Themanwiththelanternopenedthecarriage—door，andsaidtwoorthreewordstotheonewhoactedasdriver，whoimmediatelygotdownfromhisseat，tookupashortmusketwhichhekeptunderhisfeet，andplaceditsmuzzleonhisprisoner\'schest。
\"Andfireatonceifhespeaks！\"addedaloudthemanwhoalightedfromthecarriage。
\"Verygood，\"repliedhiscompanion，withoutanotherremark。
Withthisrecommendation，thepersonwhohadaccompaniedthekinginthecarriageascendedtheflightofsteps，atthetopofwhichthegovernorwasawaitinghim。？\"Monsieurd\'Herblay！\"saidthelatter。
\"Hush！\"
saidAramis。？\"Letusgointoyourroom。\"
\"Goodheavens！whatbringsyouhereatthishour？\"
\"A
mistake，mydearMonsieurdeBaisemeaux，\"Aramisreplied，quietly。？\"Itappearsthatyouwerequiterighttheotherday。\"
\"Whatabout？\"inquiredthegovernor。
\"Abouttheorderofrelease，mydearfriend。\"
\"Tellmewhatyoumean，monsieur—no，monseigneur，\"saidthegovernor，almostsuffocatedbysurpriseandterror。
\"Itisaverysimpleaffair:youremember，dearM。deBaisemeaux，thatanorderofreleasewassenttoyou。\"
\"Yes，forMarchiali。\"
\"Verygood！weboththoughtthatitwasforMarchiali？\"
\"Certainly;
youwillrecollect，however，thatIwouldnotcreditit，butthatyoucompelledmetobelieveit。\"
\"Oh！？Baisemeaux，mygoodfellow，whatawordtomakeuseof！—stronglyrecommended，thatwasall。\"
\"Stronglyrecommended，yes;stronglyrecommendedtogivehimuptoyou;andthatyoucarriedhimoffwithyouinyourcarriage。\"
\"Well，mydearMonsieurdeBaisemeaux，itwasamistake;itwasdiscoveredattheministry，sothatInowbringyouanorderfromthekingtosetatlibertySeldon，—thatpoorSeldonfellow，youknow。\"
\"Seldon！
areyousurethistime？\"
\"Well，readityourself，\"addedAramis，handinghimtheorder。
\"Why，\"
saidBaisemeaux，\"thisorderistheverysamethathasalreadypassedthroughmyhands。\"
\"Indeed？\"
\"ItistheveryoneIassuredyouIsawtheotherevening。？Parbleu！？Irecognizeitbytheblotofink。\"
\"I
donotknowwhetheritisthat;butallIknowis，thatIbringitforyou。\"
\"Butthen，whatabouttheother？\"
\"Whatother？\"
\"Marchiali。\"
\"I
havegothimherewithme。\"
\"Butthatisnotenoughforme。？Irequireanewordertotakehimbackagain。\"
\"Don\'ttalksuchnonsense，mydearBaisemeaux;youtalklikeachild！？WhereistheorderyoureceivedrespectingMarchiali？\"
Baisemeauxrantohisironchestandtookitout。？Aramisseizedholdofit，coollytoreitinfourpieces，heldthemtothelamp，andburntthem。？\"Goodheavens！whatareyoudoing？\"exclaimedBaisemeaux，inanextremityofterror。
\"Lookatyourpositionquietly，mygoodgovernor，\"saidAramis，withimperturbableself—possession，\"andyouwillseehowverysimplethewholeaffairis。？YounolongerpossessanyorderjustifyingMarchiali\'srelease。\"
\"I
amalostman！\"
\"Farfromit，mygoodfellow，sinceIhavebroughtMarchialibacktoyou，andallaccordinglyisjustthesameasifhehadneverleft。\"
\"Ah！\"
saidthegovernor，completelyovercomebyterror。
\"Plainenough，yousee;andyouwillgoandshuthimupimmediately。\"
\"I
shouldthinkso，indeed。\"
\"AndyouwillhandoverthisSeldontome，whoseliberationisauthorizedbythisorder。？Doyouunderstand？\"
\"I
—I—\"
\"Youdounderstand，Isee，\"saidAramis。？\"Verygood。\"？Baisemeauxclappedhishandstogether。
