D\'Artagnanremainedforaninstantstupefied;butsoon，reflectingthatAramishadleftVauxprivatelyonamissionfromtheking，heconcludedthatthekingwishedtopreservethesecret。？\"Sire，\"
repliedhe，\"doesyourmajestyabsolutelyrequireM。d\'Herblaytobebroughttoyou？\"
\"Absolutelyisnottheword，\"saidPhilippe;\"Idonotwanthimsoparticularlyasthat;butifhecanbefound—\"
\"Ithoughtso，\"
saidD\'Artagnantohimself。
\"IsthisM。d\'HerblaythebishopofVannes？\"
\"Yes，madame。\"
\"A
friendofM。Fouquet？\"
\"Yes，madame;anoldmusketeer。\"
AnneofAustriablushed。
\"Oneofthefourbraveswhoformerlyperformedsuchprodigies。\"
Theoldqueenrepentedofhavingwishedtobite;shebrokeofftheconversation，inordertopreservetherestofherteeth。？\"Whatevermaybeyourchoice，sire，\"saidshe，\"Ihavenodoubtitwillbeexcellent。\"
Allbowedinsupportofthatsentiment。
\"Youwillfindinhim，\"continuedPhilippe，\"thedepthandpenetrationofM。deRichelieu，withouttheavariceofM。deMazarin！\"
\"A
primeminister，sire？\"saidMonsieur，inafright。
\"I
willtellyouallaboutthat，brother;butitisstrangethatM。d\'Herblayisnothere！\"
Hecalledout:
\"LetM。FouquetbeinformedthatIwishtospeaktohim—oh！beforeyou，beforeyou;donotretire！\"
M。
deSaint—Aignanreturned，bringingsatisfactorynewsofthequeen，whoonlykeptherbedfromprecaution，andtohavestrengthtocarryouttheking\'swishes。？WhilsteverybodywasseekingM。
FouquetandAramis，thenewkingquietlycontinuedhisexperiments，andeverybody，family，officers，servants，hadnottheleastsuspicionofhisidentity，hisair，hisvoice，andmannersweresoliketheking\'s。？Onhisside，Philippe，applyingtoallcountenancestheaccuratedescriptionsandkey—notesofcharactersuppliedbyhisaccompliceAramis，conductedhimselfsoasnottogivebirthtoadoubtinthemindsofthosewhosurroundedhim。？Nothingfromthattimecoulddisturbtheusurper。？WithwhatstrangefacilityhadProvidencejustreversedtheloftiestfortuneoftheworldtosubstitutethelowliestinitsstead！？PhilippeadmiredthegoodnessofGodwithregardtohimself，andsecondeditwithalltheresourcesofhisadmirablenature。？Buthefelt，attimes，somethinglikeaspecterglidingbetweenhimandtheraysofhisnewglory。？Aramisdidnotappear。？Theconversationhadlanguishedintheroyalfamily;Philippe，preoccupied，forgottodismisshisbrotherandMadameHenrietta。？Thelatterwereastonished，andbegan，bydegrees，toloseallpatience。？AnneofAustriastoopedtowardsherson\'searandaddressedsomewordstohiminSpanish。？Philippewascompletelyignorantofthatlanguage，andgrewpaleatthisunexpectedobstacle。？But，asifthespiritoftheimperturbableAramishadcoveredhimwithhisinfallibility，insteadofappearingdisconcerted，Philipperose。？\"Well！what？\"saidAnneofAustria。
\"Whatisallthatnoise？\"saidPhilippe，turningroundtowardsthedoorofthesecondstaircase。
Andavoicewasheardsaying，\"Thisway，thisway！？Afewstepsmore，sire！\"
\"ThevoiceofM。Fouquet，\"saidD\'Artagnan，whowasstandingclosetothequeen—mother。
\"ThenM。d\'Herblaycannotbefaroff，\"addedPhilippe。
