"Goandmeetyourmen，"saidAramistoBaisemeaux。
　　Thegovernorobeyed。？Thesergeantandturnkeysdisappeared。？Baisemeauxre—entered，followedbyaprisoner。？Aramishadplacedhimselfintheshade;hesawwithoutbeingseen。？Baisemeaux，inanagitatedtoneofvoice，madetheyoungmanacquaintedwiththeorderwhichsethimatliberty。？Theprisonerlistened，withoutmakingasinglegestureorsayingaword。"
　　"Youwillswear（'tistheregulationthatrequiresit），"addedthegovernor，"nevertorevealanythingthatyouhaveseenorheardintheBastile。"
　　Theprisonerperceivedacrucifix;hestretchedouthishandsandsworewithhislips。？"Andnow，monsieur，youarefree。？Whitherdoyouintendgoing？"
　　Theprisonerturnedhishead，asiflookingbehindhimforsomeprotection，onwhichheoughttorely。？ThenwasitthatAramiscameoutoftheshade:"Iamhere，"hesaid，"torenderthegentlemanwhateverservicehemaypleasetoask。"
　　Theprisonerslightlyreddened，and，withouthesitation，passedhisarmthroughthatofAramis。？"Godhaveyouinhisholykeeping，"hesaid，inavoicethefirmnessofwhichmadethegovernortrembleasmuchastheformoftheblessingastonishedhim。
　　Aramis，onshakinghandswithBaisemeaux，saidtohim;"Doesmyordertroubleyou？？Doyoufeartheirfindingithere，shouldtheycometosearch？"
　　"I
　　desiretokeepit，monseigneur，"saidBaisemeaux。？"Iftheyfoundithere，itwouldbeacertainindicationIshouldbelost，andinthatcaseyouwouldbeapowerfulandalastauxiliaryforme。"
　　"Beingyouraccomplice，youmean？"answeredAramis，shrugginghisshoulders。？"Adieu，Baisemeaux，"saidhe。
　　Thehorseswereinwaiting，makingeachrustyspringreverberatethecarriageagainwiththeirimpatience。？Baisemeauxaccompaniedthebishoptothebottomofthesteps。？Aramiscausedhiscompaniontomountbeforehim，thenfollowed，andwithoutgivingthedriveranyfurtherorder，"Goon，"saidhe。？Thecarriagerattledoverthepavementofthecourtyard。？Anofficerwithatorchwentbeforethehorses，andgaveordersateveryposttoletthempass。？Duringthetimetakeninopeningallthebarriers，Aramisbarelybreathed，andyoumighthaveheardhis"sealedheartknockagainsthisribs。"？Theprisoner，buriedinacornerofthecarriage，madenomoresignoflifethanhiscompanion。？Atlength，ajoltmoreseverthantheothersannouncedtothemthattheyhadclearedthelastwatercourse。？Behindthecarriageclosedthelastgate，thatintheRueSt。Antoine。？Nomorewallseitherontherightortheleft;heaveneverywhere，libertyeverywhere，andlifeeverywhere。？Thehorses，keptincheckbyavigoroushand，wentquietlyasfarasthemiddleofthefaubourg。？Theretheybegantotrot。？Littlebylittle，whethertheywerewarmingtotheirwork，orwhethertheywereurged，theygainedinswiftness，andoncepastBercy，thecarriageseemedtofly，sogreatwastheardorofthecoursers。？ThehorsesgallopedthusasfarasVilleneuveSt。George's，whererelayswerewaiting。？ThenfourinsteadoftwowhirledthecarriageawayinthedirectionofMelun，andpulledupforamomentinthemiddleoftheforestofSenart。？Nodoubttheorderhadbeengiventhepostilionbeforehand，forAramishadnooccasioneventomakeasign。
　　"Whatisthematter？"askedtheprisoner，asifwakingfromalongdream。
　　"Thematteris，monseigneur，"saidAramis，"thatbeforegoingfurther，itisnecessaryyourroyalhighnessandIshouldconverse。"
