下载辰思小说免费APP
"Whowasfoolenoughtooccasionthisdelay？"mutteredtheking，betweenhisteeth，asthechiefmagistratewasinthemiddleofalongaddress。
"NotI，certainly，"repliedD\'Artagnan，"butIbelieveitwasM。
Colbert。"
Colbert，havingheardhisnamepronounced，said，"WhatwasM。d\'Artagnangoodenoughtosay？"
"I
wasgoodenoughtoremarkthatitwasyouwhostoppedtheking\'sprogress，sothathemighttastethevindeBrie。？WasIright？"
"Quiteso，monsieur。"
"Inthatcase，then，itwasyouwhomthekingcalledsomenameorother。"
"Whatname？"
"I
hardlyknow;butwaitamoment—idiot，Ithinkitwas—no，no，itwasfoolordolt。？Yes;hismajestysaidthatthemanwhohadthoughtofthevindeMelunwassomethingofthesort。"
D\'Artagnan，afterthisbroadside，quietlycaressedhismustache;M。Colbert\'slargeheadseemedtobecomelargerandlargerthanever。？D\'Artagnan，seeinghowuglyangermadehim，didnotstophalf—way。？Theoratorstillwentonwithhisspeech，whiletheking\'scolorwasvisiblyincreasing。
"Mordioux！"saidthemusketeer，coolly，"thekingisgoingtohaveanattackofdeterminationofbloodtothehead。？Wherethedeucedidyougetholdofthatidea，MonsieurColbert？？Youhavenoluck。"
"Monsieur，"
saidthefinancier，drawinghimselfup，"myzealfortheking\'sserviceinspiredmewiththeidea。"
"Bah！"
"Monsieur，Melunisacity，anexcellentcity，whichpayswell，andwhichitwouldbeimprudenttodisplease。"
"There，now！？I，whodonotpretendtobeafinancier，sawonlyoneideainyouridea。"
"Whatwasthat，monsieur？"
"ThatofcausingalittleannoyancetoM。Fouquet，whoismakinghimselfquitegiddyonhisdonjonsyonder，inwaitingforus。"
Thiswasahome—stroke，hardenoughinallconscience。？Colbertwascompletelythrownoutofthesaddlebyit，andretired，thoroughlydiscomfited。？Fortunately，thespeechwasnowatanend;thekingdrankthewinewhichwaspresentedtohim，andtheneveryoneresumedtheprogressthroughthecity。？Thekingbithislipsinanger，fortheeveningwasclosingin，andallhopeofawalkwithLaValli鑢ewasatanend。？Inorderthatthewholeoftheking\'shouseholdshouldenterVaux，fourhoursatleastwerenecessary，owingtothedifferentarrangements。？Theking，therefore，whowasboilingwithimpatience，hurriedforwardasmuchaspossible，inordertoreachitbeforenightfall。？But，atthemomenthewassettingoffagain，otherandfreshdifficultiesarose。
"IsnotthekinggoingtosleepatMelun？"saidColbert，inalowtoneofvoice，toD\'Artagnan。
M。
Colbertmusthavebeenbadlyinspiredthatday，toaddresshimselfinthatmannertothechiefofthemusketeers;forthelatterguessedthattheking\'sintentionwasveryfarfromthatofremainingwherehewas。？D\'ArtagnanwouldnotallowhimtoenterVauxexcepthewerewellandstronglyaccompanied;anddesiredthathismajestywouldnotenterexceptwithalltheescort。？Ontheotherhand，hefeltthatthesedelayswouldirritatethatimpatientmonarchbeyondmeasure。？Inwhatwaycouldhepossiblyreconcilethesedifficulties？？D\'ArtagnantookupColbert\'sremark，anddeterminedtorepeatedittotheking。
"Sire，"
hesaid，"M。ColberthasbeenaskingmeifyourmajestydoesnotintendtosleepatMelun。"
"SleepatMelun！？Whatfor？"exclaimedLouisXIV。？"SleepatMelun！？Who，inHeaven\'sname，canhavethoughtofsuchathing，whenM。Fouquetisexpectingusthisevening？"