Buthethensawwhathelittlethoughttohavebeheldsoneartohim。？AlleyeswereturnedtowardsthedooratwhichM。Fouquetwasexpectedtoenter;butitwasnotM。Fouquetwhoentered。？Aterriblecryresoundedfromallcornersofthechamber，apainfulcryutteredbythekingandallpresent。？Itisgiventobutfewmen，eventhosewhosedestinycontainsthestrangestelements，andaccidentsthemostwonderful，tocontemplatesuchaspectaclesimilartothatwhichpresenteditselfintheroyalchamberatthatmoment。？Thehalf—closedshuttersonlyadmittedtheentranceofanuncertainlightpassingthroughthickvioletvelvetcurtainslinedwithsilk。？Inthissoftshade，theeyeswerebydegreesdilated，andeveryonepresentsawothersratherwithimaginationthanwithactualsight。？Therecouldnot，however，escape，inthesecircumstances，oneofthesurroundingdetails;andthenewobjectwhichpresenteditselfappearedasluminousasthoughitshoneoutinfullsunlight。？SoithappenedwithLouisXIV。，whenheshowedhimself，paleandfrowning，inthedoorwayofthesecretstairs。？ThefaceofFouquetappearedbehindhim，stampedwithsorrowanddetermination。？Thequeen—mother，whoperceivedLouisXIV。，andwhoheldthehandofPhilippe，utteredacryofwhichwehavespoken，asifshebeheldaphantom。？Monsieurwasbewildered，andkeptturninghisheadinastonishmentfromonetotheother。？Madamemadeastepforward，thinkingshewaslookingattheformofherbrother—in—lawreflectedinamirror。？And，infact，theillusionwaspossible。？Thetwoprinces，bothpaleasdeath—forwerenouncethehopeofbeingabletodescribethefearfulstateofPhilippe—trembling，clenchingtheirhandsconvulsively，measuredeachotherwithlooks，anddartedtheirglances，sharpasponiards，ateachother。？Silent，panting，bendingforward，theyappearedasifabouttospringuponanenemy。？Theunheard—ofresemblanceofcountenance，gesture，shape，height，eventotheresemblanceofcostume，producedbychance—forLouisXIV。hadbeentotheLouvreandputonaviolet—coloreddress—theperfectanalogyofthetwoprinces，completedtheconsternationofAnneofAustria。？Andyetshedidnotatonceguessthetruth。？Therearemisfortunesinlifesotrulydreadfulthatnoonewillatfirstacceptthem;peopleratherbelieveinthesupernaturalandtheimpossible。？Louishadnotreckonedontheseobstacles。？Heexpectedthathehadonlytoappeartobeacknowledged。？Alivingsun，hecouldnotendurethesuspicionofequalitywithanyone。？Hedidnotadmitthateverytorchshouldnotbecomedarknessattheinstantheshoneoutwithhisconqueringray。？AttheaspectofPhilippe，then，hewasperhapsmoreterrifiedthananyoneroundhim，andhissilence，hisimmobilitywere，thistime，aconcentrationandacalmwhichprecedetheviolentexplosionsofconcentratedpassion。
ButFouquet！whoshallpainthisemotionandstuporinpresenceofthislivingportraitofhismaster！？FouquetthoughtAramiswasright，thatthisnewly—arrivedwasakingaspureinhisraceastheother，andthat，forhavingrepudiatedallparticipationinthiscoupd\'閠at，soskillfullygotupbytheGeneraloftheJesuits，hemustbeamadenthusiast，unworthyofeverdippinghishandsinpoliticalgrandstrategywork。？AndthenitwasthebloodofLouisXIII。whichFouquetwassacrificingtothebloodofLouisXIII。;itwastoaselfishambitionhewassacrificinganobleambition;totherightofkeepinghesacrificedtherightofhaving。？Thewholeextentofhisfaultwasrevealedtohimatsimplesightofthepretender。？AllthatpassedinthemindofFouquetwaslostuponthepersonspresent。？Hehadfiveminutestofocusmeditationonthispointofconscience;fiveminutes，thatistosayfiveages，duringwhichthetwokingsandtheirfamilyscarcelyfoundenergytobreatheaftersoterribleashock。？