　　"I
　　willawaitanopportunity，monsieur，"answeredtheyoungprince。
　　"Wecouldnothaveabetter，monseigneur。？Weareinthemiddleofaforest，andnoonecanhearus。"
　　"Thepostilion？"
　　"Thepostilionofthisrelayisdeafanddumb，monseigneur。"
　　"I
　　amatyourservice，M。d'Herblay。"
　　"Isityourpleasuretoremaininthecarriage？"
　　"Yes;
　　wearecomfortablyseated，andIlikethiscarriage，forithasrestoredmetoliberty。"
　　"Wait，monseigneur;thereisyetaprecautiontobetaken。"
　　"What？"
　　"Wearehereonthehighway;cavaliersorcarriagestravelinglikeourselvesmightpass，andseeingusstopping，deemusinsomedifficulty。？Letusavoidoffersofassistance，whichwouldembarrassus。"
　　"Givethepostilionorderstoconcealthecarriageinoneofthesideavenues。"
　　"'TisexactlywhatIwishedtodo，monseigneur。"
　　Aramismadeasigntothedeafanddumbdriverofthecarriage，whomhetouchedonthearm。？Thelatterdismounted，tooktheleadersbythebridle，andledthemoverthevelvetswardandthemossygrassofawindingalley，atthebottomofwhich，onthismoonlessnight，thedeepshadesformedacurtainblackerthanink。？Thisdone，themanlaydownonaslopenearhishorses，who，oneitherside，keptnibblingtheyoungoakshoots。
　　"I
　　amlistening，"saidtheyoungprincetoAramis;"butwhatareyoudoingthere？"
　　"I
　　amdisarmingmyselfofmypistols，ofwhichwehavenofurtherneed，monseigneur。"
　　ChapterIX:
　　TheTempter。
　　"Myprince，"saidAramis，turninginthecarriagetowardshiscompanion，"weakcreatureasIam，sounpretendingingenius，solowinthescaleofintelligentbeings，ithasneveryethappenedtometoconversewithamanwithoutpenetratinghisthoughtsthroughthatlivingmaskwhichhasbeenthrownoverourmind，inordertoretainitsexpression。？Butto—night，inthisdarkness，inthereservewhichyoumaintain，Icanreadnothingonyourfeatures，andsomethingtellsmethatIshallhavegreatdifficultyinwrestingfromyouasinceredeclaration。？Ibeseechyou，then，notforloveofme，forsubjectsshouldneverweighasanythinginthebalancewhichprinceshold，butforloveofyourself，toretaineverysyllable，everyinflexionwhich，underthepresentmostgravecircumstances，willallhaveasenseandvalueasimportantasanyeveryutteredintheworld。"
　　"I
　　listen，"repliedtheyoungprince，"decidedly，withouteithereagerlyseekingorfearinganythingyouareabouttosaytome。"？Andheburiedhimselfstilldeeperinthethickcushionsofthecarriage，tryingtodeprivehiscompanionnotonlyofthesightofhim，butevenoftheveryideaofhispresence。
　　Blackwasthedarknesswhichfellwideanddensefromthesummitsoftheintertwiningtrees。？Thecarriage，coveredinbythisprodigiousroof，wouldnothavereceivedaparticleoflight，notevenifaraycouldhavestruggledthroughthewreathsofmistthatwerealreadyrisingintheavenue。
　　"Monseigneur，"
　　resumedAramis，"youknowthehistoryofthegovernmentwhichto—daycontrolsFrance。？Thekingissuedfromaninfancyimprisonedlikeyours，obscureasyours，andconfinedasyours;
