Andfromthatmoment，D\'Artagnan，accommodatinghisactiontothepaceofthehorse，likeatruecentaur，gaveuphisthoughtstonothing—thatistosay，toeverything。？Heaskedhimselfwhythekinghadsentforhimback;whytheIronMaskhadthrownthesilverplateatthefeetofRaoul。？Astothefirstsubject，thereplywasnegative;heknewrightwellthattheking\'scallinghimwasfromnecessity。？HestillfurtherknewthatLouisXIV。mustexperienceanimperiousdesireforaprivateconversationwithonewhomthepossessionofsuchasecretplacedonalevelwiththehighestpowersofthekingdom。？Butastosayingexactlywhattheking\'swishwas，D\'Artagnanfoundhimselfcompletelyataloss。？Themusketeerhadnodoubts，either，uponthereasonwhichhadurgedtheunfortunatePhilippetorevealhischaracterandbirth。？Philippe，buriedforeverbeneathamaskofsteel，exiledtoacountrywherethemenseemedlittlemorethanslavesoftheelements;Philippe，deprivedevenofthesocietyofD\'Artagnan，whohadloadedhimwithhonorsanddelicateattentions，hadnothingmoretoseethanodiousspectersinthisworld，and，despairbeginningtodevourhim，hepouredhimselfforthincomplaints，inthebeliefthathisrevelationswouldraiseupsomeavengerforhim。？Themannerinwhichthemusketeerhadbeennearkillinghistwobestfriends，thedestinywhichhadsostrangelybroughtAthostoparticipateinthegreatstatesecret，thefarewellofRaoul，theobscurityofthefuturewhichthreatenedtoendinamelancholydeath;allthisthrewD\'Artagnanincessantlybackonlamentablepredictionsandforebodings，whichtherapidityofhispacedidnotdissipate，asitusedformerlytodo。？D\'ArtagnanpassedfromtheseconsiderationstotheremembranceoftheproscribedPorthosandAramis。？Hesawthemboth，fugitives，tracked，ruined—laboriousarchitectsoffortunestheyhadlost;andasthekingcalledforhismanofexecutioninhoursofvengeanceandmalice，D\'Artagnantrembledattheveryideaofreceivingsomecommissionthatwouldmakehisverysoulbleed。？Sometimes，ascendinghills，whenthewindedhorsebreathedhardfromhisrednostrils，andheavedhisflanks，thecaptain，lefttomorefreedomofthought，reflectedontheprodigiousgeniusofAramis，ageniusofacumenandintrigue，amatchtowhichtheFrondeandthecivilwarhadproducedbuttwice。？Soldier，priest，diplomatist;gallant，avaricious，cunning;Aramishadnevertakenthegoodthingsofthislifeexceptasstepping—stonestorisetogiddierends。？Generousinspirit，ifnotloftyinheart，heneverdidillbutforthesakeofshiningevenyetmorebrilliantly。？Towardstheendofhiscareer，atthemomentofreachingthegoal，likethepatricianFuscus，hehadmadeafalsestepuponaplank，andhadfallenintothesea。？ButPorthos，good，harmlessPorthos！？ToseePorthoshungry，toseeMousquetonwithoutgoldlace，imprisoned，perhaps;toseePierrefonds，Bracieux，razedtotheverystones，dishonoredeventothetimber，—theseweresomanypoignantgriefsforD\'Artagnan，andeverytimethatoneofthesegriefsstruckhim，heboundedlikeahorseatthestingofagadflybeneaththevaultsoffoliagewherehehassoughtshadyshelterfromtheburningsun。？Neverwasthemanofspiritsubjectedtoennui，ifhisbodywasexposedtofatigue;neverdidthemanofhealthybodyfailtofindlifelight，ifhehadsomethingtoengagehismind。？D\'Artagnan，ridingfast，thinkingasconstantly，alightedfromhishorseinPairs，freshandtenderinhismusclesastheathletepreparingforthegymnasium。？Thekingdidnotexpecthimsosoon，andhadjustdepartedforthechasetowardsMeudon。？D\'Artagnan，insteadofridingaftertheking，ashewouldformerlyhavedone，tookoffhisboots，hadabath，andwaitedtillhismajestyshouldreturndustyandtired。？Heoccupiedtheintervaloffivehoursintaking，aspeoplesay，theairofthehouse，andinarminghimselfagainstallillchances。？