"Oh！
　　oh！"murmuredhe，"thereismyweaknessseizingmeagain！？Icanwalknofurther！？Whatisthis？"
　　Aramisperceivedhimthroughtheopening，andunabletoconceivewhatcouldinducehimtostopthus—"Comeon，Porthos！comeon，"hecried;"comequickly！"
　　"Oh！"
　　repliedthegiant，makinganeffortthatcontortedeverymuscleofhisbody—
　　"oh！butIcannot。"？Whilesayingthesewords，hefelluponhisknees，butwithhismightyhandsheclungtotherocks，andraisedhimselfupagain。
　　"Quick！
　　quick！"repeatedAramis，bendingforwardtowardstheshore，asiftodrawPorthostowardshimwithhisarms。
　　"HereIam，"stammeredPorthos，collectingallhisstrengthtomakeonestepmore。
　　"InthenameofHeaven！？Porthos，makehaste！thebarrelwillblowup！"
　　"Makehaste，monseigneur！"shoutedtheBretonstoPorthos，whowasflounderingasinadream。
　　Buttherewasnotime;theexplosionthundered，earthgaped，thesmokewhichhurledthroughthecleftsobscuredthesky;theseaflowedbackasthoughdrivenbytheblastofflamewhichdartedfromthegrottoasiffromthejawsofsomegiganticfierychimera;therefluxtookthebarkouttwentytoises;thesolidrockscrackedtotheirbase，andseparatedlikeblocksbeneaththeoperationofthewedge;aportionofthevaultwascarrieduptowardsheaven，asifithadbeenbuiltofcardboard;thegreenandblueandtopazconflagrationandblacklavaofliquefactionsclashedandcombatedaninstantbeneathamajesticdomeofsmoke;
　　thenoscillated，declined，andfellsuccessivelythemightymonolithsofrockwhichtheviolenceoftheexplosionhadnotbeenabletouprootfromthebedofages;theybowedtoeachotherlikegraveandstiffoldmen，thenprostratingthemselves，laydownforeverintheirdustytomb。
　　ThisfrightfulshockseemedtorestorePorthosthestrengththathehadlost;hearose，agiantamonggranitegiants。？Butatthemomenthewasflyingbetweenthedoublehedgeofgranitephantoms，theselatter，whichwerenolongersupportedbythecorrespondinglinks，begantorollandtotterroundourTitan，wholookedasifprecipitatedfromheavenamidstrockswhichhehadjustbeenlaunching。？Porthosfelttheveryearthbeneathhisfeetbecomingjelly—tremulous。？Hestretchedbothhandstorepulsethefallingrocks。？Agiganticblockwasheldbackbyeachofhisextendedarms。？Hebenthishead，andathirdgranitemasssankbetweenhisshoulders。？ForaninstantthepowerofPorthosseemedabouttofailhim，butthisnewHerculesunitedallhisforce，andthetwowallsoftheprisoninwhichhewasburiedfellbackslowlyandgavehimplace。？Foraninstantheappeared，inthisframeofgranite，liketheangelofchaos，butinpushingbackthelateralrocks，helosthispointofsupport，forthemonolithwhichweigheduponhisshoulders，andtheboulder，pressinguponhimwithallitsweight，broughtthegiantdownuponhisknees。？Thelateralrocks，foraninstantpushedback，drewtogetheragain，andaddedtheirweighttotheponderousmasswhichwouldhavebeensufficienttocrushtenmen。？Theherofellwithoutagroan—hefellwhileansweringAramiswithwordsofencouragementandhope，for，thankstothepowerfularchofhishands，foraninstanthebelievedthat，likeEnceladus，hewouldsucceedinshakingoffthetripleload。？ButbydegreesAramisbeheldtheblocksink;thehands，strungforaninstant，thearmsstiffenedforalasteffort，gaveway，theextendedshoulderssank，woundedandtorn，andtherockscontinuedtograduallycollapse。
　　"Porthos！？Porthos！"criedAramis，tearinghishair。？"Porthos！whereareyou？？Speak！"
　　"Here，here，"murmuredPorthos，withavoicegrowingevidentlyweaker，"patience！patience！"
