"No，but—"
　　"But—IshallbesenttokeepcompanywithunfortunateM。Fouquet。？Mordioux！？Thatisagallantman，aworthyman！？Weshallliveverysociablytogether，Iwillbesworn。"
　　"Hereweareatourplaceofdestination，"saidtheduke。？"Captain，forHeaven'ssakebecalmwiththeking！"
　　"Ah！
　　ah！youareplayingthebravemanwithme，duke！"saidD'Artagnan，throwingoneofhisdefiantglancesoverGesvres。？"Ihavebeentoldthatyouareambitiousofunitingyourguardswithmymusketeers。？Thisstrikesmeasasplendidopportunity。"
　　"I
　　willtakeexceedinggoodcarenottoavailmyselfofit，captain。"
　　"Andwhynot，pray？"
　　"Oh，formanyreasons—inthefirstplace，forthis:ifIweretosucceedyouinthemusketeersafterhavingarrestedyou—"
　　"Ah！
　　thenyouadmityouhavearrestedme？"
　　"No，Idon't。"
　　"Saymetme，then。？So，youweresayingifyouweretosucceedmeafterhavingarrestedme？"
　　"Yourmusketeers，atthefirstexercisewithballcartridges，wouldfiremyway，bymistake。"
　　"Oh，astothatIwon'tsay;forthefellowsdolovemealittle。"
　　GesvresmadeD'Artagnanpassinfirst，andtookhimstraighttothecabinetwhereLouiswaswaitingforhiscaptainofthemusketeers，andplacedhimselfbehindhiscolleagueintheante—chamber。？Thekingcouldbehearddistinctly，speakingaloudtoColbertinthesamecabinetwhereColbertmighthaveheard，afewdaysbefore，thekingspeakingaloudwithM。
　　d'Artagnan。？Theguardsremainedasamountedpicketbeforetheprincipalgate;andthereportwasquicklyspreadthroughoutthecitythatmonsieurlecapitaineofthemusketeershadbeenarrestedbyorderoftheking。？Thenthesemenwereseentobeinmotion，andasinthegoodoldtimesofLouisXIII。andM。deTr関ille，groupswereformed，andstaircaseswerefilled;vaguemurmurs，issuingfromthecourtbelow，camerollingtotheupperstories，likethedistantmoaningofthewaves。？M。deGesvresbecameuneasy。？Helookedathisguards，who，afterbeinginterrogatedbythemusketeerswhohadjustgotamongtheirranks，begantoshunthemwithamanifestationofinnocence。？D'ArtagnanwascertainlylessdisturbedbyallthisthanM。deGesvres，thecaptainoftheguards。？Assoonasheentered，heseatedhimselfontheledgeofawindowwhencewithhiseagleglancehesawallthatwasgoingonwithouttheleastemotion。？Nostepoftheprogressivefermentationwhichhadshownitselfatthereportofhisarrestescapedhim。？Heforesawtheverymomenttheexplosionwouldtakeplace;andweknowthathisprevisionswereingeneralcorrect。
　　"Itwouldbeverywhimsical，"thoughthe，"if，thisevening，mypr鎡oriansshouldmakemekingofFrance。？HowIshouldlaugh！"
　　But，attheheight，allwasstopped。？Guards，musketeers，officers，soldiers，murmurs，uneasiness，dispersed，vanished，diedaway;therewasanendofmenaceandsedition。？Onewordhadcalmedthewaves。？ThekinghaddesiredBriennetosay，"Hush，messieurs！youdisturbtheking。"
　　D'Artagnansighed。？"Allisover！"saidhe;"themusketeersofthepresentdayarenotthoseofhismajestyLouisXIII。？Allisover！"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，youarewantedintheante—chamberoftheking，"proclaimedanusher。
　　ChapterLIII:
　　KingLouisXIV。
　　Thekingwasseatedinhiscabinet，withhisbackturnedtowardsthedoorofentrance。？Infrontofhimwasamirror，inwhich，whileturningoverhispapers，hecouldseeataglancethosewhocamein。？HedidnottakeanynoticeoftheentranceofD'Artagnan，butspreadabovehislettersandplansthelargesilkclothheusedtoconcealhissecretsfromtheimportunate。？D'Artagnanunderstoodthisby—play，andkeptinthebackground;sothatattheendofaminutetheking，whoheardnothing，andsawnothingsavefromthecornerofhiseye，wasobligedtocry，"IsnotM。d'Artagnanthere？"
