ChapterXXIII:
TheKing\'sGratitude。
Thetwomenwereonthepointofdartingtowardseachotherwhentheysuddenlyandabruptlystopped，asamutualrecognitiontookplace，andeachutteredacryofhorror。
\"Haveyoucometoassassinateme，monsieur？\"saidtheking，whenherecognizedFouquet。
\"Thekinginthisstate！\"murmuredtheminister。
NothingcouldbemoreterribleindeedthantheappearanceoftheyoungprinceatthemomentFouquethadsurprisedhim;hisclotheswereintatters;hisshirt，openandtorntorags，wasstainedwithsweatandwiththebloodwhichstreamedfromhislaceratedbreastandarms。？Haggard，ghastlypale，hishairindisheveledmasses，LouisXIV。presentedthemostperfectpictureofdespair，distress，angerandfearcombinedthatcouldpossiblybeunitedinonefigure。？Fouquetwassotouched，soaffectedanddisturbedbyit，thatherantowardshimwithhisarmsstretchedoutandhiseyesfilledwithtears。？Louisheldupthemassivepieceofwoodofwhichhehadmadesuchafurioususe。
\"Sire，\"
saidFouquet，inavoicetremblingwithemotion，\"doyounotrecognizethemostfaithfulofyourfriends？\"
\"A
friend—you！\"repeatedLouis，gnashinghisteethinamannerwhichbetrayedhishateanddesireforspeedyvengeance。
\"Themostrespectfulofyourservants，\"addedFouquet，throwinghimselfonhisknees。？Thekinglettherudeweaponfallfromhisgrasp。？Fouquetapproachedhim，kissedhisknees，andtookhiminhisarmswithinconceivabletenderness。
\"Myking，mychild，\"hesaid，\"howyoumusthavesuffered！\"
Louis，recalledtohimselfbythechangeofsituation，lookedathimself，andashamedofthedisorderedstateofhisapparel，ashamedofhisconduct，andashamedoftheairofpityandprotectionthatwasshowntowardshim，drewback。？Fouquetdidnotunderstandthismovement;hedidnotperceivethattheking\'sfeelingofpridewouldneverforgivehimforhavingbeenawitnessofsuchanexhibitionofweakness。
\"Come，sire，\"hesaid，\"youarefree。\"
\"Free？\"
repeatedtheking。？\"Oh！yousetmeatliberty，then，afterhavingdaredtoliftupyourhandagainstme。\"
\"Youdonotbelievethat！\"exclaimedFouquet，indignantly;\"youcannotbelievemetobeguiltyofsuchanact。\"
Andrapidly，warmlyeven，herelatedthewholeparticularsoftheintrigue，thedetailsofwhicharealreadyknowntothereader。？Whiletherecitalcontinued，Louissufferedthemosthorribleanguishofmind;andwhenitwasfinished，themagnitudeofthedangerhehadrunstruckhimfarmorethantheimportanceofthesecretrelativetohistwinbrother。
\"Monsieur，\"
hesaid，suddenlytoFouquet，\"thisdoublebirthisafalsehood;itisimpossible—youcannothavebeenthedupeofit。\"
\"Sire！\"
\"Itisimpossible，Itellyou，thatthehonor，thevirtueofmymothercanbesuspected，andmyfirstministerhasnotyetdonejusticeonthecriminals！\"
\"Reflect，sire，beforeyouarehurriedawaybyanger，\"repliedFouquet。？\"Thebirthofyourbrother—\"
\"I
haveonlyonebrother—andthatisMonsieur。？Youknowitaswellasmyself。？Thereisaplot，Itellyou，beginningwiththegovernoroftheBastile。\"
\"Becareful，sire，forthismanhasbeendeceivedaseveryoneelsehasbytheprince\'slikenesstoyourself。\"
\"Likeness？？Absurd！\"
\"ThisMarchialimustbesingularlylikeyourmajesty，tobeabletodeceiveeveryone\'seye，\"Fouquetpersisted。
\"Ridiculous！\"
\"Donotsayso，sire;
thosewhohadpreparedeverythinginordertofaceanddeceiveyourministers，yourmother，yourofficersofstate，themembersofyourfamily，mustbequiteconfidentoftheresemblancebetweenyou。\"
