\"Goandmeetyourmen，\"saidAramistoBaisemeaux。
Thegovernorobeyed。？Thesergeantandturnkeysdisappeared。？Baisemeauxre—entered，followedbyaprisoner。？Aramishadplacedhimselfintheshade;hesawwithoutbeingseen。？Baisemeaux，inanagitatedtoneofvoice，madetheyoungmanacquaintedwiththeorderwhichsethimatliberty。？Theprisonerlistened，withoutmakingasinglegestureorsayingaword。\"
\"Youwillswear（\'tistheregulationthatrequiresit），\"addedthegovernor，\"nevertorevealanythingthatyouhaveseenorheardintheBastile。\"
Theprisonerperceivedacrucifix;hestretchedouthishandsandsworewithhislips。？\"Andnow，monsieur，youarefree。？Whitherdoyouintendgoing？\"
Theprisonerturnedhishead，asiflookingbehindhimforsomeprotection，onwhichheoughttorely。？ThenwasitthatAramiscameoutoftheshade:\"Iamhere，\"hesaid，\"torenderthegentlemanwhateverservicehemaypleasetoask。\"
Theprisonerslightlyreddened，and，withouthesitation，passedhisarmthroughthatofAramis。？\"Godhaveyouinhisholykeeping，\"hesaid，inavoicethefirmnessofwhichmadethegovernortrembleasmuchastheformoftheblessingastonishedhim。
Aramis，onshakinghandswithBaisemeaux，saidtohim;\"Doesmyordertroubleyou？？Doyoufeartheirfindingithere，shouldtheycometosearch？\"
\"I
desiretokeepit，monseigneur，\"saidBaisemeaux。？\"Iftheyfoundithere，itwouldbeacertainindicationIshouldbelost，andinthatcaseyouwouldbeapowerfulandalastauxiliaryforme。\"
\"Beingyouraccomplice，youmean？\"answeredAramis，shrugginghisshoulders。？\"Adieu，Baisemeaux，\"saidhe。
Thehorseswereinwaiting，makingeachrustyspringreverberatethecarriageagainwiththeirimpatience。？Baisemeauxaccompaniedthebishoptothebottomofthesteps。？Aramiscausedhiscompaniontomountbeforehim，thenfollowed，andwithoutgivingthedriveranyfurtherorder，\"Goon，\"saidhe。？Thecarriagerattledoverthepavementofthecourtyard。？Anofficerwithatorchwentbeforethehorses，andgaveordersateveryposttoletthempass。？Duringthetimetakeninopeningallthebarriers，Aramisbarelybreathed，andyoumighthaveheardhis\"sealedheartknockagainsthisribs。\"？Theprisoner，buriedinacornerofthecarriage，madenomoresignoflifethanhiscompanion。？Atlength，ajoltmoreseverthantheothersannouncedtothemthattheyhadclearedthelastwatercourse。？Behindthecarriageclosedthelastgate，thatintheRueSt。Antoine。？Nomorewallseitherontherightortheleft;heaveneverywhere，libertyeverywhere，andlifeeverywhere。？Thehorses，keptincheckbyavigoroushand，wentquietlyasfarasthemiddleofthefaubourg。？Theretheybegantotrot。？Littlebylittle，whethertheywerewarmingtotheirwork，orwhethertheywereurged，theygainedinswiftness，andoncepastBercy，thecarriageseemedtofly，sogreatwastheardorofthecoursers。？ThehorsesgallopedthusasfarasVilleneuveSt。George\'s，whererelayswerewaiting。？ThenfourinsteadoftwowhirledthecarriageawayinthedirectionofMelun，andpulledupforamomentinthemiddleoftheforestofSenart。？Nodoubttheorderhadbeengiventhepostilionbeforehand，forAramishadnooccasioneventomakeasign。
\"Whatisthematter？\"askedtheprisoner，asifwakingfromalongdream。