"Itwassimply，"repliedColbert，quickly，"thefearofcausingyourmajestytheleastdelay;for，accordingtoestablishedetiquette，youcannotenteranyplace，withtheexceptionofyourownroyalresidences，untilthesoldiers\'quartershavebeenmarkedoutbythequartermaster，andthegarrisonproperlydistributed。"
D\'Artagnanlistenedwiththegreatestattention，bitinghismustachetoconcealhisvexation;andthequeenswerenotlessinterested。？Theywerefatigued，andwouldhavepreferredtogotorestwithoutproceedinganyfarther;moreespecially，inordertopreventthekingwalkingaboutintheeveningwithM。deSaint—Aignanandtheladiesofthecourt，for，ifetiquetterequiredtheprincessestoremainwithintheirownrooms，theladiesofhonor，assoonastheyhadperformedtheservicesrequiredofthem，hadnorestrictionsplaceduponthem，butwereatlibertytowalkaboutastheypleased。？Itwilleasilybeconjecturedthatalltheserivalinterests，gatheringtogetherinvapors，necessarilyproducedclouds，andthatthecloudswerelikelytobefollowedbyatempest。？Thekinghadnomustachetognaw，andthereforekeptbitingthehandleofhiswhipinstead，withill—concealedimpatience。？Howcouldhegetoutofit？？D\'Artagnanlookedasagreeableaspossible，andColbertassulkyashecould。？Whowastherehecouldgetinapassionwith？
"Wewillconsultthequeen，"saidLouisXIV。，bowingtotheroyalladies。？AndthiskindnessofconsiderationsoftenedMariaTheresa\'sheart，who，beingofakindandgenerousdisposition，whenlefttoherownfree—will，replied:
"I
shallbedelightedtodowhateveryourmajestywishes。"
"HowlongwillittakeustogettoVaux？"inquiredAnneofAustria，inslowandmeasuredaccents，placingherhanduponherbosom，wheretheseatofherpainlay。
"Anhourforyourmajesty\'scarriages，"saidD\'Artagnan;"theroadsaretolerablygood。"
Thekinglookedathim。？"Andaquarterofanhourfortheking，"hehastenedtoadd。
"Weshouldarrivebydaylight？"saidLouisXIV。
"Butthebilletingoftheking\'smilitaryescort，"objectedColbert，softly，"willmakehismajestylosealltheadvantageofhisspeed，howeverquickhemaybe。"
"Doubleassthatyouare！"thoughtD\'Artagnan;"ifIhadanyinterestormotiveindemolishingyourcreditwiththeking，Icoulddoitintenminutes。？IfIwereintheking\'splace，"headdedaloud，"Ishould，ingoingtoM。Fouquet，leavemyescortbehindme;Ishouldgotohimasafriend;Ishouldenteraccompaniedonlybymycaptainoftheguards;IshouldconsiderthatIwasactingmorenobly，andshouldbeinvestedwithastillmoresacredcharacterbydoingso。"
Delightsparkledintheking\'seyes。？"Thatisindeedaverysensiblesuggestion。？Wewillgotoseeafriendasfriends;thegentlemenwhoarewiththecarriagescangoslowly:butwewhoaremountedwillrideon。"？Andherodeoff，accompaniedbyallthosewhoweremounted。？Colberthidhisuglyheadbehindhishorse\'sneck。
"I
shallbequits，"saidD\'Artagnan，ashegallopedalong，"bygettingalittletalkwithAramisthisevening。？Andthen，M。Fouquetisamanofhonor。？Mordioux！？Ihavesaidso，anditmustbeso。"
Andthiswasthewayhow，towardsseveno\'clockintheevening，withoutannouncinghisarrivalbythedinoftrumpets，andwithoutevenhisadvancedguard，withoutout—ridersormusketeers，thekingpresentedhimselfbeforethegateofVaux，whereFouquet，whohadbeeninformedofhisroyalguest\'sapproach，hadbeenwaitingforthelasthalf—hour，withhisheaduncovered，surroundedbyhishouseholdandhisfriends。
ChapterXIII:
NectarandAmbrosia。
M。
