—"
　　"Monsieur，youhavehadthemisfortune，eitheryouorthosethatsentyou，toinsultme。？Itisdone。？Icannotseekredressfromthosewhoemployyou，—theyareunknowntome，orareattoogreatadistance。？Butyouareundermyhand，andIswearthatifyoumakeonestepbehindmewhenIraisemyfeettogouptothosegentlemen，Isweartoyoubymyname，Iwillcleaveyourheadintwowithmysword，andpitchyouintothewater。？Oh！itwillhappen！itwillhappen！？Ihaveonlybeensixtimesangryinmylife，monsieur，andallfiveprecedingtimesIkilledmyman。"
　　Theofficerdidnotstir;hebecamepaleunderthisterriblethreat，butrepliedwithsimplicity，"Monsieur，youarewronginactingagainstmyorders。"
　　PorthosandAramis，muteandtremblingatthetopoftheparapet，criedtothemusketeer，"GoodD'Artagnan，takecare！"
　　D'Artagnanmadethemasigntokeepsilence，raisedhisfootwithominouscalmnesstomountthestair，andturnedround，swordinhand，toseeiftheofficerfollowedhim。？Theofficermadeasignofthecrossandsteppedup。？PorthosandAramis，whoknewtheirD'Artagnan，utteredacry，andrusheddowntopreventtheblowtheythoughttheyalreadyheard。？ButD'Artagnanpassedhisswordintohislefthand，—
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhetotheofficer，inanagitatedvoice，"youareabraveman。？YouwillallthebettercomprehendwhatIamgoingtosaytoyounow。"
　　"Speak，Monsieurd'Artagnan，speak，"repliedtheofficer。
　　"Thesegentlemenwehavejustseen，andagainstwhomyouhaveorders，aremyfriends。"
　　"I
　　knowtheyare，monsieur。"
　　"YoucanunderstandwhetherornotIoughttoacttowardsthemasyourinstructionsprescribe。"
　　"I
　　understandyourreserve。"
　　"Verywell;permitme，then，toconversewiththemwithoutawitness。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，ifIyieldtoyourrequest，ifIdothatwhichyoubegme，Ibreakmyword;butifIdonotdoit，Idisobligeyou。？Iprefertheonedilemmatotheother。？Conversewithyourfriends，anddonotdespiseme，monsieur，fordoingthisforyoursake，whomI
　　esteemandhonor;donotdespisemeforcommittingforyou，andyoualone，anunworthyact。"？D'Artagnan，muchagitated，threwhisarmroundtheneckoftheyoungman，andthenwentuptohisfriends。？Theofficer，envelopedinhiscloak，satdownonthedamp，weed—coveredsteps。
　　"Well！"
　　saidD'Artagnantohisfriends，"suchismyposition，judgeforyourselves。"？Allthreeembracedasinthegloriousdaysoftheiryouth。
　　"Whatisthemeaningofallthesepreparations？"saidPorthos。
　　"Yououghttohaveasuspicionofwhattheysignify，"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"Notany，Iassureyou，mydearcaptain;for，infact，Ihavedonenothing，nomorehasAramis，"theworthybaronhastenedtosay。
　　D'Artagnandartedareproachfullookattheprelate，whichpenetratedthathardenedheart。
　　"DearPorthos！"criedthebishopofVannes。
　　"Youseewhatisbeingdoneagainstyou，"saidD'Artagnan;"interceptionofallboatscomingtoorgoingfromBelle—Isle。？Yourmeansoftransportseized。？Ifyouhadendeavoredtofly，youwouldhavefallenintothehandsofthecruisersthatplowtheseainalldirections，onthewatchforyou。？Thekingwantsyoutobetaken，andhewilltakeyou。"？D'Artagnantoreathisgraymustache。？Aramisgrewsomber，Porthosangry。
　　"Myideawasthis，"continuedD'Artagnan:"tomakeyoubothcomeonboard，tokeepyounearme，andrestoreyouyourliberty。？Butnow，whocansay，whenIreturntomyship，Imaynotfindasuperior;thatImaynotfindsecretorderswhichwilltakefrommemycommand，andgiveittoanother，whowilldisposeofmeandyouwithouthopeofhelp？"