\"Thematteris，monseigneur，\"saidAramis，\"thatbeforegoingfurther，itisnecessaryyourroyalhighnessandIshouldconverse。\"
\"I
willawaitanopportunity，monsieur，\"answeredtheyoungprince。
\"Wecouldnothaveabetter，monseigneur。？Weareinthemiddleofaforest，andnoonecanhearus。\"
\"Thepostilion？\"
\"Thepostilionofthisrelayisdeafanddumb，monseigneur。\"
\"I
amatyourservice，M。d\'Herblay。\"
\"Isityourpleasuretoremaininthecarriage？\"
\"Yes;
wearecomfortablyseated，andIlikethiscarriage，forithasrestoredmetoliberty。\"
\"Wait，monseigneur;thereisyetaprecautiontobetaken。\"
\"What？\"
\"Wearehereonthehighway;cavaliersorcarriagestravelinglikeourselvesmightpass，andseeingusstopping，deemusinsomedifficulty。？Letusavoidoffersofassistance，whichwouldembarrassus。\"
\"Givethepostilionorderstoconcealthecarriageinoneofthesideavenues。\"
\"\'TisexactlywhatIwishedtodo，monseigneur。\"
Aramismadeasigntothedeafanddumbdriverofthecarriage，whomhetouchedonthearm。？Thelatterdismounted，tooktheleadersbythebridle，andledthemoverthevelvetswardandthemossygrassofawindingalley，atthebottomofwhich，onthismoonlessnight，thedeepshadesformedacurtainblackerthanink。？Thisdone，themanlaydownonaslopenearhishorses，who，oneitherside，keptnibblingtheyoungoakshoots。
\"I
amlistening，\"saidtheyoungprincetoAramis;\"butwhatareyoudoingthere？\"
\"I
amdisarmingmyselfofmypistols，ofwhichwehavenofurtherneed，monseigneur。\"
ChapterIX:
TheTempter。
\"Myprince，\"saidAramis，turninginthecarriagetowardshiscompanion，\"weakcreatureasIam，sounpretendingingenius，solowinthescaleofintelligentbeings，ithasneveryethappenedtometoconversewithamanwithoutpenetratinghisthoughtsthroughthatlivingmaskwhichhasbeenthrownoverourmind，inordertoretainitsexpression。？Butto—night，inthisdarkness，inthereservewhichyoumaintain，Icanreadnothingonyourfeatures，andsomethingtellsmethatIshallhavegreatdifficultyinwrestingfromyouasinceredeclaration。？Ibeseechyou，then，notforloveofme，forsubjectsshouldneverweighasanythinginthebalancewhichprinceshold，butforloveofyourself，toretaineverysyllable，everyinflexionwhich，underthepresentmostgravecircumstances，willallhaveasenseandvalueasimportantasanyeveryutteredintheworld。\"
\"I
listen，\"repliedtheyoungprince，\"decidedly，withouteithereagerlyseekingorfearinganythingyouareabouttosaytome。\"？Andheburiedhimselfstilldeeperinthethickcushionsofthecarriage，tryingtodeprivehiscompanionnotonlyofthesightofhim，butevenoftheveryideaofhispresence。
Blackwasthedarknesswhichfellwideanddensefromthesummitsoftheintertwiningtrees。？Thecarriage，coveredinbythisprodigiousroof，wouldnothavereceivedaparticleoflight，notevenifaraycouldhavestruggledthroughthewreathsofmistthatwerealreadyrisingintheavenue。
\"Monseigneur，\"
resumedAramis，\"youknowthehistoryofthegovernmentwhichto—daycontrolsFrance。？Thekingissuedfromaninfancyimprisonedlikeyours，obscureasyours，andconfinedasyours;