　　"I
　　amhere，sire，"repliedthemusketeer，advancing。
　　"Well，monsieur，"saidtheking，fixinghispellucideyesonD'Artagnan，"whathaveyoutosaytome？"
　　"I，sire！"repliedthelatter，whowatchedthefirstblowofhisadversarytomakeagoodretort;"Ihavenothingtosaytoyourmajesty，unlessitbethatyouhavecausedmetobearrested，andhereIam。"
　　ThekingwasgoingtoreplythathehadnothadD'Artagnanarrested，butanysuchsentenceappearedtoomuchlikeanexcuse，andhewassilent。？D'Artagnanlikewisepreservedanobstinatesilence。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　atlengthresumedtheking，"whatdidIchargeyoutogoanddoatBelle—Isle？？Tellme，ifyouplease。"
　　Thekingwhileutteringthesewordslookedintentlyathiscaptain。？HereD'Artagnanwasfortunate;thekingseemedtoplacethegameinhishands。
　　"I
　　believe，"repliedhe，"thatyourmajestydoesmethehonortoaskwhatIwenttoBelle—Isletoaccomplish？"
　　"Yes，monsieur。"
　　"Well！
　　sire，Iknownothingaboutit;itisnotofmethatquestionshouldbeasked，butofthatinfinitenumberofofficersofallkinds，towhomhavebeengiveninnumerableordersofallkinds，whilsttome，headoftheexpedition，nothingprecisewassaidorstatedinanyformwhatever。"
　　Thekingwashurt:heshoweditbyhisreply。？"Monsieur，"saidhe，"ordershaveonlybeengiventosuchaswerejudgedfaithful。"
　　"And，therefore，Ihavebeenastonished，sire，"retortedthemusketeer，"thatacaptainlikemyself，whorankswithamar閏halofFrance，shouldhavefoundhimselfundertheordersoffiveorsixlieutenantsormajors，goodtomakespiesof，possibly，butnotatallfittoconductawarlikeexpedition。？ItwasuponthissubjectI
　　cametodemandanexplanationofyourmajesty，whenIfoundthedoorclosedagainstme，which，thefinalinsultofferedtoabraveman，hasledmetoquityourmajesty'sservice。"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　repliedtheking，"youstillbelievethatyouarelivinginanagewhenkingswere，asyoucomplainofhavingbeen，undertheordersandatthediscretionoftheirinferiors。？YouseemtoforgetthatakingowesanaccountofhisactionstononebutGod。"
　　"I
　　forgetnothing，sire，"saidthemusketeer，woundedbythislesson。？"Besides，Idonotseeinwhatanhonestman，whenheasksofhiskinghowhehasill—servedhim，offendshim。"
　　"Youhaveill—servedme，monsieur，bysidingwithmyenemiesagainstme。"
　　"Whoareyourenemies，sire？"
　　"ThemenIsentyoutofight。"
　　"Twomentheenemiesofthewholeofyourmajesty'sarmy！？Thatisincredible。"
　　"Youhavenopowertojudgeofmywill。"
　　"ButIhavetojudgeofmyownfriendships，sire。"
　　"Hewhoserveshisfriendsdoesnotservehismaster。"
　　"I
　　sowellunderstandthis，sire，thatIhaverespectfullyofferedyourmajestymyresignation。"
　　"AndIhaveacceptedit，monsieur，"saidtheking。？"BeforebeingseparatedfromyouIwaswillingtoprovetoyouthatIknowhowtokeepmyword。"
　　"Yourmajestyhaskeptmorethanyourword，foryourmajestyhashadmearrested，"saidD'Artagnan，withhiscold，banteringair;"youdidnotpromisemethat，sire。"
　　Thekingwouldnotcondescendtoperceivethepleasantry，andcontinued，seriously，"Yousee，monsieur，towhatgravestepsyourdisobedienceforcesme。"
　　"Mydisobedience！"criedD'Artagnan，redwithanger。
　　"ItisthemildesttermthatIcanfind，"pursuedtheking。？"Myideawastotakeandpunishrebels;
　　wasIboundtoinquirewhethertheserebelswereyourfriendsornot？"
