下载辰思小说免费APP
D\'Artagnanremainedforaninstantstupefied;butsoon，reflectingthatAramishadleftVauxprivatelyonamissionfromtheking，heconcludedthatthekingwishedtopreservethesecret。？"Sire，"
repliedhe，"doesyourmajestyabsolutelyrequireM。d\'Herblaytobebroughttoyou？"
"Absolutelyisnottheword，"saidPhilippe;"Idonotwanthimsoparticularlyasthat;butifhecanbefound—"
"Ithoughtso，"
saidD\'Artagnantohimself。
"IsthisM。d\'HerblaythebishopofVannes？"
"Yes，madame。"
"A
friendofM。Fouquet？"
"Yes，madame;anoldmusketeer。"
AnneofAustriablushed。
"Oneofthefourbraveswhoformerlyperformedsuchprodigies。"
Theoldqueenrepentedofhavingwishedtobite;shebrokeofftheconversation，inordertopreservetherestofherteeth。？"Whatevermaybeyourchoice，sire，"saidshe，"Ihavenodoubtitwillbeexcellent。"
Allbowedinsupportofthatsentiment。
"Youwillfindinhim，"continuedPhilippe，"thedepthandpenetrationofM。deRichelieu，withouttheavariceofM。deMazarin！"
"A
primeminister，sire？"saidMonsieur，inafright。
"I
willtellyouallaboutthat，brother;butitisstrangethatM。d\'Herblayisnothere！"
Hecalledout:
"LetM。FouquetbeinformedthatIwishtospeaktohim—oh！beforeyou，beforeyou;donotretire！"
M。
deSaint—Aignanreturned，bringingsatisfactorynewsofthequeen，whoonlykeptherbedfromprecaution，andtohavestrengthtocarryouttheking\'swishes。？WhilsteverybodywasseekingM。
FouquetandAramis，thenewkingquietlycontinuedhisexperiments，andeverybody，family，officers，servants，hadnottheleastsuspicionofhisidentity，hisair，hisvoice，andmannersweresoliketheking\'s。？Onhisside，Philippe，applyingtoallcountenancestheaccuratedescriptionsandkey—notesofcharactersuppliedbyhisaccompliceAramis，conductedhimselfsoasnottogivebirthtoadoubtinthemindsofthosewhosurroundedhim。？Nothingfromthattimecoulddisturbtheusurper。？WithwhatstrangefacilityhadProvidencejustreversedtheloftiestfortuneoftheworldtosubstitutethelowliestinitsstead！？PhilippeadmiredthegoodnessofGodwithregardtohimself，andsecondeditwithalltheresourcesofhisadmirablenature。？Buthefelt，attimes，somethinglikeaspecterglidingbetweenhimandtheraysofhisnewglory。？Aramisdidnotappear。？Theconversationhadlanguishedintheroyalfamily;Philippe，preoccupied，forgottodismisshisbrotherandMadameHenrietta。？Thelatterwereastonished，andbegan，bydegrees，toloseallpatience。？AnneofAustriastoopedtowardsherson\'searandaddressedsomewordstohiminSpanish。？Philippewascompletelyignorantofthatlanguage，andgrewpaleatthisunexpectedobstacle。？But，asifthespiritoftheimperturbableAramishadcoveredhimwithhisinfallibility，insteadofappearingdisconcerted，Philipperose。？"Well！what？"saidAnneofAustria。
"Whatisallthatnoise？"saidPhilippe，turningroundtowardsthedoorofthesecondstaircase。
Andavoicewasheardsaying，"Thisway，thisway！？Afewstepsmore，sire！"
"ThevoiceofM。Fouquet，"saidD\'Artagnan，whowasstandingclosetothequeen—mother。
"ThenM。d\'Herblaycannotbefaroff，"addedPhilippe。
