第15章

ChapterXX:

TheMorning。

InvividcontrasttothesadandterribledestinyofthekingimprisonedintheBastile，andtearing，insheerdespair，theboltsandbarsofhisdungeon，therhetoricofthechroniclersofoldwouldnotfailtopresent，asacompleteantithesis，thepictureofPhilippelyingasleepbeneaththeroyalcanopy。？Wedonotpretendtosaythatsuchrhetoricisalwaysbad，andalwaysscatters，inplaceswheretheyhavenorighttogrow，theflowerswithwhichitembellishesandenlivenshistory。？Butweshall，onthepresentoccasion，carefullyavoidpolishingtheantithesisinquestion，butshallproceedtodrawanotherpictureasminutelyaspossible，toserveasfoilandcounterfoiltotheoneintheprecedingchapter。？TheyoungprincealightedfromAramis\'sroom，inthesamewaythekinghaddescendedfromtheapartmentdedicatedtoMorpheus。？ThedomegraduallyandslowlysankdownunderAramis\'spressure，andPhilippestoodbesidetheroyalbed，whichhadascendedagainafterhavingdepositeditsprisonerinthesecretdepthsofthesubterraneanpassage。？Alone，inthepresenceofalltheluxurywhichsurroundedhim;alone，inthepresenceofhispower;alone，withtheparthewasabouttobeforcedtoact，Philippeforthefirsttimefelthisheart，andmind，andsoulexpandbeneaththeinfluenceofathousandmutableemotions，whicharethevitalthrobsofaking\'sheart。？Hecouldnothelpchangingcolorwhenhelookedupontheemptybed，stilltumbledbyhisbrother\'sbody。？Thismuteaccomplicehadreturned，afterhavingcompletedtheworkithadbeendestinedtoperform;itreturnedwiththetracesofthecrime;itspoketotheguiltyauthorofthatcrime，withthefrankandunreservedlanguagewhichanaccompliceneverfearstouseinthecompanyofhiscompanioninguilt;foritspokethetruth。？Philippebentoverthebed，andperceivedapocket—handkerchieflyingonit，whichwasstilldampfromthecoldsweatwhichhadpouredfromLouisXIV。\'sface。？Thissweat—bestainedhandkerchiefterrifiedPhilippe，asthegoreofAbelfrightenedCain。

"I

amfacetofacewithmydestiny，"saidPhilippe，hiseyesonfire，andhisfacealividwhite。？"Isitlikelytobemoreterrifyingthanmycaptivityhasbeensadandgloomy？？ThoughIamcompelledtofollowout，ateverymoment，thesovereignpowerandauthorityIhaveusurped，shallIceasetolistentothescruplesofmyheart？？Yes！thekinghaslainonthisbed;itisindeedhisheadthathasleftitsimpressiononthispillow;hisbittertearsthathavestainedthishandkerchief:andyet，Ihesitatetothrowmyselfonthebed，ortopressinmyhandthehandkerchiefwhichisembroideredwithmybrother\'sarms。？Awaywithsuchweakness;letmeimitateM。

d\'Herblay，whoassertsthataman\'sactionshouldbealwaysonedegreeabovehisthoughts;letmeimitateM。d\'Herblay，whosethoughtsareofandforhimselfalone，whoregardshimselfasamanofhonor，solongasheinjuresorbetrayshisenemiesonly。？I，Ialone，shouldhaveoccupiedthisbed，ifLouisXIV。hadnot，owingtomymother\'scriminalabandonment，stoodinmyway;andthishandkerchief，embroideredwiththearmsofFrance，wouldinrightandjusticebelongtomealone，if，asM。

d\'Herblayobserves，Ihadbeenleftmyroyalcradle。？Philippe，sonofFrance，takeyourplaceonthatbed;Philippe，solekingofFrance，resumetheblazonrythatisyours！？Philippe，soleheirpresumptivetoLouisXIII。，yourfather，showyourselfwithoutpityormercyfortheusurperwho，atthismoment，hasnoteventosuffertheagonyoftheremorseofallthatyouhavehadtosubmitto。"

