\"Doesthekingexileme？\"
\"Donotactasifyouwereplayingatthegamechildrenplayatwhentheyhavetotryandguesswhereathinghasbeenhidden，andareinformed，byabellbeingrung，whentheyareapproachingneartoit，orgoingawayfromit。\"
\"Speak，then。\"
\"Guess。\"
\"Youalarmme。\"
\"Bah！
thatisbecauseyouhavenotguessed，then。\"
\"Whatdidthekingsaytoyou？？Inthenameofourfriendship，donotdeceiveme。\"
\"Thekinghasnotsaidonewordtome。\"
\"Youarekillingmewithimpatience，D\'Herblay。？AmIstillsuperintendent？\"
\"Aslongasyoulike。\"
\"Butwhatextraordinaryempirehaveyousosuddenlyacquiredoverhismajesty\'smind？\"
\"Ah！
that\'sthepoint。\"
\"Hedoesyourbidding？\"
\"I
believeso。\"
\"Itishardlycredible。\"
\"Soanyonewouldsay。\"
\"D\'Herblay，byouralliance，byourfriendship，byeverythingyouholddearestintheworld，speakopenly，Iimploreyou。？BywhatmeanshaveyousucceededinovercomingLouisXIV。\'sprejudices，forhedidnotlikeyou，Iamcertain。\"
\"Thekingwilllikemenow，\"saidAramis，layingstressuponthelastword。
\"Youhavesomethingparticular，then，betweenyou？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"A
secret，perhaps？\"
\"A
secret。\"
\"A
secretofsuchanatureastochangehismajesty\'sinterests？\"
\"Youare，indeed，amanofsuperiorintelligence，monseigneur，andhavemadeaparticularlyaccurateguess。？Ihave，infact，discoveredasecret，ofanaturetochangetheinterestsofthekingofFrance。\"
\"Ah！\"
saidFouquet，withthereserveofamanwhodoesnotwishtoaskanymorequestions。
\"Andyoushalljudgeofityourself，\"pursuedAramis;\"andyoushalltellmeifIammistakenwithregardtotheimportanceofthissecret。\"
\"I
amlistening，sinceyouaregoodenoughtounbosomyourselftome;onlydonotforgetthatIhaveaskedyouaboutnothingwhichitmaybeindiscreetinyoutocommunicate。\"
Aramisseemed，foramoment，asifhewerecollectinghimself。
\"Donotspeak！\"saidFouquet:\"thereisstilltimeenough。\"
\"Doyouremember，\"saidthebishop，castingdownhiseyes，\"thebirthofLouisXIV。？\"
\"Asifitwereyesterday。\"
\"Haveyoueverheardanythingparticularrespectinghisbirth？\"
\"Nothing;
exceptthatthekingwasnotreallythesonofLouisXIII。\"
\"Thatdoesnotmattertous，orthekingdomeither;heisthesonofhisfather，saystheFrenchlaw，whosefatherisrecognizedbylaw。\"
\"True;
butitisagravematter，whenthequalityofracesiscalledintoquestion。\"
\"A
merelysecondaryquestion，afterall。？Sothat，infact，youhaveneverlearnedorheardanythinginparticular？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Thatiswheremysecretbegins。？Thequeen，youmustknow，insteadofbeingdeliveredofason，wasdeliveredoftwins。\"
Fouquetlookedupsuddenlyashereplied:
\"Andthesecondisdead？\"
\"Youwillsee。？Thesetwinsseemedlikelytoberegardedastheprideoftheirmother，andthehopeofFrance;buttheweaknatureoftheking，hissuperstitiousfeelings，madehimapprehendaseriesofconflictsbetweentwochildrenwhoserightswereequal;soheputoutoftheway—hesuppressed—oneofthetwins。\"
\"Suppressed，doyousay？\"
\"Havepatience。？Boththechildrengrewup;
theoneonthethrone，whoseministeryouare—theother，whoismyfriend，ingloomandisolation。\"
\"Goodheavens！？Whatareyousaying，Monsieurd\'Herblay？？Andwhatisthispoorprincedoing？\"
\"Askme，rather，whathashedone。\"
\"Yes，yes。\"
\"Hewasbroughtupinthecountry，andthenthrownintoafortresswhichgoesbythenameoftheBastile。\"
\"Isitpossible？\"criedthesurintendant，claspinghishands。
\"Theonewasthemostfortunateofmen:theotherthemostunhappyandmiserableofalllivingbeings。\"
\"Doeshismothernotknowthis？\"
\"AnneofAustriaknowsitall。\"
\"Andtheking？\"
\"Knowsabsolutelynothing。\"
\"Somuchthebetter，\"saidFouquet。