　　only，insteadofending，likeyourself，thisslaveryinaprison，thisobscurityinsolitude，thesestraightenedcircumstancesinconcealment，hewasfaintobearallthesemiseries，humiliations，anddistresses，infulldaylight，underthepitilesssunofroyalty;onanelevationfloodedwithlight，whereeverystainappearsablemish，everygloryastain。？Thekinghassuffered;itranklesinhismind;andhewillavengehimself。？Hewillbeabadking。？Isaynotthathewillpourouthispeople'sblood，likeLouisXI。，orCharlesIX。;forhehasnomortalinjuriestoavenge;
　　buthewilldevourthemeansandsubstanceofhispeople;forhehashimselfundergonewrongsinhisowninterestandmoney。？Inthefirstplace，then，Iacquitmyconscience，whenIconsideropenlythemeritsandthefaultsofthisgreatprince;andifIcondemnhim，myconscienceabsolvesme。"
　　Aramispaused。？Itwasnottolistenifthesilenceoftheforestremainedundisturbed，butitwastogatheruphisthoughtsfromtheverybottomofhissoul—toleavethethoughtshehadutteredsufficienttimetoeatdeeplyintothemindofhiscompanion。
　　"AllthatHeavendoes，Heavendoeswell，"continuedthebishopofVannes;
　　"andIamsopersuadedofitthatIhavelongbeenthankfultohavebeenchosendepositaryofthesecretwhichIhaveaidedyoutodiscover。？ToajustProvidencewasnecessaryaninstrument，atoncepenetrating，persevering，andconvinced，toaccomplishagreatwork。？Iamthisinstrument。？Ipossesspenetration，perseverance，conviction;Igovernamysteriouspeople，whohastakenforitsmotto，themottoofGod，'Patiensquia渢ernus。'"？Theprincemoved。？"Idivine，monseigneur，whyyouareraisingyourhead，andaresurprisedatthepeopleIhaveundermycommand。？Youdidnotknowyouweredealingwithaking—oh！monseigneur，kingofapeopleveryhumble，muchdisinherited;humblebecausetheyhavenoforcesavewhencreeping;disinherited，becausenever，almostneverinthisworld，domypeoplereaptheharvesttheysow，noreatthefruittheycultivate。？Theylaborforanabstractidea;theyheaptogetheralltheatomsoftheirpower，tofromasingleman;
　　androundthisman，withthesweatoftheirlabor，theycreateamistyhalo，whichhisgeniusshall，inturn，renderaglorygildedwiththeraysofallthecrownsinChristendom。？Suchisthemanyouhavebesideyou，monseigneur。？Itistotellyouthathehasdrawnyoufromtheabyssforagreatpurpose，toraiseyouabovethepowersoftheearth—abovehimself。"
　　Transcriber'snote:"Heispatientbecauseheiseternal。"ishowtheLatintranslates。？ItisfromSt。Augustine。？ThismottowassometimesappliedtothePapacy，butnottotheJesuits。—JB
　　TheprincelightlytouchedAramis'sarm。？"Youspeaktome，"hesaid，"ofthatreligiousorderwhosechiefyouare。？Forme，theresultofyourwordsis，thatthedayyoudesiretohurldownthemanyoushallhaveraised，theeventwillbeaccomplished;andthatyouwillkeepunderyourhandyourcreationofyesterday。"
　　"Undeceiveyourself，monseigneur，"repliedthebishop。？"Ishouldnottakethetroubletoplaythisterriblegamewithyourroyalhighness，ifIhadnotadoubleinterestingainingit。？Thedayyouareelevated，youareelevatedforever;youwilloverturnthefootstool，asyourise，andwillsenditrollingsofar，thatnoteventhesightofitwilleveragainrecalltoyouitsrighttosimplegratitude。"
　　"Oh，monsieur！"
　　"Yourmovement，monseigneur，arisesfromanexcellentdisposition。？Ithankyou。？Bewellassured，Iaspiretomorethangratitude！？Iamconvincedthat，whenarrivedatthesummit，youwilljudgemestillmoreworthytobeyourfriend;andthen，monseigneur，wetwowilldosuchgreatdeeds，thatageshereaftershalllongspeakofthem。"
