\"What！？M。d\'Artagnan？\"saidFouquet，whohadalreadytakenhisrightarmoutofthesleeveofhisdoublet。
\"Atyourservice，\"repliedthemusketeer。
\"Comein，mydearM。d\'Artagnan。\"
\"Thankyou。\"
\"Haveyoucometocriticisethef阾e？？Youareingeniousenoughinyourcriticisms，Iknow。\"
\"Bynomeans。\"
\"Arenotyourmenlookedafterproperly？\"
\"Ineveryway。\"
\"Youarenotcomfortablylodged，perhaps？\"
\"Nothingcouldbebetter。\"
\"Inthatcase，Ihavetothankyouforbeingsoamiablydisposed，andImustnotfailtoexpressmyobligationstoyouforallyourflatteringkindness。\"
Thesewordswereasmuchastosay，\"MydearD\'Artagnan，praygotobed，sinceyouhaveabedtoliedownon，andletmedothesame。\"
D\'Artagnandidnotseemtounderstandit。
\"Areyougoingtobedalready？\"hesaidtothesuperintendent。
\"Yes;
haveyouanythingtosaytome？\"
\"Nothing，monsieur，nothingatall。？Yousleepinthisroom，then？\"
\"Yes;
asyousee。\"
\"Youhavegivenamostcharmingf阾etotheking。\"
\"Doyouthinkso？\"
\"Oh！
beautiful！\"
\"Isthekingpleased？\"
\"Enchanted。\"
\"Didhedesireyoutosayasmuchtome？\"
\"Hewouldnotchoosesounworthyamessenger，monseigneur。\"
\"Youdonotdoyourselfjustice，Monsieurd\'Artagnan。\"
\"Isthatyourbed，there？\"
\"Yes;
butwhydoyouask？？Areyounotsatisfiedwithyourown？\"
\"MyIspeakfranklytoyou？\"
\"Mostassuredly。\"
\"Well，then，Iamnot。\"
Fouquetstarted;andthenreplied，\"Willyoutakemyroom，Monsieurd\'Artagnan？\"
\"What！
depriveyouofit，monseigneur？never！\"
\"WhatamItodo，then？\"
\"Allowmetoshareyourswithyou。\"
Fouquetlookedatthemusketeerfixedly。？\"Ah！ah！\"hesaid，\"youhavejustlefttheking。\"
\"I
have，monseigneur。\"
\"Andthekingwishesyoutopassthenightinmyroom？\"
\"Monseigneur—\"
\"Verywell，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，verywell。？Youarethemasterhere。\"
\"I
assureyou，monseigneur，thatIdonotwishtoabuse—\"
Fouquetturnedtohisvalet，andsaid，\"Leaveus。\"？Whenthemanhadleft，hesaidtoD\'Artagnan，\"Youhavesomethingtosaytome？\"
\"I？\"
\"A
manofyoursuperiorintelligencecannothavecometotalkwithamanlikemyself，atsuchanhourasthepresent，withoutgravemotives。\"
\"Donotinterrogateme。\"
\"Onthecontrary。？Whatdoyouwantwithme？\"
\"Nothingmorethanthepleasureofyoursociety。\"
\"Comeintothegarden，then，\"saidthesuperintendentsuddenly，\"orintothepark。\"
\"No，\"
repliedthemusketeer，hastily，\"no。\"
\"Why？\"
\"Thefreshair—\"
\"Come，admitatoncethatyouarrestme，\"saidthesuperintendenttothecaptain。
\"Never！\"
saidthelatter。
\"Youintendtolookafterme，then？\"
\"Yes，monseigneur，Ido，uponmyhonor。\"
\"Uponyourhonor—ah！thatisquiteanotherthing！？SoIamtobearrestedinmyownhouse。\"
\"Donotsaysuchathing。\"
\"Onthecontrary，Iwillproclaimitaloud。\"
\"Ifyoudoso，Ishallbecompelledtorequestyoutobesilent。\"
\"Verygood！？Violencetowardsme，andinmyownhouse，too。\"
\"Wedonotseemtounderstandoneanotheratall。？Stayamoment;thereisachess—boardthere;wewillhaveagame，ifyouhavenoobjections。\"
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，Iamindisgrace，then？\"
\"Notatall;but—\"
\"I
amprohibited，Isuppose，fromwithdrawingfromyoursight。\"
\"I
donotunderstandawordyouaresaying，monseigneur;andifyouwishmetowithdraw，tellmeso。\"