\"Butwhy，atallevents，afterhavingtakenMarchialiawayfromme，doyoubringhimbackagain？\"criedtheunhappygovernor，inaparoxysmofterror，andcompletelydumbfounded。
\"Forafriendsuchasyouare，\"saidAramis—\"forsodevotedaservant，I
havenosecrets;\"andheputhismouthclosetoBaisemeaux\'sear，ashesaid，inalowtoneofvoice，\"youknowtheresemblancebetweenthatunfortunatefellow，and—\"
\"Andtheking？—yes！\"
\"Verygood;thefirstusethatMarchialimadeofhislibertywastopersist—Canyouguesswhat？\"
\"HowisitlikelyIshouldguess？\"
\"TopersistinsayingthathewaskingofFrance;todresshimselfupinclotheslikethoseoftheking;andthenpretendtoassumethathewasthekinghimself。\"
\"Graciousheavens！\"
\"ThatisthereasonwhyIhavebroughthimbackagain，mydearfriend。？Heismadandletseveryoneseehowmadheis。\"
\"Whatistobedone，then？\"
\"Thatisverysimple;letnooneholdanycommunicationwithhim。？Youunderstandthatwhenhispeculiarstyleofmadnesscametotheking\'sears，theking，whohadpitiedhisterribleaffliction，andsawthatallhiskindnesshadbeenrepaidbyblackingratitude，becameperfectlyfurious;sothat，now—andrememberthisverydistinctly，dearMonsieurdeBaisemeaux，foritconcernsyoumostclosely—sothatthereisnow，Irepeat，sentenceofdeathpronouncedagainstallthosewhomayallowhimtocommunicatewithanyoneelsebutmeorthekinghimself。？Youunderstand，Baisemeaux，sentenceofdeath！\"
\"YouneednotaskmewhetherIunderstand。\"
\"Andnow，letusgodown，andconductthispoordevilbacktohisdungeonagain，unlessyoupreferheshouldcomeuphere。\"
\"Whatwouldbethegoodofthat？\"
\"Itwouldbebetter，perhaps，toenterhisnameintheprison—bookatonce！\"
\"Ofcourse，certainly;notadoubtofit。\"
\"Inthatcase，havehimup。\"
Baisemeauxorderedthedrumstobebeatenandthebelltoberung，asawarningtoeveryonetoretire，inordertoavoidmeetingaprisoner，aboutwhomitwasdesiredtoobserveacertainmystery。？Then，whenthepassageswerefree，hewenttotaketheprisonerfromthecarriage，atwhosebreastPorthos，faithfultothedirectionswhichhadbeengivenhim，stillkepthismusketleveled。？\"Ah！isthatyou，miserablewretch？\"criedthegovernor，assoonasheperceivedtheking。？\"Verygood，verygood。\"？Andimmediately，makingthekinggetoutofthecarriage，heledhim，stillaccompaniedbyPorthos，whohadnottakenoffhismask，andAramis，whoagainresumedhis，upthestairs，tothesecondBertaudi鑢e，andopenedthedooroftheroominwhichPhilippeforsixlongyearshadbemoanedhisexistence。？Thekingenteredthecellwithoutpronouncingasingleword:hefalteredinaslimpandhaggardasarain—strucklily。？Baisemeauxshutthedooruponhim，turnedthekeytwiceinthelock，andthenreturnedtoAramis。？\"Itisquitetrue，\"
hesaid，inalowtone，\"thathebearsastrikingresemblancetotheking;
butlesssothanyousaid。\"
\"Sothat，\"saidAramis，\"youwouldnothavebeendeceivedbythesubstitutionoftheonefortheother？\"
\"Whataquestion！\"
\"Youareamostvaluablefellow，Baisemeaux，\"saidAramis;\"andnow，setSeldonfree。\"
\"Oh，yes。？Iwasgoingtoforgetthat。？Iwillgoandgiveordersatonce。\"
\"Bah！
to—morrowwillbetimeenough。\"
\"To—morrow！
—oh，no。？Thisveryminute。\"
\"Well;
goofftoyouraffairs，Iwillgoawaytomine。？Butitisquiteunderstood，isitnot？\"
\"What\'isquiteunderstood\'？\"