　　"Tellmeplainly，monsieur—tellmewithoutdisguise—whatIamto—day，andwhatyouaimatmybeingto—morrow。"
　　"YouarethesonofKingLouisXIII。，brotherofLouisXIV。，naturalandlegitimateheirtothethroneofFrance。？Inkeepingyounearhim，asMonsieurhasbeenkept—Monsieur，youryoungerbrother—thekingreservedtohimselftherightofbeinglegitimatesovereign。？Thedoctorsonlycoulddisputehislegitimacy。？Butthedoctorsalwayspreferthekingwhoistothekingwhoisnot。？Providencehaswilledthatyoushouldbepersecuted;thispersecutionto—dayconsecratesyoukingofFrance。？Youhad，then，arighttoreign，seeingthatitisdisputed;youhadarighttobeproclaimedseeingthatyouhavebeenconcealed;andyoupossessroyalblood，sincenoonehasdaredtoshedyours，asthatofyourservantshasbeenshed。？Nowsee，then，whatthisProvidence，whichyouhavesooftenaccusedofhavingineverywaythwartedyou，hasdoneforyou。？Ithasgivenyouthefeatures，figure，age，andvoiceofyourbrother;andtheverycausesofyourpersecutionareabouttobecomethoseofyourtriumphantrestoration。？To—morrow，afterto—morrow—fromtheveryfirst，regalphantom，livingshadeofLouisXIV。，youwillsituponhisthrone，whencethewillofHeaven，confidedinexecutiontothearmofman，willhavehurledhim，withouthopeofreturn。"
　　"I
　　understand，"saidtheprince，"mybrother'sbloodwillnotbeshed，then。"
　　"Youwillbesolearbiterofhisfate。"
　　"Thesecretofwhichtheymadeaneviluseagainstme？"
　　"Youwillemployitagainsthim。？Whatdidhedotoconcealit？？Heconcealedyou。？Livingimageofhimself，youwilldefeattheconspiracyofMazarinandAnneofAustria。？You，myprince，willhavethesameinterestinconcealinghim，whowill，asaprisoner，resembleyou，asyouwillresemblehimasaking。"
　　"I
　　fallbackonwhatIwassayingtoyou。？Whowillguardhim？"
　　"Whoguardedyou？"
　　"Youknowthissecret—youhavemadeuseofitwithregardtomyself。？Whoelseknowsit？"
　　"Thequeen—motherandMadamedeChevreuse。"
　　"Whatwilltheydo？"
　　"Nothing，ifyouchoose。"
　　"Howisthat？"
　　"Howcantheyrecognizeyou，ifyouactinsuchamannerthatnoonecanrecognizeyou？"
　　"'Tistrue;buttherearegravedifficulties。"
　　"Statethem，prince。"
　　"Mybrotherismarried;Icannottakemybrother'swife。"
　　"I
　　willcauseSpaintoconsenttoadivorce;itisintheinterestofyournewpolicy;itishumanmorality。？Allthatisreallynobleandreallyusefulinthisworldwillfinditsaccounttherein。"
　　"Theimprisonedkingwillspeak。"
　　"Towhomdoyouthinkhewillspeak—tothewalls？"
　　"Youmean，bywalls，themeninwhomyouputconfidence。"
　　"Ifneedbe，yes。？Andbesides，yourroyalhighness—"
　　"Besides？"
　　"I
　　wasgoingtosay，thatthedesignsofProvidencedonotstoponsuchafairroad。？Everyschemeofthiscaliberiscompletedbyitsresults，likeageometricalcalculation。？Theking，inprison，willnotbeforyouthecauseofembarrassmentthatyouhavebeenforthekingenthroned。？Hissoulisnaturallyproudandimpatient;