　　Scarcelyhadhepronouncedthesewords，whentheimpulseofthefallaugmentedtheweight;theenormousrocksankdown，pressedbythoseotherswhichsankinfromthesides，and，asitwere，swallowedupPorthosinasepulcherofbadlyjointedstones。？Onhearingthedyingvoiceofhisfriend，Aramishadsprungtoland。？TwooftheBretonsfollowedhim，witheachaleverinhishand—
　　onebeingsufficienttotakecareofthebark。？Thedyingrattleofthevaliantgladiatorguidedthemamidsttheruins。？Aramis，animated，activeandyoungasattwenty，sprangtowardsthetriplemass，andwithhishands，delicateasthoseofawoman，raisedbyamiracleofstrengththecorner—stoneofthisgreatgranitegrave。？Thenhecaughtaglimpse，throughthedarknessofthatcharnel—house，ofthestillbrillianteyeofhisfriend，towhomthemomentaryliftingofthemassrestoredamomentaryrespiration。？Thetwomencamerushingup，graspedtheirironlevers，unitedtheirtriplestrength，notmerelytoraiseit，butsustainit。？Allwasuseless。？Theygavewaywithcriesofgrief，andtheroughvoiceofPorthos，seeingthemexhaustthemselvesinauselessstruggle，murmuredinanalmostcheerfultonethosesupremewordswhichcametohislipswiththelastrespiration，"Tooheavy！"
　　Afterwhichhiseyesdarkenedandclosed，hisfacegrewashypale，thehandswhitened，andthecolossussankquitedown，breathinghislastsigh。？Withhimsanktherock，which，eveninhisdyingagonyhehadstillheldup。？Thethreemendroppedthelevers，whichrolleduponthetumularystone。？Then，breathless，pale，hisbrowcoveredwithsweat，Aramislistened，hisbreastoppressed，hisheartreadytobreak。
　　Nothingmore。？Thegiantslepttheeternalsleep，inthesepulcherwhichGodhadbuiltabouthimtohismeasure。
　　ChapterLI:
　　Porthos'sEpitaph。
　　Aramis，silentandsadasice，tremblinglikeatimidchild，aroseshiveringfromthestone。？AChristiandoesnotwalkontombs。？But，thoughcapableofstanding，hewasnotcapableofwalking。？ItmightbesaidthatsomethingofdeadPorthoshadjustdiedwithinhim。？HisBretonssurroundedhim;Aramisyieldedtotheirkindexertions，andthethreesailors，liftinghimup，carriedhimtothecanoe。？Then，havinglaidhimdownuponthebenchneartherudder，theytooktotheiroars，preferringthistohoistingsail，whichmightbetraythem。
　　OnallthatleveledsurfaceoftheancientgrottoofLocmaria，onesinglehillockattractedtheireyes。？Aramisneverremovedhisfromit;and，atadistanceoutinthesea，inproportionastheshorereceded，thatmenacingproudmassofrockseemedtodrawitselfup，asformerlyPorthosusedtodrawhimselfup，raisingasmiling，yetinvincibleheadtowardsheaven，likethatofhisdearoldhonestvaliantfriend，thestrongestofthefour，yetthefirstdead。？Strangedestinyofthesemenofbrass！？Themostsimpleofheartalliedtothemostcrafty;strengthofbodyguidedbysubtletyofmind;andinthedecisivemoment，whenvigoralonecouldsavemindandbody，astone，arock，avilematerialweight，triumphedovermanlystrength，andfallinguponthebody，droveoutthemind。
　　WorthyPorthos！borntohelpothermen，alwaysreadytosacrificehimselfforthesafetyoftheweak，asifGodhadonlygivenhimstrengthforthatpurpose;
　　whendyingheonlythoughthewascarryingouttheconditionsofhiscompactwithAramis，acompact，however，whichAramisalonehaddrawnup，andwhichPorthoshadonlyknowntosufferbyitsterriblesolidarity。？NoblePorthos！ofwhatgoodnowarethych鈚eauxoverflowingwithsumptuousfurniture，forestsoverflowingwithgame，lakesoverflowingwithfish，cellarsoverflowingwithwealth！？Ofwhatservicetotheenowthylackeysinbrilliantliveries，andinthemidstofthemMousqueton，proudofthepowerdelegatedbythee！？Oh，noblePorthos！
