"Good—day，Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidtheminister，withmarkedaffability，"haveyouhadapleasantjourney？"
　　"Yes，monsieur，"saidD'Artagnan，bowingtotheneckofhishorse。
　　"Iheardthekinginviteyoutohistableforthisevening，"continuedtheminister;"youwillmeetanoldfriendthere。"
　　"Anoldfriendofmine？"askedD'Artagnan，plungingpainfullyintothedarkwavesofthepast，whichhadswallowedupforhimsomanyfriendshipsandsomanyhatreds。
　　"M。leDucd'Alm閐a，whoisarrivedthismorningfromSpain。"
　　"TheDucd'Alm閐a？"saidD'Artagnan，reflectinginvain。
　　"Here！"
　　criedanoldman，whiteassnow，sittingbentinhiscarriage，whichhecausedtobethrownopentomakeroomforthemusketeer。
　　"Aramis！"criedD'Artagnan，struckwithprofoundamazement。？Andhefelt，inertasitwas，thethinarmoftheoldnoblemanhangingroundhisneck。
　　Colbert，afterhavingobservedtheminsilenceforafewmoments，urgedhishorseforward，andleftthetwooldfriendstogether。
　　"Andso，"saidthemusketeer，takingAramis'sarm，"you，theexile，therebel，areagaininFrance？"
　　"Ah！andI
　　shalldinewithyouattheking'stable，"saidAramis，smiling。？"Yes，willyounotaskyourselfwhatistheuseoffidelityinthisworld？？Stop！letusallowpoorLaValli鑢e'scarriagetopass。？Look，howuneasysheis！？Howhereyes，dimwithtears，followtheking，whoisridingonhorsebackyonder！"
　　"Withwhom？"
　　"WithMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente，nowMadamedeMontespan，"repliedAramis。
　　"Sheisjealous。？Isshethendeserted？"
　　"Notquiteyet，butitwillnotbelongbeforesheis。"
　　Transcriber'snote:MadamedeMontespanwouldoustLouisefromtheking'saffectionsby1667。—JB
　　Theychattedtogether，whilefollowingthesport，andAramis'scoachmandrovethemsocleverlythattheyarrivedattheinstantwhenthefalcon，attackingthebird，beathimdown，andfelluponhim。？Thekingalighted;MadamedeMontespanfollowedhisexample。？Theywereinfrontofanisolatedchapel，concealedbyhugetrees，alreadydespoiledoftheirleavesbythefirstcuttingwindsofautumn。？Behindthischapelwasaninclosure，closedbyalatticedgate。？Thefalconhadbeatendownhispreyintheinclosurebelongingtothislittlechapel，andthekingwasdesirousofgoingintotakethefirstfeather，accordingtocustom。？Thecort鑗eformedacircleroundthebuildingandthehedges，toosmalltoreceivesomany。？D'ArtagnanheldbackAramisbythearm，ashewasabout，liketherest，toalightfromhiscarriage，andinahoarse，brokenvoice，"Doyouknow，Aramis，"saidhe，"whitherchancehasconductedus？"
　　"No，"
　　repliedtheduke。
　　"Herereposementhatweknewwell，"saidD'Artagnan，greatlyagitated。
　　Aramis，withoutdivininganything，andwithatremblingstep，penetratedintothechapelbyalittledoorwhichD'Artagnanopenedforhim。？"Wherearetheyburied？"saidhe。
　　"There，intheinclosure。？Thereisacross，yousee，beneathyonlittlecypress。？Thetreeofgriefisplantedovertheirtomb;don'tgotoit;thekingisgoingthatway;theheronhasfallenjustthere。"