Withthesewords，Philippe，notwithstandinganinstinctiverepugnanceoffeeling，andinspiteoftheshudderofterrorwhichmasteredhiswill，threwhimselfontheroyalbed，andforcedhismusclestopressthestillwarmplacewhereLouisXIV。hadlain，whileheburiedhisburningfaceinthehandkerchiefstillmoistenedbyhisbrother\'stears。？Withhisheadthrownbackandburiedinthesoftdownofhispillow，PhilippeperceivedabovehimthecrownofFrance，suspended，aswehavestated，byangelswithoutspreadgoldenwings。

A

manmaybeambitiousoflyinginalion\'sden，butcanhardlyhopetosleeptherequietly。？Philippelistenedattentivelytoeverysound;hisheartpantedandthrobbedattheverysuspicionofapproachingterrorandmisfortune;butconfidentinhisownstrength，whichwasconfirmedbytheforceofanoverpoweringlyresolutedetermination，hewaiteduntilsomedecisivecircumstanceshouldpermithimtojudgeforhimself。？Hehopedthatimminentdangermightberevealedtohim，likethosephosphoriclightsofthetempestwhichshowthesailorsthealtitudeofthewavesagainstwhichtheyhavetostruggle。？Butnothingapproached。？Silence，thatmortalenemyofrestlesshearts，andofambitiousminds，shroudedinthethicknessofitsgloomduringtheremainderofthenightthefuturekingofFrance，wholaythereshelteredbeneathhisstolencrown。？Towardsthemorningashadow，ratherthanabody，glidedintotheroyalchamber;Philippeexpectedhisapproachandneitherexpressednorexhibitedanysurprise。

"Well，M。d\'Herblay？"

"Well，sire，allisaccomplished。"

"How？"

"Exactlyasweexpected。"

"Didheresist？"

"Terribly！

tearsandentreaties。"

"Andthen？"

"A

perfectstupor。"

"Butatlast？"

"Oh！

atlast，acompletevictory，andabsolutesilence。"

"DidthegovernoroftheBastilesuspectanything？"

"Nothing。"

"Theresemblance，however—"

"Wasthecauseofthesuccess。"

"Buttheprisonercannotfailtoexplainhimself。？Thinkwellofthat。？Ihavemyselfbeenabletodoasmuchasthat，onformeroccasion。"

"I

havealreadyprovidedforeverychance。？Inafewdays，soonerifnecessary，wewilltakethecaptiveoutofhisprison，andwillsendhimoutofthecountry，toaplaceofexilesoremote—

"

"Peoplecanreturnfromtheirexile，Monsieurd\'Herblay。"

"Toaplaceofexilesodistant，Iwasgoingtosay，thathumanstrengthandthedurationofhumanlifewouldnotbeenoughforhisreturn。"

OncemoreacoldlookofintelligencepassedbetweenAramisandtheyoungking。

"AndM。duVallon？"askedPhilippeinordertochangetheconversation。

"Hewillbepresentedtoyouto—day，andconfidentiallywillcongratulateyouonthedangerwhichthatconspiratorhasmadeyourun。"

"Whatistobedonewithhim？"

"WithM。duVallon？"

"Yes;

conferadukedomonhim，Isuppose。"

"A

dukedom，"repliedAramis，smilinginasignificantmanner。

"Whydoyoulaugh，Monsieurd\'Herblay？"

"I

laughattheextremecautionofyouridea。"

"Cautious，whyso？"

"YourmajestyisdoubtlessafraidthatpoorPorthosmaypossiblebecomeatroublesomewitness，andyouwishtogetridofhim。"

"What！

inmakinghimaduke？"

"Certainly;

youwouldassuredlykillhim，forhewoulddiefromjoy，andthesecretwoulddiewithhim。"

"Goodheavens！"

"Yes，"

saidAramis，phlegmatically;"Ishouldloseaverygoodfriend。"

Atthismoment，andinthemiddleofthisidleconversation，underthelighttoneofwhichthetwoconspiratorsconcealedtheirjoyandprideattheirmutualsuccess，Aramisheardsomethingwhichmadehimprickuphisears。

"Whatisthat？"saidPhilippe。

"Thedawn，sire。"

"Well？"

"Well，beforeyouretiredtobedlastnight，youprobablydecidedtodosomethingthismorningatbreakofday。"

"Yes，Itoldmycaptainofthemusketeers，"repliedtheyoungmanhurriedly，"thatIshouldexpecthim。"

"Ifyoutoldhimthat，hewillcertainlybehere，forheisamostpunctualman。"