\"Thatnooneistoentertheprisoner\'scell，expectwithanorderfromtheking;anorderwhichIwillmyselfbring。\"
\"Quiteso。？Adieu，monseigneur。\"
Aramisreturnedtohiscompanion。？\"Now，Porthos，mygoodfellow，backagaintoVaux，andasfastaspossible。\"
\"A
manislightandeasyenough，whenhehasfaithfullyservedhisking;and，inservinghim，savedhiscountry，\"saidPorthos。？\"Thehorseswillbeaslightasifourtissueswereconstructedofthewindofheaven。？Soletusbeoff。\"？Andthecarriage，lightenedofaprisoner，whomightwellbe—asheinfactwas—veryheavyinthesightofAramis，passedacrossthedrawbridgeoftheBastile，whichwasraisedagainimmediatelybehindit。
ChapterXVIII:
A
NightattheBastile。
Pain，anguish，andsufferinginhumanlifearealwaysinproportiontothestrengthwithwhichamanisendowed。？WewillnotpretendtosaythatHeavenalwaysapportionstoaman\'scapabilityofendurancetheanguishwithwhichheafflictshim;forthat，indeed，wouldnotbetrue，sinceHeavenpermitstheexistenceofdeath，whichis，sometimes，theonlyrefugeopentothosewhoaretoocloselypressed—toobitterlyafflicted，asfarasthebodyisconcerned。？Sufferingisinproportiontothestrengthwhichhasbeenaccorded;inotherwords，theweaksuffermore，wherethetrialisthesame，thanthestrong。？Andwhataretheelementaryprinciples，wemayask，thatcomposehumanstrength？？Isitnot—morethananythingelse—exercise，habit，experience？？Weshallnoteventakethetroubletodemonstratethis，foritisanaxiominmorals，asinphysics。？Whentheyoungking，stupefiedandcrushedineverysenseandfeeling，foundhimselfledtoacellintheBastile，hefancieddeathitselfisbutasleep;thatit，too，hasitsdreamsaswell;thatthebedhadbrokenthroughtheflooringofhisroomatVaux;thatdeathhadresultedfromtheoccurrence;andthat，stillcarryingouthisdream，theking，LouisXIV。，nownolongerliving，wasdreamingoneofthosehorrors，impossibletorealizeinlife，whichistermeddethronement，imprisonment，andinsulttowardsasovereignwhoformerlywieldedunlimitedpower。？Tobepresentat—anactualwitness，too—ofthisbitternessofdeath;tofloat，indecisively，inanincomprehensiblemystery，betweenresemblanceandreality;toheareverything，toseeeverything，withoutinterferinginasingledetailofagonizingsuffering，was—sothekingthoughtwithinhimself—atorturefarmoreterrible，sinceitmightlastforever。？\"Isthiswhatistermedeternity—hell？\"hemurmured，atthemomentthedoorwascloseduponhim，whichwerememberBaisemeauxhadshutwithhisownhands。？Hedidnotevenlookroundhim;andintheroom，leaningwithhisbackagainstthewall，heallowedhimselftobecarriedawaybytheterriblesuppositionthathewasalreadydead，asheclosedhiseyes，inordertoavoidlookinguponsomethingevenworsestill。？\"HowcanIhavedied？\"hesaidtohimself，sickwithterror。？\"Thebedmighthavebeenletdownbysomeartificialmeans？？Butno！？Idonotremembertohavefeltabruise，noranyshockeither。？Wouldtheynotratherhavepoisonedmeatmymeals，orwiththefumesofwax，astheydidmyancestress，Jeanned\'Albret？\"？Suddenly，thechillofthedungeonsseemedtofalllikeawetcloakuponLouis\'sshoulders。？\"Ihaveseen，\"hesaid，\"myfatherlyingdeaduponhisfuneralcouch，inhisregalrobes。？