\"Butwherearethesepersons，then？\"murmuredtheking。
\"AtVaux。\"
\"AtVaux！andyousufferthemtoremainthere！\"
\"Mymostinstantdutyappearedtometobeyourmajesty\'srelease。？Ihaveaccomplishedthatduty;andnow，whateveryourmajestymaycommand，shallbedone。？Iawaityourorders。\"
Louisreflectedforafewmoments。
\"MusterallthetroopsinParis，\"hesaid。
\"Allthenecessaryordersaregivenforthatpurpose，\"repliedFouquet。
\"Youhavegivenorders！\"exclaimedtheking。
\"Forthatpurpose，yes，sire;yourmajestywillbeattheheadoftenthousandmeninlessthananhour。\"
TheonlyreplythekingmadewastotakeholdofFouquet\'shandwithsuchanexpressionoffeeling，thatitwasveryeasytoperceivehowstronglyhehad，untilthatremark，maintainedhissuspicionsoftheminister，notwithstandingthelatter\'sintervention。
\"Andwiththesetroops，\"hesaid，\"weshallgoatonceandbesiegeinyourhousetherebelswhobythistimewillhaveestablishedandintrenchedthemselvestherein。\"
\"I
shouldbesurprisedifthatwerethecase，\"repliedFouquet。
\"Why？\"
\"Becausetheirchief—theverysouloftheenterprise—havingbeenunmaskedbyme，thewholeplanseemstometohavemiscarried。\"
\"Youhaveunmaskedthisfalseprincealso？\"
\"No，Ihavenotseenhim。\"
\"Whomhaveyouseen，then？\"
\"Theleaderoftheenterprise，notthatunhappyyoungman;thelatterismerelyaninstrument，destinedthroughhiswholelifetowretchedness，Iplainlyperceive。\"
\"Mostcertainly。\"
\"ItisM。l\'Abb？d\'Herblay，Ev阸uedeVannes\";
\"Yourfriend？\"
\"Hewasmyfriend，sire，\"repliedFouquet，nobly。
\"Anunfortunatecircumstanceforyou，\"saidtheking，inalessgeneroustoneofvoice。
\"Suchfriendships，sire，hadnothingdishonorableinthemsolongasIwasignorantofthecrime。\"
\"Youshouldhaveforeseenit。\"
\"IfIamguilty，Iplacemyselfinyourmajesty\'shands。\"
\"Ah！？MonsieurFouquet，itwasnotthatI
meant，\"returnedtheking，sorrytohaveshownthebitternessofhisthoughtinsuchamanner。？\"Well！？Iassureyouthat，notwithstandingthemaskwithwhichthevillaincoveredhisface，Ihadsomethinglikeavaguesuspicionthathewastheveryman。？Butwiththischiefoftheenterprisetherewasamanofprodigiousstrength，theonewhomenacedmewithaforcealmostherculean;whatishe？\"
\"ItmustbehisfriendtheBaronduVallon，formerlyoneofthemusketeers。\"
\"ThefriendofD\'Artagnan？thefriendoftheComtedelaF鑢e？？Ah！\"exclaimedtheking，ashepausedatthenameofthelatter，\"wemustnotforgettheconnectionthatexistedbetweentheconspiratorsandM。deBragelonne。\"
\"Sire，sire，donotgotoofar。？M。delaF鑢eisthemosthonorablemaninFrance。？BesatisfiedwiththosewhomIdeliveruptoyou。\"
\"Withthosewhomyoudeliveruptome，yousay？？Verygood，foryouwilldeliverupthosewhoareguiltytome。\"
\"Whatdoesyourmajestyunderstandbythat？\"inquiredFouquet。
\"I
understand，\"repliedtheking，\"thatweshallsoonarriveatVauxwithalargebodyoftroops，thatwewilllayviolenthandsuponthatnestofvipers，andthatnotasoulshallescape。\"
\"Yourmajestywillputthesementodeath！\"criedFouquet。
\"Totheverymeanestofthem。\"
\"Oh！
sire。\"
\"Letusunderstandoneanother，MonsieurFouquet，\"saidtheking，haughtily。？\"Wenolongerliveintimeswhenassassinationwastheonlyandthelastresourcekingsheldinreservationatextremity。？No，Heavenbepraised！？Ihaveparliamentswhositandjudgeinmyname，andIhavescaffoldsonwhichsupremeauthorityiscarriedout。\"