only，insteadofending，likeyourself，thisslaveryinaprison，thisobscurityinsolitude，thesestraightenedcircumstancesinconcealment，hewasfaintobearallthesemiseries，humiliations，anddistresses，infulldaylight，underthepitilesssunofroyalty;onanelevationfloodedwithlight，whereeverystainappearsablemish，everygloryastain。？Thekinghassuffered;itranklesinhismind;andhewillavengehimself。？Hewillbeabadking。？Isaynotthathewillpourouthispeople\'sblood，likeLouisXI。，orCharlesIX。;forhehasnomortalinjuriestoavenge;
buthewilldevourthemeansandsubstanceofhispeople;forhehashimselfundergonewrongsinhisowninterestandmoney。？Inthefirstplace，then，Iacquitmyconscience，whenIconsideropenlythemeritsandthefaultsofthisgreatprince;andifIcondemnhim，myconscienceabsolvesme。\"
Aramispaused。？Itwasnottolistenifthesilenceoftheforestremainedundisturbed，butitwastogatheruphisthoughtsfromtheverybottomofhissoul—toleavethethoughtshehadutteredsufficienttimetoeatdeeplyintothemindofhiscompanion。
\"AllthatHeavendoes，Heavendoeswell，\"continuedthebishopofVannes;
\"andIamsopersuadedofitthatIhavelongbeenthankfultohavebeenchosendepositaryofthesecretwhichIhaveaidedyoutodiscover。？ToajustProvidencewasnecessaryaninstrument，atoncepenetrating，persevering，andconvinced，toaccomplishagreatwork。？Iamthisinstrument。？Ipossesspenetration，perseverance，conviction;Igovernamysteriouspeople，whohastakenforitsmotto，themottoofGod，\'Patiensquia渢ernus。\'\"？Theprincemoved。？\"Idivine，monseigneur，whyyouareraisingyourhead，andaresurprisedatthepeopleIhaveundermycommand。？Youdidnotknowyouweredealingwithaking—oh！monseigneur，kingofapeopleveryhumble，muchdisinherited;humblebecausetheyhavenoforcesavewhencreeping;disinherited，becausenever，almostneverinthisworld，domypeoplereaptheharvesttheysow，noreatthefruittheycultivate。？Theylaborforanabstractidea;theyheaptogetheralltheatomsoftheirpower，tofromasingleman;
androundthisman，withthesweatoftheirlabor，theycreateamistyhalo，whichhisgeniusshall，inturn，renderaglorygildedwiththeraysofallthecrownsinChristendom。？Suchisthemanyouhavebesideyou，monseigneur。？Itistotellyouthathehasdrawnyoufromtheabyssforagreatpurpose，toraiseyouabovethepowersoftheearth—abovehimself。\"
Transcriber\'snote:\"Heispatientbecauseheiseternal。\"ishowtheLatintranslates。？ItisfromSt。Augustine。？ThismottowassometimesappliedtothePapacy，butnottotheJesuits。—JB
TheprincelightlytouchedAramis\'sarm。？\"Youspeaktome，\"hesaid，\"ofthatreligiousorderwhosechiefyouare。？Forme，theresultofyourwordsis，thatthedayyoudesiretohurldownthemanyoushallhaveraised，theeventwillbeaccomplished;andthatyouwillkeepunderyourhandyourcreationofyesterday。\"
\"Undeceiveyourself，monseigneur，\"repliedthebishop。？\"Ishouldnottakethetroubletoplaythisterriblegamewithyourroyalhighness，ifIhadnotadoubleinterestingainingit。？Thedayyouareelevated，youareelevatedforever;youwilloverturnthefootstool，asyourise，andwillsenditrollingsofar，thatnoteventhesightofitwilleveragainrecalltoyouitsrighttosimplegratitude。\"
\"Oh，monsieur！\"
\"Yourmovement，monseigneur，arisesfromanexcellentdisposition。？Ithankyou。？Bewellassured，Iaspiretomorethangratitude！？Iamconvincedthat，whenarrivedatthesummit，youwilljudgemestillmoreworthytobeyourfriend;andthen，monseigneur，wetwowilldosuchgreatdeeds，thatageshereaftershalllongspeakofthem。\"