　　itis，moreover，disarmedandenfeebled，bybeingaccustomedtohonors，andbythelicenseofsupremepower。？ThesameProvidencewhichhaswilledthattheconcludingstepinthegeometricalcalculationIhavehadthehonorofdescribingtoyourroyalhighnessshouldbeyourascensiontothethrone，andthedestructionofhimwhoishurtfultoyou，hasalsodeterminedthattheconqueredoneshallsoonendbothhisownandyoursufferings。？Therefore，hissoulandbodyhavebeenadaptedforbutabriefagony。？Putintoprisonasaprivateindividual，leftalonewithyourdoubts，deprivedofeverything，youhaveexhibitedthemostsublime，enduringprincipleoflifeinwithstandingallthis。？Butyourbrother，acaptive，forgotten，andinbonds，willnotlongendurethecalamity;andHeavenwillresumehissoulattheappointedtime—thatistosay，soon。"
　　AtthispointinAramis'sgloomyanalysis，abirdofnightutteredfromthedepthsoftheforestthatprolongedandplaintivecrywhichmakeseverycreaturetremble。
　　"I
　　willexilethedeposedking，"saidPhilippe，shuddering;"'twillbemorehuman。"
　　"Theking'sgoodpleasurewilldecidethepoint，"saidAramis。？"Buthastheproblembeenwellput？？HaveIbroughtoutofthesolutionaccordingtothewishesortheforesightofyourroyalhighness？"
　　"Yes，monsieur，yes;youhaveforgottennothing—except，indeed，twothings。"
　　"Thefirst？"
　　"Letusspeakofitatonce，withthesamefranknesswehavealreadyconversedin。？Letusspeakofthecauseswhichmaybringabouttheruinofallthehopeswehaveconceived。？Letusspeakoftheriskswearerunning。"
　　"Theywouldbeimmense，infinite，terrific，insurmountable，if，asIhavesaid，allthingsdidnotconcurtorenderthemofabsolutelynoaccount。？Thereisnodangereitherforyouorforme，iftheconstancyandintrepidityofyourroyalhighnessareequaltothatperfectionofresemblancetoyourbrotherwhichnaturehasbestoweduponyou。？Irepeatit，therearenodangers，onlyobstacles;aword，indeed，whichIfindinalllanguages，buthavealwaysill—understood，and，wereIking，wouldhaveobliteratedasuselessandabsurd。"
　　"Yes，indeed，monsieur;thereisaveryseriousobstacle，aninsurmountabledanger，whichyouareforgetting。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidAramis。
　　"Thereisconscience，whichcriesaloud;remorse，thatneverdies。"
　　"True，true，"saidthebishop;"thereisaweaknessofheartofwhichyouremindme。？Youareright，too，forthat，indeed，isanimmenseobstacle。？Thehorseafraidoftheditch，leapsintothemiddleofit，andiskilled！？Themanwhotremblingcrosseshisswordwiththatofanotherleavesloopholeswherebyhisenemyhashiminhispower。"
　　"Haveyouabrother？"saidtheyoungmantoAramis。
　　"I
　　amaloneintheworld，"saidthelatter，withahard，dryvoice。
　　"But，surely，thereissomeoneintheworldwhomyoulove？"addedPhilippe。
　　"Noone！—Yes，Iloveyou。"
　　Theyoungmansankintosoprofoundasilence，thatthemeresoundofhisrespirationseemedlikearoaringtumultforAramis。？"Monseigneur，"heresumed，"IhavenotsaidallI
　　hadtosaytoyourroyalhighness;IhavenotofferedyouallthesalutarycounselsandusefulresourceswhichIhaveatmydisposal。？Itisuselesstoflashbrightvisionsbeforetheeyesofonewhoseeksandlovesdarkness:useless，too，isittoletthemagnificenceofthecannon'sroarmakeitselfheardintheearsofonewholovesreposeandthequietofthecountry。？Monseigneur，Ihaveyourhappinessspreadoutbeforemeinmythoughts;
