\"Yes，monseigneur，webothlovehim，buteachinadifferentmanner，\"repliedLaValli鑢e，withsuchanaccentthattheheartoftheyoungkingwaspowerfullyaffectedbyit。？\"Ilovehimsodeeply，thatthewholeworldisawareofit;sopurely，thatthekinghimselfdoesnotdoubtmyaffection。？Heismykingandmymaster;Iamtheleastofallhisservants。？Butwhosotoucheshishonorassailsmylife。？Therefore，Irepeat，thattheydishonorthekingwhoadvisehimtoarrestM。Fouquetunderhisownroof。\"
Colberthungdownhishead，forhefeltthatthekinghadabandonedhim。？However，ashebenthishead，hemurmured，\"Mademoiselle，Ihaveonlyonewordtosay。\"
\"Donotsayit，then，monsieur;forIwouldnotlistentoit。？Besides，whatcouldyouhavetotellme？？ThatM。Fouquethasbeenguiltyofcertaincrimes？？Ibelievehehas，becausethekinghassaidso;and，fromthemomentthekingsaid，\'Ithinkso，\'
Ihavenooccasionforotherlipstosay，\'Iaffirmit。\'？But，wereM。Fouquetthevilestofmen，I
shouldsayaloud，\'M。Fouquet\'spersonissacredtothekingbecauseheistheguestofM。Fouquet。？Werehishouseadenofthieves，wereVauxacaveofcoinersorrobbers，hishomeissacred，hispalaceisinviolable，sincehiswifeislivinginit;andthatisanasylumwhichevenexecutionerswouldnotdaretoviolate。\'\"
LaValli鑢epaused，andwassilent。？Inspiteofhimselfthekingcouldnotbutadmireher;hewasoverpoweredbythepassionateenergyofhervoice;bythenoblenessofthecausesheadvocated。？Colbertyielded，overcomebytheinequalityofthestruggle。？Atlastthekingbreathedagainmorefreely，shookhishead，andheldouthishandtoLaValli鑢e。？\"Mademoiselle，\"
hesaid，gently，\"whydoyoudecideagainstme？？Doyouknowwhatthiswretchedfellowwilldo，ifIgivehimtimetobreatheagain？\"
\"Ishenotapreywhichwillalwaysbewithinyourgrasp？\"
\"Shouldheescape，andtaketoflight？\"exclaimedColbert。
\"Well，monsieur，itwillalwaysremainonrecord，totheking\'seternalhonor，thatheallowedM。Fouquettoflee;andthemoreguiltyhemayhavebeen，thegreaterwilltheking\'shonorandgloryappear，comparedwithsuchunnecessarymiseryandshame。\"
LouiskissedLaValli鑢e\'shand，ashekneltbeforeher。
\"I
amlost，\"thoughtColbert;thensuddenlyhisfacebrightenedupagain。？\"Oh！no，no，aha，oldfox！
—notyet，\"hesaidtohimself。
Andwhiletheking，protectedfromobservationbythethickcovertofanenormouslime，pressedLaValli鑢etohisbreast，withalltheardorofineffableaffection，Colberttranquillyfumbledamongthepapersinhispocket—bookanddrewoutofitapaperfoldedintheformofaletter，somewhatyellow，perhaps，butonethatmusthavebeenmostprecious，sincetheintendantsmiledashelookedatit;hethenbentalook，fullofhatred，uponthecharminggroupwhichtheyounggirlandthekingformedtogether—agrouprevealedbutforamoment，asthelightoftheapproachingtorchesshoneuponit。？LouisnoticedthelightreflecteduponLaValli鑢e\'swhitedress。？\"Leaveme，Louise，\"hesaid，\"forsomeoneiscoming。\"
\"Mademoiselle，mademoiselle，someoneiscoming，\"criedColbert，toexpeditetheyounggirl\'sdeparture。
Louisedisappearedrapidlyamongthetrees;andthen，astheking，whohadbeenonhiskneesbeforetheyounggirl，wasrisingfromhishumbleposture，Colbertexclaimed，\"Ah！？MademoiselledelaValli鑢ehasletsomethingfall。\"
\"Whatisit？\"inquiredtheking。
\"A
paper—aletter—somethingwhite;lookthere，sire。\"