　　"ButIwas，"repliedD'Artagnan。？"Itwasacrueltyonyourmajesty'sparttosendmetocapturemyfriendsandleadthemtoyourgibbets。"
　　"ItwasatrialIhadtomake，monsieur，ofpretendedservants，whoeatmybreadandshoulddefendmyperson。？Thetrialhassucceededill，Monsieurd'Artagnan。"
　　"Foronebadservantyourmajestyloses，"saidthemusketeer，withbitterness，"therearetenwho，onthatsameday，gothroughalikeordeal。？Listentome，sire;Iamnotaccustomedtothatservice。？MineisarebelswordwhenIamrequiredtodoill。？ItwasilltosendmeinpursuitoftwomenwhoselivesM。Fouquet，yourmajesty'spreserver，imploredyoutosave。？Stillfurther，thesemenweremyfriends。？Theydidnotattackyourmajesty，theysuccumbedtoyourblindanger。？Besides，whyweretheynotallowedtoescape？？Whatcrimehadtheycommitted？？Iadmityoumaycontestwithmetherightofjudgingtheirconduct。？Butwhysuspectmebeforetheaction？？Whysurroundmewithspies？？Whydisgracemebeforethearmy？？Whyme，inwhomtillnowyoushowedthemostentireconfidence—whoforthirtyyearshavebeenattachedtoyourperson，andhavegivenyouathousandproofsofmydevotion—foritmustbesaid，nowthatIamaccused—whyreducemetoseethreethousandoftheking'ssoldiersmarchinbattleagainsttwomen？"
　　"Onewouldsayyouhaveforgottenwhatthesemenhavedonetome！"saidtheking，inahollowvoice，"andthatitwasnomeritoftheirsIwasnotlost。"
　　"Sire，onewouldimagineyouforgetthatIwasthere。"
　　"Enough，Monsieurd'Artagnan，enoughofthesedominatinginterestswhicharisetokeepthesunitselffrommyinterests。？Iamfoundingastateinwhichthereshallbebutonemaster，asIpromisedyou;themomentisathandformetokeepmypromise。？Youwishtobe，accordingtoyourtastesorprivatefriendships，freetodestroymyplansandsavemyenemies？？I
　　willthwartyouorwilldropyou—seekamorecompliantmaster。？IknowfullwellthatanotherkingwouldnotconducthimselfasIdo，andwouldallowhimselftobedominatedbyyou，attheriskofsendingyousomedaytokeepcompanywithM。Fouquetandtherest;butIhaveanexcellentmemory，andforme，servicesaresacredtitlestogratitude，toimpunity。？Youshallonlyhavethislesson，Monsieurd'Artagnan，asthepunishmentofyourwantofdiscipline，andIwillnotimitatemypredecessorsinanger，nothavingimitatedtheminfavor。？And，then，otherreasonsmakemeactmildlytowardsyou;inthefirstplace，becauseyouareamanofsense，amanofexcellentsense，amanofheart，andthatyouwillbeacapitalservanttohimwhoshallhavemasteredyou;secondly，becauseyouwillceasetohaveanymotivesforinsubordination。？Yourfriendsarenowdestroyedorruinedbyme。？ThesesupportsonwhichyourcapriciousmindinstinctivelyreliedIhavecausedtodisappear。？Atthismoment，mysoldiershavetakenorkilledtherebelsofBelle—Isle。"
　　D'Artagnanbecamepale。？"Takenorkilled！"criedhe。？"Oh！sire，ifyouthoughtwhatyoutell，ifyouweresureyouweretellingmethetruth，I
　　shouldforgetallthatisjust，allthatismagnanimousinyourwords，tocallyouabarbarousking，andanunnaturalman。？ButIpardonyouthesewords，"saidhe，smilingwithpride;"I
　　pardonthemtoayoungprincewhodoesnotknow，whocannotcomprehendwhatsuchmenasM。d'Herblay，M。duVallon，andmyselfare。？Takenorkilled！？Ah！？Ah！sire！tellme，ifthenewsistrue，howmuchhasitcostyouinmenandmoney。？Wewillthenreckonifthegamehasbeenworththestakes。"
　　Ashespokethus，thekingwentuptohimingreatanger，andsaid，"Monsieurd'Artagnan，yourrepliesarethoseofarebel！？Tellme，ifyouplease，whoiskingofFrance？？Doyouknowanyother？"
　　"Sire，"