Fouquetheldthestirrupoftheking，who，havingdismounted，bowedmostgraciously，andmoregraciouslystillheldouthishandtohim，whichFouquet，inspiteofaslightresistanceontheking\'spart，carriedrespectfullytohislips。？Thekingwishedtowaitinthefirstcourtyardforthearrivalofthecarriages，norhadhelongtowait，fortheroadshadbeenputintoexcellentorderbythesuperintendent，andastonewouldhardlyhavebeenfoundofthesizeofaneggthewholewayfromMeluntoVaux;sothatthecarriages，rollingalongasthoughonacarpet，broughttheladiestoVaux，withoutjoltingorfatigue，byeighto\'clock。？TheywerereceivedbyMadameFouquet，andatthemomenttheymadetheirappearance，alightasbrightasdayburstforthfromeveryquarter，trees，vases，andmarblestatues。？Thisspeciesofenchantmentlasteduntiltheirmajestieshadretiredintothepalace。？Allthesewondersandmagicaleffectswhichthechroniclerhasheapedup，orratherembalmed，inhisrecital，attheriskofrivalingthebrain—bornscenesofromancers;thesesplendorswherebynightseemedvanquishedandnaturecorrected，togetherwitheverydelightandluxurycombinedforthesatisfactionofallthesenses，aswellastheimagination，Fouquetdidinrealtruthoffertohissovereigninthatenchantingretreatofwhichnomonarchcouldatthattimeboastofpossessinganequal。？Wedonotintendtodescribethegrandbanquet，atwhichtheroyalguestswerepresent，northeconcerts，northefairy—likeandmorethanmagictransformationsandmetamorphoses;itwillbeenoughforourpurposetodepictthecountenancethekingassumed，which，frombeinggay，soonworeaverygloomy，constrained，andirritatedexpression。？Herememberedhisownresidence，royalthoughitwas，andthemeanandindifferentstyleofluxurythatprevailedthere，whichcomprisedbutlittlemorethanwhatwasmerelyusefulfortheroyalwants，withoutbeinghisownpersonalproperty。？ThelargevasesoftheLouvre，theolderfurnitureandplateofHenryII。，ofFrancisI。，andofLouisXI。，werebuthistoricmonumentsofearlierdays;nothingbutspecimensofart，therelicsofhispredecessors;whilewithFouquet，thevalueofthearticlewasasmuchintheworkmanshipasinthearticleitself。？Fouquetatefromagoldservice，whichartistsinhisownemployhadmodeledandcastforhimalone。？FouquetdrankwinesofwhichthekingofFrancedidnotevenknowthename，anddrankthemoutofgobletseachmorevaluablethantheentireroyalcellar。
What，too，wastobesaidoftheapartments，thehangings，thepictures，theservantsandofficers，ofeverydescription，ofhishousehold？？Whatofthemodeofserviceinwhichetiquettewasreplacedbyorder;stiffformalitybypersonal，unrestrainedcomfort;thehappinessandcontentmentoftheguestbecamethesupremelawofallwhoobeyedthehost？？Theperfectswarmofbusilyengagedpersonsmovingaboutnoiselessly;themultitudeofguests，—whowere，however，evenlessnumerousthantheservantswhowaitedonthem，—themyriadofexquisitelyprepareddishes，ofgoldandsilvervases;thefloodsofdazzlinglight，themassesofunknownflowersofwhichthehot—houseshadbeendespoiled，redundantwithluxurianceofunequaledscentandbeauty;theperfectharmonyofthesurroundings，which，indeed，wasnomorethanthepreludeofthepromisedf阾e，charmedallwhowerethere;andtheytestifiedtheiradmirationoverandoveragain，notbyvoiceorgesture，butbydeepsilenceandraptattention，thosetwolanguagesofthecourtierwhichacknowledgethehandofnomasterpowerfulenoughtorestrainthem。