\"MydearMonsieurd\'Artagnan，yourmodeofactionisenoughtodrivememad;Iwasalmostsinkingforwantofsleep，butyouhavecompletelyawakenedme。\"
\"I
shallneverforgivemyself，Iamsure;andifyouwishtoreconcilemewithmyself，why，gotosleepinyourbedinmypresence;andIshallbedelighted。\"
\"I
amundersurveillance，Isee。\"
\"I
willleavetheroomifyousayanysuchthing。\"
\"Youarebeyondmycomprehension。\"
\"Goodnight，monseigneur，\"saidD\'Artagnan，ashepretendedtowithdraw。
Fouquetranafterhim。？\"Iwillnotliedown，\"hesaid。？\"Seriously，andsinceyourefusetotreatmeasaman，andsinceyoufinessewithme，I
willtryandsetyouatbay，asahunterdoesawildboar。\"
\"Bah！\"
criedD\'Artagnan，pretendingtosmile。
\"I
shallordermyhorses，andsetoffforParis，\"saidFouquet，soundingthecaptainofthemusketeers。
\"Ifthatbethecase，monseigneur，itisverydifficult。\"
\"Youwillarrestme，then？\"
\"No，butIshallgoalongwithyou。\"
\"Thatisquitesufficient，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"returnedFouquet，coldly。？\"Itwasnotfornothingyouacquiredyourreputationasamanofintelligenceandresource;butwithmeallthisisquitesuperfluous。？Letuscometothepoint。？Domeaservice。？Whydoyouarrestme？？WhathaveIdone？\"
\"Oh！？Iknownothingaboutwhatyoumayhavedone;
butIdonotarrestyou—thisevening，atleast！\"
\"Thisevening！\"saidFouquet，turningpale，\"butto—morrow？\"
\"Itisnotto—morrowjustyet，monseigneur。？Whocaneveranswerforthemorrow？\"
\"Quick，quick，captain！letmespeaktoM。d\'Herblay。\"
\"Alas！
thatisquiteimpossible，monseigneur。？Ihavestrictorderstoseethatyouholdnocommunicationwithanyone。\"
\"WithM。d\'Herblay，captain—withyourfriend！\"
\"Monseigneur，isM。d\'Herblaytheonlypersonwithwhomyououghttobepreventedholdinganycommunication？\"
Fouquetcolored，andthenassuminganairofresignation，hesaid:\"Youareright，monsieur;youhavetaughtmealessonIoughtnottohaveevoked。？Afallenmancannotasserthisrighttoanything，evenfromthosewhosefortuneshemayhavemade;forastillstrongerreason，hecannotclaimanythingfromthosetowhomhemayneverhavehadthehappinessofdoingaservice。\"
\"Monseigneur！\"
\"Itisperfectlytrue，Monsieurd\'Artagnan;youhavealwaysactedinthemostadmirablemannertowardsme—insuchamanner，indeed，asmostbecomesthemanwhoisdestinedtoarrestme。？You，atleast，haveneveraskedmeanything。\"
\"Monsieur，\"
repliedtheGascon，touchedbyhiseloquentandnobletoneofgrief，\"willyou—Iaskitasafavor—pledgemeyourwordasamanofhonorthatyouwillnotleavethisroom？\"
\"Whatistheuseofit，dearMonsieurd\'Artagnan，sinceyoukeepwatchandwardoverme？？DoyousupposeIshouldcontendagainstthemostvaliantswordinthekingdom？\"
\"Itisnotthat，atall，monseigneur;butthatIamgoingtolookforM。d\'Herblay，and，consequently，toleaveyoualone。\"
Fouquetutteredacryofdelightandsurprise。
\"TolookforM。d\'Herblay！toleavemealone！\"heexclaimed，claspinghishandstogether。
\"WhichisM。d\'Herblay\'sroom？？Theblueroomisitnot？\"
\"Yes，myfriend，yes。\"
\"Yourfriend！thankyouforthatword，monseigneur;youconferituponmeto—day，atleast，ifyouhaveneverdonesobefore。\"
\"Ah！
youhavesavedme。\"
\"Itwilltakeagoodtenminutestogofromhencetotheblueroom，andtoreturn？\"saidD\'Artagnan。
\"Nearlyso。\"
\"AndthentowakeAramis，whosleepsverysoundly，whenheisasleep，Iputthatdownatanotherfiveminutes;makingatotaloffifteenminutes\'absence。？Andnow，monseigneur，givemeyourwordthatyouwillnotinanywayattempttomakeyourescape，andthatwhenIreturnIshallfindyouhereagain。\"
