\"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。