　　carefulheaper—upoftreasure，wasitworthwhiletolabortosweetenandgildlife，tocomeuponadesertshore，surroundedbythecriesofseagulls，andlaythyself，withbrokenbones，beneathatorpidstone？？Wasitworthwhile，inshort，noblePorthos，toheapsomuchgold，andnothaveeventhedistichofapoorpoetengravenuponthymonument？？ValiantPorthos！？hestill，withoutdoubt，sleeps，lost，forgotten，beneaththerocktheshepherdsoftheheathtakeforthegiganticabodeofadolmen。？Andsomanytwiningbranches，somanymosses，bentbythebitterwindofocean，somanylichenssolderthysepulchertoearth，thatnopassers—bywillimaginesuchablockofgranitecouldeverhavebeensupportedbytheshouldersofoneman。
　　Aramis，stillpale，stillicy—cold，hisheartuponhislips，looked，eventill，withthelastrayofdaylight，theshorefadedonthehorizon。？Notawordescapedhim，notasighrosefromhisdeepbreast。？ThesuperstitiousBretonslookeduponhim，trembling。？Suchsilencewasnotthatofaman，itwasthesilenceofastatue。？Inthemeantime，withthefirstgraylinesthatlighteduptheheavens，thecanoehoisteditslittlesail，which，swellingwiththekissesofthebreeze，andcarryingthemrapidlyfromthecoast，madebravestwaytowardsSpain，acrossthedreadedGulfofGascony，sorifewithstorms。？Butscarcelyhalfanhourafterthesailhadbeenhoisted，therowersbecameinactive，recliningontheirbenches，and，makinganeye—shadewiththeirhands，pointedouttoeachotherawhitespotwhichappearedonthehorizonasmotionlessasagullrockedbytheviewlessrespirationofthewaves。？Butthatwhichmighthaveappearedmotionlesstoordinaryeyeswasmovingataquickratetotheexperiencedeyeofthesailor;thatwhichappearedstationaryupontheoceanwascuttingarapidwaythroughit。？Forsometime，seeingtheprofoundtorporinwhichtheirmasterwasplunged，theydidnotdaretorousehim，andsatisfiedthemselveswithexchangingtheirconjecturesinwhispers。？Aramis，infact，sovigilant，soactive—Aramis，whoseeye，likethatofthelynx，watchedwithoutceasing，andsawbetterbynightthanbyday—
　　Aramisseemedtosleepinthisdespairofsoul。？Anhourpassedthus，duringwhichdaylightgraduallydisappeared，butduringwhichalsothesailinviewgainedsoswiftlyonthebark，thatGoenne，oneofthethreesailors，venturedtosayaloud:
　　"Monseigneur，wearebeingchased！"
　　Aramismadenoreply;theshipstillgaineduponthem。？Then，oftheirownaccord，twoofthesailors，bythedirectionofthepatronYves，loweredthesail，inorderthatthatsinglepointuponthesurfaceofthewatersshouldceasetobeaguidetotheeyeoftheenemypursuingthem。？Onthepartoftheshipinsight，onthecontrary，twomoresmallsailswererunupattheextremitiesofthemasts。？Unfortunately，itwasthetimeofthefinestandlongestdaysoftheyear，andthemoon，inallherbrilliancy，succeededinauspiciousdaylight。？Thebalancelle，whichwaspursuingthelittlebarkbeforethewind，hadthenstillhalfanhouroftwilight，andawholenightalmostaslightasday。
　　"Monseigneur！
　　monseigneur！wearelost！"saidthecaptain。？"Look！theyseeusplainly，thoughwehaveloweredsail。"
　　"Thatisnottobewonderedat，"murmuredoneofthesailors，"sincetheysaythat，bytheaidofthedevil，theParis—folkhavefabricatedinstrumentswithwhichtheyseeaswellatadistanceasnear，bynightaswellasbyday。"
　　Aramistookatelescopefromthebottomoftheboat，focusseditsilently，andpassingittothesailor，"Here，"saidhe，"look！"？Thesailorhesitated。
　　"Don'tbealarmed，"saidthebishop，"thereisnosininit;andifthereisanysin，Iwilltakeitonmyself。"