D\'Artagnan，leaningagainstthewall，infrontofFouquet，withhishandtohisbrow，askedhimselfthecauseofsuchawonderfulprodigy。？Hecouldnothavesaidatoncewhyhedoubted，butheknewassuredlythathehadreasontodoubt，andthatinthismeetingofthetwoLouisXIV。slayallthedoubtanddifficultythatduringlatedayshadrenderedtheconductofAramissosuspicioustothemusketeer。？Theseideaswere，however，envelopedinahaze，aveilofmystery。？Theactorsinthisassemblyseemedtoswiminthevaporsofaconfusedwaking。？SuddenlyLouisXIV。，moreimpatientandmoreaccustomedtocommand，rantooneoftheshutters，whichheopened，tearingthecurtainsinhiseagerness。？Afloodoflivinglightenteredthechamber，andmadePhilippedrawbacktothealcove。？Louisseizeduponthismovementwitheagerness，andaddressinghimselftothequeen:
\"Mymother，\"saidhe，\"doyounotacknowledgeyourson，sinceeveryoneherehasforgottenhisking！\"？AnneofAustriastarted，andraisedherarmstowardsHeaven，withoutbeingabletoarticulateasingleword。
\"Mymother，\"saidPhilippe，witha？calmvoice，\"doyounotacknowledgeyourson？\"？Andthistime，inhisturn，Louisdrewback。
AstoAnneofAustria，strucksuddenlyinheadandheartwithfellremorse，shelostherequilibrium。？Nooneaidingher，forallwerepetrified，shesankbackinherfauteuil，breathingaweak，tremblingsigh。？Louiscouldnotendurethespectacleandtheaffront。？HeboundedtowardsD\'Artagnan，overwhosebrainavertigowasstealingandwhostaggeredashecaughtatthedoorforsupport。
\"Amoi！mousquetaire！\"saidhe。？\"Lookusinthefaceandsaywhichisthepaler，heorI！\"
ThiscryrousedD\'Artagnan，andstirredinhisheartthefibersofobedience。？Heshookhishead，and，withoutmorehesitation，hewalkedstraightuptoPhilippe，onwhoseshoulderhelaidhishand，saying，\"Monsieur，youaremyprisoner！\"
PhilippedidnotraisehiseyestowardsHeaven，norstirfromthespot，whereheseemednailedtothefloor，hiseyeintentlyfixeduponthekinghisbrother。？Hereproachedhimwithasublimesilenceforallmisfortunespast，alltorturestocome。？Againstthislanguageofthesoulthekingfelthehadnopower;hecastdownhiseyes，draggingawayprecipitatelyhisbrotherandsister，forgettinghismother，sittingmotionlesswithinthreepacesofthesonwhomsheleftasecondtimetobecondemnedtodeath。？PhilippeapproachedAnneofAustria，andsaidtoher，inasoftandnoblyagitatedvoice:
\"IfIwerenotyourson，Ishouldcurseyou，mymother，forhavingrenderedmesounhappy。\"
D\'Artagnanfeltashudderpassthroughthemarrowofhisbones。？Hebowedrespectfullytotheyoungprince，andsaidashebent，\"Excuseme，monseigneur，Iambutasoldier，andmyoathsarehiswhohasjustleftthechamber。\"
\"Thankyou，M。d\'Artagnan？？WhathasbecomeofM。d\'Herblay？\"
\"M。
d\'Herblayisinsafety，monseigneur，\"saidavoicebehindthem;\"andnoone，whileIliveandamfree，shallcauseahairtofallfromhishead。\"
\"MonsieurFouquet！\"saidtheprince，smilingsadly。
\"Pardonme，monseigneur，\"saidFouquet，kneeling，\"buthewhoisjustgoneoutfromhencewasmyguest。\"
\"Hereare，\"murmuredPhilippe，witha？sigh，\"bravefriendsandgoodhearts。？Theymakemeregrettheworld。？On，M。d\'Artagnan，Ifollowyou。\"
Atthemomentthecaptainofthemusketeerswasabouttoleavetheroomwithhisprisoner，Colbertappeared，and，afterremittinganorderfromthekingtoD\'Artagnan，retired。？D\'Artagnanreadthepaper，andthencrusheditinhishandwithrage。