Helearnedthattheking，duringthelastfortnight，hadbeengloomy;thatthequeen—motherwasillandmuchdepressed;thatMonsieur，theking\'sbrother，wasexhibitingadevotionalturn;thatMadamehadthevapors;andthatM。deGuichewasgonetooneofhisestates。？HelearnedthatM。Colbertwasradiant;thatM。Fouquetconsultedafreshphysicianeveryday，whostilldidnotcurehim，andthathisprincipalcomplaintwasonewhichphysiciansdonotusuallycure，unlesstheyarepoliticalphysicians。？Theking，D\'Artagnanwastold，behavedinthekindestmannertoM。Fouquet，anddidnotallowhimtobeeveroutofhissight;butthesurintendant，touchedtotheheart，likeoneofthosefinetreesawormhaspunctured，wasdecliningdaily，inspiteoftheroyalsmile，thatsunofcourttrees。？D\'ArtagnanlearnedthatMademoiselledelaValli鑢ehadbecomeindispensabletotheking;thattheking，duringhissportingexcursions，ifhedidnottakeherwithhim，wrotetoherfrequently，nolongerverses，but，whichwasmuchworse，prose，andthatwholepagesatatime。？Thus，asthepoliticalPleiadofthedaysaid，thefirstkingintheworldwasseendescendingfromhishorsewithanardorbeyondcompare，andonthecrownofhishatscrawlingbombasticphrases，whichM。deSaint—Aignan，aide—de—campinperpetuity，carriedtoLaValli鑢eattheriskoffounderinghishorses。？Duringthistime，deerandpheasantswerelefttothefreeenjoymentoftheirnature，huntedsolazilythat，itwassaid，theartofveneryrangreatriskofdegeneratingatthecourtofFrance。？D\'ArtagnanthenthoughtofthewishesofpoorRaoul，ofthatdespondingletterdestinedforawomanwhopassedherlifeinhoping，andasD\'Artagnanlovedtophilosophizealittleoccasionally，heresolvedtoprofitbytheabsenceofthekingtohaveaminute\'stalkwithMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？Thiswasaveryeasyaffair;whilethekingwashunting，LouisewaswalkingwithsomeotherladiesinoneofthegalleriesofthePalaisRoyal，exactlywherethecaptainofthemusketeershadsomeguardstoinspect。？D\'Artagnandidnotdoubtthat，ifhecouldbutopentheconversationonRaoul，Louisemightgivehimgroundsforwritingaconsolatorylettertothepoorexile;andhope，oratleastconsolationforRaoul，inthestateofheartinwhichhehadlefthim，wasthesun，waslifetotwomen，whowereverydeartoourcaptain。？Hedirectedhiscourse，therefore，tothespotwhereheknewheshouldfindMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？D\'ArtagnanfoundLaValli鑢ethecenterofthecircle。？Inherapparentsolitude，theking\'sfavoritereceived，likeaqueen，more，perhaps，thanthequeen，ahomageofwhichMadamehadbeensoproud，whenalltheking\'slooksweredirectedtoherandcommandedthelooksofthecourtiers。？D\'Artagnan，althoughnosquireofdames，received，nevertheless，civilitiesandattentionsfromtheladies;hewaspolite，asabravemanalwaysis，andhisterriblereputationhadconciliatedasmuchfriendshipamongthemenasadmirationamongthewomen。？Onseeinghimenter，therefore，theyimmediatelyaccostedhim;and，asisnotunfrequentlythecasewithfairladies，openedtheattackbyquestions。？\"Wherehadhebeen？？Whathadbecomeofhimsolong？？Whyhadtheynotseenhimasusualmakehisfinehorsecurvetinsuchbeautifulstyle，tothedelightandastonishmentofthecuriousfromtheking\'sbalcony？\"
Herepliedthathehadjustcomefromthelandoforanges。？Thissetalltheladieslaughing。？Thoseweretimesinwhicheverybodytraveled，butinwhich，notwithstanding，ajourneyofahundredleagueswasaproblemoftensolvedbydeath。
\"Fromthelandoforanges？\"criedMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente。？\"FromSpain？\"
\"Eh！
eh！\"saidthemusketeer。
\"FromMalta？\"echoedMontalais。
\"Mafoi！？Youarecomingverynear，ladies。\"
\"Isitanisland？\"askedLaValli鑢e。
\"Mademoiselle，\"
saidD\'Artagnan;\"Iwillnotgiveyouthetroubleofseekinganyfurther;
