"I
perusedthosenotes。"
"Attentively？"
"I
knowthembyheart。"
"Andunderstandthem？？Pardonme，butImayventuretoaskthatquestionofapoor，abandonedcaptiveoftheBastile？？Inaweek'stimeitwillnotberequisitetofurtherquestionamindlikeyours。？Youwillthenbeinfullpossessionoflibertyandpower。"
"Interrogateme，then，andIwillbeascholarrepresentinghislessontohismaster。"
"Wewillbeginwithyourfamily，monseigneur。"
"Mymother，AnneofAustria！allhersorrows，herpainfulmalady。？Oh！？Iknowher—Iknowher。"
"Yoursecondbrother？"askedAramis，bowing。
"Tothesenotes，"repliedtheprince，"youhaveaddedportraitssofaithfullypainted，thatIamabletorecognizethepersonswhosecharacters，manners，andhistoryyouhavesocarefullyportrayed。？Monsieur，mybrother，isafine，darkyoungman，withapaleface;hedoesnotlovehiswife，Henrietta，whomI，LouisXIV。，lovedalittle，andstillflirtwith，evenalthoughshemademeweeponthedayshewishedtodismissMademoiselledelaValli鑢efromherserviceindisgrace。"
"Youwillhavetobecarefulwithregardtothewatchfulnessofthelatter，"
saidAramis;"sheissincerelyattachedtotheactualking。？Theeyesofawomanwholovesarenoteasilydeceived。"
"Sheisfair，hasblueeyes，whoseaffectionategazerevealsheridentity。？Shehaltsslightlyinhergait;shewritesalettereveryday，towhichIhavetosendananswerbyM。deSaint—Aignan。"
"Doyouknowthelatter？"
"AsifIsawhim，andIknowthelastverseshecomposedforme，aswellasthoseI
composedinanswertohis。"
"Verygood。？Doyouknowyourministers？"
"Colbert，anugly，dark—browedman，butintelligentenough，hishaircoveringhisforehead，alarge，heavy，fullhead;themortalenemyofM。Fouquet。"
"Asforthelatter，weneednotdisturbourselvesabouthim。"
"No;
becausenecessarilyyouwillnotrequiremetoexilehim，Isuppose？"
Aramis，struckwithadmirationattheremark，said，"Youwillbecomeverygreat，monseigneur。"
"Yousee，"addedtheprince，"thatIknowmylessonbyheart，andwithHeaven'sassistance，andyoursafterwards，Ishallseldomgowrong。"
"Youhavestillanawkwardpairofeyestodealwith，monseigneur。"
"Yes，thecaptainofthemusketeers，M。d'Artagnan，yourfriend。"
"Yes;
Icanwellsay'myfriend。'"
"HewhoescortedLaValli鑢etoLeChaillot;hewhodeliveredupMonk，coopedinanironbox，toCharlesII。;hewhosofaithfullyservedmymother;hetowhomthecrownofFranceowessomuchthatitoweseverything。？Doyouintendtoaskmetoexilehimalso？"
"Never，sire。？D'Artagnanisamantowhom，atacertaingiventime，Iwillundertaketorevealeverything;butbeonyourguardwithhim，forifhediscoversourplotbeforeitisrevealedtohim，youorI
willcertainlybekilledortaken。？Heisaboldandenterprisingman。"
"I
willthinkitover。？NowtellmeaboutM。Fouquet;whatdoyouwishtobedonewithregardtohim？"
"Onemomentmore，Ientreatyou，monseigneur;andforgiveme，ifIseemtofailinrespecttoquestioningyoufurther。"
"Itisyourdutytodoso，nay，morethanthat，yourright。"
"BeforewepasstoM。Fouquet，Ishouldverymuchregretforgettinganotherfriendofmine。"
"M。
duVallon，theHerculesofFrance，youmean;oh！asfarasheisconcerned，hisinterestsaremorethansafe。"
"No;
itisnothewhomIintendedtoreferto。"
"TheComtedelaF鑢e，then？"
"Andhisson，thesonofallfourofus。"
"ThatpoorboywhoisdyingofloveforLaValli鑢e，whommybrothersodisloyallyberefthimof？？Beeasyonthatscore。？Ishallknowhowtorehabilitatehishappiness。？Tellmeonlyonething，Monsieurd'Herblay;domen，whentheylove，forgetthetreacherythathasbeenshownthem？？Canamaneverforgivethewomanwhohasbetrayedhim？？IsthataFrenchcustom，orisitoneofthelawsofthehumanheart？"