Buthethensawwhathelittlethoughttohavebeheldsoneartohim。？AlleyeswereturnedtowardsthedooratwhichM。Fouquetwasexpectedtoenter;butitwasnotM。Fouquetwhoentered。？Aterriblecryresoundedfromallcornersofthechamber，apainfulcryutteredbythekingandallpresent。？Itisgiventobutfewmen，eventhosewhosedestinycontainsthestrangestelements，andaccidentsthemostwonderful，tocontemplatesuchaspectaclesimilartothatwhichpresenteditselfintheroyalchamberatthatmoment。？Thehalf—closedshuttersonlyadmittedtheentranceofanuncertainlightpassingthroughthickvioletvelvetcurtainslinedwithsilk。？Inthissoftshade，theeyeswerebydegreesdilated，andeveryonepresentsawothersratherwithimaginationthanwithactualsight。？Therecouldnot，however，escape，inthesecircumstances，oneofthesurroundingdetails;andthenewobjectwhichpresenteditselfappearedasluminousasthoughitshoneoutinfullsunlight。？SoithappenedwithLouisXIV。，whenheshowedhimself，paleandfrowning，inthedoorwayofthesecretstairs。？ThefaceofFouquetappearedbehindhim，stampedwithsorrowanddetermination。？Thequeen—mother，whoperceivedLouisXIV。，andwhoheldthehandofPhilippe，utteredacryofwhichwehavespoken，asifshebeheldaphantom。？Monsieurwasbewildered，andkeptturninghisheadinastonishmentfromonetotheother。？Madamemadeastepforward，thinkingshewaslookingattheformofherbrother—in—lawreflectedinamirror。？And，infact，theillusionwaspossible。？Thetwoprinces，bothpaleasdeath—forwerenouncethehopeofbeingabletodescribethefearfulstateofPhilippe—trembling，clenchingtheirhandsconvulsively，measuredeachotherwithlooks，anddartedtheirglances，sharpasponiards，ateachother。？Silent，panting，bendingforward，theyappearedasifabouttospringuponanenemy。？Theunheard—ofresemblanceofcountenance，gesture，shape，height，eventotheresemblanceofcostume，producedbychance—forLouisXIV。hadbeentotheLouvreandputonaviolet—coloreddress—theperfectanalogyofthetwoprinces，completedtheconsternationofAnneofAustria。？Andyetshedidnotatonceguessthetruth。？Therearemisfortunesinlifesotrulydreadfulthatnoonewillatfirstacceptthem;peopleratherbelieveinthesupernaturalandtheimpossible。？Louishadnotreckonedontheseobstacles。？Heexpectedthathehadonlytoappeartobeacknowledged。？Alivingsun，hecouldnotendurethesuspicionofequalitywithanyone。？Hedidnotadmitthateverytorchshouldnotbecomedarknessattheinstantheshoneoutwithhisconqueringray。？AttheaspectofPhilippe，then，hewasperhapsmoreterrifiedthananyoneroundhim，andhissilence，hisimmobilitywere，thistime，aconcentrationandacalmwhichprecedetheviolentexplosionsofconcentratedpassion。
ButFouquet！whoshallpainthisemotionandstuporinpresenceofthislivingportraitofhismaster！？FouquetthoughtAramiswasright，thatthisnewly—arrivedwasakingaspureinhisraceastheother，andthat，forhavingrepudiatedallparticipationinthiscoupd\'閠at，soskillfullygotupbytheGeneraloftheJesuits，hemustbeamadenthusiast，unworthyofeverdippinghishandsinpoliticalgrandstrategywork。？AndthenitwasthebloodofLouisXIII。whichFouquetwassacrificingtothebloodofLouisXIII。;itwastoaselfishambitionhewassacrificinganobleambition;totherightofkeepinghesacrificedtherightofhaving。？Thewholeextentofhisfaultwasrevealedtohimatsimplesightofthepretender。？AllthatpassedinthemindofFouquetwaslostuponthepersonspresent。？Hehadfiveminutestofocusmeditationonthispointofconscience;fiveminutes，thatistosayfiveages，duringwhichthetwokingsandtheirfamilyscarcelyfoundenergytobreatheaftersoterribleashock。？