\"Tellmeplainly，monsieur—tellmewithoutdisguise—whatIamto—day，andwhatyouaimatmybeingto—morrow。\"
\"YouarethesonofKingLouisXIII。，brotherofLouisXIV。，naturalandlegitimateheirtothethroneofFrance。？Inkeepingyounearhim，asMonsieurhasbeenkept—Monsieur，youryoungerbrother—thekingreservedtohimselftherightofbeinglegitimatesovereign。？Thedoctorsonlycoulddisputehislegitimacy。？Butthedoctorsalwayspreferthekingwhoistothekingwhoisnot。？Providencehaswilledthatyoushouldbepersecuted;thispersecutionto—dayconsecratesyoukingofFrance。？Youhad，then，arighttoreign，seeingthatitisdisputed;youhadarighttobeproclaimedseeingthatyouhavebeenconcealed;andyoupossessroyalblood，sincenoonehasdaredtoshedyours，asthatofyourservantshasbeenshed。？Nowsee，then，whatthisProvidence，whichyouhavesooftenaccusedofhavingineverywaythwartedyou，hasdoneforyou。？Ithasgivenyouthefeatures，figure，age，andvoiceofyourbrother;andtheverycausesofyourpersecutionareabouttobecomethoseofyourtriumphantrestoration。？To—morrow，afterto—morrow—fromtheveryfirst，regalphantom，livingshadeofLouisXIV。，youwillsituponhisthrone，whencethewillofHeaven，confidedinexecutiontothearmofman，willhavehurledhim，withouthopeofreturn。\"
\"I
understand，\"saidtheprince，\"mybrother\'sbloodwillnotbeshed，then。\"
\"Youwillbesolearbiterofhisfate。\"
\"Thesecretofwhichtheymadeaneviluseagainstme？\"
\"Youwillemployitagainsthim。？Whatdidhedotoconcealit？？Heconcealedyou。？Livingimageofhimself，youwilldefeattheconspiracyofMazarinandAnneofAustria。？You，myprince，willhavethesameinterestinconcealinghim，whowill，asaprisoner，resembleyou，asyouwillresemblehimasaking。\"
\"I
fallbackonwhatIwassayingtoyou。？Whowillguardhim？\"
\"Whoguardedyou？\"
\"Youknowthissecret—youhavemadeuseofitwithregardtomyself。？Whoelseknowsit？\"
\"Thequeen—motherandMadamedeChevreuse。\"
\"Whatwilltheydo？\"
\"Nothing，ifyouchoose。\"
\"Howisthat？\"
\"Howcantheyrecognizeyou，ifyouactinsuchamannerthatnoonecanrecognizeyou？\"
\"\'Tistrue;buttherearegravedifficulties。\"
\"Statethem，prince。\"
\"Mybrotherismarried;Icannottakemybrother\'swife。\"
\"I
willcauseSpaintoconsenttoadivorce;itisintheinterestofyournewpolicy;itishumanmorality。？Allthatisreallynobleandreallyusefulinthisworldwillfinditsaccounttherein。\"
\"Theimprisonedkingwillspeak。\"
\"Towhomdoyouthinkhewillspeak—tothewalls？\"
\"Youmean，bywalls，themeninwhomyouputconfidence。\"
\"Ifneedbe，yes。？Andbesides，yourroyalhighness—\"
\"Besides？\"
\"I
wasgoingtosay，thatthedesignsofProvidencedonotstoponsuchafairroad。？Everyschemeofthiscaliberiscompletedbyitsresults，likeageometricalcalculation。？Theking，inprison，willnotbeforyouthecauseofembarrassmentthatyouhavebeenforthekingenthroned。？Hissoulisnaturallyproudandimpatient;