　　listentomywords;precioustheyindeedare，intheirimportandtheirsense，foryouwholookwithsuchtenderregarduponthebrightheavens，theverdantmeadows，thepureair。？Iknowacountryinstinctwithdelightsofeverykind，anunknownparadise，asecludedcorneroftheworld—wherealone，unfetteredandunknown，inthethickcovertofthewoods，amidstflowers，andstreamsofripplingwater，youwillforgetallthemiserythathumanfollyhassorecentlyallottedyou。？Oh！listentome，myprince。？Idonotjest。？Ihaveaheart，andmind，andsoul，andcanreadyourown，—aye，eventoitsdepths。？Iwillnottakeyouunreadyforyourtask，inordertocastyouintothecrucibleofmyowndesires，ofmycaprice，ormyambition。？Letitbeallornothing。？Youarechilledandgalled，sickatheart，overcomebyexcessoftheemotionswhichbutonehour'slibertyhasproducedinyou。？Forme，thatisacertainandunmistakablesignthatyoudonotwishtocontinueatliberty。？Wouldyoupreferamorehumblelife，alifemoresuitedtoyourstrength？？Heavenismywitness，thatIwishyourhappinesstobetheresultofthetrialtowhichI
　　haveexposedyou。"
　　"Speak，speak，"saidtheprince，withavivacitywhichdidnotescapeAramis。
　　"I
　　know，"resumedtheprelate，"intheBas—Poitou，acanton，ofwhichnooneinFrancesuspectstheexistence。？Twentyleaguesofcountryisimmense，isitnot？？Twentyleagues，monseigneur，allcoveredwithwaterandherbage，andreedsofthemostluxuriantnature;thewholestuddedwithislandscoveredwithwoodsofthedensestfoliage。？Theselargemarshes，coveredwithreedsaswithathickmantle，sleepsilentlyandcalmlybeneaththesun'ssoftandgenialrays。？Afewfishermenwiththeirfamiliesindolentlypasstheirlivesawaythere，withtheirgreatliving—raftsofpoplarandalder，theflooringformedofreeds，andtheroofwovenoutofthickrushes。？Thesebarks，thesefloating—houses，arewaftedtoandfrobythechangingwinds。？Whenevertheytouchabank，itisbutbychance;andsogently，too，thatthesleepingfishermanisnotawakenedbytheshock。？Shouldhewishtoland，itismerelybecausehehasseenalargeflightoflandrailsorplovers，ofwildducks，teal，widgeon，orwoodchucks，whichfallaneasypraytonetorgun。？Silvershad，eels，greedypike，redandgraymullet，swiminshoalsintohisnets;hehasbuttochoosethefinestandlargest，andreturntheotherstothewaters。？Neveryethasthefoodofthestranger，behesoldierorsimplecitizen，neverhasanyone，indeed，penetratedintothatdistrict。？Thesun'sraystherearesoftandtempered:
　　inplotsofsolidearth，whosesoilisswartandfertile，growsthevine，nourishingwithgenerousjuiceitspurple，white，andgoldengrapes。？Onceaweek，aboatissenttodeliverthebreadwhichhasbeenbakedatanoven—thecommonpropertyofall。？There—liketheseigneursofearlydays—
　　powerfulinvirtueofyourdogs，yourfishing—lines，yourguns，andyourbeautifulreed—builthouse，wouldyoulive，richintheproduceofthechase，inplentitudeofabsolutesecrecy。？Therewouldyearsofyourliferollaway，attheendofwhich，nolongerrecognizable，foryouwouldhavebeenperfectlytransformed，youwouldhavesucceededinacquiringadestinyaccordedtoyoubyHeaven。？Thereareathousandpistolesinthisbag，monseigneur—more，farmore，thansufficienttopurchasethewholemarshofwhichIhavespoken;