Fouquetturnedpale。？\"Iwilltakethelibertyofobservingtoyourmajesty，thatanyproceedingsinstitutedrespectingthesematterswouldbringdownthegreatestscandaluponthedignityofthethrone。？TheaugustnameofAnneofAustriamustneverbeallowedtopassthelipsofthepeopleaccompaniedbyasmile。\"
\"Justicemustbedone，however，monsieur。\"
\"Good，sire;butroyalbloodmustnotbesheduponascaffold。\"
\"Theroyalblood！youbelievethat！\"criedthekingwithfuryinhisvoice，stampinghisfootontheground。？\"Thisdoublebirthisaninvention;andinthatinvention，particularly，doIseeM。
d\'Herblay\'scrime。？ItisthecrimeI
wishtopunishratherthantheviolence，ortheinsult。\"
\"Andpunishitwithdeath，sire？\"
\"Withdeath;yes，monsieur，Ihavesaidit。\"
\"Sire，\"
saidthesurintendant，withfirmness，asheraisedhisheadproudly，\"yourmajestywilltakethelife，ifyouplease，ofyourbrotherPhilippeofFrance;
thatconcernsyoualone，andyouwilldoubtlessconsultthequeen—motheruponthesubject。？Whatevershemaycommandwillbeperfectlycorrect。？Idonotwishtomixmyselfupinit，notevenforthehonorofyourcrown，butIhaveafavortoaskofyou，andIbegtosubmitittoyou。\"
\"Speak，\"
saidtheking，innolittledegreeagitatedbyhisminister\'slastwords。？\"Whatdoyourequire？\"
\"ThepardonofM。d\'HerblayandofM。duVallon。\"
\"Myassassins？\"
\"Tworebels，sire，thatisall。\"
\"Oh！？Iunderstand，then，youaskmetoforgiveyourfriends。\"
\"Myfriends！\"saidFouquet，deeplywounded。
\"Yourfriends，certainly;butthesafetyofthestaterequiresthatanexemplarypunishmentshouldbeinflictedontheguilty。\"
\"IwillnotpermitmyselftoremindyourmajestythatIhavejustrestoredyoutoliberty，andhavesavedyourlife。\"
\"Monsieur！\"
\"IwillnotallowmyselftoremindyourmajestythathadM。d\'Herblaywishedtocarryouthischaracterofanassassin，hecouldveryeasilyhaveassassinatedyourmajestythismorningintheforestofSenart，andallwouldhavebeenover。\"？Thekingstarted。
\"A
pistol—bulletthroughthehead，\"pursuedFouquet，\"andthedisfiguredfeaturesofLouisXIV。，whichnoonecouldhaverecognized，wouldbeM。
d\'Herblay\'scompleteandentirejustification。\"
Thekingturnedpaleandgiddyatthebareideaofthedangerhehadescaped。
\"IfM。d\'Herblay，\"
continuedFouquet，\"hadbeenanassassin，hehadnooccasiontoinformmeofhisplaninordertosucceed。？Freedfromtherealking，itwouldhavebeenimpossibleinallfuturitytoguessthefalse。？AndiftheusurperhadbeenrecognizedbyAnneofAustria，hewouldstillhavebeen—herson。？Theusurper，asfarasMonsieurd\'Herblay\'sconsciencewasconcerned，wasstillakingofthebloodofLouisXIII。？Moreover，theconspirator，inthatcourse，wouldhavehadsecurity，secrecy，impunity。？Apistol—bulletwouldhaveprocuredhimallthat。？ForthesakeofHeaven，sire，grantmehisforgiveness。\"
Theking，insteadofbeingtouchedbythepicture，sofaithfullydrawninalldetails，ofAramis\'sgenerosity，felthimselfmostpainfullyandcruellyhumiliated。？Hisunconquerablepriderevoltedattheideathatamanhadheldsuspendedattheendofhisfingerthethreadofhisroyallife。？EverywordthatfellfromFouquet\'slips，andwhichhethoughtmostefficaciousinprocuringhisfriend\'spardon，seemedtopouranotherdropofpoisonintothealreadyulceratedheartofLouisXIV。？Nothingcouldbendorsoftenhim。？AddressinghimselftoFouquet，hesaid，\"Ireallydon\'tknow，monsieur，whyyoushouldsolicitthepardonofthesemen。？Whatgoodisthereinaskingthatwhichcanbeobtainedwithoutsolicitation？\"