itis，moreover，disarmedandenfeebled，bybeingaccustomedtohonors，andbythelicenseofsupremepower。？ThesameProvidencewhichhaswilledthattheconcludingstepinthegeometricalcalculationIhavehadthehonorofdescribingtoyourroyalhighnessshouldbeyourascensiontothethrone，andthedestructionofhimwhoishurtfultoyou，hasalsodeterminedthattheconqueredoneshallsoonendbothhisownandyoursufferings。？Therefore，hissoulandbodyhavebeenadaptedforbutabriefagony。？Putintoprisonasaprivateindividual，leftalonewithyourdoubts，deprivedofeverything，youhaveexhibitedthemostsublime，enduringprincipleoflifeinwithstandingallthis。？Butyourbrother，acaptive，forgotten，andinbonds，willnotlongendurethecalamity;andHeavenwillresumehissoulattheappointedtime—thatistosay，soon。\"
AtthispointinAramis\'sgloomyanalysis，abirdofnightutteredfromthedepthsoftheforestthatprolongedandplaintivecrywhichmakeseverycreaturetremble。
\"I
willexilethedeposedking，\"saidPhilippe，shuddering;\"\'twillbemorehuman。\"
\"Theking\'sgoodpleasurewilldecidethepoint，\"saidAramis。？\"Buthastheproblembeenwellput？？HaveIbroughtoutofthesolutionaccordingtothewishesortheforesightofyourroyalhighness？\"
\"Yes，monsieur，yes;youhaveforgottennothing—except，indeed，twothings。\"
\"Thefirst？\"
\"Letusspeakofitatonce，withthesamefranknesswehavealreadyconversedin。？Letusspeakofthecauseswhichmaybringabouttheruinofallthehopeswehaveconceived。？Letusspeakoftheriskswearerunning。\"
\"Theywouldbeimmense，infinite，terrific，insurmountable，if，asIhavesaid，allthingsdidnotconcurtorenderthemofabsolutelynoaccount。？Thereisnodangereitherforyouorforme，iftheconstancyandintrepidityofyourroyalhighnessareequaltothatperfectionofresemblancetoyourbrotherwhichnaturehasbestoweduponyou。？Irepeatit，therearenodangers，onlyobstacles;aword，indeed，whichIfindinalllanguages，buthavealwaysill—understood，and，wereIking，wouldhaveobliteratedasuselessandabsurd。\"
\"Yes，indeed，monsieur;thereisaveryseriousobstacle，aninsurmountabledanger，whichyouareforgetting。\"
\"Ah！\"
saidAramis。
\"Thereisconscience，whichcriesaloud;remorse，thatneverdies。\"
\"True，true，\"saidthebishop;\"thereisaweaknessofheartofwhichyouremindme。？Youareright，too，forthat，indeed，isanimmenseobstacle。？Thehorseafraidoftheditch，leapsintothemiddleofit，andiskilled！？Themanwhotremblingcrosseshisswordwiththatofanotherleavesloopholeswherebyhisenemyhashiminhispower。\"
\"Haveyouabrother？\"saidtheyoungmantoAramis。
\"I
amaloneintheworld，\"saidthelatter，withahard，dryvoice。
\"But，surely，thereissomeoneintheworldwhomyoulove？\"addedPhilippe。
\"Noone！—Yes，Iloveyou。\"
Theyoungmansankintosoprofoundasilence，thatthemeresoundofhisrespirationseemedlikearoaringtumultforAramis。？\"Monseigneur，\"heresumed，\"IhavenotsaidallI
hadtosaytoyourroyalhighness;IhavenotofferedyouallthesalutarycounselsandusefulresourceswhichIhaveatmydisposal。？Itisuselesstoflashbrightvisionsbeforetheeyesofonewhoseeksandlovesdarkness:useless，too，isittoletthemagnificenceofthecannon\'sroarmakeitselfheardintheearsofonewholovesreposeandthequietofthecountry。？Monseigneur，Ihaveyourhappinessspreadoutbeforemeinmythoughts;