　　morethanenoughtolivethereasmanyyearsasyouhavedaystolive;morethanenoughtoconstituteyoutherichest，thefreest，andthehappiestmaninthecountry。？Acceptit，asIofferityou—sincerely，cheerfully。？Forthwith，withoutamoment'spause，Iwillunharnesstwoofmyhorses，whichareattachedtothecarriageyonder，andthey，accompaniedbymyservant—mydeafanddumbattendant—shallconductyou—travelingthroughoutthenight，sleepingduringtheday—tothelocalityIhavedescribed;andIshall，atleast，havethesatisfactionofknowingthatIhaverenderedtomyprincethemajorservicehehimselfpreferred。？Ishallhavemadeonehumanbeinghappy;andHeavenforthatwillholdmeinbetteraccountthanifIhadmadeonemanpowerful;theformertaskisfarmoredifficult。？Andnow，monseigneur，youranswertothisproposition？？Hereisthemoney。？Nay，donothesitate。？AtPoitou，youcanrisknothing，exceptthechanceofcatchingthefeversprevalentthere;andevenofthem，theso—calledwizardsofthecountrywillcureyou，forthesakeofyourpistoles。？Ifyouplaytheothergame，yourunthechanceofbeingassassinatedonathrone，strangledinaprison—cell。？Uponmysoul，Iassureyou，nowIbegintocomparethemtogether，ImyselfshouldhesitatewhichlotIshouldaccept。"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　repliedtheyoungprince，"beforeIdetermine，letmealightfromthiscarriage，walkontheground，andconsultthatstillvoicewithinme，whichHeavenbidsusalltohearkento。？TenminutesisallIask，andthenyoushallhaveyouranswer。"
　　"Asyouplease，monseigneur，"saidAramis，bendingbeforehimwithrespect，sosolemnandaugustintoneandaddresshadsoundedthesestrangewords。
　　ChapterX:
　　CrownandTiara。
　　Aramiswasthefirsttodescendfromthecarriage;heheldthedooropenfortheyoungman。？Hesawhimplacehisfootonthemossygroundwithatremblingofthewholebody，andwalkroundthecarriagewithanunsteadyandalmosttotteringstep。？ItseemedasifthepoorprisonerwasunaccustomedtowalkonGod'searth。？Itwasthe15thofAugust，abouteleveno'clockatnight;thickclouds，portendingatempest，overspreadtheheavens，andshroudedeverylightandprospectunderneaththeirheavyfolds。？Theextremitiesoftheavenueswereimperceptiblydetachedfromthecopse，byalightershadowofopaquegray，which，uponcloserexamination，becamevisibleinthemidstoftheobscurity。？Butthefragrancewhichascendedfromthegrass，fresherandmorepenetratingthanthatwhichexhaledfromthetreesaroundhim;thewarmandbalmyairwhichenvelopedhimforthefirsttimeformanyyearspast;theineffableenjoymentoflibertyinanopencountry，spoketotheprinceinsoseductivealanguage，thatnotwithstandingthepreternaturalcaution，wewouldalmostsaydissimulationofhischaracter，ofwhichwehavetriedtogiveanidea，hecouldnotrestrainhisemotion，andbreathedasighofecstasy。？Then，bydegrees，heraisedhisachingheadandinhaledthesoftlyscentedair，asitwaswaftedingentleguststohisupliftedface。？Crossinghisarmsonhischest，asiftocontrolthisnewsensationofdelight，hedrankindeliciousdraughtsofthatmysteriousairwhichinterpenetratesatnighttheloftiestforests。？Theskyhewascontemplating，themurmuringwaters，theuniversalfreshness—wasnotallthisreality？？WasnotAramisamadmantosupposethathehadaughtelsetodreamofinthisworld？？