　　"WemustremainatBelle—Isle，"saidAramis，resolutely;"andIassureyou，formypart，Iwillnotsurrendereasily。"？Porthossaidnothing。？D'Artagnanremarkedthesilenceofhisfriend。
　　"I
　　haveanothertrialtomakeofthisofficer，ofthisbravefellowwhoaccompaniesme，andwhosecourageousresistancemakesmeveryhappy;foritdenotesanhonestman，who，thoughanenemy，isathousandtimesbetterthanacomplaisantcoward。？Letustrytolearnfromhimwhathisinstructionsare，andwhathisorderspermitorforbid。"
　　"Letustry，"saidAramis。
　　D'Artagnanwenttotheparapet，leanedovertowardsthestepsofthemole，andcalledtheofficer，whoimmediatelycameup。？"Monsieur，"saidD'Artagnan，afterhavingexchangedthecordialcourtesiesnaturalbetweengentlemenwhoknowandappreciateeachother，"monsieur，ifIwishedtotakeawaythesegentlemenfromhere，whatwouldyoudo？"
　　"I
　　shouldnotopposeit，monsieur;buthavingdirectexplicitorderstoputthemunderguard，Ishoulddetainthem。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidD'Artagnan。
　　"That'sallover，"saidAramis，gloomily。？Porthosdidnotstir。
　　"ButstilltakePorthos，"saidthebishopofVannes。？"Hecanprovetotheking，andIwillhelphimdoso，andyoutoo，Monsieurd'Artagnan，thathehadnothingtodowiththisaffair。"
　　"Hum！"
　　saidD'Artagnan。？"Willyoucome？？Willyoufollowme，Porthos？？Thekingismerciful。"
　　"I
　　wanttimeforreflection，"saidPorthos。
　　"Youwillremainhere，then？"
　　"Untilfreshorders，"saidAramis，withvivacity。
　　"Untilwehaveanidea，"resumedD'Artagnan;"andInowbelievethatwillnotbelong，forIhaveonealready。"
　　"Letussayadieu，then，"saidAramis;"butintruth，mygoodPorthos，yououghttogo。"
　　"No，"
　　saidthelatter，laconically。
　　"Asyouplease，"repliedAramis，alittlewoundedinhissusceptibilitiesatthemorosetoneofhiscompanion。？"OnlyIamreassuredbythepromiseofanideafromD'Artagnan，anideaIfancyIhavedivined。"
　　"Letussee，"saidthemusketeer，placinghisearnearAramis'smouth。？Thelatterspokeseveralwordsrapidly，towhichD'Artagnanreplied，"Thatisit，precisely。"
　　"Infallible！"
　　criedAramis。
　　"Duringthefirstemotionthisresolutionwillcause，takecareofyourself，Aramis。"
　　"Oh！
　　don'tbeafraid。"
　　"Now，monsieur，"saidD'Artagnantotheofficer，"thanks，athousandthanks！？Youhavemadeyourselfthreefriendsforlife。"
　　"Yes，"
　　addedAramis。？Porthosalonesaidnothing，butmerelybowed。
　　D'Artagnan，havingtenderlyembracedhistwooldfriends，leftBelle—IslewiththeinseparablecompanionwithwhomM。Colberthadsaddledhim。？Thus，withtheexceptionoftheexplanationwithwhichtheworthyPorthoshadbeenwillingtobesatisfied，nothinghadchangedinappearanceinthefateofoneortheother，"Only，"saidAramis，"thereisD'Artagnan'sidea。"
　　D'Artagnandidnotreturnonboardwithoutprofoundlyanalyzingtheideahehaddiscovered。？Now，weknowthatwhateverD'Artagnandidexamine，accordingtocustom，daylightwascertaintoilluminate。？Astotheofficer，nowgrownmuteagain，hehadfulltimeformeditation。？Therefore，onputtinghisfootonboardhisvessel，mooredwithincannon—shotoftheisland，thecaptainofthemusketeershadalreadygottogetherallhismeans，offensiveanddefensive。
　　Heimmediatelyassembledhiscouncil，whichconsistedoftheofficersservingunderhisorders。？Thesewereeightinnumber;achiefofthemaritimeforces;amajordirectingtheartillery;anengineer，theofficerweareacquaintedwith，andfourlieutenants。？Havingassembledthem，D'Artagnanarose，tookofhishat，andaddressedthemthus:
　　"Gentlemen，IhavebeentoreconnoiterBelle—蝜e—en—Mer，andIhavefoundinitagoodandsolidgarrison;moreover，preparationsaremadeforadefensethatmayprovetroublesome。？Ithereforeintendtosendfortwooftheprincipalofficersoftheplace，thatwemayconversewiththem。？Havingseparatedthemfromtheirtroopsandcannon，weshallbebetterabletodealwiththem;particularlybyreasoningwiththem。？Isnotthisyouropinion，gentlemen？"
　　Themajorofartilleryrose。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，withrespect，butfirmness，"Ihaveheardyousaythattheplaceispreparingtomakeatroublesomedefense。？Theplaceisthen，asyouknow，determinedonrebellion？"
　　D'Artagnanwasvisiblyputoutbythisreply;buthewasnotthemantoallowhimselftobesubduedbyatrifle，andresumed:
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，"yourreplyisjust。？ButyouareignorantthatBelle—IsleisafiefofM。Fouquet's，andthatformermonarchsgavetherighttotheseigneursofBelle—Isletoarmtheirpeople。"？Themajormadeamovement。？"Oh！donotinterruptme，"
　　continuedD'Artagnan。？"YouaregoingtotellmethatthatrighttoarmthemselvesagainsttheEnglishwasnotarighttoarmthemselvesagainsttheirking。？ButitisnotM。Fouquet，Isuppose，whoholdsBelle—Isleatthismoment，sinceIarrestedM。Fouquetthedaybeforeyesterday。？NowtheinhabitantsanddefendersofBelle—Isleknownothingofthisarrest。？Youwouldannounceittotheminvain。？Itisathingsounheard—ofandextraordinary，sounexpected，thattheywouldnotbelieveyou。？ABretonserveshismaster，andnothismasters;heserveshismastertillhehasseenhimdead。？NowtheBretons，asfarasI
　　know，havenotseenthebodyofM。Fouquet。？Itisnot，then，surprisingtheyholdoutagainstthatwhichisneitherM。Fouquetnorhissignature。"
　　Themajorbowedintokenofassent。
　　"Thatiswhy，"continuedD'Artagnan，"Iproposetocausetwooftheprincipalofficersofthegarrisontocomeonboardmyvessel。？Theywillseeyou，gentlemen;theywillseetheforceswehaveatourdisposal;theywillconsequentlyknowtowhattheyhavetotrust，andthefatethatattendsthem，incaseofrebellion。？Wewillaffirmtothem，uponourhonor，thatM。Fouquetisaprisoner，andthatallresistancecanonlybeprejudicialtothem。？Wewilltellthemthatatthefirstcannonfired，therewillbenofurtherhopeofmercyfromtheking。？Then，orsoatleastItrust，theywillresistnolonger。？Theywillyieldupwithoutfighting，andweshallhaveaplacegivenuptousinafriendlywaywhichitmightcostprodigiouseffortstosubdue。"
　　TheofficerwhohadfollowedD'ArtagnantoBelle—Islewaspreparingtospeak，butD'Artagnaninterruptedhim。
　　"Yes，Iknowwhatyouaregoingtotellme，monsieur;Iknowthatthereisanorderoftheking'stopreventallsecretcommunicationswiththedefendersofBelle—Isle，andthatisexactlywhyIdonotoffertocommunicateexceptinpresenceofmystaff。"
　　AndD'Artagnanmadeaninclinationoftheheadtohisofficers，whoknewhimwellenoughtoattachacertainvaluetothecondescension。
　　Theofficerslookedateachotherasiftoreadeachother'sopinionsintheireyes，withtheintentionofevidentlyacting，shouldtheyagree，accordingtothedesireofD'Artagnan。？AndalreadythelattersawwithjoythattheresultoftheirconsentwouldbesendingabarktoPorthosandAramis，whentheking'sofficerdrewfromapocketafoldedpaper，whichheplacedinthehandsofD'Artagnan。
　　Thispaperboreuponitssuperscriptionthenumber1。
　　"What，more！"murmuredthesurprisedcaptain。
　　"Read，monsieur，"saidtheofficer，withacourtesythatwasnotfreefromsadness。
　　D'Artagnan，fullofmistrust，unfoldedthepaper，andreadthesewords:"ProhibitiontoM。d'Artagnantoassembleanycouncilwhatever，ortodeliberateinanywaybeforeBelle—Islebesurrenderedandtheprisonersshot。？Signed—LOUIS。"