ThisremarkseemedtomakeagreatimpressiononAramis;helookedatFouquetwiththemostanxiousexpressionofcountenance。
\"I
begyourpardon;Iinterruptedyou，\"saidFouquet。
\"I
wassaying，\"resumedAramis，\"thatthispoorprincewastheunhappiestofhumanbeings，whenHeaven，whosethoughtsareoverallHiscreatures，undertooktocometohisassistance。\"
\"Oh！
inwhatway？？Tellme。\"
\"Youwillsee。？Thereigningking—Isaythereigningking—youcanguessverywellwhy？\"
\"No。？Why？\"
\"Becausebothofthem，beinglegitimateprinces，oughttohavebeenkings。？Isnotthatyouropinion？\"
\"Itis，certainly。\"
\"Unreservedly？\"
\"Mostunreservedly;twinsareonepersonintwobodies。\"
\"I
ampleasedthatalegistofyourlearningandauthorityshouldhavepronouncedsuchanopinion。？Itisagreed，then，thateachofthempossessedequalrights，isitnot？\"
\"Incontestably！
but，graciousheavens，whatanextraordinarycircumstance！\"
\"Wearenotattheendofityet。—Patience。\"
\"Oh！？Ishallfind\'patience\'enough。\"
\"Heavenwishedtoraiseupforthatoppressedchildanavenger，orasupporter，orvindicator，ifyoupreferit。？Ithappenedthatthereigningking，theusurper—youarequiteofmyopinion，I
believe，thatitisanactofusurpationquietlytoenjoy，andselfishlytoassumetherightover，aninheritancetowhichamanhasonlyhalfaright？\"
\"Yes，usurpationistheword。\"
\"Inthatcase，Icontinue。？ItwasHeaven\'swillthattheusurpershouldpossess，inthepersonofhisfirstminister，amanofgreattalent，oflargeandgenerousnature。\"
\"Well，well，\"saidFouquet，\"Iunderstandyou;youhaverelieduponmetorepairthewrongwhichhasbeendonetothisunhappybrotherofLouisXIV。？Youhavethoughtwell;Iwillhelpyou。？Ithankyou，D\'Herblay，Ithankyou。\"
\"Oh，no，itisnotthatatall;youhavenotallowedmetofinish，\"saidAramis，perfectlyunmoved。
\"I
willnotsayanotherword，then。\"
\"M。
Fouquet，Iwasobserving，theministerofthereigningsovereign，wassuddenlytakenintothegreatestaversion，andmenacedwiththeruinofhisfortune，lossofliberty，lossoflifeeven，byintrigueandpersonalhatred，towhichthekinggavetooreadilyanattentiveear。？ButHeavenpermits（still，however，outofconsiderationfortheunhappyprincewhohadbeensacrificed）thatM。Fouquetshouldinhisturnhaveadevotedfriendwhoknewthisstatesecret，andfeltthathepossessedstrengthandcourageenoughtodivulgethissecret，afterhavinghadthestrengthtocarryitlockedupinhisownheartfortwentyyears。
\"Gonofarther，\"saidFouquet，fullofgenerousfeelings。？\"Iunderstandyou，andcanguesseverythingnow。？Youwenttoseethekingwhentheintelligenceofmyarrestreachedyou;youimploredhim，herefusedtolistentoyou;thenyouthreatenedhimwiththatsecret，threatenedtorevealit，andLouisXIV。，alarmedattheriskofitsbetrayal，grantedtotheterrorofyourindiscretionwhatherefusedtoyourgenerousintercession。？Iunderstand，I
understand;youhavethekinginyourpower;Iunderstand。\"
\"Youunderstandnothing—asyet，\"
repliedAramis，\"andagainyouinterruptme。？Then，too，allowmetoobservethatyoupaynoattentiontologicalreasoning，andseemtoforgetwhatyououghtmosttoremember。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"YouknowuponwhatIlaidthegreateststressatthebeginningofourconversation？\"
\"Yes，hismajesty\'shate，invinciblehateforme;yes，butwhatfeelingofhatecouldresistthethreatofsucharevelation？\"
\"Sucharevelation，doyousay？thatistheverypointwhereyourlogicfailsyou。？What！doyousupposethatifIhadmadesucharevelationtotheking，Ishouldhavebeenalivenow？\"
\"Itisnottenminutesagothatyouwerewiththeking。\"
\"Thatmaybe。？Hemightnothavehadthetimetogetmekilledoutright，buthewouldhavehadthetimetogetmegaggedandthrowninadungeon。？Come，come，showalittleconsistencyinyourreasoning，mordieu！\"