IcomefromthecountrywhereM。deBeaufortis，atthismoment，embarkingforAlgiers。\"
\"Haveyouseenthearmy？\"askedseveralwarlikefairones。
\"AsplainlyasIseeyou，\"repliedD\'Artagnan。
\"Andthefleet？\"
\"Yes，Isaweverything。\"
\"Haveweanyofusanyfriendsthere？\"saidMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente，coldly，butinamannertoattractattentiontoaquestionthatwasnotwithoutitscalculatedaim。
\"Why，\"
repliedD\'Artagnan，\"yes;therewereM。delaGuilloti鑢e，M。deManchy，M。deBragelonne—\"
LaValli鑢ebecamepale。？\"M。deBragelonne！\"criedtheperfidiousAthena飐。？\"Eh，what！—ishegonetothewars？—he！\"
Montalaistrodonhertoe，butallinvain。
\"Doyouknowwhatmyopinionis？\"continuedshe，addressingD\'Artagnan。
\"No，mademoiselle;butIshouldlikeverymuchtoknowit。\"
\"Myopinionis，then，thatallthemenwhogotothiswararedesperate，despondingmen，whomlovehastreatedill;andwhogototryiftheycannotfindjet—complexionedwomenmorekindthanfaironeshavebeen。\"
Someoftheladieslaughed;LaValli鑢ewasevidentlyconfused;Montalaiscoughedloudenoughtowakenthedead。
\"Mademoiselle，\"
interruptedD\'Artagnan，\"youareinerrorwhenyouspeakofblackwomenatGigelli;thewomentherehavenotjetfaces;itistruetheyarenotwhite—
theyareyellow。\"
\"Yellow！\"
exclaimedthebevyoffairbeauties。
\"Eh！donotdisparageit。？Ihaveneverseenafinercolortomatchwithblackeyesandacoralmouth。\"
\"SomuchthebetterforM。deBragelonne，\"saidMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente，withpersistentmalice。？\"Hewillmakeamendsforhisloss。？Poorfellow！\"
Aprofoundsilencefollowedthesewords;andD\'Artagnanhadtimetoobserveandreflectthatwomen—milddoves—treateachothermorecruellythantigers。？ButmakingLaValli鑢epaledidnotsatisfyAthena飐;shedeterminedtomakeherblushlikewise。？Resumingtheconversationwithoutpause，\"Doyouknow，Louise，\"saidshe，\"thatthereisagreatsinonyourconscience？\"
\"Whatsin，mademoiselle？\"stammeredtheunfortunategirl，lookingroundherforsupport，withoutfindingit。
\"Eh！—
why，\"continuedAthena飐，\"thepooryoungmanwasaffiancedtoyou;
helovedyou;youcasthimoff。\"
\"Well，thatisarightwhicheveryhonestwomanhas，\"saidMontalais，inanaffectedtone。？\"Whenweknowwecannotconstitutethehappinessofaman，itismuchbettertocasthimoff。\"
\"Casthimoff！orrefusehim！—that\'sallverywell，\"saidAthena飐，\"butthatisnotthesinMademoiselledelaValli鑢ehastoreproachherselfwith。？TheactualsinissendingpoorBragelonnetothewars;andtowarsinwhichdeathissoverylikelytobemetwith。\"？Louisepressedherhandoverhericybrow。？\"Andifhedies，\"continuedherpitilesstormentor，\"youwillhavekilledhim。？Thatisthesin。\"
Louise，half—dead，caughtatthearmofthecaptainofthemusketeers，whosefacebetrayedunusualemotion。？\"Youwishedtospeakwithme，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidshe，inavoicebrokenbyangerandpain。？\"Whathadyoutosaytome？\"
D\'Artagnanmadeseveralstepsalongthegallery，holdingLouiseonhisarm;then，whentheywerefarenoughremovedfromtheothers—\"WhatIhadtosaytoyou，mademoiselle，\"repliedhe，\"MademoiselledeTonnay—Charentehasjustexpressed;roughlyandunkindly，itistruebutstillinitsentirety。\"