　　repliedthecaptainofthemusketeers，coldly，"IverywellrememberthatonemorningatVauxyouaddressedthatquestiontomanypeoplewhodidnotanswertoit，whilstI，onmypart，didanswertoit。？IfIrecognizedmykingonthatday，whenthethingwasnoteasy，Ithinkitwouldbeuselesstoaskthequestionofmenow，whenyourmajestyandIarealone。"
　　AtthesewordsLouiscastdownhiseyes。？ItappearedtohimthattheshadeoftheunfortunatePhilippepassedbetweenD'Artagnanandhimself，toevoketheremembranceofthatterribleadventure。？Almostatthesamemomentanofficerenteredandplacedadispatchinthehandsoftheking，who，inhisturn，changedcolor，whilereadingit。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidhe，"whatIlearnhereyouwouldknowlater;itisbetterIshouldtellyou，andthatyoushouldlearnitfromthemouthofyourking。？AbattlehastakenplaceatBelle—Isle。"
　　"Isitpossible？"saidD'Artagnan，withacalmair，thoughhisheartwasbeatingfastenoughtochokehim。？"Well，sire？"
　　"Well，monsieur—andIhavelostahundredandtenmen。"
　　A
　　beamofjoyandprideshoneintheeyesofD'Artagnan。？"Andtherebels？"saidhe。
　　"Therebelshavefled，"saidtheking。
　　D'Artagnancouldnotrestrainacryoftriumph。？"Only，"addedtheking，"IhaveafleetwhichcloselyblockadesBelle—Isle，andIamcertainnotabarkcanescape。"
　　"Sothat，"saidthemusketeer，broughtbacktohisdismalidea，"ifthesetwogentlemenaretaken—"
　　"Theywillbehanged，"saidtheking，quietly。
　　"Anddotheyknowit？"repliedD'Artagnan，repressinghistrembling。
　　"Theyknowit，becauseyoumusthavetoldthemyourself;andallthecountryknowsit。"
　　"Then，sire，theywillneverbetakenalive，Iwillanswerforthat。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidtheking，negligently，andtakinguphisletteragain。？"Verywell，theywillbedead，then，Monsieurd'Artagnan，andthatwillcometothesamething，sinceIshouldonlytakethemtohavethemhanged。"
　　D'Artagnanwipedthesweatwhichflowedfromhisbrow。
　　"I
　　havetoldyou，"pursuedLouisXIV。，"thatIwouldonedaybeanaffectionate，generous，andconstantmaster。？Youarenowtheonlymanofformertimesworthyofmyangerormyfriendship。？Iwillnotspareyoueithersentiment，accordingtoyourconduct。？Couldyouserveaking，Monsieurd'Artagnan，whoshouldhaveahundredkings，hisequals，inthekingdom？？CouldI，tellme，dowithsuchweakinstrumentsthegreatthingsI
　　meditate？？Didyoueverseeanartisteffectgreatworkswithanunworthytool？？Farfromus，monsieur，theoldleavenoffeudalabuse！？TheFronde，whichthreatenedtoruinmonarchy，hasemancipatedit。？Iammasterathome，Captaind'Artagnan，andIshallhaveservantswho，lacking，perhaps，yourgenius，willcarrydevotionandobediencetothevergeofheroism。？Ofwhatconsequence，Iaskyou，ofwhatconsequenceisitthatGodhasgivennosensetoarmsandlegs？？Itistotheheadhehasgivengenius，andthehead，youknow，therestobey。？Iamthehead。"
　　D'Artagnanstarted。？LouisXIV。continuedasifhehadseennothing，althoughthisemotionhadnotbyanymeansescapedhim。？"Now，letusconcludebetweenustwothebargainIpromisedtomakewithyouonedaywhenyoufoundmeinaverystrangepredicamentatBlois。？Domejustice，monsieur，whenyouadmitIdonotmakeanyonepayforthetearsofshamethatIthenshed。？Lookaroundyou;loftyheadshavebowed。？Bowyours，orchoosesuchexileaswillsuityou。？Perhaps，whenreflectinguponit，youwillfindyourkinghasagenerousheart，whoreckonssufficientlyuponyourloyaltytoallowyoutoleavehimdissatisfied，whenyoupossessagreatstatesecret。？Youareabraveman;Iknowyoutobeso。？Whyhaveyoujudgedmeprematurely？？Judgemefromthisdayforward，D'Artagnan，andbeassevereasyouplease。"