Thoseexcitingpicturesofcountrylife，sofreefromfearsandtroubles，theoceanofhappydaysthatglittersincessantlybeforeallyoungimaginations，arerealallurementswherewithtofascinateapoor，unhappyprisoner，wornoutbyprisoncares，emaciatedbythestiflingairoftheBastile。？Itwasthepicture，itwillberemembered，drawnbyAramis，whenheofferedthethousandpistoleshehadwithhiminthecarriagetotheprince，andtheenchantedEdenwhichthedesertsofBas—Poitouhidfromtheeyesoftheworld。？SuchwerethereflectionsofAramisashewatched，withananxietyimpossibletodescribe，thesilentprogressoftheemotionsofPhilippe，whomheperceivedgraduallybecomingmoreandmoreabsorbedinhismeditations。？TheyoungprincewasofferingupaninwardprayertoHeaven，tobedivinelyguidedinthistryingmoment，uponwhichhislifeordeathdepended。？ItwasananxioustimeforthebishopofVannes，whohadneverbeforebeensoperplexed。？Hisironwill，accustomedtoovercomeallobstacles，neverfindingitselfinferiororvanquishedonanyoccasion，tobefoiledinsovastaprojectfromnothavingforeseentheinfluencewhichaviewofnatureinallitsluxuriancewouldhaveonthehumanmind！？Aramis，overwhelmedbyanxiety，contemplatedwithemotionthepainfulstrugglethatwastakingplaceinPhilippe'smind。？Thissuspenselastedthewholetenminuteswhichtheyoungmanhadrequested。？Duringthisspaceoftime，whichappearedaneternity，Philippecontinuedgazingwithanimploringandsorrowfullooktowardstheheavens;AramisdidnotremovethepiercingglancehehadfixedonPhilippe。？Suddenlytheyoungmanbowedhishead。？Histhoughtreturnedtotheearth，hislooksperceptiblyhardened，hisbrowcontracted，hismouthassuminganexpressionofundauntedcourage;againhislooksbecamefixed，butthistimetheyworeaworldlyexpression，hardenedbycovetousness，pride，andstrongdesire。？Aramis'slookimmediatelybecameassoftasithadbeforebeengloomy。？Philippe，seizinghishandinaquick，agitatedmanner，exclaimed:
　　"LeadmetowherethecrownofFranceistobefound。"
　　"Isthisyourdecision，monseigneur？"askedAramis。
　　"Itis。"
　　"Irrevocablyso？"
　　Philippedidnotevendeigntoreply。？Hegazedearnestlyatthebishop，asiftoaskhimifitwerepossibleforamantowaverafterhavingoncemadeuphismind。
　　"Suchlooksareflashesofthehiddenfirethatbetraysmen'scharacter，"saidAramis，bowingoverPhilippe'shand;"youwillbegreat，monseigneur，I
　　willanswerforthat。"
　　"Letusresumeourconversation。？Iwishedtodiscusstwopointswithyou;inthefirstplacethedangers，ortheobstacleswemaymeetwith。？Thatpointisdecided。？Theotheristheconditionsyouintendimposingonme。？Itisyourturntospeak，M。d'Herblay。"
　　"Theconditions，monseigneur？"
　　"Doubtless。？Youwillnotallowsomereatrifletostopme，andyouwillnotdometheinjusticetosupposethatIthinkyouhavenointerestinthisaffair。？Therefore，withoutsubterfugeorhesitation，tellmethetruth—"
　　"I
　　willdoso，monseigneur。？Onceaking—
　　"
　　"Whenwillthatbe？"
　　"To—morrowevening—Imeaninthenight。"
　　"Explainyourself。"
　　"WhenIshallhaveaskedyourhighnessaquestion。"
　　"Doso。"
　　"I
　　senttoyourhighnessamaninmyconfidencewithinstructionstodeliversomecloselywrittennotes，carefullydrawnup，whichwillthoroughlyacquaintyourhighnesswiththedifferentpersonswhocomposeandwillcomposeyourcourt。"