　　Thesailorliftedtheglasstohiseye，andutteredacry。？Hebelievedthatthevessel，whichappearedtobedistantaboutcannon—shot，hadatasingleboundclearedthewholedistance。？But，onwithdrawingtheinstrumentfromhiseye，hesawthat，exceptthewaywhichthebalancellehadbeenabletomakeduringthatbriefinstant，itwasstillatthesamedistance。
　　"So，"
　　murmuredthesailor，"theycanseeusasweseethem。"
　　"Theyseeus，"saidAramis，andsankagainintoimpassibility。
　　"What！
　　—theyseeus！"saidYves。？"Impossible！"
　　"Well，captain，lookyourself，"saidthesailor。？Andhepassedhimtheglass。
　　"Monseigneurassuresmethatthedevilhasnothingtodowiththis？"askedYves。
　　Aramisshruggedhisshoulders。
　　Theskipperliftedtheglasstohiseye。？"Oh！monseigneur，"saidhe，"itisamiracle—theretheyare;itseemsasifIweregoingtotouchthem。？Twenty—fivemenatleast！？Ah！？Iseethecaptainforward。？Heholdsaglasslikethis，andislookingatus。？Ah！heturnsround，andgivesanorder;theyarerollingapieceofcannonforward—theyareloadingit—pointingit。？Mis閞icorde！theyarefiringatus！"
　　Andbyamechanicalmovement，theskipperputasidethetelescope，andthepursuingship，relegatedtothehorizon，appearedagaininitstrueaspect。？Thevesselwasstillatthedistanceofnearlyaleague，butthemaneuversightedthuswasnotlessreal。？Alightcloudofsmokeappearedbeneaththesails，morebluethanthey，andspreadinglikeafloweropening;then，ataboutamilefromthelittlecanoe，theysawtheballtakethecrownofftwoorthreewaves，digawhitefurrowinthesea，anddisappearattheendofit，asinoffensiveasthestonewithwhich，inplay，aboymakesducksanddrakes。？Itwasatonceamenaceandawarning。
　　"Whatistobedone？"askedthepatron。
　　"Theywillsinkus！"saidGoenne，"giveusabsolution，monseigneur！"？Andthesailorsfellontheirkneesbeforehim。
　　"Youforgetthattheycanseeyou，"saidhe。
　　"Thatistrue！"saidthesailors，ashamedoftheirweakness。？"Giveusyourorders，monseigneur，wearepreparedtodieforyou。"
　　"Letuswait，"saidAramis。
　　"How—letuswait？"
　　"Yes;
　　doyounotsee，asyoujustnowsaid，thatifweendeavortofly，theywillsinkus？"
　　"But，perhaps，"thepatronventuredtosay，"perhapsundercoverofnight，wecouldescapethem。"
　　"Oh！"
　　saidAramis，"theyhave，nodoubt，Greekfirewithwhichtolightentheirowncourseandourslikewise。"
　　Atthesamemoment，asifthevesselwasresponsivetotheappealofAramis，asecondcloudofsmokemountedslowlytotheheavens，andfromthebosomofthatcloudsparkledanarrowofflame，whichdescribedaparabolalikearainbow，andfellintothesea，whereitcontinuedtoburn，illuminatingaspaceofaquarterofaleagueindiameter。
　　TheBretonslookedateachotherinterror。？"Youseeplainly，"saidAramis，"itwillbebettertowaitforthem。"
　　Theoarsdroppedfromthehandsofthesailors，andthebark，ceasingtomakeway，rockedmotionlessuponthesummitsofthewaves。？Nightcameon，butstilltheshipdrewnearer。？Itmightbeimagineditredoubleditsspeedwithdarkness。？Fromtimetotime，asavulturerearsitsheadoutofitsnest，theformidableGreekfiredartedfromitssides，andcastitsflameupontheoceanlikeanincandescentsnowfall。？Atlastitcamewithinmusket—shot。？Allthemenwereondeck，armsinhand;thecannonierswereattheirguns，thematchesburning。？Itmightbethoughttheywereabouttoboardafrigateandtofightacrewsuperiorinnumbertotheirown，nottoattemptthecaptureofacanoemannedbyfourpeople。
　　"Surrender！"
　　criedthecommanderofthebalancelle，withtheaidofhisspeaking—trumpet。
　　ThesailorslookedatAramis。？Aramismadeasignwithhishead。？Yveswavedawhiteclothattheendofagaff。？Thiswaslikestrikingtheirflag。？Thepursuercameonlikearace—horse。？ItlaunchedafreshGreekfire，whichfellwithintwentypacesofthelittlecanoe，andthrewalightuponthemaswhiteassunshine。