　　Aramisstopped，andconcealedhimselfintheshade。？Theythensaw，withoutbeingseen，thepalefaceofLaValli鑢e，who，neglectedinhercarriage，atfirstlookedon，withamelancholyheart，fromthedoor，andthen，carriedawaybyjealousy，advancedintothechapel，whence，leaningagainstapillar，shecontemplatedthekingsmilingandmakingsignstoMadamedeMontespantoapproach，astherewasnothingtobeafraidof。？MadamedeMontespancomplied;shetookthehandthekingheldouttoher，andhe，pluckingoutthefirstfeatherfromtheheron，whichthefalconerhadstrangled，placeditinhisbeautifulcompanion'shat。？She，smilinginherturn，kissedthehandtenderlywhichmadeherthispresent。？Thekinggrewscarletwithvanityandpleasure;helookedatMadamedeMontespanwithallthefireofnewlove。
　　"Whatwillyougivemeinexchange？"saidhe。
　　Shebrokeoffalittlebranchofcypressandofferedittotheking，wholookedintoxicatedwithhope。
　　"Humph！"
　　saidAramistoD'Artagnan;"thepresentisbutasadone，forthatcypressshadesatomb。"
　　"Yes，andthetombisthatofRaouldeBragelonne，"saidD'Artagnanaloud;"ofRaoul，whosleepsunderthatcrosswithhisfather。"
　　Agroanresounded—theysawawomanfallfaintingtotheground。？MademoiselledelaValli鑢ehadseenall，heardall。
　　"Poorwoman！"mutteredD'Artagnan，ashehelpedtheattendantstocarrybacktohercarriagethelonelyladywhoselothenceforthinlifewassuffering。
　　ThateveningD'Artagnanwasseatedattheking'stable，nearM。ColbertandM。leDucd'Alm閐a。？Thekingwasverygay。？Hepaidathousandlittleattentionstothequeen，athousandkindnessestoMadame，seatedathislefthand，andverysad。？Itmighthavebeensupposedthattimeofcalmwhenthekingwaswonttowatchhismother'seyesfortheapprovalordisapprovalofwhathehadjustdone。
　　Ofmistressestherewasnoquestionatthisdinner。？ThekingaddressedAramistwoorthreetimes，callinghimM。
　　l'ambassadeur，whichincreasedthesurprisealreadyfeltbyD'Artagnanatseeinghisfriendtherebelsomarvelouslywellreceivedatcourt。
　　Theking，onrisingfromtable，gavehishandtothequeen，andmadeasigntoColbert，whoseeyewasonhismaster'sface。？ColberttookD'ArtagnanandAramisononeside。？Thekingbegantochatwithhissister，whilstMonsieur，veryuneasy，entertainedthequeenwithapreoccupiedair，withoutceasingtowatchhiswifeandbrotherfromthecornerofhiseye。？TheconversationbetweenAramis，D'Artagnan，andColbertturneduponindifferentsubjects。？Theyspokeofprecedingministers;ColbertrelatedthesuccessfultricksofMazarin，anddesiredthoseofRichelieutoberelatedtohim。？D'Artagnancouldnotovercomehissurpriseatfindingthisman，withhisheavyeyebrowsandlowforehead，displaysomuchsoundknowledgeandcheerfulspirits。？Aramiswasastonishedatthatlightnessofcharacterwhichpermittedthisseriousmantoretardwithadvantagethemomentformoreimportantconversation，towhichnobodymadeanyallusion，althoughallthreeinterlocutorsfeltitsimminence。？Itwasveryplain，fromtheembarrassedappearanceofMonsieur，howmuchtheconversationofthekingandMadameannoyedhim。？Madame'seyeswerealmostred:wasshegoingtocomplain？？Wasshegoingtoexposealittlescandalinopencourt？？Thekingtookherononeside，andinatonesotenderthatitmusthaveremindedtheprincessofthetimewhenshewaslovedforherself:
　　"Sister，"
　　saidhe，"whydoIseetearsinthoselovelyeyes？"
　　"Why—sire—"saidshe。
　　"Monsieurisjealous，ishenot，sister？"
　　ShelookedtowardsMonsieur，aninfalliblesignthattheyweretalkingabouthim。
　　"Yes，"
　　saidshe。
　　"Listentome，"saidtheking;"ifyourfriendscompromiseyou，itisnotMonsieur'sfault。"
　　HespokethesewordswithsomuchkindnessthatMadame，encouraged，havingbornesomanysolitarygriefssolong，wasnearlyburstingintotears，sofullwasherheart。