D\'Artagnan，leaningagainstthewall，infrontofFouquet，withhishandtohisbrow，askedhimselfthecauseofsuchawonderfulprodigy。？Hecouldnothavesaidatoncewhyhedoubted，butheknewassuredlythathehadreasontodoubt，andthatinthismeetingofthetwoLouisXIV。slayallthedoubtanddifficultythatduringlatedayshadrenderedtheconductofAramissosuspicioustothemusketeer。？Theseideaswere，however，envelopedinahaze，aveilofmystery。？Theactorsinthisassemblyseemedtoswiminthevaporsofaconfusedwaking。？SuddenlyLouisXIV。，moreimpatientandmoreaccustomedtocommand，rantooneoftheshutters，whichheopened，tearingthecurtainsinhiseagerness。？Afloodoflivinglightenteredthechamber，andmadePhilippedrawbacktothealcove。？Louisseizeduponthismovementwitheagerness，andaddressinghimselftothequeen:
"Mymother，"saidhe，"doyounotacknowledgeyourson，sinceeveryoneherehasforgottenhisking！"？AnneofAustriastarted，andraisedherarmstowardsHeaven，withoutbeingabletoarticulateasingleword。
"Mymother，"saidPhilippe，witha？calmvoice，"doyounotacknowledgeyourson？"？Andthistime，inhisturn，Louisdrewback。
AstoAnneofAustria，strucksuddenlyinheadandheartwithfellremorse，shelostherequilibrium。？Nooneaidingher，forallwerepetrified，shesankbackinherfauteuil，breathingaweak，tremblingsigh。？Louiscouldnotendurethespectacleandtheaffront。？HeboundedtowardsD\'Artagnan，overwhosebrainavertigowasstealingandwhostaggeredashecaughtatthedoorforsupport。
"Amoi！mousquetaire！"saidhe。？"Lookusinthefaceandsaywhichisthepaler，heorI！"
ThiscryrousedD\'Artagnan，andstirredinhisheartthefibersofobedience。？Heshookhishead，and，withoutmorehesitation，hewalkedstraightuptoPhilippe，onwhoseshoulderhelaidhishand，saying，"Monsieur，youaremyprisoner！"
PhilippedidnotraisehiseyestowardsHeaven，norstirfromthespot，whereheseemednailedtothefloor，hiseyeintentlyfixeduponthekinghisbrother。？Hereproachedhimwithasublimesilenceforallmisfortunespast，alltorturestocome。？Againstthislanguageofthesoulthekingfelthehadnopower;hecastdownhiseyes，draggingawayprecipitatelyhisbrotherandsister，forgettinghismother，sittingmotionlesswithinthreepacesofthesonwhomsheleftasecondtimetobecondemnedtodeath。？PhilippeapproachedAnneofAustria，andsaidtoher，inasoftandnoblyagitatedvoice:
"IfIwerenotyourson，Ishouldcurseyou，mymother，forhavingrenderedmesounhappy。"
D\'Artagnanfeltashudderpassthroughthemarrowofhisbones。？Hebowedrespectfullytotheyoungprince，andsaidashebent，"Excuseme，monseigneur，Iambutasoldier，andmyoathsarehiswhohasjustleftthechamber。"
"Thankyou，M。d\'Artagnan？？WhathasbecomeofM。d\'Herblay？"
"M。
d\'Herblayisinsafety，monseigneur，"saidavoicebehindthem;"andnoone，whileIliveandamfree，shallcauseahairtofallfromhishead。"
"MonsieurFouquet！"saidtheprince，smilingsadly。
"Pardonme，monseigneur，"saidFouquet，kneeling，"buthewhoisjustgoneoutfromhencewasmyguest。"
"Hereare，"murmuredPhilippe，witha？sigh，"bravefriendsandgoodhearts。？Theymakemeregrettheworld。？On，M。d\'Artagnan，Ifollowyou。"
Atthemomentthecaptainofthemusketeerswasabouttoleavetheroomwithhisprisoner，Colbertappeared，and，afterremittinganorderfromthekingtoD\'Artagnan，retired。？D\'Artagnanreadthepaper，andthencrusheditinhishandwithrage。