Thatpaleface，socalmandworn;thosehands，oncesoskillful，lyingnervelessbyhisside;thoselimbsstiffenedbytheicygraspofdeath;nothingtherebetokenedasleepthatwasdisturbedbydreams。？Andyet，hownumerouswerethedreamswhichHeavenmighthavesentthatroyalcorpse—himwhomsomanyothershadpreceded，hurriedawaybyhimintoeternaldeath！？No，thatkingwasstilltheking:hewasenthronedstilluponthatfuneralcouch，asuponavelvetarmchair;hehadnotabdicatedonetitleofhismajesty。？God，whohadnotpunishedhim，cannot，willnotpunishme，whohavedonenothing。\"？Astrangesoundattractedtheyoungman\'sattention。？Helookedroundhim，andsawonthemantel—shelf，justbelowanenormouscrucifix，coarselypaintedinfrescoonthewall，aratofenormoussizeengagedinnibblingapieceofdrybread，butfixingallthetime，anintelligentandinquiringlookuponthenewoccupantofthecell。？Thekingcouldnotresistasuddenimpulseoffearanddisgust:hemovedbacktowardsthedoor，utteringaloudcry;andasifhebutneededthiscry，whichescapedfromhisbreastalmostunconsciously，torecognizehimself，Louisknewthathewasaliveandinfullpossessionofhisnaturalsenses。？\"Aprisoner！\"hecried。？\"I—I，aprisoner！\"？Helookedroundhimforabelltosummonsomeonetohim。？\"TherearenobellsintheBastile，\"hesaid，\"anditisintheBastileIamimprisoned。？InwhatwaycanIhavebeenmadeaprisoner？？ItmusthavebeenowingtoaconspiracyofM。Fouquet。？IhavebeendrawntoVaux，astoasnare。？M。Fouquetcannotbeactingaloneinthisaffair。？Hisagent—ThatvoicethatIbutjustnowheardwasM。d\'Herblay\'s;Irecognizedit。？Colbertwasright，then。？ButwhatisFouquet\'sobject？？Toreigninmyplaceandstead？—
Impossible。？Yetwhoknows！\"
thoughttheking，relapsingintogloomagain。？\"Perhapsmybrother，theDucd\'Orl閍ns，isdoingthatwhichmyunclewishedtododuringthewholeofhislifeagainstmyfather。？Butthequeen？—Mymother，too？？AndLaValli鑢e？？Oh！？LaValli鑢e，shewillhavebeenabandonedtoMadame。？Dear，deargirl！？Yes，itis—itmustbeso。？Theyhaveshutherupastheyhaveme。？Weareseparatedforever！\"？Andatthisideaofseparationthepoorloverburstintoafloodoftearsandsobsandgroans。
\"Thereisagovernorinthisplace，\"thekingcontinued，inafuryofpassion;
\"Iwillspeaktohim，Iwillsummonhimtome。\"
Hecalled—novoicerepliedtohis。？Heseizedholdofhischair，andhurleditagainstthemassiveoakendoor。？Thewoodresoundedagainstthedoor，andawakenedmanyamournfulechointheprofounddepthsofthestaircase;butfromahumancreature，none。
ThiswasafreshproofforthekingoftheslightregardinwhichhewasheldattheBastile。？Therefore，whenhisfirstfitofangerhadpassedaway，havingremarkedabarredwindowthroughwhichtherepassedastreamoflight，lozenge—shaped，whichmustbe，heknew，thebrightorbofapproachingday，Louisbegantocallout，atfirstgentlyenough，thenlouderandlouderstill;butnoonereplied。？Twentyotherattemptswhichhemade，oneafteranother，obtainednootherorbettersuccess。？Hisbloodbegantoboilwithinhim，andmounttohishead。？Hisnaturewassuch，that，accustomedtocommand，hetrembledattheideaofdisobedience。？Theprisonerbrokethechair，whichwastooheavyforhimtolift，andmadeuseofitasabatteringramtostrikeagainstthedoor。？Hestrucksoloudly，andsorepeatedly，thattheperspirationsoonbegantopourdownhisface。？Thesoundbecametremendousandcontinuous;certainstifled，smotheredcriesrepliedindifferentdirections。？