　　"Come，come，dearlittlesister，"saidtheking，"tellmeyourgriefs;onthewordofabrother，Ipitythem;onthewordofaking，Iwillputanendtothem。"
　　Sheraisedhergloriouseyesand，inamelancholytone:
　　"Itisnotmyfriendswhocompromiseme，"saidshe;"theyareeitherabsentorconcealed;theyhavebeenbroughtintodisgracewithyourmajesty;they，sodevoted，sogood，soloyal！"
　　"YousaythisonaccountofDeGuiche，whomIhaveexiled，atMonsieur'sdesire？"
　　"Andwho，sincethatunjustexile，hasendeavoredtogethimselfkilledonceeveryday。"
　　"Unjust，sayyou，sister？"
　　"Sounjust，thatifIhadnothadtherespectmixedwithfriendshipthatIhavealwaysentertainedforyourmajesty—"
　　"Well！"
　　"Well！？IwouldhaveaskedmybrotherCharles，uponwhomIcanalways—"
　　Thekingstarted。？"What，then？"
　　"IwouldhaveaskedhimtohavehaditrepresentedtoyouthatMonsieurandhisfavoriteM。leChevalierdeLorraineoughtnotwithimpunitytoconstitutethemselvestheexecutionersofmyhonorandmyhappiness。"
　　"TheChevalierdeLorraine，"saidtheking;"thatdismalfellow？"
　　"Ismymortalenemy。？Whilstthatmanlivesinmyhousehold，whereMonsieurretainshimanddelegateshispowertohim，I
　　shallbethemostmiserablewomaninthekingdom。"
　　"So，"
　　saidtheking，slowly，"youcallyourbrotherofEnglandabetterfriendthanIam？"
　　"Actionsspeakforthemselves，sire。"
　　"Andyouwouldprefergoingtoaskassistancethere—"
　　"Tomyowncountry！"saidshewithpride;"yes，sire。"
　　"YouarethegrandchildofHenryIV。aswellasmyself，lady。？Cousinandbrother—in—law，doesnotthatamountprettywelltothetitleofbrother—germain？"
　　"Then，"
　　saidHenrietta，"act！"
　　"Letusformanalliance。"
　　"Begin。"
　　"Ihave，yousay，unjustlyexiledDeGuiche。"
　　"Oh！
　　yes，"saidshe，blushing。
　　"DeGuicheshallreturn。"
　　Transcriber'snote:DeGuichewouldnotreturntocourtuntil1671。—JB
　　"Sofar，well。"
　　"AndnowyousaythatIdowronginhavinginyourhouseholdtheChevalierdeLorraine，whogivesMonsieurilladvicerespectingyou？"
　　"RememberwellwhatItellyou，sire;theChevalierdeLorrainesomeday—Observe，ifeverIcometoadreadfulend，IbeforehandaccusetheChevalierdeLorraine;
　　hehasaspiritthatiscapableofanycrime！"
　　"TheChevalierdeLorraineshallnolongerannoyyou—Ipromiseyouthat。"
　　Transcriber'snote:Madamediddieofpoisonin1670，shortlyafterreturningfromthemissiondescribedlater。？TheChevalierdeLorrainehadactuallybeenorderedoutofFrancein1662。—JB
　　"Thenthatwillbeatruepreliminaryofalliance，sire，—Isign;butsinceyouhavedoneyourpart，tellmewhatshallbemine。"
　　"InsteadofembroilingmewithyourbrotherCharles，youmustmakehimamoreintimatefriendthanever。"
　　"Thatisveryeasy。"
　　"Oh！notquitesoeasyasyoumaysuppose，forinordinaryfriendshippeopleembraceorexercisehospitality，andthatonlycostsakissorareturn，profitableexpenses;butinpoliticalfriendship—"
　　"Ah！it'sapoliticalfriendship，isit？"
　　"Yes，mysister;andthen，insteadofembracesandfeasts，itissoldiers—itissoldiersallaliveandwellequipped—thatwemustserveuptoourfriends;
　　vesselswemustoffer，allarmedwithcannonsandstoredwithprovisions。？Ithenceresultsthatwehavenotalwayscoffersinafitconditionforsuchfriendships。"
　　"Ah！youarequiteright，"saidMadame;"thecoffersofthekingofEnglandhavebeensonorousforsometime。"