　　"Atthefirstsignofresistance，"criedthecommanderofthebalancelle，"fire！"？Thesoldiersbroughttheirmusketstothepresent。
　　"Didwenotsaywesurrendered？"saidYves。
　　"Alive，alive，captain！"criedoneexcitedsoldier，"theymustbetakenalive。"
　　"Well，yes—living，"saidthecaptain。？ThenturningtowardstheBretons，"Yourlivesaresafe，myfriends！"criedhe，"allbuttheChevalierd'Herblay。"
　　Aramisstaredimperceptibly。？Foraninstanthiseyewasfixeduponthedepthsoftheocean，illuminedbythelastflashesoftheGreekfire，whichranalongthesidesofthewaves，playedonthecrestslikeplumes，andrenderedstilldarkerandmoreterriblethegulfstheycovered。
　　"Doyouhear，monseigneur？"saidthesailors。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whatareyourorders？"
　　"Accept！"
　　"Butyou，monseigneur？"
　　Aramisleanedstillmoreforward，anddippedtheendsofhislongwhitefingersinthegreenlimpidwatersofthesea，towhichheturnedwithsmilesastoafriend。
　　"Accept！"
　　repeatedhe。
　　"Weaccept，"repeatedthesailors;"butwhatsecurityhavewe？"
　　"Thewordofagentleman，"saidtheofficer。？"BymyrankandbymynameIswearthatallexceptM。leChevalierd'Herblayshallhavetheirlivesspared。？Iamlieutenantoftheking'sfrigatethe'Pomona，'andmynameisLouisConstantdePressigny。"
　　Witharapidgesture，Aramis—alreadybentoverthesideofthebarktowardsthesea—drewhimselfup，andwithaflashingeye，andasmileuponhislips，"Throwouttheladder，messieurs，"saidhe，asifthecommandhadbelongedtohim。？Hewasobeyed。？WhenAramis，seizingtheropeladder，walkedstraightuptothecommander，withafirmstep，lookedathimearnestly，madeasigntohimwithhishand，amysteriousandunknownsignatsightofwhichtheofficerturnedpale，trembled，andbowedhishead，thesailorswereprofoundlyastonished。？WithoutawordAramisthenraisedhishandtotheeyesofthecommanderandshowedhimthecolletofaringheworeonthering—fingerofhislefthand。？AndwhilemakingthissignAramis，drapedincoldandhaughtymajesty，hadtheairofanemperorgivinghishandtobekissed。？Thecommandant，whoforamomenthadraisedhishead，bowedasecondtimewithmarksofthemostprofoundrespect。？Thenstretchinghishandout，inhisturn，towardsthepoop，thatistosay，towardshisowncabin，hedrewbacktoallowAramistogofirst。？ThethreeBretons，whohadcomeonboardaftertheirbishop，lookedateachother，stupefied。？Thecrewwereawedtosilence。？Fiveminutesafter，thecommandercalledthesecondlieutenant，whoreturnedimmediately，orderingtheheadtobeputtowardsCorunna。？Whilstthisorderwasbeingexecuted，Aramisreappeareduponthedeck，andtookaseatnearthebastingage。？Nighthadfallen;themoonhadnotyetrisen，yetAramislookedincessantlytowardsBelle—Isle。？Yvesthenapproachedthecaptain，whohadreturnedtotakehispostinthestern，andsaid，inalowandhumblevoice，"Whatcoursearewetofollow，captain？"
　　"Wetakewhatcoursemonseigneurpleases，"repliedtheofficer。
　　Aramispassedthenightleaninguponthebastingage。？Yves，onapproachinghimnextmorning，remarkedthat"thenightmusthavebeenaverydampone，forthewoodonwhichthebishop'sheadhadrestedwassoakedwithdew。"？Whoknows？—thatdewwas，itmaybe，thefirsttearsthathadeverfallenfromtheeyesofAramis！
　　Whatepitaphwouldhavebeenworththat，goodPorthos？
　　ChapterLII:
　　M。
　　deGesvres'sRound。