Andbythemereuseofthisword，whichwassothoroughlyhisoldmusketeer\'sexpression，forgottenbyonewhoneverseemedtoforgetanything，Fouquetcouldnotbutunderstandtowhatapitchofexaltationthecalm，impenetrablebishopofVanneshadwroughthimself。？Heshuddered。
\"Andthen，\"repliedthelatter，afterhavingmasteredhisfeelings，\"shouldIbethemanIreallyam，shouldIbethetruefriendyoubelieveme，ifIweretoexposeyou，whomthekingalreadyhatessobitterly，toafeelingmorethanevertobedreadedinthatyoungman？？Tohaverobbedhim，isnothing;tohaveaddressedthewomanheloves，isnotmuch;buttoholdinyourkeepingbothhiscrownandhishonor，why，hewouldpluckoutyourheartwithhisownhands。\"
\"Youhavenotallowedhimtopenetrateyoursecret，then？\"
\"I
wouldsooner，farsooner，haveswallowedatonedraughtallthepoisonsthatMithridatesdrankintwentyyears，inordertotryandavoiddeath，thanhavebetrayedmysecrettotheking。\"
\"Whathaveyoudone，then？\"
\"Ah！
nowwearecomingtothepoint，monseigneur。？IthinkIshallnotfailtoexciteinyoualittleinterest。？Youarelistening，Ihope。\"
\"HowcanyouaskmeifIamlistening？？Goon。\"
Aramiswalkedsoftlyallroundtheroom，satisfiedhimselfthattheywerealone，andthatallwassilent，andthenreturnedandplacedhimselfclosetothearmchairinwhichFouquetwasseated，awaitingwiththedeepestanxietytherevelationhehadtomake。
\"I
forgottotellyou，\"resumedAramis，addressinghimselftoFouquet，wholistenedtohimwiththemostabsorbedattention—\"Iforgottomentionamostremarkablecircumstancerespectingthesetwins，namely，thatGodhadformedthemsostartlingly，somiraculously，likeeachother，thatitwouldbeutterlyimpossibletodistinguishtheonefromtheother。？Theirownmotherwouldnotbeabletodistinguishthem。\"
\"Isitpossible？\"exclaimedFouquet。
\"Thesamenoblecharacterintheirfeatures，thesamecarriage，thesamestature，thesamevoice。\"
\"Buttheirthoughts？degreeofintelligence？theirknowledgeofhumanlife？\"
\"Thereisinequalitythere，Iadmit，monseigneur。？Yes;fortheprisoneroftheBastileis，mostincontestably，superiorineverywaytohisbrother;andif，fromhisprison，thisunhappyvictimweretopasstothethrone，Francewouldnot，fromtheearliestperiodofitshistory，perhaps，havehadamastermorepowerfulingeniusandnobilityofcharacter。\"
Fouquetburiedhisfaceinhishands，asifhewereoverwhelmedbytheweightofthisimmensesecret。？Aramisapproachedhim。
\"Thereisafurtherinequality，\"hesaid，continuinghisworkoftemptation，\"aninequalitywhichconcernsyourself，monseigneur，betweenthetwins，bothsonsofLouisXIII。，namely，thelastcomerdoesnotknowM。
Colbert。\"
Fouquetraisedhisheadimmediately—hisfeatureswerepaleanddistorted。？Thebolthadhititsmark—nothisheart，buthismindandcomprehension。
\"I
understandyou，\"hesaidtoAramis;\"youareproposingaconspiracytome？\"
\"Somethinglikeit。\"
\"Oneofthoseattemptswhich，asyousaidatthebeginningofthisconversation，altersthefateofempires？\"
\"Andofsuperintendents，too;yes，monseigneur。\"
\"Inaword，youproposethatIshouldagreetothesubstitutionofthesonofLouisXIII。，whoisnowaprisonerintheBastile，forthesonofLouisXIII。，whoisatthismomentasleepintheChamberofMorpheus？\"
Aramissmiledwiththesinisterexpressionofthesinisterthoughtwhichwaspassingthroughhisbrain。？\"Exactly，\"
hesaid。
\"Haveyouthought，\"continuedFouquet，becominganimatedwiththatstrengthoftalentwhichinafewsecondsoriginates，andmaturestheconceptionofaplan，andwiththatlargenessofviewwhichforeseesallconsequences，andembraceseveryresultataglance—\"haveyouthoughtthatwemustassemblethenobility，theclergy，andthethirdestateoftherealm;thatweshallhavetodeposethereigningsovereign，todisturbbysofrightfulascandalthetomboftheirdeadfather，tosacrificethelife，thehonorofawoman，AnneofAustria，thelifeandpeaceofmindandheartofanotherwoman，MariaTheresa;andsupposethatitwerealldone，ifweweretosucceedindoingit—\"