Thekingstoopeddownimmediatelyandpickeduptheletter，crumplingitinhishand，ashedidso;andatthesamemomentthetorchesarrived，inundatingtheblacknessofthescenewithafloodoflightasbightasday。
ChapterXVI:
Jealousy。
Thetorcheswehavejustreferredto，theeagerattentioneveryonedisplayed，andthenewovationpaidtothekingbyFouquet，arrivedintimetosuspendtheeffectofaresolutionwhichLaValli鑢ehadalreadyconsiderablyshakeninLouisXIV。\'sheart。？HelookedatFouquetwithafeelingalmostofgratitudeforhavinggivenLaValli鑢eanopportunityofshowingherselfsogenerouslydisposed，sopowerfulintheinfluencesheexercisedoverhisheart。？Themomentofthelastandgreatestdisplayhadarrived。？HardlyhadFouquetconductedthekingtowardsthech鈚eau，whenamassoffireburstfromthedomeofVaux，withaprodigiousuproar，pouringafloodofdazzlingcataractsofraysoneveryside，andilluminingtheremotestcornersofthegardens。？Thefireworksbegan。？Colbert，attwentypacesfromtheking，whowassurroundedandf阾edbytheownerofVaux，seemed，bytheobstinatepersistenceofhisgloomythoughts，todohisutmosttorecallLouis\'sattention，whichthemagnificenceofthespectaclewasalready，inhisopinion，tooeasilydiverting。？Suddenly，justasLouiswasonthepointofholdingitouttoFouquet，heperceivedinhishandthepaperwhich，ashebelieved，LaValli鑢ehaddroppedathisfeetasshehurriedaway。？Thestillstrongermagnetoflovedrewtheyoungprince\'sattentiontowardsthesouvenirofhisidol;
and，bythebrilliantlight，whichincreasedmomentarilyinbeauty，anddrewfromtheneighboringvillagesloudcheersofadmiration，thekingreadtheletter，whichhesupposedwasalovingandtenderepistleLaValli鑢ehaddestinedforhim。？Butashereadit，adeath—likepallorstoleoverhisface，andanexpressionofdeep—seatedwrath，illuminedbythemany—coloredfirewhichgleamedsobrightly，soaringlyaroundthescene，producedaterriblespectacle，whicheveryonewouldhaveshudderedat，couldtheyonlyhavereadintohisheart，nowtornbythemoststormyandmostbitterpassions。？Therewasnotruceforhimnow，influencedashewasbyjealousyandmadpassion。？Fromtheverymomentwhenthedarktruthwasrevealedtohim，everygentlerfeelingseemedtodisappear;pity，kindnessofconsideration，thereligionofhospitality，allwereforgotten。？Inthebitterpangwhichwrunghisheart，he，stilltooweaktohidehissufferings，wasalmostonthepointofutteringacryofalarm，andcallinghisguardstogatherroundhim。？ThisletterwhichColberthadthrowndownattheking\'sfeet，thereaderhasdoubtlesslyguessed，wasthesamethathaddisappearedwiththeporterTobyatFontainebleau，aftertheattemptwhichFouquethadmadeuponLaValli鑢e\'sheart。？Fouquetsawtheking\'spallor，andwasfarfromguessingtheevil;
Colbertsawtheking\'sanger，andrejoicedinwardlyattheapproachofthestorm。？Fouquet\'svoicedrewtheyoungprincefromhiswrathfulreverie。
\"Whatisthematter，sire？\"inquiredthesuperintendent，withanexpressionofgracefulinterest。
Louismadeaviolenteffortoverhimself，ashereplied，\"Nothing。\"
\"I
amafraidyourmajestyissuffering？\"
\"I
amsuffering，andhavealreadytoldyouso，monsieur;butitisnothing。\"