　　"Butyou，mysister，whohavesomuchinfluenceoveryourbrother，youcansecuremorethananambassadorcouldevergetthepromiseof。"
　　"ToeffectthatImustgotoLondon，mydearbrother。"
　　"Ihavethoughtso，"repliedtheking，eagerly;"andIhavesaidtomyselfthatsuchavoyagewoulddoyourhealthandspiritsgood。"
　　"Only，"
　　interruptedMadame，"itispossibleIshouldfail。？ThekingofEnglandhasdangerouscounselors。"
　　"Counselors，doyousay？"
　　"Precisely。？If，bychance，yourmajestyhadanyintention—Iamonlysupposingso—ofaskingCharlesII。hisallianceinawar—"
　　"A
　　war？"
　　"Yes;well！
　　thentheking'scounselors，whoareinnumberseven—MademoiselleStewart，MademoiselleWells，MademoiselleGwyn，MissOrchay，MademoiselleZunga，MissDavies，andtheproudCountessofCastlemaine—willrepresenttothekingthatwarcostsagreatdealofmoney;thatitisbettertogiveballsandsuppersatHamptonCourtthantoequipshipsofthelineatPortsmouthandGreenwich。"
　　"Andthenyournegotiationswillfail？"
　　"Oh！thoseladiescauseallnegotiationstofallthroughwhichtheydon'tmakethemselves。"
　　"Doyouknowtheideathathasstruckme，sister？"
　　"No;informmewhatitis。"
　　"Itisthat，searchingwellaroundyou，youmightperhapsfindafemalecounselortotakewithyoutoyourbrother，whoseeloquencemightparalyzetheill—willofthesevenothers。"
　　"Thatisreallyanidea，sire，andIwillsearch。"
　　"Youwillfindwhatyouwant。"
　　"Ihopeso。"
　　"Aprettyambassadressisnecessary;anagreeablefaceisbetterthananuglyone，isitnot？"
　　"Mostassuredly。"
　　"Ananimated，lively，audaciouscharacter。"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Nobility;
　　thatis，enoughtoenablehertoapproachthekingwithoutawkwardness—nottoolofty，soasnottotroubleherselfaboutthedignityofherrace。"
　　"Verytrue。"
　　"AndwhoknowsalittleEnglish。"
　　"MonDieu！why，someone，"criedMadame，"likeMademoiselledeK閞oualle，forinstance！"
　　"Oh！why，yes！"saidLouisXIV。;"youhavehitthemark，—itisyouwhohavefound，mysister。"
　　"Iwilltakeher;shewillhavenocausetocomplain，Isuppose。"
　　"Oh！no，I
　　willnamehers閐uctricepl閚ipotentiaireatonce，andwilladdadowrytothetitle。"
　　"Thatiswell。"
　　"Ifancyyoualreadyonyourroad，mydearlittlesister，consoledforallyourgriefs。"
　　"Iwillgo，ontwoconditions。？Thefirstis，thatI
　　shallknowwhatIamnegotiatingabout。"
　　"Thatisit。？TheDutch，youknow，insultmedailyintheirgazettes，andbytheirrepublicanattitude。？Idonotlikerepublics。"
　　"Thatmayeasilybeimagined，sire。"
　　"Iseewithpainthatthesekingsofthesea—theycallthemselvesso—keeptradefromFranceintheIndies，andthattheirvesselswillsoonoccupyalltheportsofEurope。？Suchapoweristoonearme，sister。"
　　"Theyareyourallies，nevertheless。"
　　"Thatiswhytheywerewronginhavingthemedalyouhaveheardofstruck;amedalwhichrepresentsHollandstoppingthesun，asJoshuadid，withthislegend:Thesunhadstoppedbeforeme。？Thereisnotmuchfraternityinthat，isthere？"
　　"Ithoughtyouhadforgottenthatmiserableepisode？"
　　"Ineverforgetanything，sister。？Andifmytruefriends，suchasyourbrotherCharles，arewillingtosecondme—"？Theprincessremainedpensivelysilent。
　　"Listentome;thereistheempireof？theseastobeshared，"saidLouisXIV。？"Forthispartition，whichEnglandsubmitsto，couldInotrepresentthesecondpartyaswellastheDutch？"