\"Whatisit？\"askedtheprince。
\"Read，monseigneur，\"repliedthemusketeer。
Philippereadthefollowingwords，hastilytracedbythehandoftheking:
\"M。d\'Artagnanwillconducttheprisonertothe蝜eSainte—Marguerite。？Hewillcoverhisfacewithanironvizor，whichtheprisonershallneverraiseexceptatperilofhislife。\"
\"Thatisjust，\"saidPhilippe，withresignation;\"Iamready。\"
\"Aramiswasright，\"saidFouquet，inalowvoice，tothemusketeer，\"thisoneiseverywhitasmuchakingastheother。\"
\"Moreso！\"repliedD\'Artagnan。？\"Hewantedonlyyouandme。\"
ChapterXXV:
InWhichPorthosThinksHeIsPursuingaDuchy。
AramisandPorthos，havingprofitedbythetimegrantedthembyFouquet，didhonortotheFrenchcavalrybytheirspeed。？Porthosdidnotclearlyunderstandonwhatkindofmissionhewasforcedtodisplaysomuchvelocity;butashesawAramisspurringonfuriously，he，Porthos，spurredoninthesameway。？Theyhadsoon，inthismanner，placedtwelveleaguesbetweenthemandVaux;theywerethenobligedtochangehorses，andorganizeasortofpostarrangement。？ItwasduringarelaythatPorthosventuredtointerrogateAramisdiscreetly。
\"Hush！\"
repliedthelatter，\"knowonlythatourfortunedependsonourspeed。\"
AsifPorthoshadstillbeenthemusketeer，withoutasouoramailleof1626，hepushedforward。？Thatmagicword\"fortune\"alwaysmeanssomethinginthehumanear。？Itmeansenoughforthosewhohavenothing;itmeanstoomuchforthosewhohaveenough。
\"I
shallbemadeaduke！\"saidPorthos，aloud。？Hewasspeakingtohimself。
\"Thatispossible，\"repliedAramis，smilingafterhisownfashion，asPorthos\'shorsepassedhim。？Aramisfelt，notwithstanding，asthoughhisbrainwereonfire;theactivityofthebodyhadnotyetsucceededinsubduingthatofthemind。？Allthereisofragingpassion，mentaltoothacheormortalthreat，raged，gnawedandgrumbledinthethoughtsoftheunhappyprelate。？Hiscountenanceexhibitedvisibletracesofthisrudecombat。？Freeonthehighwaytoabandonhimselftoeveryimpressionofthemoment，Aramisdidnotfailtoswearateverystartofhishorse，ateveryinequalityintheroad。？Pale，attimesinundatedwithboilingsweats，thenagaindryandicy，hefloggedhishorsestillthebloodstreamedfromtheirsides。？Porthos，whosedominantfaultwasnotsensibility，groanedatthis。？Thustraveledtheyonforeightlonghours，andthenarrivedatOrl閍ns。？Itwasfouro\'clockintheafternoon。？Aramis，onobservingthis，judgedthatnothingshowedpursuittobeapossibility。？ItwouldbewithoutexamplethatatroopcapableoftakinghimandPorthosshouldbefurnishedwithrelayssufficienttoperformfortyleaguesineighthours。？Thus，admittingpursuit，whichwasnotatallmanifest，thefugitiveswerefivehoursinadvanceoftheirpursuers。
Aramisthoughtthattheremightbenoimprudenceintakingalittlerest，butthattocontinuewouldmakethemattermorecertain。？Twentyleaguesmore，performedwiththesamerapidity，twentymoreleaguesdevoured，andnoone，notevenD\'Artagnan，couldovertaketheenemiesoftheking。？Aramisfeltobliged，therefore，toinflictuponPorthosthepainofmountingonhorsebackagain。？Theyrodeontillseveno\'clockintheevening，andhadonlyonepostmorebetweenthemandBlois。？ButhereadiabolicalaccidentalarmedAramisgreatly。？Therewerenohorsesatthepost。？