第9章

"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。