Andtheking，withoutwaitingfortheterminationofthefireworks，turnedtowardsthech鈚eau。？Fouquetaccompaniedhim，andthewholecourtfollowed，leavingtheremainsofthefireworksconsumingfortheirownamusement。？ThesuperintendentendeavoredagaintoquestionLouisXIV。，butdidnotsucceedinobtainingareply。？HeimaginedtherehadbeensomemisunderstandingbetweenLouisandLaValli鑢einthepark，whichhadresultedinaslightquarrel;andthattheking，whowasnotordinarilysulkybydisposition，butcompletelyabsorbedbyhispassionforLaValli鑢e，hadtakenadisliketoeveryonebecausehismistresshadshownherselfoffendedwithhim。？Thisideawassufficienttoconsolehim;hehadevenafriendlyandkindlysmilefortheyoungking，whenthelatterwishedhimgoodnight。？This，however，wasnotallthekinghadtosubmitto;hewasobligedtoundergotheusualceremony，whichonthateveningwasmarkedbycloseadherencetothestrictestetiquette。？Thenextdaywastheonefixedforthedeparture;itwasbutproperthattheguestsshouldthanktheirhost，andshowhimalittleattentioninreturnfortheexpenditureofhistwelvemillions。？Theonlyremark，approachingtoamiability，whichthekingcouldfindtosaytoM。Fouquet，ashetookleaveofhim，wereinthesewords，\"M。
Fouquet，youshallhearfromme。？BegoodenoughtodesireM。d\'Artagnantocomehere。\"
ButthebloodofLouisXIV。，whohadsoprofoundlydissimulatedhisfeelings，boiledinhisveins;andhewasperfectlywillingtoorderM。Fouquettobeputanendtowiththesamereadiness，indeed，ashispredecessorhadcausedtheassassinationofleMar閏hald\'Ancre;andsohedisguisedtheterribleresolutionhehadformedbeneathoneofthoseroyalsmileswhich，likelightning—flashes，indicatedcoupsd\'閠at。？Fouquettooktheking\'shandandkissedit;
Louisshudderedthroughouthiswholeframe，butallowedM。Fouquettotouchhishandwithhislips。？Fiveminutesafterwards，D\'Artagnan，towhomtheroyalorderhadbeencommunicated，enteredLouisXIV。\'sapartment。？AramisandPhilippewereintheirs，stilleagerlyattentive，andstilllisteningwithalltheirears。？Thekingdidnotevengivethecaptainofthemusketeerstimetoapproachhisarmchair，butranforwardtomeethim。？\"Takecare，\"heexclaimed，\"thatnooneentershere。\"
\"Verygood，sire，\"repliedthecaptain，whoseglancehadforalongtimepastanalyzedthestormyindicationsontheroyalcountenance。？Hegavethenecessaryorderatthedoor;
but，returningtotheking，hesaid，\"Istheresomethingfreshthematter，yourmajesty？\"
\"Howmanymenhaveyouhere？\"inquiredtheking，withoutmakinganyotherreplytothequestionaddressedtohim。
\"Whatfor，sire？\"
\"Howmanymenhaveyou，Isay？\"repeatedtheking，stampinguponthegroundwithhisfoot。
\"I
havethemusketeers。\"
\"Well;
andwhatothers？\"
\"TwentyguardsandthirteenSwiss。\"
\"Howmanymenwillberequiredto—\"
\"Todowhat，sire？\"repliedthemusketeer，openinghislarge，calmeyes。
\"ToarrestM。Fouquet。\"
D\'Artagnanfellbackastep。
\"ToarrestM。Fouquet！\"heburstforth。
\"Areyougoingtotellmethatitisimpossible？\"exclaimedtheking，intonesofcold，vindictivepassion。
\"I
neversaythatanythingisimpossible，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，woundedtothequick。
\"Verywell;doit，then。\"
D\'Artagnanturnedonhisheel，andmadehiswaytowardsthedoor;itwasbutashortdistance，andhecleareditinhalfadozenpaces;whenhereachedithesuddenlypaused，andsaid，\"Yourmajestywillforgiveme，but，inordertoeffectthisarrest，Ishouldlikewrittendirections。\"