\"I
giveit，monsieur，\"repliedFouquet，withanexpressionofthewarmestanddeepestgratitude。
D\'Artagnandisappeared。？Fouquetlookedathimashequittedtheroom，waitedwithafeverishimpatienceuntilthedoorwasclosedbehindhim，andassoonasitwasshut，flewtohiskeys，openedtwoorthreesecretdoorsconcealedinvariousarticlesoffurnitureintheroom，lookedvainlyforcertainpapers，whichdoubtlesshehadleftatSaint—Mand？
andwhichheseemedtoregretnothavingfoundinthem;thenhurriedlyseizingholdofletters，contracts，papers，writings，heheapedthemupintoapile，whichheburntintheextremesthasteuponthemarblehearthofthefireplace，noteventakingtimetodrawfromtheinteriorofitthevasesandpotsofflowerswithwhichitwasfilled。？Assoonashehadfinished，likeamanwhohasjustescapedanimminentdanger，andwhosestrengthabandonshimassoonasthedangerispast，hesankdown，completelyovercome，onacouch。？WhenD\'Artagnanreturned，hefoundFouquetinthesameposition;theworthymusketeerhadnottheslightestdoubtthatFouquet，havinggivenhisword，wouldnoteventhinkoffailingtokeepit，buthehadthoughtitmostlikelythatFouquetwouldturnhis（D\'Artagnan\'s）absencetothebestadvantageingettingridofallthepapers，memorandums，andcontracts，whichmightpossiblyrenderhisposition，whichwasevennowseriousenough，moredangerousthanever。？Andso，liftinguphisheadlikeadogwhohasregainedthescent，heperceivedanodorresemblingsmokehehadreliedonfindingintheatmosphere，andhavingfoundit，madeamovementofhisheadintokenofsatisfaction。？AsD\'Artagnanentered，Fouquet，onhisside，raisedhishead，andnotoneofD\'Artagnan\'smovementsescapedhim。？Andthenthelooksofthetwomenmet，andtheybothsawthattheyhadunderstoodeachotherwithoutexchangingasyllable。
\"Well！\"
askedFouquet，thefirsttospeak，\"andM。d\'Herblay？\"
\"Uponmyword，monseigneur，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，\"M。d\'Herblaymustbedesperatelyfondofwalkingoutatnight，andcomposingversesbymoonlightintheparkofVaux，withsomeofyourpoets，inallprobability，forheisnotinhisownroom。\"
\"What！
notinhisownroom？\"criedFouquet，whoselasthopethusescapedhim;forunlesshecouldascertaininwhatwaythebishopofVannescouldassisthim，heperfectlywellknewthathecouldexpectassistancefromnootherquarter。
\"Or，indeed，\"continuedD\'Artagnan，\"ifheisinhisownroom，hehasverygoodreasonsfornotanswering。\"
\"Butsurelyyoudidnotcallhiminsuchamannerthathecouldhaveheardyou？\"
\"Youcanhardlysuppose，monseigneur，thathavingalreadyexceededmyorders，whichforbademeleavingyouasinglemoment—youcanhardlysuppose，Isay，thatI
shouldhavebeenmadenoughtorousethewholehouseandallowmyselftobeseeninthecorridorofthebishopofVannes，inorderthatM。ColbertmightstatewithpositivecertaintythatIgaveyoutimetoburnyourpapers。\"
\"Mypapers？\"
\"Ofcourse;atleastthatiswhatIshouldhavedoneinyourplace。？WhenanyoneopensadoorformeIalwaysavailmyselfofit。\"
\"Yes，yes，andIthankyou，forIhaveavailedmyselfofit。\"
\"Andyouhavedoneperfectlyright。？Everymanhashisownpeculiarsecretswithwhichothershavenothingtodo。？ButletusreturntoAramis，monseigneur。\"
\"Well，then，Itellyou，youcouldnothavecalledloudenough，orAramiswouldhaveheardyou。\"