"I

hearastepinthevestibule。"

"Itmustbehe。"

"Come，letusbegintheattack，"saidtheyoungkingresolutely。

"BecautiousforHeaven\'ssake。？Tobegintheattack，andwithD\'Artagnan，wouldbemadness。？D\'Artagnanknowsnothing，hehasseennothing;heisahundredmilesfromsuspectingourmysteryintheslightestdegree，butifhecomesintothisroomthefirstthismorning，hewillbesuretodetectsomethingofwhathastakenplace，andwhichhewouldimagineithisbusinesstooccupyhimselfabout。？BeforeweallowD\'Artagnantopenetrateintothisroom，wemustairtheroomthoroughly，orintroducesomanypeopleintoit，thatthekeenestscentinthewholekingdommaybedeceivedbythetracesoftwentydifferentpersons。"

"ButhowcanIsendhimaway，sinceIhavegivenhimarendezvous？"observedtheprince，impatienttomeasureswordswithsoredoubtableanantagonist。

"I

willtakecareofthat，"repliedthebishop，"andinordertobegin，Iamgoingtostrikeablowwhichwillcompletelystupefyourman。"

"He，too，isstrikingablow，forIhearhimatthedoor，"addedtheprince，hurriedly。

And，infact，aknockatthedoorwasheardatthatmoment。？Aramiswasnotmistaken;foritwasindeedD\'Artagnanwhoadoptedthatmodeofannouncinghimself。

WehaveseenhowhepassedthenightinphilosophizingwithM。Fouquet，butthemusketeerwasverywearyevenoffeigningtofallasleep，andassoonasearliestdawnilluminedwithitsgloomygleamsoflightthesumptuouscornicesofthesuperintendent\'sroom，D\'Artagnanrosefromhisarmchair，arrangedhissword，brushedhiscoatandhatwithhissleeve，likeaprivatesoldiergettingreadyforinspection。

"Areyougoingout？"saidFouquet。

"Yes，monseigneur。？Andyou？"

"I

shallremain。"

"Youpledgeyourword？"

"Certainly。"

"Verygood。？Besides，myonlyreasonforgoingoutistotryandgetthatreply，—youknowwhatImean？"

"Thatsentence，youmean—"

"Stay，IhavesomethingoftheoldRomaninme。？Thismorning，whenIgotup，Iremarkedthatmyswordhadgotcaughtinoneoftheaiguillettes，andthatmyshoulder—belthadslippedquiteoff。？Thatisaninfalliblesign。"

"Ofprosperity？"

"Yes，besureofit;foreverytimethatthatconfoundedbeltofminestuckfasttomyback，italwayssignifiedapunishmentfromM。deTr関ille，orarefusalofmoneybyM。deMazarin。？Everytimemyswordhungfasttomyshoulder—belt，italwayspredictedsomedisagreeablecommissionoranotherformetoexecute，andIhavehadshowersofthemallmylifethrough。？Everytime，too，mysworddancedaboutinitssheath，aduel，fortunateinitsresult，wassuretofollow:wheneveritdangledaboutthecalvesofmylegs，itsignifiedaslightwound;everytimeitfellcompletelyoutofthescabbard，Iwasbooked，andmadeupmymindthatIshouldhavetoremainonthefieldofbattle，withtwoorthreemonthsundersurgicalbandagesintothebargain。"

"I

didnotknowyourswordkeptyousowellinformed，"saidFouquet，withafaintsmile，whichshowedhowhewasstrugglingagainsthisownweakness。？"Isyourswordbewitched，orundertheinfluenceofsomeimperialcharm？"

"Why，youmustknowthatmyswordmayalmostberegardedaspartofmyownbody。？Ihaveheardthatcertainmenseemtohavewarningsgiventhembyfeelingsomethingthematterwiththeirlegs，orathrobbingoftheirtemples。？Withme，itismyswordthatwarnsme。？Well，ittoldmeofnothingthismorning。？But，stayamoment—lookhere，ithasjustfallenofitsownaccordintothelastholeofthebelt。？Doyouknowwhatthatisawarningof？"

"No。"

"Well，thattellsmeofanarrestthatwillhavetobemadethisveryday。"