\"Forwhatpurpose—andsincewhenhastheking\'swordbeeninsufficientforyou？\"
\"Becausethewordofaking，whenitspringsfromafeelingofanger，maypossiblychangewhenthefeelingchanges。\"
\"A
trucetosetphrases，monsieur;youhaveanotherthoughtbesidesthat？\"
\"Oh，I，atleast，havecertainthoughtsandideas，which，unfortunately，othershavenot，\"D\'Artagnanreplied，impertinently。
Theking，inthetempestofhiswrath，hesitated，anddrewbackinthefaceofD\'Artagnan\'sfrankcourage，justasahorsecrouchesonhishaunchesunderthestronghandofaboldandexperiencedrider。？\"Whatisyourthought？\"heexclaimed。
\"This，sire，\"repliedD\'Artagnan:\"youcauseamantobearrestedwhenyouarestillunderhisroof;andpassionisalonethecauseofthat。？Whenyourangershallhavepassed，youwillregretwhatyouhavedone;andthenIwishtobeinapositiontoshowyouyoursignature。？Ifthat，however，shouldfailtobeareparation，itwillatleastshowusthatthekingwaswrongtolosehistemper。\"
\"Wrongtolosehistemper！\"criedtheking，inaloud，passionatevoice。？\"Didnotmyfather，mygrandfathers，too，beforeme，losetheirtemperattimes，inHeaven\'sname？\"
\"Thekingyourfatherandthekingyourgrandfatherneverlosttheirtemperexceptwhenundertheprotectionoftheirownpalace。\"
\"Thekingismasterwhereverhemaybe。\"
\"Thatisaflattering，complimentaryphrasewhichcannotproceedfromanyonebutM。
Colbert;butithappensnottobethetruth。？Thekingisathomeineveryman\'shousewhenhehasdrivenitsowneroutofit。\"
Thekingbithislips，butsaidnothing。
\"Canitbepossible？\"saidD\'Artagnan;\"hereisamanwhoispositivelyruininghimselfinordertopleaseyou，andyouwishtohavehimarrested！？Mordioux！？Sire，ifmynamewasFouquet，andpeopletreatedmeinthatmanner，Iwouldswallowatasinglegulpallsortsoffireworksandotherthings，andIwouldsetfiretothem，andsendmyselfandeverybodyelseinblown—upatomstothesky。？Butitisallthesame;itisyourwish，anditshallbedone。\"
\"Go，\"
saidtheking;\"buthaveyoumenenough？\"
\"DoyousupposeIamgoingtotakeawholehosttohelpme？？ArrestM。Fouquet！why，thatissoeasythataverychildmightdoit！？Itislikedrinkingaglassofwormwood;onemakesanuglyface，andthatisall。\"
\"Ifhedefendshimself？\"
\"He！
itisnotatalllikely。？Defendhimselfwhensuchextremeharshnessasyouaregoingtopracticemakesthemanaverymartyr！？Nay，Iamsurethatifhehasamillionoffrancsleft，whichIverymuchdoubt，hewouldbewillingenoughtogiveitinordertohavesuchaterminationasthis。？Butwhatdoesthatmatter？itshallbedoneatonce。\"
\"Stay，\"
saidtheking;\"donotmakehisarrestapublicaffair。\"
\"Thatwillbemoredifficult。\"
\"Whyso？\"
\"BecausenothingiseasierthantogouptoM。Fouquetinthemidstofathousandenthusiasticguestswhosurroundhim，andsay，\'Intheking\'sname，Iarrestyou。\'？Buttogouptohim，toturnhimfirstonewayandthenanother，todrivehimupintooneofthecornersofthechess—board，insuchawaythathecannotescape;totakehimawayfromhisguests，andkeephimaprisonerforyou，withoutoneofthem，alas！havingheardanythingaboutit;that，indeed，isagenuinedifficulty，thegreatestofall，intruth;andIhardlyseehowitistobedone。\"
\"Youhadbettersayitisimpossible，andyouwillhavefinishedmuchsooner。？Heavenhelpme，butIseemtobesurroundedbypeoplewhopreventmedoingwhatIwish。\"