\"HoweversoftlyanyonemaycallAramis，monseigneur，Aramisalwayshearswhenhehasaninterestinhearing。？IrepeatwhatI
saidbefore—Aramiswasnotinhisownroom，orAramishadcertainreasonsfornotrecognizingmyvoice，ofwhichIamignorant，andofwhichyoumaybeevenignorantyourself，notwithstandingyourliege—manisHisGreatnesstheLordBishopofVannes。\"
Fouquetdrewadeepsigh，rosefromhisseat，tookthreeorfourturnsinhisroom，andfinishedbyseatinghimself，withanexpressionofextremedejection，uponhismagnificentbedwithvelvethangings，andcostliestlace。？D\'ArtagnanlookedatFouquetwithfeelingsofthedeepestandsincerestpity。
\"I
haveseenagoodmanymenarrestedinmylife，\"saidthemusketeer，sadly;
\"IhaveseenbothM。deCinq—MarsandM。deChalaisarrested，thoughIwasveryyoungthen。？IhaveseenM。deCond？arrestedwiththeprinces;IhaveseenM。deRetzarrested;IhaveseenM。Brousselarrested。？Stayamoment，monseigneur，itisdisagreeabletohavetosay，buttheveryoneofallthosewhomyoumostresembleatthismomentwasthatpoorfellowBroussel。？Youwereveryneardoingashedid，puttingyourdinnernapkininyourportfolio，andwipingyourmouthwithyourpapers。？Mordioux！？MonseigneurFouquet，amanlikeyououghtnottobedejectedinthismanner。？Supposeyourfriendssawyou？\"
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"returnedthesurintendant，withasmilefullofgentleness，\"youdonotunderstandme;itispreciselybecausemyfriendsarenotlookingon，thatIamasyouseemenow。？Idonotlive，existeven，isolatedfromothers;Iamnothingwhenlefttomyself。？UnderstandthatthroughoutmywholelifeIhavepassedeverymomentofmytimeinmakingfriends，whomI
hopedtorendermystayandsupport。？Intimesofprosperity，allthesecheerful，happyvoices—renderedsothroughandbymymeans—formedinmyhonoraconcertofpraiseandkindlyactions。？Intheleastdisfavor，thesehumblervoicesaccompaniedinharmoniousaccentsthemurmurofmyownheart。？IsolationIhaveneveryetknown。？Poverty（aphantomIhavesometimesbeheld，cladinrags，awaitingmeattheendofmyjourneythroughlife）—povertyhasbeenthespecterwithwhichmanyofmyownfriendshavetrifledforyearspast，whichtheypoetizeandcaress，andwhichhasattractedmetowardsthem。？Poverty！？Iacceptit，acknowledgeit，receiveit，asadisinheritedsister;forpovertyisneithersolitude，norexile，norimprisonment。？IsitlikelyIshalleverbepoor，withsuchfriendsasP閘isson，asLaFontaine，asMoli鑢e？withsuchamistressas—Oh！
ifyouknewhowutterlylonelyanddesolateIfeelatthismoment，andhowyou，whoseparatemefromallIlove，seemtoresembletheimageofsolitude，ofannihilation—deathitself。\"
\"ButIhavealreadytoldyou，MonsieurFouquet，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，movedtothedepthsofhissoul，\"thatyouarewoefullyexaggerating。？Thekinglikesyou。\"
\"No，no，\"saidFouquet，shakinghishead。
\"M。Colberthatesyou。\"
\"M。
Colbert！？Whatdoesthatmattertome？\"
\"Hewillruinyou。\"
\"Ah！？Idefyhimtodothat，forIamruinedalready。\"