"Well，"

saidthesurintendant，moreastonishedthanannoyedbythisfrankness，"ifthereisnothingdisagreeablepredictedtoyoubyyoursword，Iamtoconcludethatitisnotdisagreeableforyoutoarrestme。"

"You！

arrestyou！"

"Ofcourse。？Thewarning—"

"Doesnotconcernyou，sinceyouhavebeenarrestedeversinceyesterday。？ItisnotyouIshallhavetoarrest，beassuredofthat。？ThatisthereasonwhyIamdelighted，andalsothereasonwhyIsaidthatmydaywillbeahappyone。"

Andwiththesewords，pronouncedwiththemostaffectionategraciousnessofmanner，thecaptaintookleaveofFouquetinordertowaitupontheking。？Hewasonthepointofleavingtheroom，whenFouquetsaidtohim，"Onelastmarkofkindness。"

"Whatisit，monseigneur？"

"M。

d\'Herblay;letmeseeMonsieurd\'Herblay。"

"Iamgoingtotryandgethimtocometoyou。"

D\'Artagnandidnotthinkhimselfsogoodaprophet。？Itwaswrittenthatthedaywouldpassawayandrealizeallthepredictionsthathadbeenmadeinthemorning。？Hehadaccordinglyknocked，aswehaveseen，attheking\'sdoor。？Thedooropened。？Thecaptainthoughtthatitwasthekingwhohadjustopenedithimself;andthissuppositionwasnotaltogetherinadmissible，consideringthestateofagitationinwhichhehadleftLouisXIV。thepreviousevening;butinsteadofhisroyalmaster，whomhewasonthepointofsalutingwiththegreatestrespect，heperceivedthelong，calmfeaturesofAramis。？Soextremewashissurprisethathecouldhardlyrefrainfromutteringaloudexclamation。？"Aramis！"hesaid。

"Goodmorning，dearD\'Artagnan，"repliedtheprelate，coldly。

"Youhere！"stammeredoutthemusketeer。

"Hismajestydesiresyoutoreportthatheisstillsleeping，afterhavingbeengreatlyfatiguedduringthewholenight。"

"Ah！"

saidD\'Artagnan，whocouldnotunderstandhowthebishopofVannes，whohadbeensoindifferentafavoritethepreviousevening，hadbecomeinhalfadozenhoursthemostmagnificentmushroomoffortunethathadeversprungupinasovereign\'sbedroom。？Infact，totransmittheordersofthekingeventothemerethresholdofthatmonarch\'sroom，toserveasanintermediaryofLouisXIV。soastobeabletogiveasingleorderinhisnameatacouplepacesfromhim，hemusthavebecomemorethanRichelieuhadeverbeentoLouisXIII。？D\'Artagnan\'sexpressiveeye，half—openedlips，hiscurlingmustache，saidasmuchindeedintheplainestlanguagetothechieffavorite，whoremainedcalmandperfectlyunmoved。

"Moreover，"

continuedthebishop，"youwillbegoodenough，monsieurlecapitainedesmousquetaires，toallowthoseonlytopassintotheking\'sroomthismorningwhohavespecialpermission。？Hismajestydoesnotwishtobedisturbedjustyet。"

"But，"

objectedD\'Artagnan，almostonthepointofrefusingtoobeythisorder，andparticularlyofgivingunrestrainedpassagetothesuspicionswhichtheking\'ssilencehadaroused—"but，monsieurl\'関阸ue，hismajestygavemearendezvousforthismorning。"

"Later，later，"saidtheking\'svoice，fromthebottomofthealcove;avoicewhichmadeacoldshudderpassthroughthemusketeer\'sveins。？Hebowed，amazed，confused，andstupefiedbythesmilewithwhichAramisseemedtooverwhelmhim，assoonasthesewordshadbeenpronounced。

"Andthen，"continuedthebishop，"asananswertowhatyouwerecomingtoasktheking，mydearD\'Artagnan，hereisanorderofhismajesty，whichyouwillbegoodenoughtoattendtoforthwith，foritconcernsM。Fouquet。"