"A
manwholovesdeeply，asdeeplyasRaoullovesMademoiselledelaValli鑢e，finishesbyforgettingthefaultorcrimeofthewomanheloves;butIdonotyetknowwhetherRaoulwillbeabletoforget。"
"I
willseeafterthat。？Haveyouanythingfurthertosayaboutyourfriend？"
"No;
thatisall。"
"Well，then，nowforM。Fouquet。？Whatdoyouwishmetodoforhim？"
"Tokeephimonassurintendant，inthecapacityinwhichhehashithertoacted，I
entreatyou。"
"Beitso;butheisthefirstministeratpresent。"
"Notquiteso。"
"A
king，ignorantandembarrassedasIshallbe，will，asamatterofcourse，requireafirstministerofstate。"
"Yourmajestywillrequireafriend。"
"I
haveonlyone，andthatisyourself。"
"Youwillhavemanyothersbyandby，butnonesodevoted，nonesozealousforyourglory。"
"Youshallbemyfirstministerofstate。"
"Notimmediately，monseigneur，forthatwouldgiverisetotoomuchsuspicionandastonishment。"
"M。
deRichelieu，thefirstministerofmygrandmother，MariedeMedici，wassimplybishopofLu鏾n，asyouarebishopofVannes。"
"I
perceivethatyourroyalhighnesshasstudiedmynotestogreatadvantage;youramazingperspicacityoverpowersmewithdelight。"
"I
amperfectlyawarethatM。deRichelieu，bymeansofthequeen'sprotection，soonbecamecardinal。"
"Itwouldbebetter，"saidAramis，bowing，"thatIshouldnotbeappointedfirstministeruntilyourroyalhighnesshasprocuredmynominationascardinal。"
"Youshallbenominatedbeforetwomonthsarepast，Monsieurd'Herblay。？Butthatisamatterofverytriflingmoment;youwouldnotoffendmeifyouweretoaskmorethanthat，andyouwouldcausemeseriousregretifyouweretolimityourselftothat。"
"Inthatcase，Ihavesomethingstillfurthertohopefor，monseigneur。"
"Speak！
speak！"
"M。
Fouquetwillnotkeeplongattheheadofaffairs，hewillsoongetold。？Heisfondofpleasure，consistently，I
mean，withallhislabors，thankstotheyouthfulnesshestillretains;butthisprotractedyouthwilldisappearattheapproachofthefirstseriousannoyance，oratthefirstillnesshemayexperience。？Wewillsparehimtheannoyance，becauseheisanagreeableandnoble—heartedman;butwecannotsavehimfromill—health。？Soitisdetermined。？WhenyoushallhavepaidallM。Fouquet'sdebts，andrestoredthefinancestoasoundcondition，M。Fouquetwillbeabletoremainthesovereignrulerinhislittlecourtofpoetsandpainters，—weshallhavemadehimrich。？Whenthathasbeendone，andIhavebecomeyourroyalhighness'sprimeminister，Ishallbeabletothinkofmyowninterestsandyours。"
Theyoungmanlookedathisinterrogator。
"M。
deRichelieu，ofwhomwewerespeakingjustnow，wasverymuchtoblameinthefixedideahehadofgoverningFrancealone，unaided。？Heallowedtwokings，KingLouisXIII。andhimself，tobeseatedontheself—samethrone，whilsthemighthaveinstalledthemmoreconvenientlyupontwoseparateanddistinctthrones。"
"Upontwothrones？"saidtheyoungman，thoughtfully。
"Infact，"pursuedAramis，quietly，"acardinal，primeministerofFrance，assistedbythefavorandbythecountenanceofhisMostChristianMajestytheKingofFrance，acardinaltowhomthekinghismasterlendsthetreasuresofthestate，hisarmy，hiscounsel，suchamanwouldbeactingwithtwofoldinjusticeinapplyingthesemightyresourcestoFrancealone。？Besides，"addedAramis，"youwillnotbeakingsuchasyourfatherwas，delicateinhealth，slowinjudgment，whomallthingswearied;youwillbeakinggoverningbyyourbrainandbyyoursword;youwillhaveinthegovernmentofthestatenomorethanyouwillbeabletomanageunaided;Ishouldonlyinterferewithyou。？Besides，ourfriendshipoughtnevertobe，I