Asfortheking，hiseyesfilledwithtears;hedarednotlookatthequeen。？AnneofAustria，whosepridewassuperiortothatofanycreaturebreathing，overwhelmedherhostbythecontemptwithwhichshetreatedeverythinghandedtoher。？Theyoungqueen，kind—heartedbynatureandcuriousbydisposition，praisedFouquet，atewithanexceedinglygoodappetite，andaskedthenamesofthestrangefruitsastheywereplaceduponthetable。？Fouquetrepliedthathewasnotawareoftheirnames。？Thefruitscamefromhisownstores;hehadoftencultivatedthemhimself，havinganintimateacquaintancewiththecultivationofexoticfruitsandplants。？Thekingfeltandappreciatedthedelicacyofthereplies，butwasonlythemorehumiliated;hethoughtthequeenalittletoofamiliarinhermanners，andthatAnneofAustriaresembledJunoalittletoomuch，inbeingtooproudandhaughty;hischiefanxiety，however，washimself，thathemightremaincoldanddistantinhisbehavior，borderinglightlythelimitsofsupremedisdainorsimpleadmiration。
ButFouquethadforeseenallthis;hewas，infact，oneofthosemenwhoforeseeeverything。？Thekinghadexpresslydeclaredthat，solongasheremainedunderFouquet\'sroof，hedidnotwishhisowndifferentrepaststobeservedinaccordancewiththeusualetiquette，andthathewould，consequently，dinewiththerestofsociety;butbythethoughtfulattentionofthesurintendant，theking\'sdinnerwasservedupseparately，ifonemaysoexpressit，inthemiddleofthegeneraltable;thedinner，wonderfulineveryrespect，fromthedishesofwhichwascomposed，comprisedeverythingthekinglikedandgenerallypreferredtoanythingelse。？Louishadnoexcuse—he，indeed，whohadthekeenestappetiteinhiskingdom—forsayingthathewasnothungry。？Nay，M。Fouquetdidevenbetterstill;hecertainly，inobediencetotheking\'sexpresseddesire，seatedhimselfatthetable，butassoonasthesoupswereserved，hearoseandpersonallywaitedontheking，whileMadameFouquetstoodbehindthequeen—mother\'sarmchair。？ThedisdainofJunoandthesulkyfitsoftemperofJupitercouldnotresistthisexcessofkindlyfeelingandpoliteattention。？ThequeenateabiscuitdippedinaglassofSan—Lucarwine;andthekingateofeverything，sayingtoM。Fouquet:"Itisimpossible，monsieurlesurintendant，todinebetteranywhere。"？Whereuponthewholecourtbegan，onallsides，todevourthedishesspreadbeforethemwithsuchenthusiasmthatitlookedasthoughacloudofEgyptianlocustswassettlingdownongreenandgrowingcrops。
Assoon，however，ashishungerwasappeased，thekingbecamemoroseandovergloomedagain;themoresoinproportiontothesatisfactionhefanciedhehadpreviouslymanifested，andparticularlyonaccountofthedeferentialmannerwhichhiscourtiershadshowntowardsFouquet。？D\'Artagnan，whoateagooddealanddrankbutlittle，withoutallowingittobenoticed，didnotloseasingleopportunity，butmadeagreatnumberofobservationswhichheturnedtogoodprofit。
Whenthesupperwasfinished，thekingexpressedawishnottolosethepromenade。？Theparkwasilluminated;
themoon，too，asifshehadplacedherselfattheordersofthelordofVaux，silveredthetreesandlakewithherownbrightandquasi—phosphorescentlight。？Theairwasstrangelysoftandbalmy;thedaintilyshell—gravelledwalksthroughthethicklysetavenuesyieldedluxuriouslytothefeet。？Thef阾ewascompleteineveryrespect，fortheking，havingmetLaValli鑢einoneofthewindingpathsofthewood，wasabletopressherhandandsay，"Iloveyou，"withoutanyoneoverhearinghimexceptM。d\'Artagnan，whofollowed，andM。Fouquet，whoprecededhim。