"Whatisit？"askedtheprince。
"Read，monseigneur，"repliedthemusketeer。
Philippereadthefollowingwords，hastilytracedbythehandoftheking:
"M。d\'Artagnanwillconducttheprisonertothe蝜eSainte—Marguerite。？Hewillcoverhisfacewithanironvizor，whichtheprisonershallneverraiseexceptatperilofhislife。"
"Thatisjust，"saidPhilippe，withresignation;"Iamready。"
"Aramiswasright，"saidFouquet，inalowvoice，tothemusketeer，"thisoneiseverywhitasmuchakingastheother。"
"Moreso！"repliedD\'Artagnan。？"Hewantedonlyyouandme。"
ChapterXXV:
InWhichPorthosThinksHeIsPursuingaDuchy。
AramisandPorthos，havingprofitedbythetimegrantedthembyFouquet，didhonortotheFrenchcavalrybytheirspeed。？Porthosdidnotclearlyunderstandonwhatkindofmissionhewasforcedtodisplaysomuchvelocity;butashesawAramisspurringonfuriously，he，Porthos，spurredoninthesameway。？Theyhadsoon，inthismanner，placedtwelveleaguesbetweenthemandVaux;theywerethenobligedtochangehorses，andorganizeasortofpostarrangement。？ItwasduringarelaythatPorthosventuredtointerrogateAramisdiscreetly。
"Hush！"
repliedthelatter，"knowonlythatourfortunedependsonourspeed。"
AsifPorthoshadstillbeenthemusketeer，withoutasouoramailleof1626，hepushedforward。？Thatmagicword"fortune"alwaysmeanssomethinginthehumanear。？Itmeansenoughforthosewhohavenothing;itmeanstoomuchforthosewhohaveenough。
"I
shallbemadeaduke！"saidPorthos，aloud。？Hewasspeakingtohimself。
"Thatispossible，"repliedAramis，smilingafterhisownfashion，asPorthos\'shorsepassedhim。？Aramisfelt，notwithstanding，asthoughhisbrainwereonfire;theactivityofthebodyhadnotyetsucceededinsubduingthatofthemind。？Allthereisofragingpassion，mentaltoothacheormortalthreat，raged，gnawedandgrumbledinthethoughtsoftheunhappyprelate。？Hiscountenanceexhibitedvisibletracesofthisrudecombat。？Freeonthehighwaytoabandonhimselftoeveryimpressionofthemoment，Aramisdidnotfailtoswearateverystartofhishorse，ateveryinequalityintheroad。？Pale，attimesinundatedwithboilingsweats，thenagaindryandicy，hefloggedhishorsestillthebloodstreamedfromtheirsides。？Porthos，whosedominantfaultwasnotsensibility，groanedatthis。？Thustraveledtheyonforeightlonghours，andthenarrivedatOrl閍ns。？Itwasfouro\'clockintheafternoon。？Aramis，onobservingthis，judgedthatnothingshowedpursuittobeapossibility。？ItwouldbewithoutexamplethatatroopcapableoftakinghimandPorthosshouldbefurnishedwithrelayssufficienttoperformfortyleaguesineighthours。？Thus，admittingpursuit，whichwasnotatallmanifest，thefugitiveswerefivehoursinadvanceoftheirpursuers。
Aramisthoughtthattheremightbenoimprudenceintakingalittlerest，butthattocontinuewouldmakethemattermorecertain。？Twentyleaguesmore，performedwiththesamerapidity，twentymoreleaguesdevoured，andnoone，notevenD\'Artagnan，couldovertaketheenemiesoftheking。？Aramisfeltobliged，therefore，toinflictuponPorthosthepainofmountingonhorsebackagain。？Theyrodeontillseveno\'clockintheevening，andhadonlyonepostmorebetweenthemandBlois。？ButhereadiabolicalaccidentalarmedAramisgreatly。？Therewerenohorsesatthepost。？