　　D'Artagnanwaslittleusedtoresistancelikethathehadjustexperienced。？Hereturned，profoundlyirritated，toNantes。？Irritation，withthisvigorousman，usuallyventeditselfinimpetuousattack，whichfewpeople，hitherto，weretheyking，weretheygiants，hadbeenabletoresist。？Tremblingwithrage，hewentstraighttothecastle，andaskedanaudiencewiththeking。？Itmightbeaboutseveno'clockinthemorning，and，sincehisarrivalatNantes，thekinghadbeenanearlyriser。？Butonarrivingatthecorridorwithwhichweareacquainted，D'ArtagnanfoundM。deGesvres，whostoppedhimpolitely，tellinghimnottospeaktooloudanddisturbtheking。？"Isthekingasleep？"saidD'Artagnan。？"Well，Iwilllethimsleep。？Butaboutwhato'clockdoyousupposehewillrise？"
　　"Oh！
　　inabouttwohours;hismajestyhasbeenupallnight。"
　　D'Artagnantookhishatagain，bowedtoM。deGesvres，andreturnedtohisownapartments。？Hecamebackathalf—pastnine，andwastoldthatthekingwasatbreakfast。？"Thatwilljustsuitme，"saidD'Artagnan。？"Iwilltalktothekingwhileheiseating。"
　　M。
　　deBrienneremindedD'Artagnanthatthekingwouldnotseeanyoneatmeal—time。
　　"But，"
　　saidD'Artagnan，lookingaskantatBrienne，"youdonotknow，perhaps，monsieur，thatIhavetheprivilegeofentr閑anywhere—andatanyhour。"
　　Briennetookthecaptain'shandkindly，andsaid，"NotatNantes，dearMonsieurd'Artagnan。？Theking，inthisjourney，haschangedeverything。"
　　D'Artagnan，alittlesoftened，askedaboutwhato'clockthekingwouldhavefinishedhisbreakfast。
　　"Wedon'tknow。"
　　"Eh？
　　—don'tknow！？Whatdoesthatmean？？Youdon'tknowhowmuchtimethekingdevotestoeating？？Itisgenerallyanhour;and，ifweadmitthattheairoftheLoiregivesanadditionalappetite，wewillextendittoanhourandahalf;thatisenough，Ithink。？IwillwaitwhereIam。"
　　"Oh！
　　dearMonsieurd'Artagnan，theorderofthedayisnottoallowanypersontoremaininthiscorridor;Iamonguardforthatparticularpurpose。"
　　D'Artagnanfelthisangermountingtohisbrainasecondtime。？Hewentoutquickly，forfearofcomplicatingtheaffairbyadisplayofprematureill—humor。？Assoonashewasouthebegantoreflect。？"Theking，"saidhe，"willnotreceiveme，thatisevident。？Theyoungmanisangry;heisafraid，beforehand，ofthewordsthatImayspeaktohim。？Yes;butinthemeantimeBelle—Isleisbesieged，andmytwofriendsbynowprobablytakenorkilled。？PoorPorthos！？AstoMasterAramis，heisalwaysfullofresources，andIameasyonhisaccount。？But，no，no;
　　Porthosisnotyetaninvalid，norisAramisinhisdotage。？Theonewithhisarm，theotherwithhisimagination，willfindworkforhismajesty'ssoldiers。？WhoknowsifthesebravemenmaynotgetupfortheedificationofhismostChristianmajestyalittlebastionofSaint—Gervais！？Idon'tdespairofit。？Theyhavecannonandagarrison。？Andyet，"continuedD'Artagnan，"Idon'tknowwhetheritwouldnotbebettertostopthecombat。？FormyselfaloneIwillnotputupwitheithersurlylooksorinsultsfromtheking;butformyfriendsImustputupwitheverything。？ShallIgotoM。Colbert？？Now，thereisamanImustacquirethehabitofterrifying。？IwillgotoM。Colbert。"？AndD'ArtagnansetforwardbravelytofindM。Colbert，butwasinformedthathewasworkingwiththeking，atthecastleofNantes。？"Good！"criedhe，"thetimeshavecomeagaininwhichI
　　measuredmystepsfromDeTr関illetothecardinal，fromthecardinaltothequeen，fromthequeentoLouisXIII。？Trulyisitsaidthatmen，ingrowingold，becomechildrenagain！—Tothecastle，then！"？Hereturnedthither。？M。deLyonnewascomingout。？HegaveD'Artagnanbothhands，buttoldhimthatthekinghadbeenbusyalltheprecedingeveningandallnight，andthatordershadbeengiventhatnooneshouldbeadmitted。？"Noteventhecaptainwhotakestheorder？"criedD'Artagnan。？"I
　　thinkthatisrathertoostrong。"
　　"Notevenhe，"saidM。deLyonne。