Thissoundproducedastrangeeffectupontheking。？Hepausedtolisten;itwasthevoiceoftheprisoners，formerlyhisvictims，nowhiscompanions。？Thevoicesascendedlikevaporsthroughthethickceilingsandthemassivewalls，androseinaccusationsagainsttheauthorofthisnoise，asdoubtlesstheirsighsandtearsaccused，inwhisperedtones，theauthoroftheircaptivity。？Afterhavingdeprivedsomanypeopleoftheirliberty，thekingcameamongthemtorobthemoftheirrest。？Thisideaalmostdrovehimmad;itredoubledhisstrength，orratherhiswell，bentuponobtainingsomeinformation，oraconclusiontotheaffair。？Withaportionofthebrokenchairherecommencedthenoise。？Attheendofanhour，Louisheardsomethinginthecorridor，behindthedoorofhiscell，andaviolentblow，whichwasreturneduponthedooritself，madehimceasehisown。
\"Areyoumad？\"saidarude，brutalvoice。？\"Whatisthematterwithyouthismorning？\"
\"Thismorning！\"thoughttheking;buthesaidaloud，politely，\"Monsieur，areyouthegovernoroftheBastile？\"
\"Mygoodfellow，yourheadisoutofsorts，\"repliedthevoice;\"butthatisnoreasonwhyyoushouldmakesuchaterribledisturbance。？Bequiet;mordioux！\"
\"Areyouthegovernor？\"thekinginquiredagain。
Heheardadooronthecorridorclose;thejailerhadjustleft，notcondescendingtoreplyasingleword。？Whenthekinghadassuredhimselfofhisdeparture，hisfuryknewnolongeranybounds。？Asagileasatiger，heleapedfromthetabletothewindow，andstrucktheironbarswithallhismight。？Hebrokeapaneofglass，thepiecesofwhichfellclankingintothecourtyardbelow。？Heshoutedwithincreasinghoarseness，\"Thegovernor，thegovernor！\"？Thisexcesslastedfullyanhour，duringwhichtimehewasinaburningfever。？Withhishairindisorderandmattedonhisforehead，hisdresstornandcoveredwithdustandplaster，hislineninshreds，thekingneverresteduntilhisstrengthwasutterlyexhausted，anditwasnotuntilthenthatheclearlyunderstoodthepitilessthicknessofthewalls，theimpenetrablenatureofthecement，invincibletoeveryinfluencebutthatoftime，andthathepossessednootherweaponbutdespair。？Heleanedhisforeheadagainstthedoor，andletthefeverishthrobbingsofhisheartcalmbydegrees;ithadseemedasifonesingleadditionalpulsationwouldhavemadeitburst。
\"A
momentwillcomewhenthefoodwhichisgiventotheprisonerswillbebroughttome。？Ishallthenseesomeone，I
shallspeaktohim，andgetananswer。\"
AndthekingtriedtorememberatwhathourthefirstrepastoftheprisonerswasservedattheBastile;hewasignorantevenofthisdetail。？Thefeelingofremorseatthisremembrancesmotehimlikethethrustofadagger，thatheshouldhavelivedforfiveandtwentyyearsaking，andintheenjoymentofeveryhappiness，withouthavingbestowedamoment\'sthoughtonthemiseryofthosewhohadbeenunjustlydeprivedoftheirliberty。？Thekingblushedforveryshame。？HefeltthatHeaven，inpermittingthisfearfulhumiliation，didnomorethanrendertothemanthesametortureashadbeeninflictedbythatmanuponsomanyothers。？Nothingcouldbemoreefficaciousforreawakeninghismindtoreligiousinfluencesthantheprostrationofhisheartandmindandsoulbeneaththefeelingofsuchacutewretchedness。？ButLouisdarednotevenkneelinprayertoGodtoentreathimtoterminatehisbittertrial。