Theprelateaskedhimselfbywhatinfernalmachinationhisenemieshadsucceededindeprivinghimofthemeansofgoingfurther，—hewhoneverrecognizedchanceasadeity，whofoundacauseforeveryaccident，preferredbelievingthattherefusalofthepostmaster，atsuchanhour，insuchacountry，wastheconsequenceofanorderemanatingfromabove:anordergivenwithaviewofstoppingshorttheking—makerinthemidstofhisflight。？Butatthemomenthewasabouttoflyintoapassion，soastoprocureeitherahorseoranexplanation，hewasstruckwiththerecollectionthattheComtedelaF鑢elivedintheneighborhood。
\"I
amnottraveling，\"saidhe;\"Idonotwanthorsesforawholestage。？Findmetwohorsestogoandpayavisittoanoblemanofmyacquaintancewhoresidesnearthisplace。\"
\"Whatnobleman？\"askedthepostmaster。
\"M。
leComtedelaF鑢e。\"
\"Oh！\"
repliedthepostmaster，uncoveringwithrespect，\"averyworthynobleman。？But，whatevermaybemydesiretomakemyselfagreeabletohim，Icannotfurnishyouwithhorses，forallmineareengagedbyM。leDucdeBeaufort。\"
\"Indeed！\"
saidAramis，muchdisappointed。
\"Only，\"
continuedthepostmaster，\"ifyouwillputupwithalittlecarriageI
have，Iwillharnessanoldblindhorsewhohasstillhislegsleft，andperadventurewilldrawyoutothehouseofM。leComtedelaF鑢e。\"
\"Itisworthalouis，\"saidAramis。
\"No，monsieur，sucharideisworthnomorethanacrown;thatiswhatM。Grimaud，thecomte\'sintendant，alwayspaysmewhenhemakesuseofthatcarriage;andI
shouldnotwishtheComtedelaF鑢etohavetoreproachmewithhavingimposedononeofhisfriends。\"
\"Asyouplease，\"saidAramis，\"particularlyasregardsdisobligingtheComtedelaF鑢e;onlyIthinkIhavearighttogiveyoualouisforyouridea。\"
\"Oh！
doubtless，\"repliedthepostmasterwithdelight。？Andhehimselfharnessedtheancienthorsetothecreakingcarriage。？InthemeantimePorthoswascurioustobehold。？Heimaginedhehaddiscoveredaclewtothesecret，andhefeltpleased，becauseavisittoAthos，inthefirstplace，promisedhimmuchsatisfaction，and，inthenext，gavehimthehopeoffindingatthesametimeagoodbedandgoodsupper。？Themaster，havinggotthecarriageready，orderedoneofhismentodrivethestrangerstoLaF鑢e。？PorthostookhisseatbythesideofAramis，whisperinginhisear，\"Iunderstand。\"
\"Aha！\"
saidAramis，\"andwhatdoyouunderstand，myfriend？\"
\"Wearegoing，onthepartoftheking，tomakesomegreatproposaltoAthos。\"
\"Pooh！\"
saidAramis。
\"Youneedtellmenothingaboutit，\"addedtheworthyPorthos，endeavoringtoreseathimselfsoastoavoidthejolting，\"youneedtellmenothing，I
shallguess。\"
\"Well！
do，myfriend;guessaway。\"
TheyarrivedatAthos\'sdwellingaboutnineo\'clockintheevening，favoredbyasplendidmoon。？ThischeerfullightrejoicedPorthosbeyondexpression;butAramisappearedannoyedbyitinanequaldegree。？HecouldnothelpshowingsomethingofthistoPorthos，whoreplied—\"Ay！ay！？Iguesshowitis！themissionisasecretone。\"
Thesewerehislastwordsinthecarriage。？Thedriverinterruptedhimbysaying，\"Gentlemen，wehavearrived。\"