listentomywords;precioustheyindeedare，intheirimportandtheirsense，foryouwholookwithsuchtenderregarduponthebrightheavens，theverdantmeadows，thepureair。？Iknowacountryinstinctwithdelightsofeverykind，anunknownparadise，asecludedcorneroftheworld—wherealone，unfetteredandunknown，inthethickcovertofthewoods，amidstflowers，andstreamsofripplingwater，youwillforgetallthemiserythathumanfollyhassorecentlyallottedyou。？Oh！listentome，myprince。？Idonotjest。？Ihaveaheart，andmind，andsoul，andcanreadyourown，—aye，eventoitsdepths。？Iwillnottakeyouunreadyforyourtask，inordertocastyouintothecrucibleofmyowndesires，ofmycaprice，ormyambition。？Letitbeallornothing。？Youarechilledandgalled，sickatheart，overcomebyexcessoftheemotionswhichbutonehour\'slibertyhasproducedinyou。？Forme，thatisacertainandunmistakablesignthatyoudonotwishtocontinueatliberty。？Wouldyoupreferamorehumblelife，alifemoresuitedtoyourstrength？？Heavenismywitness，thatIwishyourhappinesstobetheresultofthetrialtowhichI
haveexposedyou。\"
\"Speak，speak，\"saidtheprince，withavivacitywhichdidnotescapeAramis。
\"I
know，\"resumedtheprelate，\"intheBas—Poitou，acanton，ofwhichnooneinFrancesuspectstheexistence。？Twentyleaguesofcountryisimmense，isitnot？？Twentyleagues，monseigneur，allcoveredwithwaterandherbage，andreedsofthemostluxuriantnature;thewholestuddedwithislandscoveredwithwoodsofthedensestfoliage。？Theselargemarshes，coveredwithreedsaswithathickmantle，sleepsilentlyandcalmlybeneaththesun\'ssoftandgenialrays。？Afewfishermenwiththeirfamiliesindolentlypasstheirlivesawaythere，withtheirgreatliving—raftsofpoplarandalder，theflooringformedofreeds，andtheroofwovenoutofthickrushes。？Thesebarks，thesefloating—houses，arewaftedtoandfrobythechangingwinds。？Whenevertheytouchabank，itisbutbychance;andsogently，too，thatthesleepingfishermanisnotawakenedbytheshock。？Shouldhewishtoland，itismerelybecausehehasseenalargeflightoflandrailsorplovers，ofwildducks，teal，widgeon，orwoodchucks，whichfallaneasypraytonetorgun。？Silvershad，eels，greedypike，redandgraymullet，swiminshoalsintohisnets;hehasbuttochoosethefinestandlargest，andreturntheotherstothewaters。？Neveryethasthefoodofthestranger，behesoldierorsimplecitizen，neverhasanyone，indeed，penetratedintothatdistrict。？Thesun\'sraystherearesoftandtempered:
inplotsofsolidearth，whosesoilisswartandfertile，growsthevine，nourishingwithgenerousjuiceitspurple，white，andgoldengrapes。？Onceaweek，aboatissenttodeliverthebreadwhichhasbeenbakedatanoven—thecommonpropertyofall。？There—liketheseigneursofearlydays—
powerfulinvirtueofyourdogs，yourfishing—lines，yourguns，andyourbeautifulreed—builthouse，wouldyoulive，richintheproduceofthechase，inplentitudeofabsolutesecrecy。？Therewouldyearsofyourliferollaway，attheendofwhich，nolongerrecognizable，foryouwouldhavebeenperfectlytransformed，youwouldhavesucceededinacquiringadestinyaccordedtoyoubyHeaven。？Thereareathousandpistolesinthisbag，monseigneur—more，farmore，thansufficienttopurchasethewholemarshofwhichIhavespoken;