\"Idonotunderstandyou，sire。\"
\"Itisnotdifficult，either。？WhereamI
now？\"
\"IntheBastile，sire。\"
\"Yes;inadungeon。？Iamlookeduponasamadman，amInot？\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"AndnooneisknownherebutMarchiali？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Well;
changenothinginthepositionofaffairs。？LetthepoormadmanrotbetweentheslimywallsoftheBastile，andM。
d\'HerblayandM。duVallonwillstandinnoneedofmyforgiveness。？Theirnewkingwillabsolvethem。\"
\"Yourmajestydoesmeagreatinjustice，sire;andyouarewrong，\"repliedFouquet，dryly;\"Iamnotchildenough，norisM。d\'Herblaysillyenough，tohaveomittedtomakeallthesereflections;andifIhadwishedtomakeanewking，asyousay，IhadnooccasiontohavecomeheretoforceopenthegatesanddoorsoftheBastile，tofreeyoufromthisplace。？Thatwouldshowawantofevencommonsense。？Yourmajesty\'smindisdisturbedbyanger;otherwiseyouwouldbefarfromoffending，groundlessly，theveryoneofyourservantswhohasrenderedyouthemostimportantserviceofall。\"
Louisperceivedthathehadgonetoofar;thatthegatesoftheBastilewerestillcloseduponhim，whilst，bydegrees，thefloodgatesweregraduallybeingopened，behindwhichthegenerous—heartedFouquethadrestrainedhisanger。？\"Ididnotsaythattohumiliateyou，Heavenknows，monsieur，\"hereplied。？\"Onlyyouareaddressingyourselftomeinordertoobtainapardon，andIansweraccordingtomyconscience。？Andso，judgingbymyconscience，thecriminalswespeakofarenotworthyofconsiderationorforgiveness。\"
Fouquetwassilent。
\"WhatIdoisasgenerous，\"addedtheking，\"aswhatyouhavedone，forIaminyourpower。？Iwillevensayitismoregenerous，inasmuchasyouplacebeforemecertainconditionsuponwhichmyliberty，mylife，maydepend;andtorejectwhichistomakeasacrificeofboth。\"
\"Iwaswrong，certainly，\"repliedFouquet。？\"Yes，—Ihadtheappearanceofextortingafavor;Iregretit，andentreatyourmajesty\'sforgiveness。\"
\"Andyouareforgiven，mydearMonsieurFouquet，\"saidtheking，withasmile，whichrestoredthesereneexpressionofhisfeatures，whichsomanycircumstanceshadalteredsincetheprecedingevening。
\"Ihavemyownforgiveness，\"repliedtheminister，withsomedegreeofpersistence;
\"butM。d\'Herblay，andM。duVallon？\"
\"Theywillneverobtaintheirs，aslongasIlive，\"repliedtheinflexibleking。？\"Domethekindnessnottospeakofitagain。\"
\"Yourmajestyshallbeobeyed。\"
\"Andyouwillbearmenoill—willforit？\"
\"Oh！no，sire;forIanticipatedtheevent。\"
\"Youhad\'anticipated\'thatIshouldrefusetoforgivethosegentlemen？\"
\"Certainly;
andallmymeasuresweretakeninconsequence。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeantosay？\"criedtheking，surprised。
\"M。
d\'Herblaycame，asmaybesaid，todeliverhimselfintomyhands。？M。d\'Herblaylefttomethehappinessofsavingmykingandmycountry。？IcouldnotcondemnM。d\'Herblaytodeath;norcouldI，ontheotherhand，exposehimtoyourmajesty\'sjustifiablewrath;itwouldhavebeenjustthesameasifI
hadkilledhimmyself。\"
\"Well！andwhathaveyoudone？\"
\"Sire，I
gaveM。d\'Herblaythebesthorsesinmystablesandfourhours\'startoverallthoseyourmajestymight，probably，dispatchafterhim。\"