donotsayimpaired，butinanydegreeaffected，byasecretthought。？IshallhavegivenyouthethroneofFrance，youwillconferonmethethroneofSt。Peter。？Wheneveryourloyal，firm，andmailedhandshouldjoinedintiesofintimateassociationthehandofapopesuchasIshallbe，neitherCharlesV。，whoownedtwo—thirdsofthehabitableglobe，norCharlemagne，whopossesseditentirely，willbeabletoreachtohalfyourstature。？Ihavenoalliances，Ihavenopredilections;Iwillnotthrowyouintopersecutionsofheretics，norwillIcastyouintothetroubledwatersoffamilydissension;Iwillsimplysaytoyou:Thewholeuniverseisourown;
formethemindsofmen，foryoutheirbodies。？AndasIshallbethefirsttodie，youwillhavemyinheritance。？Whatdoyousayofmyplan，monseigneur？"
"I
saythatyourendermehappyandproud，fornootherreasonthanthatofhavingcomprehendedyouthoroughly。？Monsieurd'Herblay，youshallbecardinal，andwhencardinal，myprimeminister;andthenyouwillpointouttomethenecessarystepstobetakentosecureyourelectionaspope，andIwilltakethem。？Youcanaskwhatguaranteesfrommeyouplease。"
"Itisuseless。？NevershallIactexceptinsuchamannerthatyouwillbethegainer;Ishallneverascendtheladderoffortune，fame，orposition，untilIhavefirstseenyouplacedupontheroundoftheladderimmediatelyaboveme;Ishallalwaysholdmyselfsufficientlyalooffromyoutoescapeincurringyourjealousy，sufficientlyneartosustainyourpersonaladvantageandtowatchoveryourfriendship。？Allthecontractsintheworldareeasilyviolatedbecausetheinterestsincludedintheminclinemoretoonesidethantoanother。？Withus，however，thiswillneverbethecase;Ihavenoneedofanyguarantees。"
"Andso—mydearbrother—willdisappear？"
"Simply。？Wewillremovehimfromhisbedbymeansofaplankwhichyieldstothepressureofthefinger。？Havingretiredtorestacrownedsovereign，hewillawakeacaptive。？Aloneyouwillrulefromthatmoment，andyouwillhavenointerestdearerandbetterthanthatofkeepingmenearyou。"
"I
believeit。？Thereismyhandonit，Monsieurd'Herblay。"
"Allowmetokneelbeforeyou，sire，mostrespectfully。？Wewillembraceeachotheronthedayweshallhaveuponourtemples，youthecrown，Ithetiara。"
"Stillembracemethisverydayalso，andbe，forandtowardsme，morethangreat，morethanskillful，morethansublimeingenius;bekindandindulgent—bemyfather！"
Aramiswasalmostovercomeashelistenedtohisvoice;hefanciedhedetectedinhisownheartanemotionhithertounknown;butthisimpressionwasspeedilyremoved。？"Hisfather！"hethought;"yes，hisHolyFather。"
Andtheyresumedtheirplacesinthecarriage，whichspedrapidlyalongtheroadleadingtoVaux—le—Vicomte。
ChapterXI:
TheCh鈚eaudeVaux—le—Vicomte。