Atthissingularconfessionofthesuperintendent，D\'Artagnancasthisglanceallroundtheroom;andalthoughhedidnotopenhislips，Fouquetunderstoodhimsothoroughly，thatheadded:\"Whatcanbedonewithsuchwealthofsubstanceassurroundsus，whenamancannolongercultivatehistasteforthemagnificent？？Doyouknowwhatgoodthegreaterpartofthewealthandthepossessionswhichwerichenjoy，conferuponus？merelytodisgustus，bytheirverysplendoreven，witheverythingwhichdoesnotequalit！？Vaux！youwillsay，andthewondersofVaux！？Whatofit？？Whatbootthesewonders？？IfIamruined，howshallIfillwithwatertheurnswhichmyNaiadsbearintheirarms，orforcetheairintothelungsofmyTritons？？Toberichenough，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，amanmustbetoorich。\"
D\'Artagnanshookhishead。
\"Oh！？Iknowverywellwhatyouthink，\"
repliedFouquet，quickly。？\"IfVauxwereyours，youwouldsellit，andwouldpurchaseanestateinthecountry;anestatewhichshouldhavewoods，orchards，andlandattached，sothattheestateshouldbemadetosupportitsmaster。？Withfortymillionsyoumight—\"
\"Tenmillions，\"interruptedD\'Artagnan。
\"Notamillion，mydearcaptain。？NooneinFranceisrichenoughtogivetwomillionsforVaux，andtocontinuetomaintainitasIhavedone;noonecoulddoit，noonewouldknowhow。\"
\"Well，\"
saidD\'Artagnan，\"inanycase，amillionisnotabjectmisery。\"
\"Itisnotfarfromit，mydearmonsieur。？Butyoudonotunderstandme。？No;IwillnotsellmyresidenceatVaux;Iwillgiveittoyou，ifyoulike;\"andFouquetaccompaniedthesewordswithamovementoftheshoulderstowhichitwouldbeimpossibletodojustice。
\"Giveittotheking;youwillmakeabetterbargain。\"
\"Thekingdoesnotrequiremetogiveittohim，\"saidFouquet;\"hewilltakeitawayfrommewiththemostabsoluteeaseandgrace，ifitpleaseshimtodoso;andthatistheveryreasonIshouldprefertoseeitperish。？Doyouknow，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，thatifthekingdidnothappentobeundermyroof，Iwouldtakethiscandle，gostraighttothedome，andsetfiretoacoupleofhugechestsoffuseesandfireworkswhichareinreservethere，andwouldreducemypalacetoashes。\"
\"Bah！\"
saidthemusketeer，negligently。？\"Atallevents，youwouldnotbeabletoburnthegardens，andthatisthefinestfeatureoftheplace。\"
\"Andyet，\"resumedFouquet，thoughtfully，\"whatwasIsaying？？Greatheavens！burnVaux！destroymypalace！？ButVauxisnotmine;thesewonderfulcreationsare，itistrue，theproperty，asfarassenseofenjoymentgoes，ofthemanwhohaspaidforthem;butasfarasdurationisconcerned，theybelongtothosewhocreatedthem。？VauxbelongstoLebrun，toLen魌re，toP閘isson，toLevau，toLaFontaine，toMoli鑢e;Vauxbelongstoposterity，infact。？Yousee，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，thatmyveryhousehasceasedtobemyown。\"
\"Thatisallwellandgood，\"saidD\'Artagnan;\"theideaisagreeableenough，andIrecognizeM。Fouquethimselfinit。？Thatidea，indeed，makesmeforgetthatpoorfellowBrousselaltogether;andInowfailtorecognizeinyouthewhiningcomplaintsofthatoldFrondeur。？Ifyouareruined，monsieur，lookattheaffairmanfully，foryoutoo，mordioux！belongtoposterity，andhavenorighttolessenyourselfinanyway。？Stayamoment;lookatme，Iwhoseemtoexerciseinsomedegreeakindofsuperiorityoveryou，becauseI
amarrestingyou;fate，whichdistributestheirdifferentpartstothecomediansofthisworld，accordedmealessagreeableandlessadvantageousparttofillthanyourshasbeen。？Iamoneofthosewhothinkthatthepartswhichkingsandpowerfulnoblesarecalledupontoactareinfinitelyofmoreworththanthepartsofbeggarsorlackeys。？Itisfarbetteronthestage—onthestage，Imean，ofanothertheaterthanthetheaterofthisworld—itisfarbettertowearafinecoatandtotalkafinelanguage，thantowalktheboardsshodwithapairofoldshoes，ortogetone\'sbackbonegentlypolishedbyaheartydressingwithastick。？Inoneword，youhavebeenaprodigalwithmoney，youhaveorderedandbeenobeyed—