Porthosandhiscompanionalightedbeforethegateofthelittlech鈚eau，whereweareabouttomeetagainouroldacquaintancesAthosandBragelonne，thelatterofwhomhaddisappearedsincethediscoveryoftheinfidelityofLaValli鑢e。？Iftherebeonesayingtruerthananother，itisthis:greatgriefscontainwithinthemselvesthegermofconsolation。？Thispainfulwound，inflicteduponRaoul，haddrawnhimnearertohisfatheragain;andGodknowshowsweetweretheconsolationswhichflowedfromtheeloquentmouthandgenerousheartofAthos。？Thewoundwasnotcicatrized，butAthos，bydintofconversingwithhissonandmixingalittlemoreofhislifewiththatoftheyoungman，hadbroughthimtounderstandthatthispangofafirstinfidelityisnecessarytoeveryhumanexistence;andthatnoonehaslovedwithoutencounteringit。？Raoullistened，againandagain，butneverunderstood。？Nothingreplacesinthedeeplyafflictedhearttheremembranceandthoughtofthebelovedobject。？Raoulthenrepliedtothereasoningofhisfather:
\"Monsieur，allthatyoutellmeistrue;Ibelievethatnoonehassufferedintheaffectionsoftheheartsomuchasyouhave;butyouareamantoogreatbyreasonofintelligence，andtooseverelytriedbyadversefortunenottoallowfortheweaknessofthesoldierwhosuffersforthefirsttime。？Iampayingatributethatwillnotbepaidasecondtime;permitmetoplungemyselfsodeeplyinmygriefthatImayforgetmyselfinit，thatImaydrownevenmyreasoninit。\"
\"Raoul！？Raoul！\"
\"Listen，monsieur。？NevershallIaccustommyselftotheideathatLouise，thechastestandmostinnocentofwomen，hasbeenabletosobaselydeceiveamansohonestandsotruealoverasmyself。？NevercanIpersuademyselfthatIseethatsweetandnoblemaskchangeintoahypocriticallasciviousface。？Louiselost！？Louiseinfamous！？Ah！
monseigneur，thatideaismuchmorecrueltomethanRaoulabandoned—Raoulunhappy！\"
Athosthenemployedtheheroicremedy。？HedefendedLouiseagainstRaoul，andjustifiedherperfidybyherlove。？\"Awomanwhowouldhaveyieldedtoakingbecauseheisaking，\"saidhe，\"woulddeservetobestyledinfamous;
butLouiselovesLouis。？Young，both，theyhaveforgotten，hehisrank，shehervows。？Loveabsolveseverything，Raoul。？Thetwoyoungpeopleloveeachotherwithsincerity。\"
Andwhenhehaddealtthissevereponiard—thrust，Athos，withasigh，sawRaoulboundawaybeneaththeranklingwound，andflytothethickestrecessesofthewood，orthesolitudeofhischamber，whence，anhourafter，hewouldreturn，pale，trembling，butsubdued。？Then，cominguptoAthoswithasmile，hewouldkisshishand，likethedogwho，havingbeenbeaten，caressesarespectedmaster，toredeemhisfault。？Raoulredeemednothingbuthisweakness，andonlyconfessedhisgrief。？ThuspassedawaythedaysthatfollowedthatsceneinwhichAthoshadsoviolentlyshakentheindomitableprideoftheking。？Never，whenconversingwithhisson，didhemakeanyallusiontothatscene;neverdidhegivehimthedetailsofthatvigorouslecture，whichmight，perhaps，haveconsoledtheyoungman，byshowinghimhisrivalhumbled。？Athosdidnotwishthattheoffendedlovershouldforgettherespectduetohisking。？AndwhenBragelonne，ardent，angry，andmelancholy，spokewithcontemptofroyalwords，oftheequivocalfaithwhichcertainmadmendrawfrompromisesthatemanatefromthrones，when，passingovertwocenturies，withthatrapidityofabirdthattraversesanarrowstraittogofromonecontinenttotheother，Raoulventuredtopredictthetimeinwhichkingswouldbeesteemedaslessthanothermen，Athossaidtohim，inhisserene，persuasivevoice，\"Youareright，Raoul;allthatyousaywillhappen;kingswilllosetheirprivileges，asstarswhichhavesurvivedtheir鎜nslosetheirsplendor。？Butwhenthatmomentcomes，Raoul，weshallbedead。？AndrememberwellwhatIsaytoyou。？Inthisworld，all，men，women，andkings，mustliveforthepresent。？WecanonlyliveforthefutureforGod。\"