D\'Artagnantooktheorderwhichwasheldouttohim。？"Tobesetatliberty！"hemurmured。？"Ah！"andheutteredasecond"ah！"stillmorefullofintelligencethantheformer;forthisorderexplainedAramis\'spresencewiththeking，andthatAramis，inordertohaveobtainedFouquet\'spardon，musthavemadeconsiderableprogressintheroyalfavor，andthatthisfavorexplained，initstenor，thehardlyconceivableassurancewithwhichM。

d\'Herblayissuedtheorderintheking\'sname。？ForD\'Artagnanitwasquitesufficienttohaveunderstoodsomethingofthematterinhandtoordertounderstandtherest。？Hebowedandwithdrewacoupleofpaces，asthoughhewereabouttoleave。

"Iamgoingwithyou，"saidthebishop。

"Whereto？"

"ToM。

Fouquet;Iwishtobeawitnessofhisdelight。"

"Ah！？Aramis，howyoupuzzledmejustnow！"

saidD\'Artagnanagain。

"Butyouunderstandnow，Isuppose？"

"OfcourseIunderstand，"hesaidaloud;butaddedinalowtonetohimself，almosthissingthewordsbetweenhisteeth，"No，no，Idonotunderstandyet。？Butitisallthesame，forhereistheorderforit。"？Andthenheadded，"Iwillleadtheway，monseigneur，"andheconductedAramistoFouquet\'sapartments。

ChapterXXI:

TheKing\'sFriend。

Fouquetwaswaitingwithanxiety;hehadalreadysentawaymanyofhisservantsandfriends，who，anticipatingtheusualhourofhisordinaryreceptions，hadcalledathisdoortoinquireafterhim。？Preservingtheutmostsilencerespectingthedangerwhichhungsuspendedbyahairabovehishead，heonlyaskedthem，ashedideveryone，indeed，whocametothedoor，whereAramiswas。？WhenhesawD\'Artagnanreturn，andwhenheperceivedthebishopofVannesbehindhim，hecouldhardlyrestrainhisdelight;itwasfullyequaltohispreviousuneasiness。？ThemeresightofAramiswasacompletecompensationtothesurintendantfortheunhappinesshehadundergoneinhisarrest。？Theprelatewassilentandgrave;D\'Artagnancompletelybewilderedbysuchanaccumulationofevents。

"Well，captain，soyouhavebroughtM。d\'Herblaytome。"

"Andsomethingbetterstill，monseigneur。"

"Whatisthat？"

"Liberty。"

"I

amfree！"

"Yes;

bytheking\'sorder。"

Fouquetresumedhisusualserenity，thathemightinterrogateAramiswithalook。

"Oh！

yes，youcanthankM。l\'関阸uedeVannes，"pursuedD\'Artagnan，"foritisindeedtohimthatyouowethechangethathastakenplaceintheking。"

"Oh！"

saidFouquet，morehumiliatedattheservicethangratefulatitssuccess。

"Butyou，"continuedD\'Artagnan，addressingAramis—"you，whohavebecomeM。Fouquet\'sprotectorandpatron，canyounotdosomethingforme？"

"Anythinginthewideworldyoulike，myfriend，"repliedthebishop，inhiscalmesttones。

"Onethingonly，then，andIshallbeperfectlysatisfied。？Howonearthdidyoumanagetobecomethefavoriteoftheking，youwhohaveneverspokentohimmorethantwiceinyourlife？"

"Fromafriendsuchasyouare，"saidAramis，"Icannotconcealanything。"

"Ah！

verygood，tellme，then。"

"Verywell。？YouthinkthatIhaveseenthekingonlytwice，whilstthefactisIhaveseenhimmorethanahundredtimes;

onlywehavekeptitverysecret，thatisall。"？AndwithouttryingtoremovethecolorwhichatthisrevelationmadeD\'Artagnan\'sfaceflushscarlet，AramisturnedtowardsM。Fouquet，whowasasmuchsurprisedasthemusketeer。？"Monseigneur，"heresumed，"thekingdesiresmetoinformyouthatheismorethaneveryourfriend，andthatyourbeautifulf阾e，sogenerouslyofferedbyyouonhisbehalf，hastouchedhimtotheveryheart。"

AndthereuponhesalutedM。Fouquetwithsomuchreverenceofmanner，thatthelatter，incapableofunderstandingamanwhosediplomacywasofsoprodigiousacharacter，remainedincapableofutteringasinglesyllable，andequallyincapableofthoughtormovement。？D\'Artagnanfanciedheperceivedthatthesetwomenhadsomethingtosaytoeachother，andhewasabouttoyieldtothatfeelingofinstinctivepolitenesswhichinsuchacasehurriesamantowardsthedoor，whenhefeelshispresenceisaninconvenienceforothers;buthiseagercuriosity，spurredonbysomanymysteries，counseledhimtoremain。