Thech鈚eauofVaux—le—Vicomte，situatedaboutaleaguefromMelun，hadbeenbuiltbyFouquetin1655，atatimewhentherewasascarcityofmoneyinFrance;Mazarinhadtakenallthattherewas，andFouquetexpendedtheremainder。？However，ascertainmenhavefertile，false，andusefulvices，Fouquet，inscatteringbroadcastmillionsofmoneyintheconstructionofthispalace，hadfoundameansofgathering，astheresultofhisgenerousprofusion，threeillustriousmentogether:Levau，thearchitectofthebuilding;Len魌re，thedesignerofthegardens;andLebrun，thedecoratoroftheapartments。？IftheCh鈚eaudeVauxpossessedasinglefaultwithwhichitcouldbereproached，itwasitsgrand，pretentiouscharacter。？Itisevenatthepresentdayproverbialtocalculatethenumberofacresofroofing，therestorationofwhichwould，inourage，betheruinoffortunescrampedandnarrowedastheepochitself。？Vaux—le—Vicomte，whenitsmagnificentgates，supportedbycaryatides，havebeenpassedthrough，hastheprincipalfrontofthemainbuildingopeninguponavast，so—called，courtofhonor，inclosedbydeepditches，borderedbyamagnificentstonebalustrade。？Nothingcouldbemorenobleinappearancethanthecentralforecourtraisedupontheflightofsteps，likeakinguponhisthrone，havingarounditfourpavilionsattheangles，theimmenseIoniccolumnsofwhichrosemajesticallytothewholeheightofthebuilding。？Thefriezesornamentedwitharabesques，andthepedimentswhichcrownedthepilasters，conferredrichnessandgraceoneverypartofthebuilding，whilethedomeswhichsurmountedthewholeaddedproportionandmajesty。？Thismansion，builtbyasubject，boreafargreaterresemblancetothoseroyalresidenceswhichWolseyfanciedhewascalledupontoconstruct，inordertopresentthemtohismasterformthefearofrenderinghimjealous。？Butifmagnificenceandsplendorweredisplayedinanyoneparticularpartofthispalacemorethananother，—ifanythingcouldbepreferredtothewonderfularrangementoftheinterior，tothesumptuousnessofthegilding，andtotheprofusionofthepaintingsandstatues，itwouldbetheparkandgardensofVaux。？Thejetsd'eau，whichwereregardedaswonderfulin1653，arestillso，evenatthepresenttime;thecascadesawakenedtheadmirationofkingsandprinces;andasforthefamousgrotto，thethemeofsomanypoeticaleffusions，theresidenceofthatillustriousnymphofVaux，whomP閘issonmadeconversewithLaFontaine，wemustbesparedthedescriptionofallitsbeauties。？WewilldoasDespr閍uxdid，—wewillenterthepark，thetreesofwhichareofeightyears'growthonly—thatistosay，intheirpresentposition—andwhosesummitsevenyet，astheyproudlytoweraloft，blushinglyunfoldtheirleavestotheearliestraysoftherisingsun。？Len魌rehadhastenedthepleasureoftheM鎐enasofhisperiod;allthenursery—groundshadfurnishedtreeswhosegrowthhadbeenacceleratedbycarefulcultureandtherichestplant—food。？Everytreeintheneighborhoodwhichpresentedafairappearanceofbeautyorstaturehadbeentakenupbyitsrootsandtransplantedtothepark。？Fouquetcouldwellaffordtopurchasetreestoornamenthispark，sincehehadboughtupthreevillagesandtheirappurtenances（tousealegalword）toincreaseitsextent。？M。deScud閞ysaidofthispalace，that，forthepurposeofkeepingthegroundsandgardenswellwatered，M。Fouquethaddividedariverintoathousandfountains，andgatheredthewatersofathousandfountainsintotorrents。？ThissameMonsieurdeScud閞ysaidagreatmanyotherthingsinhis"Cl閘ie，"aboutthispalaceofValterre，thecharmsofwhichhedescribesmostminutely。？WeshouldbefarwisertosendourcuriousreaderstoVauxtojudgeforthemselves，thantoreferthemto"Cl閘ie;"andyetthereareasmanyleaguesfromParistoVaux，astherearevolumesofthe"Cl閘ie。"
Thismagnificentpalacehadbeengotreadyforthereceptionofthegreatestreigningsovereignofthetime。？M。