\"I
donotunderstandyou，\"continuedAramis，coldly。？\"Thereisnotasinglesyllableofsenseinallyouhavejustsaid。\"
\"What！\"
saidthesuperintendent，surprised，\"amanlikeyourefusetoviewthepracticalbearingofthecase！？Doyouconfineyourselftothechildishdelightofapoliticalillusion，andneglectthechancesofitsbeingcarriedintoexecution;inotherwords，therealityitself，isitpossible？\"
\"Myfriend，\"saidAramis，emphasizingthewordwithakindofdisdainfulfamiliarity，\"whatdoesHeavendoinordertosubstituteonekingforanother？\"
\"Heaven！\"
exclaimedFouquet—\"Heavengivesdirectionstoitsagent，whoseizesuponthedoomedvictim，hurrieshimaway，andseatsthetriumphantrivalontheemptythrone。？Butyouforgetthatthisagentiscalleddeath。？Oh！？Monsieurd\'Herblay，inHeaven\'sname，tellmeifyouhavehadtheidea—\"
\"Thereisnoquestionofthat，monseigneur;？youaregoingbeyondtheobjectinview。？WhospokeofLouisXIV。\'sdeath？whospokeofadoptingtheexamplewhichHeavensetsinfollowingoutthestrictexecutionofitsdecrees？？No，IwishyoutounderstandthatHeaveneffectsitspurposeswithoutconfusionordisturbance，withoutexcitingcommentorremark，withoutdifficultyorexertion;andthatmen，inspiredbyHeaven，succeedlikeHeavenitself，inalltheirundertakings，inalltheyattempt，inalltheydo。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"I
mean，myfriend，\"returnedAramis，withthesameintonationonthewordfriendthathehadappliedtoitthefirsttime—\"Imeanthatiftherehasbeenanyconfusion，scandal，andeveneffortinthesubstitutionoftheprisonerfortheking，Idefyyoutoproveit。\"
\"What！\"
criedFouquet，whiterthanthehandkerchiefwithwhichhewipedhistemples，\"whatdoyousay？\"
\"Gototheking\'sapartment，\"continuedAramis，tranquilly，\"andyouwhoknowthemystery，IdefyevenyoutoperceivethattheprisoneroftheBastileislyinginhisbrother\'sbed。\"
\"Buttheking，\"stammeredFouquet，seizedwithhorrorattheintelligence。
\"Whatking？\"saidAramis，inhisgentlesttone;\"theonewhohatesyou，ortheonewholikesyou？\"
\"Theking—of—yesterday。\"
\"Thekingofyesterday！bequiteeasyonthatscore;hehasgonetotaketheplaceintheBastilewhichhisvictimoccupiedforsomanyyears。\"
\"GreatGod！？Andwhotookhimthere？\"
\"I。\"
\"You？\"
\"Yes，andinthesimplestway。？Icarriedhimawaylastnight。？Whilehewasdescendingintomidnight，theotherwasascendingintoday。？Idonotthinktherehasbeenanydisturbancewhatever。？Aflashoflightningwithoutthunderawakensnobody。\"
Fouquetutteredathick，smotheredcry，asifhehadbeenstruckbysomeinvisibleblow，andclaspinghisheadbetweenhisclenchedhands，hemurmured:\"Youdidthat？\"
\"Cleverlyenough，too;whatdoyouthinkofit？\"
\"Youdethronedtheking？imprisonedhim，too？\"
\"Yes，thathasbeendone。\"
\"Andsuchanactionwascommittedhere，atVaux？\"
\"Yes，here，atVaux，intheChamberofMorpheus。？Itwouldalmostseemthatithadbeenbuiltinanticipationofsuchanact。\"
\"Andatwhattimediditoccur？\"
\"Lastnight，betweentwelveandoneo\'clock。\"
FouquetmadeamovementasifhewereonthepointofspringinguponAramis;herestrainedhimself。？\"AtVaux;
undermyroof！\"hesaid，inahalf—strangledvoice。
\"I
believeso！foritisstillyourhouse，anditislikelytocontinueso，sinceM。Colbertcannotrobyouofitnow。\"
\"Itwasundermyroof，then，monsieur，thatyoucommittedthiscrime？\"
\"Thiscrime？\"saidAramis，stupefied。
\"Thisabominablecrime！\"pursuedFouquet，becomingmoreandmoreexcited;