Thedreamynightofmagicalenchantmentsstolesmoothlyon。？Thekinghavingrequestedtobeshowntohisroom，therewasimmediatelyamovementineverydirection。？Thequeenspassedtotheirownapartments，accompaniedbythemmusicoftheorbosandlutes;thekingfoundhismusketeersawaitinghimonthegrandflightofsteps，forM。FouquethadbroughtthemonfromMelunandhadinvitedthemtosupper。？D\'Artagnan\'ssuspicionsatoncedisappeared。？Hewasweary，hehadsuppedwell，andwished，foronceinhislife，thoroughlytoenjoyaf阾egivenbyamanwhowasineverysenseofthewordaking。？"M。Fouquet，"hesaid，"isthemanforme。"
ThekingwasconductedwiththegreatestceremonytothechamberofMorpheus，ofwhichweowesomecursorydescriptiontoourreaders。？Itwasthehandsomestandlargestinthepalace。？LebrunhadpaintedonthevaultedceilingthehappyaswellastheunhappydreamswhichMorpheusinflictsonkingsaswellasonothermen。？Everythingthatsleepgivesbirthtothatislovely，itsfairyscenes，itsflowersandnectar，thewildvoluptuousnessorprofoundreposeofthesenses，hadthepainterelaboratedonhisfrescoes。？Itwasacompositionassoftandpleasinginonepartasdarkandgloomyandterribleinanother。？Thepoisonedchalice，theglitteringdaggersuspendedovertheheadofthesleeper;wizardsandphantomswithterrificmasks，thosehalf—dimshadowsmorealarmingthantheapproachoffireorthesomberfaceofmidnight，these，andsuchasthese，hehadmadethecompanionsofhismorepleasingpictures。？Nosoonerhadthekingenteredhisroomthanacoldshiverseemedtopassthroughhim，andonFouquetaskinghimthecauseofit，thekingreplied，aspaleasdeath:
"I
amsleepy，thatisall。"
"Doesyourmajestywishforyourattendantsatonce？"
"No;
Ihavetotalkwithafewpersonsfirst，"saidtheking。？"WillyouhavethegoodnesstotellM。
ColbertIwishtoseehim。"
Fouquetbowedandlefttheroom。
ChapterXIV:
A
Gascon，andaGasconandaHalf。
D\'Artagnanhaddeterminedtolosenotime，andinfactheneverwasinthehabitofdoingso。？AfterhavinginquiredforAramis，hehadlookedforhimineverydirectionuntilhehadsucceededinfindinghim。？Besides，nosoonerhadthekingenteredVaux，thanAramishadretiredtohisownroom，meditating，doubtless，somenewpieceofgallantattentionforhismajesty\'samusement。？D\'Artagnandesiredtheservantstoannouncehim，andfoundonthesecondstory（inabeautifulroomcalledtheBlueChamber，onaccountofthecolorofitshangings）thebishopofVannesincompanywithPorthosandseveralofthemodernEpicureans。？Aramiscameforwardtoembracehisfriend，andofferedhimthebestseat。？Asitwasafterawhilegenerallyremarkedamongthosepresentthatthemusketeerwasreserved，andwishedforanopportunityforconversingsecretlywithAramis，theEpicureanstooktheirleave。？Porthos，however，didnotstir;fortrueitisthat，havingdinedexceedinglywell，hewasfastasleepinhisarmchair;andthefreedomofconversationthereforewasnotinterruptedbyathirdperson。？Porthoshadadeep，harmonioussnore，andpeoplemighttalkinthemidstofitsloudbasswithoutfearofdisturbinghim。？D\'Artagnanfeltthathewascalledupontoopentheconversation。
"Well，andsowehavecometoVaux，"hesaid。
"Why，yes，D\'Artagnan。？Andhowdoyouliketheplace？"
"Verymuch，andIlikeM。Fouquet，also。"
"Ishenotacharminghost？"
"Noonecouldbemoreso。"
"I
amtoldthatthekingbeganbyshowinggreatdistanceofmannertowardsM。