\"Beitso！\"murmuredtheking。？\"Butstill，theworldiswideenoughandlargeenoughforthosewhomImaysendtoovertakeyourhorses，notwithstandingthe\'fourhours\'start\'whichyouhavegiventoM。d\'Herblay。\"
\"Ingivinghimthesefourhours，sire，IknewIwasgivinghimhislife，andhewillsavehislife。\"
\"Inwhatway？\"
\"Afterhavinggallopedashardaspossible，withthefourhours\'start，beforeyourmusketeers，hewillreachmych鈚eauofBelle—Isle，whereIhavegivenhimasafeasylum。\"
\"Thatmaybe！？ButyouforgetthatyouhavemademeapresentofBelle—Isle。\"
\"Butnotforyoutoarrestmyfriends。\"
\"Youtakeitbackagain，then？\"
\"Asfarasthatgoes—yes，sire。\"
\"Mymusketeersshallcaptureit，andtheaffairwillbeatanend。\"
\"Neitheryourmusketeers，noryourwholearmycouldtakeBelle—Isle，\"saidFouquet，coldly。？\"Belle—Isleisimpregnable。\"
Thekingbecameperfectlylivid;alightningflashseemedtodartfromhiseyes。？Fouquetfeltthathewaslost，butheasnotonetoshrinkwhenthevoiceofhonorspokeloudlywithinhim。？Heboretheking\'swrathfulgaze;thelatterswallowedhisrage，andafterafewmoments\'silence，said，\"ArewegoingtoreturntoVaux？\"
\"Iamatyourmajesty\'sorders，\"repliedFouquet，withalowbow;\"butIthinkthatyourmajestycanhardlydispensewithchangingyourclothesprevioustoappearingbeforeyourcourt。\"
\"WeshallpassbytheLouvre，\"saidtheking。？\"Come。\"？Andtheylefttheprison，passingbeforeBaisemeaux，wholookedcompletelybewilderedashesawMarchialioncemoreleave;and，inhishelplessness，toreoutthemajorportionofhisfewremaininghairs。？Itwasperfectlytrue，however，thatFouquetwroteandgavehimanauthorityfortheprisoner\'srelease，andthatthekingwrotebeneathit，\"Seenandapproved，Louis\";apieceofmadnessthatBaisemeaux，incapableofputtingtwoideastogether，acknowledgedbygivinghimselfaterribleblowontheforeheadwithhisownfist。
ChapterXXIV:
TheFalseKing。
Inthemeantime，usurpedroyaltywasplayingoutitspartbravelyatVaux。？Philippegaveordersthatforhispetitleverthegrandesentr閑s，alreadypreparedtoappearbeforetheking，shouldbeintroduced。？HedeterminedtogivethisordernotwithstandingtheabsenceofM。d\'Herblay，whodidnotreturn—
ourreadersknowthereason。？Buttheprince，notbelievingthatabsencecouldbeprolonged，wished，asallrashspiritsdo，totryhisvalorandhisfortunefarfromallprotectionandinstruction。？Anotherreasonurgedhimtothis—AnneofAustriawasabouttoappear;theguiltymotherwasabouttostandinthepresenceofhersacrificedson。？Philippewasnotwilling，ifhehadaweakness，torenderthemanawitnessofitbeforewhomhewasboundthenceforthtodisplaysomuchstrength。？Philippeopenedhisfoldingdoors，andseveralpersonsenteredsilently。？Philippedidnotstirwhilsthisvaletsdechambredressedhim。？Hehadwatched，theeveningbefore，allthehabitsofhisbrother，andplayedthekinginsuchamannerastoawakennosuspicion。？Hewasthuscompletelydressedinhuntingcostumewhenhereceivedhisvisitors。？HisownmemoryandthenotesofAramisannouncedeverybodytohim，firstofallAnneofAustria，towhomMonsieurgavehishand，andthenMadamewithM。deSaint—Aignan。？Hesmiledatseeingthesecountenances，buttrembledonrecognizinghismother。？Thatstillsonobleandimposingfigure，ravagedbypain，pleadedinhisheartthecauseofthefamousqueenwhohadimmolatedachildtoreasonsofstate。？Hefoundhismotherstillhandsome。？