\"I
donotpreventyourdoinganything。？Haveyouindeeddecided？\"
\"TakecareofM。Fouquet，untilIshallhavemadeupmymindbyto—morrowmorning。\"
\"Thatshallbedone，sire。\"
\"Andreturn，whenIriseinthemorning，forfurtherorders;andnowleavemetomyself。\"
\"YoudonotevenwantM。Colbert，then？\"saidthemusketeer，firinghislastshotashewasleavingtheroom。？Thekingstarted。？Withhiswholemindfixedonthethoughtofrevenge，hehadforgottenthecauseandsubstanceoftheoffense。
\"No，noone，\"hesaid;\"noonehere！？Leaveme。\"
D\'Artagnanquittedtheroom。？Thekingclosedthedoorwithhisownhands，andbegantowalkupanddownhisapartmentatafuriouspace，likeawoundedbullinanarena，trailingfromhishornthecoloredstreamersandtheirondarts。？Atlasthebegantotakecomfortintheexpressionofhisviolentfeelings。
\"Miserablewretchthatheis！notonlydoeshesquandermyfinances，butwithhisill—gottenplunderhecorruptssecretaries，friends，generals，artists，andall，andtriestorobmeoftheonetowhomIammostattached。？Thisisthereasonthatperfidiousgirlsoboldlytookhispart！？Gratitude！andwhocantellwhetheritwasnotastrongerfeeling—loveitself？\"？Hegavehimselfupforamomenttothebitterestreflections。？\"A
satyr！\"hethought，withthatabhorrenthatewithwhichyoungmenregardthosemoreadvancedinlife，whostillthinkoflove。？\"Amanwhohasneverfoundoppositionorresistanceinanyone，wholavisheshisgoldandjewelsineverydirection，andwhoretainshisstaffofpaintersinordertotaketheportraitsofhismistressesinthecostumeofgoddesses。\"？Thekingtrembledwithpassionashecontinued，\"Hepollutesandprofaneseverythingthatbelongstome！？Hedestroyseverythingthatismine。？Hewillbemydeathatlast，Iknow。？Thatmanistoomuchforme;heismymortalenemy，butheshallforthwithfall！？Ihatehim—Ihatehim—Ihatehim！\"
andashepronouncedthesewords，hestruckthearmofthechairinwhichhewassittingviolently，overandoveragain，andthenroselikeoneinanepilepticfit。？\"To—morrow！
to—morrow！oh，happyday！\"hemurmured，\"whenthesunrises，nootherrivalshallthatbrilliantkingofspacepossessbutme。？Thatmanshallfallsolowthatwhenpeoplelookattheabjectruinmyangershallhavewrought，theywillbeforcedtoconfessatlastandatleastthatIamindeedgreaterthanhe。\"？Theking，whowasincapableofmasteringhisemotionsanylonger，knockedoverwithablowofhisfistasmalltableplacedclosetohisbedside，andintheverybitternessofanger，almostweeping，andhalf—suffocated，hethrewhimselfonhisbed，dressedashewas，andbitthesheetsinhisextremityofpassion，tryingtofindreposeofbodyatleastthere。？Thebedcreakedbeneathhisweight，andwiththeexceptionofafewbrokensounds，emerging，or，onemightsay，exploding，fromhisoverburdenedchest，absolutesilencesoonreignedinthechamberofMorpheus。
ChapterXVII:
HighTreason。