Fouquet，butthathismajestygrewmuchmorecordialafterwards。"
"Youdidnotnoticeit，then，sinceyousayyouhavebeentoldso？"
"No;
Iwasengagedwiththegentlemenwhohavejustlefttheroomaboutthetheatricalperformancesandthetournamentswhicharetotakeplaceto—morrow。"
"Ah，indeed！youarethecomptroller—generalofthef阾eshere，then？"
"YouknowIamafriendofallkindsofamusementwheretheexerciseoftheimaginationiscalledintoactivity;Ihavealwaysbeenapoetinonewayoranother。"
"Yes，Iremembertheversesyouusedtowrite，theywerecharming。"
"I
haveforgottenthem，butIamdelightedtoreadtheversesofothers，whenthoseothersareknownbythenamesofMoli鑢e，P閘isson，LaFontaine，etc。"
"Doyouknowwhatideaoccurredtomethisevening，Aramis？"
"No;
tellmewhatitwas，forIshouldneverbeabletoguessit，youhavesomany。"
"Well，theideaoccurredtome，thatthetruekingofFranceisnotLouisXIV。"
"What！"saidAramis，involuntarily，lookingthemusketeerfullintheeyes。
"No，itisMonsieurFouquet。"
Aramisbreathedagain，andsmiled。？"Ah！
youarelikealltherest，jealous，"hesaid。？"IwouldwagerthatitwasM。Colbertwhoturnedthatprettyphrase。"？D\'Artagnan，inordertothrowAramisoffhisguard，relatedColbert\'smisadventureswithregardtothevindeMelun。
"Hecomesofameanrace，doesColbert，"saidAramis。
"Quitetrue。"
"WhenIthink，too，"addedthebishop，"thatthatfellowwillbeyourministerwithinfourmonths，andthatyouwillservehimasblindlyasyoudidRichelieuorMazarin—"
"AndasyouserveM。Fouquet，"saidD\'Artagnan。
"Withthisdifference，though，thatM。FouquetisnotM。Colbert。"
"True，true，"saidD\'Artagnan，ashepretendedtobecomesadandfullofreflection;andthen，amomentafter，headded，"WhydoyoutellmethatM。Colbertwillbeministerinfourmonths？"
"BecauseM。Fouquetwillhaveceasedtobeso，"repliedAramis。
"Hewillberuined，youmean？"saidD\'Artagnan。
"Completelyso。"
"Whydoeshegivethesef阾es，then？"
saidthemusketeer，inatonesofullofthoughtfulconsideration，andsowellassumed，thatthebishopwasforthemomentdeceivedbyit。？"Whydidyounotdissuadehimfromit？"
Thelatterpartofthephrasewasjustalittletoomuch，andAramis\'sformersuspicionswereagainaroused。？"Itisdonewiththeobjectofhumoringtheking。"
"Byruininghimself？"
"Yes，byruininghimselffortheking。"
"A
mosteccentric，onemightsay，sinistercalculation，that。"
"Necessity，necessity，myfriend。"
"I
don\'tseethat，dearAramis。"
"Doyounot？？HaveyounotremarkedM。
Colbert\'sdailyincreasingantagonism，andthatheisdoinghisutmosttodrivethekingtogetridofthesuperintendent？"
"Onemustbeblindnottoseeit。"
"AndthatacabalisalreadyarmedagainstM。Fouquet？"
"Thatiswellknown。"
"Whatlikelihoodistherethatthekingwouldjoinapartyformedagainstamanwhowillhavespenteverythinghehadtopleasehim？"
"True，true，"saidD\'Artagnan，slowly，hardlyconvinced，yetcurioustobroachanotherphaseoftheconversation。？"Therearefollies，andfollies，"heresumed，"andIdonotlikethoseyouarecommitting。"
"Whatdoyoualludeto？"
"Asforthebanquet，theball，theconcert，thetheatricals，thetournaments，thecascades，thefireworks，theilluminations，andthepresents—thesearewellandgood，Igrant;butwhywerenottheseexpensessufficient？？Whywasitnecessarytohavenewliveriesandcostumesforyourwholehousehold？"
"Youarequiteright。？ItoldM。Fouquetthatmyself;hereplied，thatifhewererichenoughhewouldofferthekinganewlyerectedch鈚eau，fromthevanesatthehousestotheverysub—cellars;