Aramisthereuponturnedtowardshim，andsaid，inaquiettone，"Youwillnotforget，myfriend，theking\'sorderrespectingthosewhomheintendstoreceivethismorningonrising。"？Thesewordswereclearenough，andthemusketeerunderstoodthem;hethereforebowedtoFouquet，andthentoAramis，—tothelatterwithaslightadmixtureofironicalrespect，—anddisappeared。

Nosoonerhadheleft，thanFouquet，whoseimpatiencehadhardlybeenabletowaitforthatmoment，dartedtowardsthedoortocloseit，andthenreturningtothebishop，hesaid，"MydearD\'Herblay，Ithinkitnowhightimeyoushouldexplainallthathaspassed，for，inplainandhonesttruth，Idonotunderstandanything。"

"Wewillexplainallthattoyou，"saidAramis，sittingdown，andmakingFouquetsitdownalso。？"WhereshallIbegin？"

"Withthisfirstofall。？Whydoesthekingsetmeatliberty？"

"Yououghtrathertoaskmewhathisreasonwasforhavingyouarrested。"

"Sincemyarrest，Ihavehadtimetothinkoverit，andmyideaisthatitarisesoutofsomeslightfeelingofjealousy。？Myf阾eputM。Colbertoutoftemper，andM。

Colbertdiscoveredsomecauseofcomplaintagainstme;Belle—Isle，forinstance。"

"No;

thereisnoquestionatalljustnowofBelle—Isle。"

"Whatisit，then？"

"DoyourememberthosereceiptsforthirteenmillionswhichM。deMazarincontrivedtostealfromyou？"

"Yes，ofcourse！"

"Well，youarepronouncedapublicrobber。"

"Goodheavens！"

"Oh！

thatisnotall。？DoyoualsorememberthatletteryouwrotetoLaValli鑢e？"

"Alas！

yes。"

"Andthatproclaimsyouatraitorandasuborner。"

"Whyshouldhehavepardonedme，then？"

"Wehavenotyetarrivedatthatpartofourargument。？Iwishyoutobequiteconvincedofthefactitself。？Observethiswell:thekingknowsyoutobeguiltyofanappropriationofpublicfunds。？Oh！ofcourseIknowthatyouhavedonenothingofthekind;but，atallevents，thekinghasseenthereceipts，andhecandonootherthanbelieveyouareincriminated。"

"I

begyourpardon，Idonotsee—"

"Youwillseepresently，though。？Theking，moreover，havingreadyourlove—lettertoLaValli鑢e，andtheoffersyoutheremadeher，cannotretainanydoubtofyourintentionswithregardtothatyounglady;youwilladmitthat，Isuppose？"

"Certainly。？Prayconclude。"

"Inthefewestwords。？Theking，wemayhenceforthassume，isyourpowerful，implacable，andeternalenemy。"

"Agreed。？ButamI，then，sopowerful，thathehasnotdaredtosacrificeme，notwithstandinghishatred，withallthemeanswhichmyweakness，ormymisfortunes，mayhavegivenhimasaholduponme？"

"Itisclear，beyondalldoubt，"pursuedAramis，coldly，"thatthekinghasquarreledwithyou—irreconcilably。"

"But，sincehehasabsolvedme—"

"Doyoubelieveitlikely？"askedthebishop，withasearchinglook。

"Withoutbelievinginhissincerity，Ibelieveitintheaccomplishedfact。"

Aramisslightlyshruggedhisshoulders。

"Butwhy，then，shouldLouisXIV。havecommissionedyoutotellmewhatyouhavejuststated？"

"Thekingchargedmewithnomessageforyou。"

"Withnothing！"saidthesuperintendent，stupefied。？"But，thatorder—"

"Oh！

yes。？Youarequiteright。？Thereisanorder，certainly;"andthesewordswerepronouncedbyAramisinsostrangeatone，thatFouquetcouldnotresiststarting。

"Youareconcealingsomethingfromme，Isee。？Whatisit？"

Aramissoftlyrubbedhiswhitefingersoverhischin，butsaidnothing。