HeknewthatLouisXIV。lovedher，andhepromisedhimselftoloveherlikewise，andnottoproveascourgetoheroldage。？Hecontemplatedhisbrotherwithatendernesseasilytobeunderstood。？Thelatterhadusurpednothing，hadcastnoshadesathwarthislife。？Aseparatetree，heallowedthestemtorisewithoutheedingitselevationormajesticlife。？Philippepromisedhimselftobeakindbrothertothisprince，whorequirednothingbutgoldtoministertohispleasures。？HebowedwithafriendlyairtoSaint—Aignan，whowasallreverencesandsmiles，andtremblingheldouthishandtoHenrietta，hissister—in—law，whosebeautystruckhim;buthesawintheeyesofthatprincessanexpressionofcoldnesswhichwouldfacilitate，ashethought，theirfuturerelations。
\"Howmuchmoreeasy，\"thoughthe，\"itwillbetobethebrotherofthatwomanthanhergallant，ifsheevincestowardsmeacoldnessthatmybrothercouldnothaveforher，butwhichisimposeduponmeasaduty。\"？Theonlyvisithedreadedatthismomentwasthatofthequeen;hisheart—hismind—hadjustbeenshakenbysoviolentatrial，that，inspiteoftheirfirmtemperament，theywouldnot，perhaps，supportanothershock。？Happilythequeendidnotcome。？Thencommenced，onthepartofAnneofAustria，apoliticaldissertationuponthewelcomeM。
FouquethadgiventothehouseofFrance。？Shemixeduphostilitieswithcomplimentsaddressedtotheking，andquestionsastohishealth，withlittlematernalflatteriesanddiplomaticartifices。
\"Well，myson，\"saidshe，\"areyouconvincedwithregardtoM。
Fouquet？\"
\"Saint—Aignan，\"
saidPhilippe，\"havethegoodnesstogoandinquireafterthequeen。\"
Atthesewords，thefirstPhilippehadpronouncedaloud，theslightdifferencethattherewasbetweenhisvoiceandthatofthekingwassensibletomaternalears，andAnneofAustrialookedearnestlyatherson。？Saint—Aignanlefttheroom，andPhilippecontinued:
\"Madame，IdonotliketohearM。Fouquetill—spokenof，youknowIdonot—andyouhaveevenspokenwellofhimyourself。\"
\"Thatistrue;thereforeIonlyquestionyouonthestateofyoursentimentswithrespecttohim。\"
\"Sire，\"
saidHenrietta，\"I，onmypart，havealwayslikedM。Fouquet。？Heisamanofgoodtaste，—asuperiorman。\"
\"A
superintendentwhoisneversordidorniggardly，\"addedMonsieur;
\"andwhopaysingoldalltheordersIhaveonhim。\"
\"Everyoneinthisthinkstoomuchofhimself，andnobodyforthestate，\"saidtheoldqueen。？\"M。Fouquet，itisafact，M。Fouquetisruiningthestate。\"
\"Well，mother！\"repliedPhilippe，inratheralowerkey，\"doyoulikewiseconstituteyourselfthebucklerofM。Colbert？\"
\"Howisthat？\"repliedtheoldqueen，rathersurprised。
\"Why，intruth，\"repliedPhilippe，\"youspeakthatjustasyouroldfriendMadamedeChevreusewouldspeak。\"
\"WhydoyoumentionMadamedeChevreusetome？\"saidshe，\"andwhatsortofhumorareyouinto—daytowardsme？\"
Philippecontinued:\"IsnotMadamedeChevreusealwaysinleagueagainstsomebody？？HasnotMadamedeChevreusebeentopayyouavisit，mother？\"
\"Monsieur，youspeaktomenowinsuchamannerthatIcanalmostfancyIamlisteningtoyourfather。\"
\"MyfatherdidnotlikeMadamedeChevreuse，andhadgoodreasonfornotlikingher，\"saidtheprince。？\"Formypart，Ilikehernobetterthanhedid，andifshethinkspropertocomehereassheformerlydid，tosowdivisionsandhatredsunderthepretextofbeggingmoney—why—\"
\"Well！
what？\"saidAnneofAustria，proudly，herselfprovokingthestorm。
\"Well！\"