Theprelateaskedhimselfbywhatinfernalmachinationhisenemieshadsucceededindeprivinghimofthemeansofgoingfurther，—hewhoneverrecognizedchanceasadeity，whofoundacauseforeveryaccident，preferredbelievingthattherefusalofthepostmaster，atsuchanhour，insuchacountry，wastheconsequenceofanorderemanatingfromabove:anordergivenwithaviewofstoppingshorttheking—makerinthemidstofhisflight。？Butatthemomenthewasabouttoflyintoapassion，soastoprocureeitherahorseoranexplanation，hewasstruckwiththerecollectionthattheComtedelaF鑢elivedintheneighborhood。
"I
amnottraveling，"saidhe;"Idonotwanthorsesforawholestage。？Findmetwohorsestogoandpayavisittoanoblemanofmyacquaintancewhoresidesnearthisplace。"
"Whatnobleman？"askedthepostmaster。
"M。
leComtedelaF鑢e。"
"Oh！"
repliedthepostmaster，uncoveringwithrespect，"averyworthynobleman。？But，whatevermaybemydesiretomakemyselfagreeabletohim，Icannotfurnishyouwithhorses，forallmineareengagedbyM。leDucdeBeaufort。"
"Indeed！"
saidAramis，muchdisappointed。
"Only，"
continuedthepostmaster，"ifyouwillputupwithalittlecarriageI
have，Iwillharnessanoldblindhorsewhohasstillhislegsleft，andperadventurewilldrawyoutothehouseofM。leComtedelaF鑢e。"
"Itisworthalouis，"saidAramis。
"No，monsieur，sucharideisworthnomorethanacrown;thatiswhatM。Grimaud，thecomte\'sintendant，alwayspaysmewhenhemakesuseofthatcarriage;andI
shouldnotwishtheComtedelaF鑢etohavetoreproachmewithhavingimposedononeofhisfriends。"
"Asyouplease，"saidAramis，"particularlyasregardsdisobligingtheComtedelaF鑢e;onlyIthinkIhavearighttogiveyoualouisforyouridea。"
"Oh！
doubtless，"repliedthepostmasterwithdelight。？Andhehimselfharnessedtheancienthorsetothecreakingcarriage。？InthemeantimePorthoswascurioustobehold。？Heimaginedhehaddiscoveredaclewtothesecret，andhefeltpleased，becauseavisittoAthos，inthefirstplace，promisedhimmuchsatisfaction，and，inthenext，gavehimthehopeoffindingatthesametimeagoodbedandgoodsupper。？Themaster，havinggotthecarriageready，orderedoneofhismentodrivethestrangerstoLaF鑢e。？PorthostookhisseatbythesideofAramis，whisperinginhisear，"Iunderstand。"
"Aha！"
saidAramis，"andwhatdoyouunderstand，myfriend？"
"Wearegoing，onthepartoftheking，tomakesomegreatproposaltoAthos。"
"Pooh！"
saidAramis。
"Youneedtellmenothingaboutit，"addedtheworthyPorthos，endeavoringtoreseathimselfsoastoavoidthejolting，"youneedtellmenothing，I
shallguess。"
"Well！
do，myfriend;guessaway。"
TheyarrivedatAthos\'sdwellingaboutnineo\'clockintheevening，favoredbyasplendidmoon。？ThischeerfullightrejoicedPorthosbeyondexpression;butAramisappearedannoyedbyitinanequaldegree。？HecouldnothelpshowingsomethingofthistoPorthos，whoreplied—"Ay！ay！？Iguesshowitis！themissionisasecretone。"
Thesewerehislastwordsinthecarriage。？Thedriverinterruptedhimbysaying，"Gentlemen，wehavearrived。"