　　D'Artagnanremainedbewildered，mute，undecidedforthefirsttimeinhislife。？Atlasthehadfoundanadversaryworthyofhim。？Thiswasnolongertrick，itwascalculation;nolongerviolence，butstrength;nolongerpassion，butwill;nolongerboasting，butcouncil。？ThisyoungmanwhohadbroughtdownaFouquet，andcoulddowithoutaD'Artagnan，derangedthesomewhatheadstrongcalculationsofthemusketeer。
　　"Come，letusseewhatstopsyou？"saidtheking，kindly。？"Youhavegiveninyourresignation;
　　shallIrefusetoacceptit？？Iadmitthatitmaybehardforsuchanoldcaptaintorecoverlostgood—humor。"
　　"Oh！"
　　repliedD'Artagnan，inamelancholytone，"thatisnotmymostseriouscare。？IhesitatetotakebackmyresignationbecauseIamoldincomparisonwithyou，andhavehabitsdifficulttoabandon。？Henceforward，youmusthavecourtierswhoknowhowtoamuseyou—madmenwhowillgetthemselveskilledtocarryoutwhatyoucallyourgreatworks。？Greattheywillbe，Ifeel—but，ifbychanceIshouldnotthinkthemso？？Ihaveseenwar，sire，Ihaveseenpeace;IhaveservedRichelieuandMazarin;Ihavebeenscorchedwithyourfather，atthefireofRochelle;riddledwithsword—thrustslikeasieve，havinggrownanewskintentimes，asserpentsdo。？Afteraffrontsandinjustices，Ihaveacommandwhichwasformerlysomething，becauseitgavethebearertherightofspeakingashelikedtohisking。？Butyourcaptainofthemusketeerswillhenceforwardbeanofficerguardingtheouterdoors。？Truly，sire，ifthatistobemyemploymentfromthistime，seizetheopportunityofourbeingongoodterms，totakeitfromme。？DonotimaginethatIbearmalice;no，youhavetamedme，asyousay;butitmustbeconfessedthatintamingmeyouhaveloweredme;bybowingmeyouhaveconvictedmeofweakness。？Ifyouknewhowwellitsuitsmetocarrymyheadhigh，andwhatapitifulmienIshallhavewhilescentingthedustofyourcarpets！？Oh！sire，Iregretsincerely，andyouwillregretasIdo，theolddayswhenthekingofFrancesawineveryvestibulethoseinsolentgentlemen，lean，alwaysswearing—cross—grainedmastiffs，whocouldbitemortallyinthehourofdangerorofbattle。？Thesemenwerethebestofcourtierstothehandwhichfedthem—theywouldlickit;butforthehandthatstruckthem，oh！thebitethatfollowed！？Alittlegoldonthelaceoftheircloaks，aslenderstomachintheirhauts—de—chausses，alittlesparklingofgrayintheirdryhair，andyouwillbeholdthehandsomedukesandpeers，thehaughtymar閏hauxofFrance。？ButwhyshouldItellyouallthis？？Thekingismaster;hewillsthatIshouldmakeverses，hewillsthatIshouldpolishthemosaicsofhisante—chamberswithsatinshoes。？Mordioux！thatisdifficult，butIhavegotovergreaterdifficulties。？Iwilldoit。？WhyshouldIdoit？？BecauseIlovemoney？—Ihaveenough。？BecauseIamambitious？—mycareerisalmostatanend。？BecauseIlovethecourt？？No。？IwillremainherebecauseIhavebeenaccustomedforthirtyyearstogoandtaketheorderlywordoftheking，andtohavesaidtome'Goodevening，D'Artagnan，'witha？smileI
　　didnotbegfor。？ThatsmileIwillbegfor！？Areyoucontent，sire？"？AndD'Artagnanbowedhissilverhead，uponwhichthesmilingkingplacedhiswhitehandwithpride。？"Thanks，myoldservant，myfaithfulfriend，"saidhe。？"As，reckoningfromthisday，IhavenolongeranyenemiesinFrance，itremainswithmetosendyoutoaforeignfieldtogatheryourmarshal'sbaton。？Dependuponmeforfindingyouanopportunity。？Inthemeanwhile，eatofmyverybestbread，andsleepinabsolutetranquillity。"