　　D'Artagnanrepressedthequiverofimpatiencethatranthroughhiswholebody，andwithagracioussmile:
　　"Thatiswell，monsieur，"saidhe;"theking'sordersshallbecompliedwith。"
　　ChapterXLIV:
　　ResultoftheIdeasoftheKing，andtheIdeasofD'Artagnan。
　　Theblowwasdirect。？Itwassevere，mortal。？D'Artagnan，furiousathavingbeenanticipatedbyanideaoftheking's，didnotdespair，however，evenyet;
　　andreflectingupontheideahehadbroughtbackfromBelle—Isle，heelicitedtherefromnovelmeansofsafetyforhisfriends。
　　"Gentlemen，"
　　saidhe，suddenly，"sincethekinghaschargedsomeotherthanmyselfwithhissecretorders，itmustbebecauseInolongerpossesshisconfidence，andI
　　shouldreallybeunworthyofitifIhadthecouragetoholdacommandsubjecttosomanyinjurioussuspicions。？ThereforeIwillgoimmediatelyandcarrymyresignationtotheking。？Itenderitbeforeyouall，enjoiningyoualltofallbackwithmeuponthecoastofFrance，insuchawayasnottocompromisethesafetyoftheforceshismajestyhasconfidedtome。？Forthispurpose，returnalltoyourposts;withinanhour，weshallhavetheebbofthetide。？Toyourposts，gentlemen！？Isuppose，"addedhe，onseeingthatallpreparedtoobeyhim，exceptthesurveillantofficer，"youhavenoorderstoobject，thistime？"
　　AndD'Artagnanalmosttriumphedwhilespeakingthesewords。？Thisplanwouldprovethesafetyofhisfriends。？Theblockadeonceraised，theymightembarkimmediately，andsetsailforEnglandorSpain，withoutfearofbeingmolested。？Whilsttheyweremakingtheirescape，D'Artagnanwouldreturntotheking;wouldjustifyhisreturnbytheindignationwhichthemistrustofColberthadraisedinhim;hewouldbesentbackwithfullpowers，andhewouldtakeBelle—Isle;thatistosay，thecage，afterthebirdshadflown。？Buttothisplantheofficeropposedafurtherorderoftheking's。？Itwasthusconceived:
　　"FromthemomentM。d'Artagnanshallhavemanifestedthedesireofgivinginhisresignation，heshallnolongerbereckonedleaderoftheexpedition，andeveryofficerplacedunderhisordersshallbeheldtonolongerobeyhim。？Moreover，thesaidMonsieurd'Artagnan，havinglostthatqualityofleaderofthearmysentagainstBelle—Isle，shallsetoutimmediatelyforFrance，accompaniedbytheofficerwhowillhaveremittedthemessagetohim，andwhowillconsiderhimaprisonerforwhomheisanswerable。"
　　Braveandcarelessashewas，D'Artagnanturnedpale。？Everythinghadbeencalculatedwithadepthofprecognitionwhich，forthefirsttimeinthirtyyears，recalledtohimthesolidforesightandinflexiblelogicofthegreatcardinal。？Heleanedhisheadonhishand，thoughtful，scarcelybreathing。？"IfIweretoputthisorderinmypocket，"thoughthe，"whowouldknowit，whatwouldpreventmydoingit？？Beforethekinghadhadtimetobeinformed，Ishouldhavesavedthosepoorfellowsyonder。？Letusexercisesomesmallaudacity！？Myheadisnotoneofthosetheexecutionerstrikesofffordisobedience。？Wewilldisobey！"？Butatthemomenthewasabouttoadoptthisplan，hesawtheofficersaroundhimreadingsimilarorders，whichthepassiveagentofthethoughtsofthatinfernalColberthaddistributedtothem。？Thiscontingencyofhisdisobediencehadbeenforeseen—asalltheresthadbeen。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidtheofficer，cominguptohim，"Iawaityourgoodpleasuretodepart。"
　　"I
　　amready，monsieur，"repliedD'Artagnan，grindinghisteeth。
　　TheofficerimmediatelyorderedacanoetoreceiveM。d'Artagnanandhimself。？Atsightofthishebecamealmostdistraughtwithrage。