　　"Sincethatisthecase，"repliedD'Artagnan，woundedtotheheart;"sincethecaptainofthemusketeers，whohasalwaysenteredtheking'schamber，isnolongerallowedtoenterit，hiscabinet，orhissalle—？manger，eitherthekingisdead，orhiscaptainisindisgrace。？Domethefavor，then，M。deLyonne，whoareinfavor，toreturnandtelltheking，plainly，Isendhimmyresignation。"
　　"D'Artagnan，bewareofwhatyouaredoing！"
　　"Forfriendship'ssake，go！"andhepushedhimgentlytowardsthecabinet。
　　"Well，Iwillgo，"saidLyonne。
　　D'Artagnanwaited，walkingaboutthecorridorinnoenviablemood。？Lyonnereturned。
　　"Well，whatdidthekingsay？"exclaimedD'Artagnan。
　　"Hesimplyanswered，''Tiswell，'"repliedLyonne。
　　"Thatitwaswell！"saidthecaptain，withanexplosion。？"Thatistosay，thatheacceptsit？？Good！？Now，then，Iamfree！？I
　　amonlyaplaincitizen，M。deLyonne。？Ihavethepleasureofbiddingyougood—bye！？Farewell，castle，corridor，ante—chamber！abourgeois，abouttobreatheatliberty，takeshisfarewellofyou。"
　　Andwithoutwaitinglonger，thecaptainsprangfromtheterracedownthestaircase，wherehehadpickedupthefragmentsofGourville'sletter。？Fiveminutesafter，hewasatthehostelry，where，accordingtothecustomofallgreatofficerswhohavelodgingsatthecastle，hehadtakenwhatwascalledhiscity—chamber。？Butwhenhearrivedthere，insteadofthrowingoffhisswordandcloak，hetookhispistols，puthismoneyintoalargeleatherpurse，sentforhishorsesfromthecastle—stables，andgaveordersthatwouldensuretheirreachingVannesduringthenight。？Everythingwentonaccordingtohiswishes。？Ateighto'clockintheevening，hewasputtinghisfootinthestirrup，whenM。deGesvresappeared，attheheadoftwelveguards，infrontofthehostelry。？D'Artagnansawallfromthecornerofhiseye;hecouldnotfailseeingthirteenmenandthirteenhorses。？Buthefeignednottoobserveanything，andwasabouttoputhishorseinmotion。？Gesvresrodeuptohim。？"Monsieurd'Artagnan！"saidhe，aloud。
　　"Ah，MonsieurdeGesvres！goodevening！"
　　"Onewouldsayyouweregettingonhorseback。"
　　"Morethanthat，—Iammounted，—asyousee。"
　　"ItisfortunateIhavemetwithyou。"
　　"Wereyoulookingforme，then？"
　　"MonDieu！yes。"
　　"Onthepartoftheking，Iwillwager？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"AsI，threedaysago，wentinsearchofM。Fouquet？"
　　"Oh！"
　　"Nonsense！？Itisofnousebeingover—delicatewithme;
　　thatisalllaborlost。？Tellmeatonceyouarecometoarrestme。"
　　"Toarrestyou？—Goodheavens！no。"
　　"Whydoyoucometoaccostmewithtwelvehorsemenatyourheels，then？"
　　"Iammakingmyround。"
　　"Thatisn'tbad！？Andsoyoupickmeupinyourround，eh？"
　　"Idon'tpickyouup;
　　Imeetwithyou，andIbegyoutocomewithme。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Totheking。"
　　"Good！"
　　saidD'Artagnan，withabanteringair;"thekingisdisengaged。"
　　"ForHeaven'ssake，captain，"saidM。deGesvres，inalowvoicetothemusketeer，"donotcompromiseyourself！thesemenhearyou。"
　　D'Artagnanlaughedaloud，andreplied:
　　"March！？Peoplewhoarearrestedareplacedbetweenthesixfirstguardsandthesixlast。"
　　"ButasIamnotarrestingyou，"saidM。deGesvres，"youwillmarchbehind，withme，ifyouplease。"
　　"Well，"
　　saidD'Artagnan，"thatisverypolite，duke，andyouarerightinbeingso;forifeverIhadhadtomakemyroundsnearyourchambre—de—ville，Ishouldhavebeencourteoustoyou，Iassureyou，onthewordofagentleman！？Now，onefavormore;whatdoesthekingwantwithme？"
　　"Oh，thekingisfurious！"
　　"Verywell！theking，whohasthoughtitworthwhiletobeangry，maytakethetroubletogrowcalmagain;thatisall。？Ishan'tdieofthat，Iwillswear。"