TheungovernablefurywhichtookpossessionofthekingatthesightandattheperusalofFouquet\'slettertoLaValli鑢ebydegreessubsidedintoafeelingofpainandextremeweariness。？Youth，invigoratedbyhealthandlightnessofspirits，requiringsoonthatwhatitlosesshouldbeimmediatelyrestored—youthknowsnotthoseendless，sleeplessnightswhichenableustorealizethefableofthevultureunceasinglyfeedingonPrometheus。？Incaseswherethemanofmiddlelife，inhisacquiredstrengthofwillandpurpose，andtheold，intheirstateofnaturalexhaustion，findincessantaugmentationoftheirbittersorrow，ayoungman，surprisedbythesuddenappearanceofmisfortune，weakenshimselfinsighs，andgroans，andtears，directlystrugglingwithhisgrief，andistherebyfarsooneroverthrownbytheinflexibleenemywithwhomheisengaged。？Onceoverthrown，hisstrugglescease。？Louiscouldnotholdoutmorethanafewminutes，attheendofwhichhehadceasedtoclenchhishands，andscorchinfancywithhislookstheinvisibleobjectsofhishatred;hesoonceasedtoattackwithhisviolentimprecationsnotM。Fouquetalone，butevenLaValli鑢eherself;fromfuryhesubsidedintodespair，andfromdespairtoprostration。？Afterhehadthrownhimselfforafewminutestoandfroconvulsivelyonhisbed，hisnervelessarmsfellquietlydown;hisheadlaylanguidlyonhispillow;hislimbs，exhaustedwithexcessiveemotion，stilltrembledoccasionally，agitatedbymuscularcontractions;whilefromhisbreastfaintandinfrequentsighsstillissued。？Morpheus，thetutelarydeityoftheapartment，towardswhomLouisraisedhiseyes，weariedbyhisangerandreconciledbyhistears，showereddownuponhimthesleep—inducingpoppieswithwhichhishandsareeverfilled;sopresentlythemonarchclosedhiseyesandfellasleep。？Thenitseemedtohim，asitoftenhappensinthatfirstsleep，solightandgentle，whichraisesthebodyabovethecouch，andthesoulabovetheearth—itseemedtohim，wesay，asifthegodMorpheus，paintedontheceiling，lookedathimwitheyesresemblinghumaneyes;thatsomethingshonebrightly，andmovedtoandfrointhedomeabovethesleeper;thatthecrowdofterribledreamswhichthrongedtogetherinhisbrain，andwhichwereinterruptedforamoment，halfrevealedahumanface，withahandrestingagainstthemouth，andinanattitudeofdeepandabsorbedmeditation。？Andstrangeenough，too，thismanboresowonderfularesemblancetothekinghimself，thatLouisfanciedhewaslookingathisownfacereflectedinamirror;withtheexception，however，thatthefacewassaddenedbyafeelingoftheprofoundestpity。？Thenitseemedtohimasifthedomegraduallyretired，escapingfromhisgaze，andthatthefiguresandattributespaintedbyLebrunbecamedarkeranddarkerasthedistancebecamemoreandmoreremote。？Agentle，easymovement，asregularasthatbywhichavesselplungesbeneaththewaves，hadsucceededtotheimmovablenessofthebed。？Doubtlessthekingwasdreaming，andinthisdreamthecrownofgold，whichfastenedthecurtainstogether，seemedtorecedefromhisvision，justasthedome，towhichitremainedsuspended，haddone，sothatthewingedgeniuswhich，withbothitshand，supportedthecrown，seemed，thoughvainlyso，tocallupontheking，whowasfastdisappearingfromit。？Thebedstillsunk。？Louis，withhiseyesopen，couldnotresistthedeceptionofthiscruelhallucination。？Atlast，asthelightoftheroyalchamberfadedawayintodarknessandgloom，somethingcold，gloomy，andinexplicableinitsnatureseemedtoinfecttheair。？Nopaintings，norgold，norvelvethangings，werevisibleanylonger，nothingbutwallsofadullgraycolor，whichtheincreasinggloommadedarkereverymoment。？Andyetthebedstillcontinuedtodescend，andafteraminute，whichseemedinitsdurationalmostanagetotheking，itreachedastratumofair，blackandchillasdeath，andthenitstopped。？Thekingcouldnolongerseethelightinhisroom，exceptasfromthebottomofawellwecanseethelightofday。？\"Iamundertheinfluenceofsomeatrociousdream，\"hethought。？\"Itistimetoawakenfromit。？Come！letmewake。\"