Fouquet'sfriendshadtransportedthither，sometheiractorsandtheirdresses，otherstheirtroopsofsculptorsandartists;notforgettingotherswiththeirready—mendedpens，—floodsofimpromptuswerecontemplated。？Thecascades，somewhatrebelliousnymphsthoughtheywere，pouredforththeirwatersbrighterandclearerthancrystal:
theyscatteredoverthebronzetritonandnereidstheirwavesoffoam，whichglistenedlikefireintheraysofthesun。？Anarmyofservantswerehurryingtoandfroinsquadronsinthecourtyardandcorridors;whileFouquet，whohadonlythatmorningarrived，walkedallthroughthepalacewithacalm，observantglance，inordertogivehislastorders，afterhisintendantshadinspectedeverything。
Itwas，aswehavesaid，the15thofAugust。？Thesunpoureddownitsburningraysupontheheathendeitiesofmarbleandbronze:itraisedthetemperatureofthewaterintheconchshells，andripened，onthewalls，thosemagnificentpeaches，ofwhichtheking，fiftyyearslater，spokesoregretfully，when，atMarly，onanoccasionofascarcityofthefinersortsofpeachesbeingcomplainedof，inthebeautifulgardensthere—gardenswhichhadcostFrancedoubletheamountthathadbeenexpendedonVaux—thegreatkingobservedtosomeone:"YouarefartooyoungtohaveeatenanyofM。Fouquet'speaches。"
Oh，fame！？Oh，blazonofrenown！？Oh，gloryofthisearth！？Thatverymanwhosejudgmentwassosoundandaccuratewheremeritwasconcerned—hewhohadsweptintohiscofferstheinheritanceofNicholasFouquet，whohadrobbedhimofLen魌reandLebrun，andhadsenthimtorotfortheremainderofhislifeinoneofthestateprisons—
merelyrememberedthepeachesofthatvanquished，crushed，forgottenenemy！？ItwastolittlepurposethatFouquethadsquanderedthirtymillionsoffrancsinthefountainsofhisgardens，inthecruciblesofhissculptors，inthewriting—desksofhisliteraryfriends，intheportfoliosofhispainters;vainlyhadhefanciedthattherebyhemightberemembered。？Apeach—ablushing，rich—flavoredfruit，nestlinginthetrellisworkonthegarden—wall，hiddenbeneathitslong，greenleaves，—thislittlevegetableproduction，thatadormousewouldnibbleupwithoutathought，wassufficienttorecalltothememoryofthisgreatmonarchthemournfulshadeofthelastsurintendantofFrance。
WithaperfectreliancethatAramishadmadearrangementsfairlytodistributethevastnumberofgueststhroughoutthepalace，andthathehadnotomittedtoattendtoanyoftheinternalregulationsfortheircomfort，Fouquetdevotedhisentireattentiontotheensemblealone。？InonedirectionGourvilleshowedhimthepreparationswhichhadbeenmadeforthefireworks;inanother，Moli鑢eledhimoverthetheater;atlast，afterhehadvisitedthechapel，thesalons，andthegalleries，andwasagaingoingdownstairs，exhaustedwithfatigue，FouquetsawAramisonthestaircase。？Theprelatebeckonedtohim。？Thesurintendantjoinedhisfriend，and，withhim，pausedbeforealargepicturescarcelyfinished。？Applyinghimself，heartandsoul，tohiswork，thepainterLebrun，coveredwithperspiration，stainedwithpaint，palefromfatigueandtheinspirationofgenius，wasputtingthelastfinishingtoucheswithhisrapidbrush。？Itwastheportraitoftheking，whomtheywereexpecting，dressedinthecourtsuitwhichPercerinhadcondescendedtoshowbeforehandtothebishopofVannes。？Fouquetplacedhimselfbeforethisportrait，whichseemedtolive，asonemightsay，inthecoolfreshnessofitsflesh，andinitswarmthofcolor。？Hegazeduponitlongandfixedly，estimatedtheprodigiouslaborthathadbeenbestoweduponit，and，notbeingabletofindanyrecompensesufficientlygreatforthisHerculeaneffort，hepassedhisarmroundthepainter'sneckandembracedhim。？Thesurintendant，bythisaction，hadutterlyruinedasuitofclothesworthathousandpistoles，buthehadsatisfied，morethansatisfied，Lebrun。？Itwasahappymomentfortheartist;itwasanunhappymomentforM。