morethanenoughtolivethereasmanyyearsasyouhavedaystolive;morethanenoughtoconstituteyoutherichest，thefreest，andthehappiestmaninthecountry。？Acceptit，asIofferityou—sincerely，cheerfully。？Forthwith，withoutamoment\'spause，Iwillunharnesstwoofmyhorses，whichareattachedtothecarriageyonder，andthey，accompaniedbymyservant—mydeafanddumbattendant—shallconductyou—travelingthroughoutthenight，sleepingduringtheday—tothelocalityIhavedescribed;andIshall，atleast，havethesatisfactionofknowingthatIhaverenderedtomyprincethemajorservicehehimselfpreferred。？Ishallhavemadeonehumanbeinghappy;andHeavenforthatwillholdmeinbetteraccountthanifIhadmadeonemanpowerful;theformertaskisfarmoredifficult。？Andnow，monseigneur，youranswertothisproposition？？Hereisthemoney。？Nay，donothesitate。？AtPoitou，youcanrisknothing，exceptthechanceofcatchingthefeversprevalentthere;andevenofthem，theso—calledwizardsofthecountrywillcureyou，forthesakeofyourpistoles。？Ifyouplaytheothergame，yourunthechanceofbeingassassinatedonathrone，strangledinaprison—cell。？Uponmysoul，Iassureyou，nowIbegintocomparethemtogether，ImyselfshouldhesitatewhichlotIshouldaccept。\"
\"Monsieur，\"
repliedtheyoungprince，\"beforeIdetermine，letmealightfromthiscarriage，walkontheground，andconsultthatstillvoicewithinme，whichHeavenbidsusalltohearkento。？TenminutesisallIask，andthenyoushallhaveyouranswer。\"
\"Asyouplease，monseigneur，\"saidAramis，bendingbeforehimwithrespect，sosolemnandaugustintoneandaddresshadsoundedthesestrangewords。
ChapterX:
CrownandTiara。
Aramiswasthefirsttodescendfromthecarriage;heheldthedooropenfortheyoungman。？Hesawhimplacehisfootonthemossygroundwithatremblingofthewholebody，andwalkroundthecarriagewithanunsteadyandalmosttotteringstep。？ItseemedasifthepoorprisonerwasunaccustomedtowalkonGod\'searth。？Itwasthe15thofAugust，abouteleveno\'clockatnight;thickclouds，portendingatempest，overspreadtheheavens，andshroudedeverylightandprospectunderneaththeirheavyfolds。？Theextremitiesoftheavenueswereimperceptiblydetachedfromthecopse，byalightershadowofopaquegray，which，uponcloserexamination，becamevisibleinthemidstoftheobscurity。？Butthefragrancewhichascendedfromthegrass，fresherandmorepenetratingthanthatwhichexhaledfromthetreesaroundhim;thewarmandbalmyairwhichenvelopedhimforthefirsttimeformanyyearspast;theineffableenjoymentoflibertyinanopencountry，spoketotheprinceinsoseductivealanguage，thatnotwithstandingthepreternaturalcaution，wewouldalmostsaydissimulationofhischaracter，ofwhichwehavetriedtogiveanidea，hecouldnotrestrainhisemotion，andbreathedasighofecstasy。？Then，bydegrees，heraisedhisachingheadandinhaledthesoftlyscentedair，asitwaswaftedingentleguststohisupliftedface。？Crossinghisarmsonhischest，asiftocontrolthisnewsensationofdelight，hedrankindeliciousdraughtsofthatmysteriousairwhichinterpenetratesatnighttheloftiestforests。？Theskyhewascontemplating，themurmuringwaters，theuniversalfreshness—wasnotallthisreality？？WasnotAramisamadmantosupposethathehadaughtelsetodreamofinthisworld？？