Everyonehasexperiencedthesensationtheaboveremarkconveys;thereishardlyapersonwho，inthemidstofanightmarewhoseinfluenceissuffocating，hasnotsaidtohimself，bythehelpofthatlightwhichstillburnsinthebrainwheneveryhumanlightisextinguished，\"Itisnothingbutadream，afterall。\"？ThiswaspreciselywhatLouisXIV。saidtohimself;butwhenhesaid，\"Come，come！wakeup，\"heperceivedthatnotonlywashealreadyawake，butstillmore，thathehadhiseyesopenalso。？Andthenhelookedallroundhim。？Onhisrighthandandonhislefttwoarmedmenstoodinstolidsilence，eachwrappedinahugecloak，andthefacecoveredwithamask;oneofthemheldasmalllampinhishand，whoseglimmeringlightrevealedthesaddestpictureakingcouldlookupon。？Louiscouldnothelpsayingtohimselfthathisdreamstilllasted，andthatallhehadtodotocauseittodisappearwastomovehisarmsortosaysomethingaloud;hedartedfromhisbed，andfoundhimselfuponthedamp，moistground。？Then，addressinghimselftothemanwhoheldthelampinhishand，hesaid:
\"Whatisthis，monsieur，andwhatisthemeaningofthisjest？\"
\"Itisnojest，\"repliedinadeepvoicethemaskedfigurethatheldthelantern。
\"DoyoubelongtoM。Fouquet？\"inquiredtheking，greatlyastonishedathissituation。
\"Itmattersverylittletowhomwebelong，\"saidthephantom;\"weareyourmastersnow，thatissufficient。\"
Theking，moreimpatientthanintimidated，turnedtotheothermaskedfigure。？\"Ifthisisacomedy，\"hesaid，\"youwilltellM。FouquetthatIfinditunseemlyandimproper，andthatI
commanditshouldcease。\"
Thesecondmaskedpersontowhomthekinghadaddressedhimselfwasamanofhugestatureandvastcircumference。？Heheldhimselferectandmotionlessasanyblockofmarble。？\"Well！\"addedtheking，stampinghisfoot，\"youdonotanswer！\"
\"Wedonotansweryou，mygoodmonsieur，\"saidthegiant，inastentorianvoice，\"becausethereisnothingtosay。\"
\"Atleast，tellmewhatyouwant，\"exclaimedLouis，foldinghisarmswithapassionategesture。
\"Youwillknowbyandby，\"repliedthemanwhoheldthelamp。
\"InthemeantimetellmewhereIam。\"
\"Look。\"
Louislookedallroundhim;butbythelightofthelampwhichthemaskedfigureraisedforthepurpose，hecouldperceivenothingbutthedampwallswhichglistenedhereandtherewiththeslimytracesofthesnail。？\"Oh—oh！—adungeon，\"criedtheking。
\"No，asubterraneanpassage。\"
\"Whichleads—？\"
\"Willyoubegoodenoughtofollowus？\"
\"I
shallnotstirfromhence！\"criedtheking。
\"Ifyouareobstinate，mydearyoungfriend，\"repliedthetallerofthetwo，\"Iwillliftyouupinmyarms，androllyouupinyourowncloak，andifyoushouldhappentobestifled，why—somuchtheworseforyou。\"
Ashesaidthis，hedisengagedfrombeneathhiscloakahandofwhichMiloofCrotonawouldhaveenviedhimthepossession，onthedaywhenhehadthatunhappyideaofrendinghislastoak。？Thekingdreadedviolence，forhecouldwellbelievethatthetwomenintowhosepowerhehadfallenhadnotgonesofarwithanyideaofdrawingback，andthattheywouldconsequentlybereadytoproceedtoextremities，ifnecessary。？Heshookhisheadandsaid:
\"ItseemsIhavefallenintothehandsofacoupleofassassins。？Moveon，then。\"