ThiswasthemannerinwhichAthosandRaoulwere，asusual，conversing，andwalkingbackwardsandforwardsinthelongalleyoflimesinthepark，whenthebellwhichservedtoannouncetothecomteeitherthehourofdinnerorthearrivalofavisitor，wasrung;and，withoutattachinganyimportancetoit，heturnedtowardsthehousewithhisson;andattheendofthealleytheyfoundthemselvesinthepresenceofAramisandPorthos。
ChapterXXVI:
TheLastAdieux。
Raoulutteredacry，andaffectionatelyembracedPorthos。？AramisandAthosembracedlikeoldmen;andthisembraceitselfbeingaquestionforAramis，heimmediatelysaid，\"Myfriend，wehavenotlongtoremainwithyou。\"
\"Ah！\"
saidthecomte。
\"Onlytimetotellyouofmygoodfortune，\"interruptedPorthos。
\"Ah！\"
saidRaoul。
AthoslookedsilentlyatAramis，whosesomberairhadalreadyappearedtohimverylittleinharmonywiththegoodnewsPorthoshinted。
\"Whatisthegoodfortunethathashappenedtoyou？？Letushearit，\"saidRaoul，withasmile。
\"Thekinghasmademeaduke，\"saidtheworthyPorthos，withanairofmystery，intheearoftheyoungman，\"adukebybrevet。\"
ButtheasidesofPorthoswerealwaysloudenoughtobeheardbyeverybody。？Hismurmurswereinthediapasonofordinaryroaring。？Athosheardhim，andutteredanexclamationwhichmadeAramisstart。？ThelattertookAthosbythearm，and，afterhavingaskedPorthos\'spermissiontosayawordtohisfriendinprivate，\"MydearAthos，\"hebegan，\"youseemeoverwhelmedwithgriefandtrouble。\"
\"Withgriefandtrouble，mydearfriend？\"criedthecomte;\"oh，what？\"
\"Intwowords。？Ihaveconspiredagainsttheking;thatconspiracyhasfailed，and，atthismoment，Iamdoubtlesspursued。\"
\"Youarepursued！—aconspiracy！？Eh！myfriend，whatdoyoutellme？\"
\"Thesaddesttruth。？Iamentirelyruined。\"
\"Well，butPorthos—thistitleofduke—whatdoesallthatmean？\"
\"Thatisthesubjectofmyseverestpain;thatisthedeepestofmywounds。？Ihave，believingininfalliblesuccess，drawnPorthosintomyconspiracy。？Hethrewhimselfintoit，asyouknowhewoulddo，withallhisstrength，withoutknowingwhathewasabout;andnowheisasmuchcompromisedasmyself—ascompletelyruinedasIam。\"
\"GoodGod！\"？AndAthosturnedtowardsPorthos，whowassmilingcomplacently。
\"I
mustmakeyouacquaintedwiththewhole。？Listentome，\"continuedAramis;andherelatedthehistoryasweknowit。？Athos，duringtherecital，severaltimesfeltthesweatbreakfromhisforehead。？\"Itwasagreatidea，\"saidhe，\"butagreaterror。\"
\"ForwhichIampunished，Athos。\"
\"Therefore，Iwillnottellyoumyentirethought。\"
\"Tellit，nevertheless。\"
\"Itisacrime。\"
\"A
capitalcrime;Iknowitis。？L閟emajest？。\"
\"Porthos！
poorPorthos！\"
\"Whatwouldyouadvisemetodo？？Success，asIhavetoldyou，wascertain。\"
\"M。
Fouquetisanhonestman。\"
\"AndIafoolforhavingsoill—judgedhim，\"saidAramis。？\"Oh，thewisdomofman！？Oh，millstonethatgrindstheworld！andwhichisonedaystoppedbyagrainofsandwhichhasfallen，nooneknowshow，betweenitswheels。\"
\"Saybyadiamond，Aramis。？Butthethingisdone。？Howdoyouthinkofacting？\"
\"I
amtakingawayPorthos。？Thekingwillneverbelievethatthatworthymanhasactedinnocently。？HenevercanbelievethatPorthoshasthoughthewasservingtheking，whilstactingashehasdone。？Hisheadwouldpaymyfault。？Itshallnot，mustnot，beso。\"