Thoseexcitingpicturesofcountrylife，sofreefromfearsandtroubles，theoceanofhappydaysthatglittersincessantlybeforeallyoungimaginations，arerealallurementswherewithtofascinateapoor，unhappyprisoner，wornoutbyprisoncares，emaciatedbythestiflingairoftheBastile。？Itwasthepicture，itwillberemembered，drawnbyAramis，whenheofferedthethousandpistoleshehadwithhiminthecarriagetotheprince，andtheenchantedEdenwhichthedesertsofBas—Poitouhidfromtheeyesoftheworld。？SuchwerethereflectionsofAramisashewatched，withananxietyimpossibletodescribe，thesilentprogressoftheemotionsofPhilippe，whomheperceivedgraduallybecomingmoreandmoreabsorbedinhismeditations。？TheyoungprincewasofferingupaninwardprayertoHeaven，tobedivinelyguidedinthistryingmoment，uponwhichhislifeordeathdepended。？ItwasananxioustimeforthebishopofVannes，whohadneverbeforebeensoperplexed。？Hisironwill，accustomedtoovercomeallobstacles，neverfindingitselfinferiororvanquishedonanyoccasion，tobefoiledinsovastaprojectfromnothavingforeseentheinfluencewhichaviewofnatureinallitsluxuriancewouldhaveonthehumanmind！？Aramis，overwhelmedbyanxiety，contemplatedwithemotionthepainfulstrugglethatwastakingplaceinPhilippe\'smind。？Thissuspenselastedthewholetenminuteswhichtheyoungmanhadrequested。？Duringthisspaceoftime，whichappearedaneternity，Philippecontinuedgazingwithanimploringandsorrowfullooktowardstheheavens;AramisdidnotremovethepiercingglancehehadfixedonPhilippe。？Suddenlytheyoungmanbowedhishead。？Histhoughtreturnedtotheearth，hislooksperceptiblyhardened，hisbrowcontracted，hismouthassuminganexpressionofundauntedcourage;againhislooksbecamefixed，butthistimetheyworeaworldlyexpression，hardenedbycovetousness，pride，andstrongdesire。？Aramis\'slookimmediatelybecameassoftasithadbeforebeengloomy。？Philippe，seizinghishandinaquick，agitatedmanner，exclaimed:
\"LeadmetowherethecrownofFranceistobefound。\"
\"Isthisyourdecision，monseigneur？\"askedAramis。
\"Itis。\"
\"Irrevocablyso？\"
Philippedidnotevendeigntoreply。？Hegazedearnestlyatthebishop，asiftoaskhimifitwerepossibleforamantowaverafterhavingoncemadeuphismind。
\"Suchlooksareflashesofthehiddenfirethatbetraysmen\'scharacter，\"saidAramis，bowingoverPhilippe\'shand;\"youwillbegreat，monseigneur，I
willanswerforthat。\"
\"Letusresumeourconversation。？Iwishedtodiscusstwopointswithyou;inthefirstplacethedangers，ortheobstacleswemaymeetwith。？Thatpointisdecided。？Theotheristheconditionsyouintendimposingonme。？Itisyourturntospeak，M。d\'Herblay。\"
\"Theconditions，monseigneur？\"
\"Doubtless。？Youwillnotallowsomereatrifletostopme，andyouwillnotdometheinjusticetosupposethatIthinkyouhavenointerestinthisaffair。？Therefore，withoutsubterfugeorhesitation，tellmethetruth—\"
\"I
willdoso，monseigneur。？Onceaking—
\"
\"Whenwillthatbe？\"
\"To—morrowevening—Imeaninthenight。\"
\"Explainyourself。\"
\"WhenIshallhaveaskedyourhighnessaquestion。\"
\"Doso。\"
\"I
senttoyourhighnessamaninmyconfidencewithinstructionstodeliversomecloselywrittennotes，carefullydrawnup，whichwillthoroughlyacquaintyourhighnesswiththedifferentpersonswhocomposeandwillcomposeyourcourt。\"