\"Heavenisright，\"hesaid;\"Heavenactswisely。？ItwouldbecowardlytopraytoHeavenforthatwhichIhavesooftenrefusedmyownfellow—creatures。\"
Hehadreachedthisstageofhisreflections，thatis，ofhisagonyofmind，whenasimilarnoisewasagainheardbehindhisdoor，followedthistimebythesoundofthekeyinthelock，andoftheboltsbeingwithdrawnfromtheirstaples。？Thekingboundedforwardtobenearertothepersonwhowasabouttoenter，but，suddenlyreflectingthatitwasamovementunworthyofasovereign，hepaused，assumedanobleandcalmexpression，whichforhimwaseasyenough，andwaitedwithhisbackturnedtowardsthewindow，inorder，tosomeextent，toconcealhisagitationfromtheeyesofthepersonwhowasabouttoenter。？Itwasonlyajailerwithabasketofprovisions。？Thekinglookedatthemanwithrestlessanxiety，andwaiteduntilhespoke。
\"Ah！\"
saidthelatter，\"youhavebrokenyourchair。？Isaidyouhaddoneso！？Why，youhavegonequitemad。\"
\"Monsieur，\"
saidtheking，\"becarefulwhatyousay;itwillbeaveryseriousaffairforyou。\"
Thejailerplacedthebasketonthetable，andlookedathisprisonersteadily。？\"Whatdoyousay？\"
hesaid。
\"Desirethegovernortocometome，\"addedtheking，inaccentsfullofcalmanddignity。
\"Come，myboy，\"saidtheturnkey，\"youhavealwaysbeenveryquietandreasonable，butyouaregettingvicious，itseems，andIwishyoutoknowitintime。？Youhavebrokenyourchair，andmadeagreatdisturbance;thatisanoffensepunishablebyimprisonmentinoneofthelowerdungeons。？Promisemenottobeginoveragain，andIwillnotsayawordaboutittothegovernor。\"
\"I
wishtoseethegovernor，\"repliedtheking，stillgoverninghispassions。
\"Hewillsendyouofftooneofthedungeons，Itellyou;sotakecare。\"
\"I
insistuponit，doyouhear？\"
\"Ah！
ah！youreyesarebecomingwildagain。？Verygood！？Ishalltakeawayyourknife。\"
Andthejailerdidwhathesaid，quittedtheprisoner，andclosedthedoor，leavingthekingmoreastounded，morewretched，moreisolatedthanever。？Itwasuseless，thoughhetriedit，tomakethesamenoiseagainonhisdoor，andequallyuselessthathethrewtheplatesanddishesoutofthewindow;notasinglesoundwasheardinrecognition。？Twohoursafterwardshecouldnotberecognizedasaking，agentleman，aman，ahumanbeing;hemightratherbecalledamadman，tearingthedoorwithhisnails，tryingtotearuptheflooringofhiscell，andutteringsuchwildandfearfulcriesthattheoldBastileseemedtotrembletoitsveryfoundationsforhavingrevoltedagainstitsmaster。？Asforthegovernor，thejailerdidnoteventhinkofdisturbinghim;theturnkeysandthesentinelshadreportedtheoccurrencetohim，butwhatwasthegoodofit？？Werenotthesemadmencommonenoughinsuchaprison？andwerenotthewallsstillstronger？？M。deBaisemeaux，thoroughlyimpressedwithwhatAramishadtoldhim，andinperfectconformitywiththeking\'sorder，hopedonlythatonethingmighthappen;namely，thatthemadmanMarchialimightbemadenoughtohanghimselftothecanopyofhisbed，ortooneofthebarsofthewindow。？Infact，theprisonerwasanythingbutaprofitableinvestmentforM。Baisemeaux，andbecamemoreannoyingthanagreeabletohim。？ThesecomplicationsofSeldonandMarchiali—thecomplicationsfirstofsettingatlibertyandthenimprisoningagain，thecomplicationsarisingfromthestronglikenessinquestion—hadatlastfoundaveryproperd閚ouement。？BaisemeauxeventhoughthehadremarkedthatD\'Herblayhimselfwasnotaltogetherdissatisfiedwiththeresult。