　　"Thatisallkindandwell！"saidD'Artagnan，muchagitated。？"ButthosepoormenatBelle—Isle？？Oneofthem，inparticular—sogood！sobrave！sotrue！"
　　"Doyouasktheirpardonofme？"
　　"Uponmyknees，sire！"
　　"Well！
　　then，goandtakeittothem，ifitbestillintime。？Butdoyouanswerforthem？"
　　"Withmylife，sire。"
　　"Go，then。？To—morrowIsetoutforParis。？Returnbythattime，forIdonotwishyoutoleavemeinthefuture。"
　　"Beassuredofthat，sire，"saidD'Artagnan，kissingtheroyalhand。
　　Andwithaheartswellingwithjoy，herushedoutofthecastleonhiswaytoBelle—Isle。
　　ChapterLIV:
　　M。
　　Fouquet'sFriends。
　　ThekinghadreturnedtoParis，andwithhimD'Artagnan，who，intwenty—fourhours，havingmadewithgreatestcareallpossibleinquiriesatBelle—Isle，succeededinlearningnothingofthesecretsowellkeptbytheheavyrockofLocmaria，whichhadfallenontheheroicPorthos。？Thecaptainofthemusketeersonlyknewwhatthosetwovaliantmen—
　　thesetwofriends，whosedefensehehadsonoblytakenup，whoseliveshehadsoearnestlyendeavoredtosave—aidedbythreefaithfulBretons，hadaccomplishedagainstawholearmy。？Hehadseen，spreadontheneighboringheath，thehumanremainswhichhadstainedwithcloutedbloodthescatteredstonesamongthefloweringbroom。？Helearnedalsothatabarkhadbeenseenfaroutatsea，andthat，likeabirdofprey，aroyalvesselhadpursued，overtaken，anddevouredthepoorlittlebirdthatwasflyingwithsuchpalpitatingwings。？ButthereD'Artagnan'scertaintiesended。？Thefieldofsuppositionwasthrownopen。？Now，whatcouldheconjecture？？Thevesselhadnotreturned。？Itistruethatabriskwindhadprevailedforthreedays;butthecorvettewasknowntobeagoodsailerandsolidinitstimbers;ithadnoneedtofearagaleofwind，anditought，accordingtothecalculationofD'Artagnan，tohaveeitherreturnedtoBrest，orcomebacktothemouthoftheLoire。？Suchwasthenews，ambiguous，itistrue，butinsomedegreereassuringtohimpersonally，whichD'ArtagnanbroughttoLouisXIV。，whentheking，followedbyallthecourt，returnedtoParis。
　　Louis，satisfiedwithhissuccess—Louis，moremildandaffableashefelthimselfmorepowerful—hadnotceasedforaninstanttoridebesidethecarriagedoorofMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？Everybodywasanxioustoamusethetwoqueens，soastomakethemforgetthisabandonmentbysonandhusband。？Everythingbreathedthefuture，thepastwasnothingtoanybody。？Onlythatpastwaslikeapainfulbleedingwoundtotheheartsofcertaintenderanddevotedspirits。？ScarcelywasthekingreinstalledinParis，whenhereceivedatouchingproofofthis。？LouisXIV。hadjustrisenandtakenhisfirstrepastwhenhiscaptainofthemusketeerspresentedhimselfbeforehim。？D'Artagnanwaspaleandlookedunhappy。？Theking，atthefirstglance，perceivedthechangeinacountenancegenerallysounconcerned。？"Whatisthematter，D'Artagnan？"saidhe。
　　"Sire，agreatmisfortunehashappenedtome。"
　　"Goodheavens！whatisthat？"
　　"Sire，Ihavelostoneofmyfriends，M。duVallon，intheaffairofBelle—Isle。"
　　And，whilespeakingthesewords，D'ArtagnanfixedhisfalconeyeuponLouisXIV。，tocatchthefirstfeelingthatwouldshowitself。
　　"I
　　knewit，"repliedtheking，quietly。
　　"Youknewit，anddidnottellme！"criedthemusketeer。
　　"Towhatgood？？Yourgrief，myfriend，wassowellworthyofrespect。？Itwasmydutytotreatitgently。？Tohaveinformedyouofthismisfortune，whichIknewwouldpainyousogreatly，D'Artagnan，wouldhavebeen，inyoureyes，tohavetriumphedoveryou。？Yes，IknewthatM。duVallonhadburiedhimselfbeneaththerocksofLocmaria;IknewthatM。d'Herblayhadtakenoneofmyvesselswithitscrew，andhadcompelledittoconveyhimtoBayonne。？ButIwaswillingyoushouldlearnthesemattersinadirectmanner，inorderthatyoumightbeconvincedmyfriendsarewithmerespectedandsacred;thatalwaysinmethemanwillsacrificehimselftosubjects，whilstthekingissooftenfoundtosacrificementomajestyandpower。"