havebeensteepedtothelipsinenjoyment;whileIhavedraggedmytetherafterme，havebeencommandedandhaveobeyed，andhavedrudgedmylifeaway。？Well，althoughImayseemofsuchtriflingimportancebesideyou，monseigneur，Idodeclaretoyou，thattherecollectionofwhatIhavedoneservesmeasaspur，andpreventsmefrombowingmyoldheadtoosoon。？Ishallremainuntotheveryendatrooper;andwhenmyturncomes，Ishallfallperfectlystraight，allinaheap，stillalive，afterhavingselectedmyplacebeforehand。？DoasIdo，MonsieurFouquet，youwillnotfindyourselftheworseforit;afallhappensonlyonceinalifetimetomenlikeyourself，andthechiefthingis，totakeitgracefullywhenthechancepresentsitself。？ThereisaLatinproverb—thewordshaveescapedme，butIrememberthesenseofitverywell，forIhavethoughtoveritmorethanonce—whichsays，\'Theendcrownsthework！\'\"
Fouquetrosefromhisseat，passedhisarmroundD\'Artagnan\'sneck，andclaspedhiminacloseembrace，whilstwiththeotherhandhepressedhishand。？\"Anexcellenthomily，\"hesaid，afteramoment\'spause。
\"A
soldier\'s，monseigneur。\"
\"Youhavearegardforme，intellingmeallthat。\"
\"Perhaps。\"
Fouquetresumedhispensiveattitudeoncemore，andthen，amomentafter，hesaid:
\"WherecanM。d\'Herblaybe？？Idarenotaskyoutosendforhim。\"
\"Youwouldnotaskme，becauseIwouldnotdoit，MonsieurFouquet。？Peoplewouldlearnit，andAramis，whoisnotmixedupwiththeaffair，mightpossiblybecompromisedandincludedinyourdisgrace。\"
\"Iwillwaitheretilldaylight，\"saidFouquet。
\"Yes;thatisbest。\"
\"Whatshallwedowhendaylightcomes？\"
\"Iknownothingatallaboutit，monseigneur。\"
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，willyoudomeafavor？\"
\"Mostwillingly。\"
\"Youguardme，Iremain;youareactinginthefulldischargeofyourduty，Isuppose？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Verygood，then;remainasclosetomeasmyshadowifyoulike;andIinfinitelyprefersuchashadowtoanyoneelse。\"
D\'Artagnanbowedtothecompliment。
\"But，forgetthatyouareMonsieurd\'Artagnan，captainofthemusketeers;forgetthatIamMonsieurFouquet，surintendantofthefinances;andletustalkaboutmyaffairs。\"
\"Thatisratheradelicatesubject。\"
\"Indeed？\"
\"Yes;
but，foryoursake，MonsieurFouquet，Iwilldowhatmayalmostberegardedasanimpossibility。\"
\"Thankyou。？Whatdidthekingsaytoyou？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Ah！isthatthewayyoutalk？\"
\"Thedeuce！\"
\"Whatdoyouthinkofmysituation？\"
\"Idonotknow。\"
\"However，unlessyouhavesomeillfeelingagainstme—\"
\"Yourpositionisadifficultone。\"
\"Inwhatrespect？\"
\"Becauseyouareunderyourownroof。\"
\"Howeverdifficultitmaybe，Iunderstanditverywell。\"
\"Doyousupposethat，withanyoneelsebutyourself，Ishouldhaveshownsomuchfrankness？\"
\"What！somuchfrankness，doyousay？you，whorefusetotellmetheslightestthing？\"
\"Atallevents，then，somuchceremonyandconsideration。\"
\"Ah！？Ihavenothingtosayinthatrespect。\"
\"Onemoment，monseigneur:letmetellyouhowIshouldhavebehavedtowardsanyonebutyourself。？ItmightbethatI