Percerin，whowaswalkingbehindFouquet，andwasengagedinadmiring，inLebrun'spainting，thesuitthathehadmadeforhismajesty，aperfectobjetd'art，ashecalledit，whichwasnottobematchedexceptinthewardrobeofthesurintendant。？Hisdistressandhisexclamationswereinterruptedbyasignalwhichhadbeengivenfromthesummitofthemansion。？InthedirectionofMelun，inthestillempty，openplain，thesentinelsofVauxhadjustperceivedtheadvancingprocessionofthekingandthequeens。？HismajestywasenteringMelunwithhislongtrainofcarriagesandcavaliers。
"Inanhour—"saidAramistoFouquet。
"Inanhour！"repliedthelatter，sighing。
"Andthepeoplewhoaskoneanotherwhatisthegoodoftheseroyalf阾es！"continuedthebishopofVannes，laughing，withhisfalsesmile。
"Alas！？I，too，whoamnotthepeople，askmyselfthesamething。"
"I
willansweryouinfourandtwentyhours，monseigneur。？Assumeacheerfulcountenance，foritshouldbeadayoftruerejoicing。"
"Well，believemeornot，asyoulike，D'Herblay，"saidthesurintendant，withaswellingheart，pointingatthecort鑗eofLouis，visibleinthehorizon，"hecertainlylovesmebutverylittle，andIdonotcaremuchmoreforhim;butIcannottellyouhowitis，thatsinceheisapproachingmyhouse—"
"Well，what？"
"Well，sinceIknowheisonhiswayhere，asmyguest，heismoresacredthaneverforme;heismyacknowledgedsovereign，andassuchisverydeartome。"
"Dear？
yes，"saidAramis，playingupontheword，astheAbb？Terraydid，atalaterperiod，withLouisXV。
"Donotlaugh，D'Herblay;Ifeelthat，ifhereallyseemedtowishit，Icouldlovethatyoungman。"
"Youshouldnotsaythattome，"returnedAramis，"butrathertoM。
Colbert。"
"ToM。Colbert！"exclaimedFouquet。？"Whyso？"
"Becausehewouldallowyouapensionoutoftheking'sprivypurse，assoonashebecomessurintendant，"saidAramis，preparingtoleaveassoonashehaddealtthislastblow。
"Whereareyougoing？"returnedFouquet，withagloomylook。
"Tomyownapartment，inordertochangemycostume，monseigneur。"
"Whereaboutsareyoulodging，D'Herblay？"
"Intheblueroomonthesecondstory。"
"Theroomimmediatelyovertheking'sroom？"
"Precisely。"
"Youwillbesubjecttoverygreatrestraintthere。？Whatanideatocondemnyourselftoaroomwhereyoucannotstirormoveabout！"
"Duringthenight，monseigneur，Isleeporreadinmybed。"
"Andyourservants？"
"I
havebutoneattendantwithme。？Ifindmyreaderquitesufficient。？Adieu，monseigneur;
donotoverfatigueyourself;keepyourselffreshforthearrivaloftheking。"
"Weshallseeyoubyandby，Isuppose，andshallseeyourfriendDuVallonalso？"
"Heislodgingnexttome，andisatthismomentdressing。"
AndFouquet，bowing，withasmile，passedonlikeacommander—in—chiefwhopaysthedifferentoutpostsavisitaftertheenemyhasbeensignaledinsight。
Transcriber'snote:Inthefive—volumeedition，Volume4endshere。—JB
ChapterXII:
TheWineofMelun。