　　"But，sire，howcouldyouknow？"
　　"Howdoyouyourselfknow，D'Artagnan？"
　　"Bythisletter，sire，whichM。d'Herblay，freeandoutofdanger，writesmefromBayonne。"
　　"Lookhere，"saidtheking，drawingfromacasketplaceduponthetableclosettotheseatuponwhichD'Artagnanwasleaning，"hereisalettercopiedexactlyfromthatofM。d'Herblay。？Hereistheveryletter，whichColbertplacedinmyhandsaweekbeforeyoureceivedyours。？Iamwellserved，youmayperceive。"
　　"Yes，sire，"murmuredthemusketeer，"youweretheonlymanwhosestarwasequaltothetaskofdominatingthefortuneandstrengthofmytwofriends。？Youhaveusedyourpower，sire，youwillnotabuseit，willyou？"
　　"D'Artagnan，"
　　saidtheking，withasmilebeamingwithkindness，"IcouldhaveM。
　　d'HerblaycarriedofffromtheterritoriesofthekingofSpain，andbroughthere，alive，toinflictjusticeuponhim。？But，D'Artagnan，beassuredIwillnotyieldtothisfirstandnaturalimpulse。？Heisfree—lethimcontinuefree。"
　　"Oh，sire！
　　youwillnotalwaysremainsoclement，sonoble，sogenerousasyouhaveshownyourselfwithrespecttomeandM。d'Herblay;youwillhaveaboutyoucounselorswhowillcureyouofthatweakness。"
　　"No，D'Artagnan，youaremistakenwhenyouaccusemycouncilofurgingmetopursuerigorousmeasures。？TheadvicetospareM。d'HerblaycomesfromColberthimself。"
　　"Oh，sire！"saidD'Artagnan，extremelysurprised。
　　"Asforyou，"continuedtheking，withakindnessveryuncommontohim，"I
　　haveseveralpiecesofgoodnewstoannouncetoyou;butyoushallknowthem，mydearcaptain，themomentIhavemademyaccountsallstraight。？IhavesaidthatIwishtomake，andwouldmake，yourfortune;thatpromisewillsoonbecomereality。"
　　"Athousandtimesthanks，sire！？Icanwait。？ButIimploreyou，whilstIgoandpracticepatience，thatyourmajestywilldeigntonoticethosepoorpeoplewhohaveforsolongatimebesiegedyourante—chamber，andcomehumblytolayapetitionatyourfeet。"
　　"Whoarethey？"
　　"Enemiesofyourmajesty。"？Thekingraisedhishead。
　　"FriendsofM。Fouquet，"addedD'Artagnan。
　　"Theirnames？"
　　"M。
　　Gourville，M。P閘isson，andapoet，M。JeandelaFontaine。"
　　Thekingtookamomenttoreflect。？"Whatdotheywant？"
　　"Idonotknow。"
　　"Howdotheyappear？"
　　"Ingreataffliction。"
　　"Whatdotheysay？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Whatdotheydo？"
　　"Theyweep。"
　　"Letthemcomein，"saidtheking，withaseriousbrow。
　　D'Artagnanturnedrapidlyonhisheel，raisedthetapestrywhichclosedtheentrancetotheroyalchamber，anddirectinghisvoicetotheadjoiningroom，cried，"Enter。"
　　ThethreemenD'Artagnanhadnamedimmediatelyappearedatthedoorofthecabinetinwhichwerethekingandhiscaptain。？A
　　profoundsilenceprevailedintheirpassage。？Thecourtiers，attheapproachofthefriendsoftheunfortunatesuperintendentoffinances，drewback，asiffearfulofbeingaffectedbycontagionwithdisgraceandmisfortune。？D'Artagnan，withaquickstep，cameforwardtotakebythehandtheunhappymenwhostoodtremblingatthedoorofthecabinet;heledtheminfrontoftheking'sfauteuil，who，havingplacedhimselfintheembrasureofawindow，awaitedthemomentofpresentation，andwaspreparinghimselftogivethesupplicantsarigorouslydiplomaticreception。