Neitherofthemenansweredawordtothisremark。？Theonewhocarriedthelanternwalkedfirst，thekingfollowedhim，whilethesecondmaskedfigureclosedtheprocession。？Inthismannertheypassedalongawindinggalleryofsomelength，withasmanystaircasesleadingoutofitasaretobefoundinthemysteriousandgloomypalacesofAnnRadcliffe\'screation。？Allthesewindingsandturnings，duringwhichthekingheardthesoundofrunningwateroverhishead，endedatlastinalongcorridorclosedbyanirondoor。？Thefigurewiththelampopenedthedoorwithoneofthekeysheworesuspendedathisgirdle，where，duringthewholeofthebriefjourney，thekinghadheardthemrattle。？Assoonasthedoorwasopenedandadmittedtheair，Louisrecognizedthebalmyodorsthattreesexhaleinhotsummernights。？Hepaused，hesitatingly，foramomentortwo;butthehugesentinelwhofollowedhimthrusthimoutofthesubterraneanpassage。
\"Anotherblow，\"saidtheking，turningtowardstheonewhohadjusthadtheaudacitytotouchhissovereign;\"whatdoyouintendtodowiththekingofFrance？\"
\"Trytoforgetthatword，\"repliedthemanwiththelamp，inatonewhichaslittleadmittedofareplyasoneofthefamousdecreesofMinos。
\"Youdeservetobebrokenonthewheelforthewordsthatyouhavejustmadeuseof，\"saidthegiant，asheextinguishedthelamphiscompanionhandedtohim;\"butthekingistookind—hearted。\"
Louis，atthatthreat，madesosuddenamovementthatitseemedasifhemeditatedflight;
butthegiant\'shandwasinamomentplacedonhisshoulder，andfixedhimmotionlesswherehestood。？\"Buttellme，atleast，wherewearegoing，\"saidtheking。
\"Come，\"
repliedtheformerofthetwomen，withakindofrespectinhismanner，andleadinghisprisonertowardsacarriagewhichseemedtobeinwaiting。
Thecarriagewascompletelyconcealedamidthetrees。？Twohorses，withtheirfeetfettered，werefastenedbyahaltertothelowerbranchesofalargeoak。
\"Getin，\"saidthesameman，openingthecarriage—doorandlettingdownthestep。？Thekingobeyed，seatedhimselfatthebackofthecarriage，thepaddeddoorofwhichwasshutandlockedimmediatelyuponhimandhisguide。？Asforthegiant，hecutthefasteningsbywhichthehorseswerebound，harnessedthemhimself，andmountedontheboxofthecarriage，whichwasunoccupied。？Thecarriagesetoffimmediatelyataquicktrot，turnedintotheroadtoParis，andintheforestofSenartfoundarelayofhorsesfastenedtothetreesinthesamemannerthefirsthorseshadbeen，andwithoutapostilion。？Themanontheboxchangedthehorses，andcontinuedtofollowtheroadtowardsPariswiththesamerapidity，sothattheyenteredthecityaboutthreeo\'clockinthemorning。？TheycarriageproceededalongtheFaubourgSaint—Antoine，and，afterhavingcalledouttothesentinel，\"Bytheking\'sorder，\"thedriverconductedthehorsesintothecircularinclosureoftheBastile，lookingoutuponthecourtyard，calledLaCourduGouvernement。？Therethehorsesdrewup，reekingwithsweat，attheflightofsteps，andasergeantoftheguardranforward。？\"Goandwakethegovernor，\"saidthecoachmaninavoiceofthunder。
Withtheexceptionofthisvoice，whichmighthavebeenheardattheentranceoftheFaubourgSaint—Antoine，everythingremainedascalminthecarriageasintheprison。？Tenminutesafterwards，M。deBaisemeauxappearedinhisdressing—gownonthethresholdofthedoor。？\"Whatisthematternow？\"heasked;\"andwhomhaveyoubroughtmethere？\"