\"thiscrimemoreexecrablethananassassination！thiscrimewhichdishonorsmynameforever，andentailsuponmethehorrorofposterity。\"
\"Youarenotinyoursenses，monsieur，\"repliedAramis，inanirresolutetoneofvoice;\"youarespeakingtooloudly;takecare！\"
\"I
willcalloutsoloudly，thatthewholeworldshallhearme。\"
\"MonsieurFouquet，takecare！\"
Fouquetturnedroundtowardstheprelate，whomhelookedatfullintheface。？\"Youhavedishonoredme，\"hesaid，\"incommittingsofoulanactoftreason，soheinousacrimeuponmyguest，upononewhowaspeacefullyreposingbeneathmyroof。？Oh！woe，woeisme！\"
\"Woetotheman，rather，whobeneathyourroofmeditatedtheruinofyourfortune，yourlife。？Doyouforgetthat？\"
\"Hewasmyguest，mysovereign。\"
Aramisrose，hiseyesliterallybloodshot，hismouthtremblingconvulsively。？\"HaveIamanoutofhissensestodealwith？\"hesaid。
\"Youhaveanhonorablemantodealwith。\"
\"Youaremad。\"
\"A
manwhowillpreventyouconsummatingyourcrime。\"
\"Youaremad，Isay。\"
\"A
manwhowouldsooner，oh！farsooner，die;whowouldkillyoueven，ratherthanallowyoutocompletehisdishonor。\"
AndFouquetsnatcheduphissword，whichD\'Artagnanhadplacedattheheadofhisbed，andclencheditresolutelyinhishand。？Aramisfrowned，andthrusthishandintohisbreastasifinsearchofaweapon。？ThismovementdidnotescapeFouquet，who，fullofnoblenessandprideinhismagnanimity，threwhisswordtoadistancefromhim，andapproachedAramissocloseastotouchhisshoulderwithhisdisarmedhand。？\"Monsieur，\"hesaid，\"Iwouldsoonerdiehereonthespotthansurvivethisterribledisgrace;andifyouhaveanypityleftforme，I
entreatyoutotakemylife。\"
Aramisremainedsilentandmotionless。
\"Youdonotreply？\"saidFouquet。
Aramisraisedhisheadgently，andaglimmerofhopemightbeseenoncemoretoanimatehiseyes。？\"Reflect，monseigneur，\"hesaid，\"uponeverythingwehavetoexpect。？Asthematternowstands，thekingisstillalive，andhisimprisonmentsavesyourlife。\"
\"Yes，\"
repliedFouquet，\"youmayhavebeenactingonmybehalf，butIwillnot，donot，acceptyourservices。？But，firstofall，Idonotwishyourruin。？Youwillleavethishouse。\"
Aramisstifledtheexclamationwhichalmostescapedhisbrokenheart。
\"I
amhospitabletowardsallwhoaredwellersbeneathmyroof，\"continuedFouquet，withanairofinexpressiblemajesty;\"youwillnotbemorefatallylostthanhewhoseruinyouhaveconsummated。\"
\"Youwillbeso，\"saidAramis，inahoarse，propheticvoice，\"youwillbeso，believeme。\"
\"I
accepttheaugury，Monsieurd\'Herblay;butnothingshallpreventme，nothingshallstopme。？YouwillleaveVaux—
youmustleaveFrance;Igiveyoufourhourstoplaceyourselfoutoftheking\'sreach。\"
\"Fourhours？\"saidAramis，scornfullyandincredulously。
\"UponthewordofFouquet，nooneshallfollowyoubeforetheexpirationofthattime。？Youwillthereforehavefourhours\'advanceofthosewhomthekingmaywishtodispatchafteryou。\"
Fourhours！\"repeatedAramis，inathick，smotheredvoice。
\"ItismorethanyouwillneedtogetonboardavesselandfleetoBelle—Isle，whichIgiveyouasaplaceofrefuge。\"
\"Ah！\"
murmuredAramis。
\"Belle—Isleisasmuchmineforyou，asVauxisminefortheking。？Go，D\'Herblay，go！aslongasIlive，notahairofyourheadshallbeinjured。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidAramis，withacoldironyofmanner。
\"Goatonce，then，andgivemeyourhand，beforewebothhastenaway;youtosaveyourlife，Itosavemyhonor。\"
Aramiswithdrewfromhisbreastthehandhehadconcealedthere;itwasstainedwithhisblood。？Hehaddughisnailsintohisflesh，asifinpunishmentforhavingnursedsomanyprojects，morevain，insensate，andfleetingthanthelifeofthemanhimself。？Fouquetwashorror—stricken，andthenhisheartsmotehimwithpity。？Hethrewopenhisarmsasiftoembracehim。