Porthosandhiscompanionalightedbeforethegateofthelittlech鈚eau，whereweareabouttomeetagainouroldacquaintancesAthosandBragelonne，thelatterofwhomhaddisappearedsincethediscoveryoftheinfidelityofLaValli鑢e。？Iftherebeonesayingtruerthananother，itisthis:greatgriefscontainwithinthemselvesthegermofconsolation。？Thispainfulwound，inflicteduponRaoul，haddrawnhimnearertohisfatheragain;andGodknowshowsweetweretheconsolationswhichflowedfromtheeloquentmouthandgenerousheartofAthos。？Thewoundwasnotcicatrized，butAthos，bydintofconversingwithhissonandmixingalittlemoreofhislifewiththatoftheyoungman，hadbroughthimtounderstandthatthispangofafirstinfidelityisnecessarytoeveryhumanexistence;andthatnoonehaslovedwithoutencounteringit。？Raoullistened，againandagain，butneverunderstood。？Nothingreplacesinthedeeplyafflictedhearttheremembranceandthoughtofthebelovedobject。？Raoulthenrepliedtothereasoningofhisfather:
"Monsieur，allthatyoutellmeistrue;Ibelievethatnoonehassufferedintheaffectionsoftheheartsomuchasyouhave;butyouareamantoogreatbyreasonofintelligence，andtooseverelytriedbyadversefortunenottoallowfortheweaknessofthesoldierwhosuffersforthefirsttime。？Iampayingatributethatwillnotbepaidasecondtime;permitmetoplungemyselfsodeeplyinmygriefthatImayforgetmyselfinit，thatImaydrownevenmyreasoninit。"
"Raoul！？Raoul！"
"Listen，monsieur。？NevershallIaccustommyselftotheideathatLouise，thechastestandmostinnocentofwomen，hasbeenabletosobaselydeceiveamansohonestandsotruealoverasmyself。？NevercanIpersuademyselfthatIseethatsweetandnoblemaskchangeintoahypocriticallasciviousface。？Louiselost！？Louiseinfamous！？Ah！
monseigneur，thatideaismuchmorecrueltomethanRaoulabandoned—Raoulunhappy！"
Athosthenemployedtheheroicremedy。？HedefendedLouiseagainstRaoul，andjustifiedherperfidybyherlove。？"Awomanwhowouldhaveyieldedtoakingbecauseheisaking，"saidhe，"woulddeservetobestyledinfamous;
butLouiselovesLouis。？Young，both，theyhaveforgotten，hehisrank，shehervows。？Loveabsolveseverything，Raoul。？Thetwoyoungpeopleloveeachotherwithsincerity。"
Andwhenhehaddealtthissevereponiard—thrust，Athos，withasigh，sawRaoulboundawaybeneaththeranklingwound，andflytothethickestrecessesofthewood，orthesolitudeofhischamber，whence，anhourafter，hewouldreturn，pale，trembling，butsubdued。？Then，cominguptoAthoswithasmile，hewouldkisshishand，likethedogwho，havingbeenbeaten，caressesarespectedmaster，toredeemhisfault。？Raoulredeemednothingbuthisweakness，andonlyconfessedhisgrief。？ThuspassedawaythedaysthatfollowedthatsceneinwhichAthoshadsoviolentlyshakentheindomitableprideoftheking。？Never，whenconversingwithhisson，didhemakeanyallusiontothatscene;neverdidhegivehimthedetailsofthatvigorouslecture，whichmight，perhaps，haveconsoledtheyoungman，byshowinghimhisrivalhumbled。？Athosdidnotwishthattheoffendedlovershouldforgettherespectduetohisking。？AndwhenBragelonne，ardent，angry，andmelancholy，spokewithcontemptofroyalwords，oftheequivocalfaithwhichcertainmadmendrawfrompromisesthatemanatefromthrones，when，passingovertwocenturies，withthatrapidityofabirdthattraversesanarrowstraittogofromonecontinenttotheother，Raoulventuredtopredictthetimeinwhichkingswouldbeesteemedaslessthanothermen，Athossaidtohim，inhisserene，persuasivevoice，"Youareright，Raoul;allthatyousaywillhappen;kingswilllosetheirprivileges，asstarswhichhavesurvivedtheir鎜nslosetheirsplendor。？Butwhenthatmomentcomes，Raoul，weshallbedead。？AndrememberwellwhatIsaytoyou。？Inthisworld，all，men，women，andkings，mustliveforthepresent。？WecanonlyliveforthefutureforGod。"