　　"WehaveMademoiselledeK閞oualletotreatthatquestion，"repliedMadame。
　　"Yoursecondconditionforgoing，ifyouplease，sister？"
　　"TheconsentofMonsieur，myhusband。"
　　"Youshallhaveit。"
　　"Thenconsidermealreadygone，brother。"
　　Onhearingthesewords，LouisXIV。turnedroundtowardsthecorneroftheroominwhichD'Artagnan，Colbert，andAramisstood，andmadeanaffirmativesigntohisminister。？Colbertthenbrokeinontheconversationsuddenly，andsaidtoAramis:
　　"Monsieurl'ambassadeur，shallwetalkaboutbusiness？"
　　D'Artagnanimmediatelywithdrew，frompoliteness。？Hedirectedhisstepstowardsthefireplace，withinhearingofwhatthekingwasabouttosaytoMonsieur，who，evidentlyuneasy，hadgonetohim。？Thefaceofthekingwasanimated。？Uponhisbrowwasstampedastrengthofwill，theexpressionofwhichalreadymetnofurthercontradictioninFrance，andwassoontomeetnomoreinEurope。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidthekingtohisbrother，"IamnotpleasedwithM。leChevalierdeLorraine。？You，whodohimthehonortoprotecthim，mustadvisehimtotravelforafewmonths。"
　　ThesewordsfellwiththecrushofanavalancheuponMonsieur，whoadoredhisfavorite，andconcentratedallhisaffectionsinhim。
　　"Inwhathasthechevalierbeeninconsiderateenoughtodispleaseyourmajesty？"
　　criedhe，dartingafuriouslookatMadame。
　　"Iwilltellyouthatwhenheisgone，"saidtheking，suavely。？"AndalsowhenMadame，here，shallhavecrossedoverintoEngland。"
　　"Madame！inEngland！"murmuredMonsieur，inamazement。
　　"Inaweek，brother，"continuedtheking，"whilstwewillgowhitherIwillshortlytellyou。"？Andthekingturnedonhisheel，smilinginhisbrother'sface，tosweeten，asitwere，thebitterdraughthehadgivenhim。
　　DuringthistimeColbertwastalkingwiththeDucd'Alm閐a。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidColberttoAramis，"thisisthemomentforustocometoanunderstanding。？Ihavemadeyourpeacewiththeking，andIowedthatclearlytoamanofsomuchmerit;butasyouhaveoftenexpressedfriendshipforme，anopportunitypresentsitselfforgivingmeaproofofit。？Youare，besides，moreaFrenchmanthanaSpaniard。？Shallwesecure—answermefrankly—theneutralityofSpain，ifweundertakeanythingagainsttheUnitedProvinces？"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　repliedAramis，"theinterestofSpainisclear。？ToembroilEuropewiththeProvinceswoulddoubtlessbeourpolicy，butthekingofFranceisanallyoftheUnitedProvinces。？Youarenotignorant，besides，thatitwouldinferamaritimewar，andthatFranceisinnostatetoundertakethiswithadvantage。"
　　Colbert，turningroundatthismoment，sawD'Artagnanwhowasseekingsomeinterlocutor，duringthis"aside"ofthekingandMonsieur。？Hecalledhim，atthesametimesayinginalowvoicetoAramis，"WemaytalkopenlywithD'Artagnan，Isuppose？"
　　"Oh！
　　certainly，"repliedtheambassador。
　　"Weweresaying，M。d'Alm閐aandI，"saidColbert，"thataconflictwiththeUnitedProvinceswouldmeanamaritimewar。"
　　"That'sevidentenough，"repliedthemusketeer。
　　"Andwhatdoyouthinkofit，Monsieurd'Artagnan？"
　　"Ithinkthattocarryonsuchawarsuccessfully，youmusthaveverylargelandforces。"
　　"Whatdidyousay？"saidColbert，thinkinghehadillunderstoodhim。
　　"Whysuchalargelandarmy？"saidAramis。