Thekinghad，inpointoffact，enteredMelunwiththeintentionofmerelypassingthroughthecity。？Theyouthfulmonarchwasmosteagerlyanxiousforamusements;onlytwiceduringthejourneyhadhebeenabletocatchaglimpseofLaValli鑢e，and，suspectingthathisonlyopportunityofspeakingtoherwouldbeafternightfall，inthegardens，andaftertheceremonialofreceptionhadbeengonethrough，hehadbeenverydesiroustoarriveatVauxasearlyaspossible。？Buthereckonedwithouthiscaptainofthemusketeers，andwithoutM。Colbert。？LikeCalypso，whocouldnotbeconsoledatthedepartureofUlysses，ourGasconcouldnotconsolehimselffornothavingguessedwhyAramishadaskedPercerintoshowhimtheking'snewcostumes。？"Thereisnotadoubt，"hesaidtohimself，"thatmyfriendthebishopofVanneshadsomemotiveinthat;"andthenhebegantorackhisbrainsmostuselessly。？D'Artagnan，sointimatelyacquaintedwithallthecourtintrigues，whoknewthepositionofFouquetbetterthanevenFouquethimselfdid，hadconceivedthestrangestfanciesandsuspicionsattheannouncementofthef阾e，whichwouldhaveruinedawealthyman，andwhichbecameimpossible，uttermadnesseven，foramansopoorashewas。？Andthen，thepresenceofAramis，whohadreturnedfromBelle—Isle，andbeennominatedbyMonsieurFouquetinspector—generalofallthearrangements;
hisperseveranceinmixinghimselfupwithallthesurintendant'saffairs;hisvisitstoBaisemeaux;allthissuspicioussingularityofconducthadexcessivelytroubledandtormentedD'Artagnanduringthelasttwoweeks。
"WithmenofAramis'sstamp，"hesaid，"oneisneverthestrongerexceptswordinhand。？SolongasAramiscontinuedasoldier，therewashopeofgettingthebetterofhim;butsincehehascoveredhiscuirasswithastole，wearelost。？ButwhatcanAramis'sobjectpossiblybe？"？AndD'Artagnanplungedagainintodeepthought。？"Whatdoesitmattertome，afterall，"hecontinued，"ifhisonlyobjectistooverthrowM。
Colbert？？Andwhatelsecanhebeafter？"？AndD'Artagnanrubbedhisforehead—thatfertileland，whencetheplowshareofhisnailshadturnedupsomanyandsuchadmirableideasinhistime。？He，atfirst，thoughtoftalkingthematteroverwithColbert，buthisfriendshipforAramis，theoathofearlierdays，boundhimtoostrictly。？Herevoltedatthebareideaofsuchathing，and，besides，hehatedthefinanciertoocordially。？Then，again，hewishedtounburdenhismindtotheking;butyetthekingwouldnotbeabletounderstandthesuspicionswhichhadnotevenashadowofrealityattheirbase。？HeresolvedtoaddresshimselftoAramis，direct，thefirsttimehemethim。？"Iwillgethim，"
saidthemusketeer，"betweenacoupleofcandles，suddenly，andwhenheleastexpectsit，Iwillplacemyhanduponhisheart，andhewilltellme—
Whatwillhetellme？？Yes，hewilltellmesomething，formordioux！thereissomethinginit，Iknow。"
Somewhatcalmer，D'Artagnanmadeeverypreparationforthejourney，andtookthegreatestcarethatthemilitaryhouseholdoftheking，asyetveryinconsiderableinnumbers，shouldbewellofficeredandwelldisciplinedinitsmeagerandlimitedproportions。？Theresultwasthat，throughthecaptain'sarrangements，theking，onarrivingatMelun，sawhimselfattheheadofboththemusketeersandSwissguards，aswellasapicketoftheFrenchguards。？Itmightalmosthavebeencalledasmallarmy。？M。Colbertlookedatthetroopswithgreatdelight:heevenwishedtheyhadbeenathirdmoreinnumber。
"Butwhy？"saidtheking。
"InordertoshowgreaterhonortoM。Fouquet，"repliedColbert。
"Inordertoruinhimthesooner，"thoughtD'Artagnan。
WhenthislittlearmyappearedbeforeMelun，thechiefmagistratescameouttomeettheking，andtopresenthimwiththekeysofthecity，andinvitedhimtoentertheH魌eldeVille，inordertopartakeofthewineofhonor。？Theking，whoexpectedtopassthroughthecityandtoproceedtoVauxwithoutdelay，becamequiteredinthefacefromvexation。