ThiswasthemannerinwhichAthosandRaoulwere，asusual，conversing，andwalkingbackwardsandforwardsinthelongalleyoflimesinthepark，whenthebellwhichservedtoannouncetothecomteeitherthehourofdinnerorthearrivalofavisitor，wasrung;and，withoutattachinganyimportancetoit，heturnedtowardsthehousewithhisson;andattheendofthealleytheyfoundthemselvesinthepresenceofAramisandPorthos。
ChapterXXVI:
TheLastAdieux。
Raoulutteredacry，andaffectionatelyembracedPorthos。？AramisandAthosembracedlikeoldmen;andthisembraceitselfbeingaquestionforAramis，heimmediatelysaid，"Myfriend，wehavenotlongtoremainwithyou。"
"Ah！"
saidthecomte。
"Onlytimetotellyouofmygoodfortune，"interruptedPorthos。
"Ah！"
saidRaoul。
AthoslookedsilentlyatAramis，whosesomberairhadalreadyappearedtohimverylittleinharmonywiththegoodnewsPorthoshinted。
"Whatisthegoodfortunethathashappenedtoyou？？Letushearit，"saidRaoul，withasmile。
"Thekinghasmademeaduke，"saidtheworthyPorthos，withanairofmystery，intheearoftheyoungman，"adukebybrevet。"
ButtheasidesofPorthoswerealwaysloudenoughtobeheardbyeverybody。？Hismurmurswereinthediapasonofordinaryroaring。？Athosheardhim，andutteredanexclamationwhichmadeAramisstart。？ThelattertookAthosbythearm，and，afterhavingaskedPorthos\'spermissiontosayawordtohisfriendinprivate，"MydearAthos，"hebegan，"youseemeoverwhelmedwithgriefandtrouble。"
"Withgriefandtrouble，mydearfriend？"criedthecomte;"oh，what？"
"Intwowords。？Ihaveconspiredagainsttheking;thatconspiracyhasfailed，and，atthismoment，Iamdoubtlesspursued。"
"Youarepursued！—aconspiracy！？Eh！myfriend，whatdoyoutellme？"
"Thesaddesttruth。？Iamentirelyruined。"
"Well，butPorthos—thistitleofduke—whatdoesallthatmean？"
"Thatisthesubjectofmyseverestpain;thatisthedeepestofmywounds。？Ihave，believingininfalliblesuccess，drawnPorthosintomyconspiracy。？Hethrewhimselfintoit，asyouknowhewoulddo，withallhisstrength，withoutknowingwhathewasabout;andnowheisasmuchcompromisedasmyself—ascompletelyruinedasIam。"
"GoodGod！"？AndAthosturnedtowardsPorthos，whowassmilingcomplacently。
"I
mustmakeyouacquaintedwiththewhole。？Listentome，"continuedAramis;andherelatedthehistoryasweknowit。？Athos，duringtherecital，severaltimesfeltthesweatbreakfromhisforehead。？"Itwasagreatidea，"saidhe，"butagreaterror。"
"ForwhichIampunished，Athos。"
"Therefore，Iwillnottellyoumyentirethought。"
"Tellit，nevertheless。"
"Itisacrime。"
"A
capitalcrime;Iknowitis。？L閟emajest？。"
"Porthos！
poorPorthos！"
"Whatwouldyouadvisemetodo？？Success，asIhavetoldyou，wascertain。"
"M。
Fouquetisanhonestman。"
"AndIafoolforhavingsoill—judgedhim，"saidAramis。？"Oh，thewisdomofman！？Oh，millstonethatgrindstheworld！andwhichisonedaystoppedbyagrainofsandwhichhasfallen，nooneknowshow，betweenitswheels。"
"Saybyadiamond，Aramis。？Butthethingisdone。？Howdoyouthinkofacting？"
"I
amtakingawayPorthos。？Thekingwillneverbelievethatthatworthymanhasactedinnocently。？HenevercanbelievethatPorthoshasthoughthewasservingtheking，whilstactingashehasdone。？Hisheadwouldpaymyfault。？Itshallnot，mustnot，beso。"