\"Andthen，really，\"saidBaisemeauxtohisnextincommand，\"anordinaryprisonerisalreadyunhappyenoughinbeingaprisoner;hesuffersquiteenough，indeed，toinduceonetohope，charitablyenough，thathisdeathmaynotbefardistant。？Withstillgreaterreason，accordingly，whentheprisonerhasgonemad，andmightbiteandmakeaterribledisturbanceintheBastile;why，insuchacase，itisnotsimplyanactofmerecharitytowishhimdead;itwouldbealmostagoodandevencommendableaction，quietlytohavehimputoutofhismisery。\"
Andthegood—naturedgovernorthereuponsatdowntohislatebreakfast。
ChapterXIX:
TheShadowofM。Fouquet。
D\'Artagnan，stillconfusedandoppressedbytheconversationhehadjusthadwiththeking，couldnotresistaskinghimselfifhewerereallyinpossessionofhissenses，ifhewerereallyandtrulyatVaux;ifhe，D\'Artagnan，werereallythecaptainofthemusketeers，andM。Fouquettheownerofthech鈚eauinwhichLouisXIV。
wasatthatmomentpartakingofhishospitality。？Thesereflectionswerenotthoseofadrunkenman，althougheverythingwasinprodigalprofusionatVaux，andthesurintendant\'swineshadmetwithadistinguishedreceptionatthef阾e。？TheGascon，however，wasamanofcalmself—possession;andnosoonerdidhetouchhisbrightsteelblade，thanheknewhowtoadoptmorallythecold，keenweaponashisguideofaction。
\"Well，\"
hesaid，ashequittedtheroyalapartment，\"Iseemnowtobemixeduphistoricallywiththedestiniesofthekingandoftheminister;itwillbewritten，thatM。d\'Artagnan，ayoungersonofaGasconfamily，placedhishandontheshoulderofM。NicolasFouquet，thesurintendantofthefinancesofFrance。？Mydescendants，ifIhaveany，willflatterthemselveswiththedistinctionwhichthisarrestwillconfer，justasthemembersoftheDeLuynesfamilyhavedonewithregardtotheestatesofthepoorMar閏hald\'Ancre。？Butthethingis，howbesttoexecutetheking\'sdirectionsinapropermanner。？AnymanwouldknowhowtosaytoM。Fouquet，\'Yoursword，monsieur。\'？ButitisnoteveryonewhowouldbeabletotakecareofM。Fouquetwithoutothersknowinganythingaboutit。？HowamItomanage，then，sothatM。lesurintendantpassfromtheheightoffavortothedirestdisgrace;thatVauxbeturnedintoadungeonforhim;thatafterhavingbeensteepedtohislips，asitwere，inalltheperfumesandincenseofAhasuerus，heistransferredtothegallowsofHaman;inotherwords，ofEnguerranddeMarigny？\"？Andatthisreflection，D\'Artagnan\'sbrowbecamecloudedwithperplexity。？Themusketeerhadcertainscruplesonthematter，itmustbeadmitted。？Todeliveruptodeath（fornotadoubtexistedthatLouishatedFouquetmortally）themanwhohadjustshownhimselfsodelightfulandcharmingahostineveryway，wasarealinsulttoone\'sconscience。？\"Italmostseems，\"saidD\'Artagnantohimself，\"thatifIamnotapoor，mean，miserablefellow，IshouldletM。Fouquetknowtheopinionthekinghasabouthim。？Yet，ifIbetraymymaster\'ssecret，Ishallbeafalse—hearted，treacherousknave，atraitor，too，acrimeprovidedforandpunishablebymilitarylaws—somuchso，indeed，thattwentytimes，informerdayswhenwarswererife，Ihaveseenmanyamiserablefellowstrunguptoatreefordoing，inbutasmalldegree，whatmyscruplescounselmetoundertakeuponagreatscalenow。？No，Ithinkthatamanoftruereadinessofwitoughttogetoutofthisdifficultywithmoreskillthanthat。？Andnow，letusadmitthatIdopossessalittlereadinessofinvention;