repliedtheyoungmanfirmly，\"IwilldriveMadamedeChevreuseoutofmykingdom—andwithherallwhomeddlewithitssecretsandmysteries。\"
Hehadnotcalculatedtheeffectofthisterriblespeech，orperhapshewishedtojudgetheeffectofit，likethosewho，sufferingfromachronicpain，andseekingtobreakthemonotonyofthatsuffering，touchtheirwoundtoprocureasharperpang。？AnneofAustriawasnearlyfainting;hereyes，openbutmeaningless，ceasedtoseeforseveralseconds;shestretchedoutherarmstowardsherotherson，whosupportedandembracedherwithoutfearofirritatingtheking。
\"Sire，\"
murmuredshe，\"youaretreatingyourmotherverycruelly。\"
\"Inwhatrespect，madame？\"repliedhe。？\"IamonlyspeakingofMadamedeChevreuse;doesmymotherpreferMadamedeChevreusetothesecurityofthestateandofmyperson？？Well，then，madame，ItellyouMadamedeChevreusehasreturnedtoFrancetoborrowmoney，andthatsheaddressedherselftoM。Fouquettosellhimacertainsecret。\"
\"A
certainsecret！\"criedAnneofAustria。
\"Concerningpretendedrobberiesthatmonsieurlesurintendanthadcommitted，whichisfalse，\"addedPhilippe。？\"M。
Fouquetrejectedherofferswithindignation，preferringtheesteemofthekingtocomplicitywithsuchintriguers。？ThenMadamedeChevreusesoldthesecrettoM。Colbert，andassheisinsatiable，andwasnotsatisfiedwithhavingextortedahundredthousandcrownsfromaservantofthestate，shehastakenastillbolderflight，insearchofsurersourcesofsupply。？Isthattrue，madame？\"
\"Youknowall，sire，\"saidthequeen，moreuneasythanirritated。
\"Now，\"
continuedPhilippe，\"Ihavegoodreasontodislikethisfury，whocomestomycourttoplantheshameofsomeandtheruinofothers。？IfHeavenhassufferedcertaincrimestobecommitted，andhasconcealedthemintheshadowofitsclemency，IwillnotpermitMadamedeChevreusetocounteractthejustdesignsoffate。\"
Thelatterpartofthisspeechhadsoagitatedthequeen—mother，thathersonhadpityonher。？Hetookherhandandkissedittenderly;shedidnotfeelthatinthatkiss，giveninspiteofrepulsionandbitternessoftheheart，therewasapardonforeightyearsofsuffering。？Philippeallowedthesilenceofamomenttoswallowtheemotionsthathadjustdevelopedthemselves。？Then，withacheerfulsmile:
\"Wewillnotgoto—day，\"saidhe，\"Ihaveaplan。\"？And，turningtowardsthedoor，hehopedtoseeAramis，whoseabsencebegantoalarmhim。？Thequeen—motherwishedtoleavetheroom。
\"Remainwhereyouare，mother，\"saidhe，\"IwishyoutomakeyourpeacewithM。Fouquet。\"
\"I
bearM。Fouquetnoill—will;Ionlydreadedhisprodigalities。\"
\"Wewillputthattorights，andwilltakenothingofthesuperintendentbuthisgoodqualities。\"
\"Whatisyourmajestylookingfor？\"saidHenrietta，seeingtheking\'seyesconstantlyturnedtowardsthedoor，andwishingtoletflyalittlepoisonedarrowathisheart，supposinghewassoanxiouslyexpectingeitherLaValli鑢eoraletterfromher。
\"Mysister，\"saidtheyoungman，whohaddivinedherthought，thankstothatmarvelousperspicuityofwhichfortunewasfromthattimeabouttoallowhimtheexercise，\"mysister，Iamexpectingamostdistinguishedman，amostablecounselor，whomIwishtopresenttoyouall，recommendinghimtoyourgoodgraces。？Ah！comein，then，D\'Artagnan。\"
\"Whatdoesyourmajestywish？\"saidD\'Artagnan，appearing。
\"WhereismonsieurthebishopofVannes，yourfriend？\"
\"Why，sire—\"
\"I
amwaitingforhim，andhedoesnotcome。？Lethimbesoughtfor。\"