completelynewinsideandout;andthat，assoonasthekinghadleft，hewouldburnthewholebuildinganditscontents，inorderthatitmightnotbemadeuseofbyanyoneelse。"
"HowcompletelySpanish！"
"I
toldhimso，andhethenaddedthis:\'Whoeveradvisesmetospareexpense，I
shalllookuponasmyenemy。\'"
"Itispositivemadness;andthatportrait，too！"
"Whatportrait？"saidAramis。
"Thatoftheking，andthesurpriseaswell。"
"Whatsurprise？"
"Thesurpriseyouseemtohaveinview，andonaccountofwhichyoutooksomespecimensaway，whenImetyouatPercerin\'s。"？D\'Artagnanpaused。？Theshaftwasdischarged，andallhehadtodowastowaitandwatchitseffect。
"Thatismerelyanactofgracefulattention，"repliedAramis。
D\'Artagnanwentuptohisfriend，tookholdofbothhishands，andlookinghimfullintheeyes，said，"Aramis，doyoustillcareformeaverylittle？"
"Whataquestiontoask！"
"Verygood。？Onefavor，then。？Whydidyoutakesomepatternsoftheking\'scostumesatPercerin\'s？"
"ComewithmeandaskpoorLebrun，whohasbeenworkinguponthemforthelasttwodaysandnights。"
"Aramis，thatmaybetruthforeverybodyelse，butforme—"
"Uponmyword，D\'Artagnan，youastonishme。"
"Bealittleconsiderate。？Tellmetheexacttruth;youwouldnotlikeanythingdisagreeabletohappentome，wouldyou？"
"Mydearfriend，youarebecomingquiteincomprehensible。？Whatsuspicioncanyouhavepossiblygotholdof？"
"Doyoubelieveinmyinstinctivefeelings？？Formerlyyouusedtohavefaithinthem。？Well，then，aninstincttellsmethatyouhavesomeconcealedprojectonfoot。"
"I
—aproject？"
"I
amconvincedofit。"
"Whatnonsense！"
"I
amnotonlysureofit，butIwouldevenswearit。"
"Indeed，D\'Artagnan，youcausemethegreatestpain。？Isitlikely，ifIhaveanyprojectinhandthatIoughttokeepsecretfromyou，Ishouldtellyouaboutit？？IfIhadonethatIcouldandoughttohaverevealed，shouldInothavelongagodivulgedit？"
"No，Aramis，no。？Therearecertainprojectswhichareneverrevealeduntilthefavorableopportunityarrives。"
"Inthatcase，mydearfellow，"returnedthebishop，laughing，"theonlythingnowis，thatthe\'opportunity\'hasnotyetarrived。"
D\'Artagnanshookhisheadwithasorrowfulexpression。？"Oh，friendship，friendship！"hesaid，"whatanidlewordyouare！？Hereisamanwho，ifIwerebuttoaskit，wouldsufferhimselftobecutinpiecesformysake。"
"Youareright，"saidAramis，nobly。
"Andthisman，whowouldshedeverydropofbloodinhisveinsforme，willnotopenupbeforemetheleastcornerinhisheart。？Friendship，Irepeat，isnothingbutanunsubstantialshadow—alure，likeeverythingelseinthisbright，dazzlingworld。"
"Itisnotthusyoushouldspeakofourfriendship，"repliedthebishop，inafirm，assuredvoice;"foroursisnotofthesamenatureasthoseofwhichyouhavebeenspeaking。"
"Lookatus，Aramis;threeoutoftheold\'four。\'？Youaredeceivingme;Isuspectyou;andPorthosisfastasleep。？Anadmirabletriooffriends，don\'tyouthinkso？？Whatanaffectingrelicoftheformerdearoldtimes！"
"I
canonlytellyouonething，D\'Artagnan，andIswearitontheBible:IloveyoujustasIusedtodo。？IfIeversuspectyou，itisonaccountofothers，andnotonaccountofeitherofus。？IneverythingImaydo，andshouldhappentosucceedin，youwillfindyourfourth。？Willyoupromisemethesamefavor？"
"IfIamnotmistaken，Aramis，yourwords—atthemomentyoupronouncethem—arefullofgenerousfeeling。"