itisnotatallcertain，though，for，afterhavingforfortyyearsabsorbedsolargeaquantity，Ishallbeluckyifthereweretobeapistole\'s—worthleft。\"？D\'Artagnanburiedhisheadinhishands，toreathismustacheinsheervexation，andadded，\"WhatcanbethereasonofM。Fouquet\'sdisgrace？？Thereseemtobethreegoodones:thefirst，becauseM。Colbertdoesn\'tlikehim;thesecond，becausehewishedtofallinlovewithMademoiselledelaValli鑢e;andlastly，becausethekinglikesM。ColbertandlovesMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？Oh！heislost！？ButshallIputmyfootonhisneck，I，ofallmen，whenheisfallingapreytotheintriguesofapackofwomenandclerks？？Forshame！？Ifhebedangerous，Iwilllayhimlowenough;if，however，hebeonlypersecuted，Iwilllookon。？Ihavecometosuchadecisivedetermination，thatneitherkingnorlivingmanshallchangemymind。？IfAthoswerehere，hewoulddoasIhavedone。？Therefore，insteadofgoing，incoldblood，uptoM。Fouquet，andarrestinghimoff—handandshuttinghimupaltogether，Iwilltryandconductmyselflikeamanwhounderstandswhatgoodmannersare。？Peoplewilltalkaboutit，ofcourse;buttheyshalltalkwellofit，Iamdetermined。\"？AndD\'Artagnan，drawingbyagesturepeculiartohimselfhisshoulder—beltoverhisshoulder，wentstraightofftoM。Fouquet，who，afterhehadtakenleaveofhisguests，waspreparingtoretireforthenightandtosleeptranquillyafterthetriumphsoftheday。？Theairwasstillperfumed，orinfected，whicheverwayitmaybeconsidered，withtheodorsofthetorchesandthefireworks。？Thewax—lightsweredyingawayintheirsockets，theflowersfellunfastenedfromthegarlands，thegroupsofdancersandcourtierswereseparatinginthesalons。？Surroundedbyhisfriends，whocomplimentedhimandreceivedhisflatteringremarksinreturn，thesurintendanthalf—closedhisweariedeyes。？Helongedforrestandquiet;hesankuponthebedoflaurelswhichhadbeenheapedupforhimforsomanydayspast;itmightalmosthavebeensaidthatheseemedbowedbeneaththeweightofthenewdebtswhichhehadincurredforthepurposeofgivingthegreatestpossiblehonortothisf阾e。？Fouquethadjustretiredtohisroom，stillsmiling，butmorethanhalf—asleep。？Hecouldlistentonothingmore，hecouldhardlykeephiseyesopen;hisbedseemedtopossessafascinatingandirresistibleattractionforhim。？ThegodMorpheus，thepresidingdeityofthedomepaintedbyLebrun，hadextendedhisinfluenceovertheadjoiningrooms，andshowereddownhismostsleep—inducingpoppiesuponthemasterofthehouse。？Fouquet，almostentirelyalone，wasbeingassistedbyhisvaletdechambretoundress，whenM。d\'Artagnanappearedattheentranceoftheroom。？D\'Artagnanhadneverbeenabletosucceedinmakinghimselfcommonatthecourt;andnotwithstandinghewasseeneverywhereandonalloccasions，heneverfailedtoproduceaneffectwhereverandwheneverhemadehisappearance。？Suchisthehappyprivilegeofcertainnatures，whichinthatrespectresembleeitherthunderorlightning;everyonerecognizesthem;buttheirappearanceneverfailstoarousesurpriseandastonishment，andwhenevertheyoccur，theimpressionisalwaysleftthatthelastwasthemostconspicuousormostimportant。