　　"BecausethekingwillbebeatenbyseaifhehasnottheEnglishwithhim，andthatwhenbeatenbysea，hewillsoonbeinvaded，eitherbytheDutchinhisports，orbytheSpaniardsbyland。"
　　"AndSpainneutral？"askedAramis。
　　"Neutralaslongasthekingshallprovestronger，"rejoinedD'Artagnan。
　　Colbertadmiredthatsagacitywhichnevertouchedaquestionwithoutenlighteningitthoroughly。？Aramissmiled，ashehadlongknownthatindiplomacyD'Artagnanacknowledgednosuperior。？Colbert，who，likeallproudmen，dweltuponhisfantasywithacertaintyofsuccess，resumedthesubject，"Whotoldyou，M。d'Artagnan，thatthekinghadnonavy？"
　　"Oh！？Itakenoheedofthesedetails，"
　　repliedthecaptain。？"Iambutanindifferentsailor。？Likeallnervouspeople，Ihatethesea;andyetIhaveanideathat，withships，Francebeingaseaportwithtwohundredexits，wemighthavesailors。"
　　Colbertdrewfromhispocketalittleoblongbookdividedintotwocolumns。？Onthefirstwerethenamesofvessels，ontheotherthefiguresrecapitulatingthenumberofcannonandmenrequisitetoequiptheseships。？"Ihavehadthesameideaasyou，"saidhetoD'Artagnan，"andIhavehadanaccountdrawnupofthevesselswehavealtogether—thirty—fiveships。"
　　"Thirty—fiveships！impossible！"criedD'Artagnan。
　　"Somethingliketwothousandpiecesofcannon，"saidColbert。？"Thatiswhatthekingpossessesatthismoment。？Offiveandthirtyvesselswecanmakethreesquadrons，butImusthavefive。"
　　"Five！"
　　criedAramis。
　　"Theywillbeafloatbeforetheendoftheyear，gentlemen;thekingwillhavefiftyshipoftheline。？Wemayventureonacontestwiththem，maywenot？"
　　"Tobuildvessels，"saidD'Artagnan，"isdifficult，butpossible。？Astoarmingthem，howisthattobedone？？InFrancethereareneitherfoundriesnormilitarydocks。"
　　"Bah！"
　　repliedColbert，inabanteringtone，"Ihaveplannedallthatthisyearandahalfpast，didyounotknowit？？DoyouknowM。d'Imfreville？"
　　"D'Imfreville？"
　　repliedD'Artagnan;"no。"
　　"HeisamanIhavediscovered;hehasaspecialty;heisamanofgenius—heknowshowtosetmentowork。？ItishewhohascastcannonandcutthewoodsofBourgogne。？Andthen，monsieurl'ambassadeur，youmaynotbelievewhatIamgoingtotellyou，butIhaveastillfurtheridea。"
　　"Oh，monsieur！"saidAramis，civilly，"Ialwaysbelieveyou。"
　　"CalculatinguponthecharacteroftheDutch，ourallies，Isaidtomyself，'Theyaremerchants，theyarefriendlywiththeking;theywillbehappytoselltothekingwhattheyfabricateforthemselves;thenthemorewebuy'—Ah！？Imustaddthis:IhaveForant—doyouknowForant，D'Artagnan？"
　　Colbert，inhiswarmth，forgothimself;hecalledthecaptainsimplyD'Artagnan，asthekingdid。？Butthecaptainonlysmiledatit。
　　"No，"
　　repliedhe，"Idonotknowhim。"
　　"ThatisanothermanIhavediscovered，withageniusforbuying。？ThisForanthaspurchasedforme350，000
　　poundsofironinballs，200，000poundsofpowder，twelvecargoesofNortherntimber，matches，grenades，pitch，tar—Iknownotwhat！witha？savingofsevenpercentuponwhatallthosearticleswouldcostmefabricatedinFrance。"
　　"Thatisacapitalandquaintidea，"repliedD'Artagnan，"tohaveDutchcannon—ballscastwhichwillreturntotheDutch。"
　　"Isitnot，withloss，too？"？AndColbertlaughedaloud。？Hewasdelightedwithhisownjoke。
　　"Stillfurther，"addedhe，"thesesameDutcharebuildingfortheking，atthismoment，sixvesselsafterthemodelofthebestoftheirname。？Destouches—Ah！perhapsyoudon'tknowDestouches？"
　　"No，monsieur。"