happenedtoarriveatyourdoorjustasyourguestsoryourfriendshadleftyou—or，iftheyhadnotgoneyet，Ishouldwaituntiltheywereleaving，andshouldthencatchthemoneaftertheother，likerabbits;Ishouldlockthemupquietlyenough，Ishouldstealsoftlyalongthecarpetofyourcorridor，andwithonehanduponyou，beforeyoususpectedtheslightestthingamiss，I
shouldkeepyousafelyuntilmymaster\'sbreakfastinthemorning。？Inthisway，Ishouldjustthesamehaveavoidedallpublicity，alldisturbance，allopposition;buttherewouldalsohavebeennowarningforM。Fouquet，noconsiderationforhisfeelings，noneofthosedelicateconcessionswhichareshownbypersonswhoareessentiallycourteousintheirnatures，wheneverthedecisivemomentmayarrive。？Areyousatisfiedwiththeplan？\"
\"Itmakesmeshudder。\"
\"I
thoughtyouwouldnotlikeit。？Itwouldhavebeenverydisagreeabletohavemademyappearanceto—morrow，withoutanypreparation，andtohaveaskedyoutodeliverupyoursword。\"
\"Oh！
monsieur，Ishouldhavediedofshameandanger。\"
\"Yourgratitudeistooeloquentlyexpressed。？Ihavenotdoneenoughtodeserveit，Iassureyou。\"
\"Mostcertainly，monsieur，youwillnevergetmetobelievethat。\"
\"Well，then，monseigneur，ifyouaresatisfiedwithwhatIhavedone，andhavesomewhatrecoveredfromtheshockwhichIpreparedyouforasmuchasI
possiblycould，letusallowthefewhoursthatremaintopassawayundisturbed。？Youareharassed，andshouldarrangeyourthoughts;Ibegyou，therefore，gotosleep，orpretendtogotosleep，eitheronyourbed，orinyourbed;Iwillsleepinthisarmchair;
andwhenIfallasleep，myrestissosoundthatacannonwouldnotwakeme。\"
Fouquetsmiled。？\"Iexpect，however，\"
continuedthemusketeer，\"thecaseofadoorbeingopened，whetherasecretdoor，oranyother;orthecaseofanyonegoingoutof，orcominginto，theroom—foranythinglikethatmyearisasquickandsensitiveastheearofamouse。？Creakingnoisesmakemestart。？Itarises，Isuppose，fromanaturalantipathytoanythingofthekind。？Moveaboutasmuchasyoulike;walkupanddowninanypartoftheroom，write，efface，destroy，burn，—nothinglikethatwillpreventmefromgoingtosleeporevenpreventmefromsnoring，butdonottoucheitherthekeyorthehandleofthedoor，forIshouldstartupinamoment，andthatwouldshakemynervesandmakemeill。\"
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidFouquet，\"youarecertainlythemostwittyandthemostcourteousmanIevermetwith;andyouwillleavemeonlyoneregret，thatofhavingmadeyouracquaintancesolate。\"
D\'Artagnandrewadeepsigh，whichseemedtosay，\"Alas！youhaveperhapsmadeittoosoon。\"？Hethensettledhimselfinhisarmchair，whileFouquet，halflyingonhisbedandleaningonhisarm，wasmeditatingonhismisadventures。？Inthisway，bothofthem，leavingthecandlesburning，awaitedthefirstdawnoftheday;andwhenFouquethappenedtosightooloudly，D\'Artagnanonlysnoredthelouder。？Notasinglevisit，notevenfromAramis，disturbedtheirquietude:notasoundevenwasheardthroughoutthewholevastpalace。？Outside，however，theguardsofhonoronduty，andthepatrolofmusketeers，pacedupanddown;andthesoundoftheirfeetcouldbeheardonthegravelwalks。？Itseemedtoactasanadditionalsoporificforthesleepers，whilethemurmuringofthewindthroughthetrees，andtheunceasingmusicofthefountainswhosewaterstumbledinthebasin，stillwentonuninterruptedly，withoutbeingdisturbedattheslightnoisesanditemsoflittlemomentthatconstitutethelifeanddeathofhumannature。