Sheutteredafaintcry;piercedtotheheartbythisnewwound，shewentherway，likeoneofthosepoorbirdswhich，struckuntodeath，seektheshadeofthethicketinwhichtodie。？Shedisappearedatonedoor，atthemomentthekingwasenteringbyanother。？Thefirstglanceofthekingwasdirectedtowardstheemptyseatofhismistress。？NotperceivingLaValli鑢e，afrowncameoverhisbrow;butassoonashesawD\'Artagnan，whobowedtohim—\"Ah！monsieur！\"criedhe，\"youhavebeendiligent！？Iammuchpleasedwithyou。\"？Thiswasthesuperlativeexpressionofroyalsatisfaction。？Manymenwouldhavebeenreadytolaydowntheirlivesforsuchaspeechfromtheking。？Themaidsofhonorandthecourtiers，whohadformedarespectfulcircleroundthekingonhisentrance，drewback，onobservinghewishedtospeakprivatelywithhiscaptainofthemusketeers。？Thekingledthewayoutofthegallery，afterhavingagain，withhiseyes，soughteverywhereforLaValli鑢e，whoseabsencehecouldnotaccountfor。？Themomenttheywereoutofthereachofcuriousears，\"Well！？Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidhe，\"theprisoner？\"
\"Isinhisprison，sire。\"
\"Whatdidhesayontheroad？\"
\"Nothing，sire。\"
\"Whatdidhedo？\"
\"Therewasamomentatwhichthefisherman—whotookmeinhisboattoSainte—Marguerite—revolted，anddidhisbesttokillme。？The—theprisonerdefendedmeinsteadofattemptingtofly。\"
Thekingbecamepale。？\"Enough！\"saidhe;andD\'Artagnanbowed。？Louiswalkedabouthiscabinetwithhastysteps。？\"WereyouatAntibes，\"saidhe，\"whenMonsieurdeBeaufortcamethere？\"
\"No，sire;
Iwassettingoffwhenmonsieurleducarrived。\"
\"Ah！\"
whichwasfollowedbyafreshsilence。？\"Whomdidyouseethere？\"
\"Agreatmanypersons，\"saidD\'Artagnan，coolly。
Thekingperceivedhewasunwillingtospeak。？\"I
havesentforyou，monsieurlecapitaine，todesireyoutogoandpreparemylodgingsatNantes。\"
\"AtNantes！\"criedD\'Artagnan。
\"InBretagne。\"
\"Yes，sire，itisinBretagne。？WillyoumajestymakesolongajourneyastoNantes？\"
\"TheStatesareassembledthere，\"repliedtheking。？\"Ihavetwodemandstomakeofthem:Iwishtobethere。\"
\"WhenshallIsetout？\"saidthecaptain。
\"Thisevening—to—morrow—to—morrowevening;foryoumuststandinneedofrest。\"
\"Ihaverested，sire。\"
\"Thatiswell。？Thenbetweenthisandto—morrowevening，whenyouplease。\"
D\'Artagnanbowedasiftotakehisleave;but，perceivingthekingverymuchembarrassed，\"Willyoumajesty，\"saidhe，steppingtwopacesforward，\"takethecourtwithyou？\"
\"CertainlyIshall。\"
\"Thenyoumajestywill，doubtless，wantthemusketeers？\"？Andtheeyeofthekingsankbeneaththepenetratingglanceofthecaptain。
\"Takeabrigadeofthem，\"repliedLouis。
\"Isthatall？？Hasyourmajestynootherorderstogiveme？\"
\"No—ah—
yes。\"
\"Iamallattention，sire。\"
\"AtthecastleofNantes，whichIhearisveryillarranged，youwilladoptthepracticeofplacingmusketeersatthedoorofeachoftheprincipaldignitariesIshalltakewithme。\"
\"Oftheprincipal？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Forinstance，atthedoorofM。deLyonne？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"AndthatofM。Letellier？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"OfM。deBrienne？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Andofmonsieurlesurintendant？\"
\"Withoutdoubt。\"
\"Verywell，sire。？Byto—morrowIshallhavesetout。\"
\"Oh，yes;
butonemoreword，Monsieurd\'Artagnan。？AtNantesyouwillmeetwithM。leDucdeGesvres，captainoftheguards。？Besurethatyourmusketeersareplacedbeforehisguardsarrive。？Precedencealwaysbelongstothefirstcomer。\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"AndifM。
deGesvresshouldquestionyou？\"
\"Questionme，sire！？IsitlikelythatM。deGesvresshouldquestionme？\"？Andthemusketeer，turningcavalierlyonhisheel，disappeared。？\"ToNantes！\"saidhetohimself，ashedescendedfromthestairs。？\"Whydidhenotdaretosay，fromthencetoBelle—Isle？\"
Ashereachedthegreatgates，oneofM。Brienne\'sclerkscamerunningafterhim，exclaiming，\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan！？Ibegyourpardon—\"
\"Whatisthematter，MonsieurAriste？\"
\"Thekinghasdesiredmetogiveyouthisorder。\"
\"Uponyourcash—box？\"askedthemusketeer。
\"No，monsieur;onthatofM。Fouquet。\"
D\'Artagnanwassurprised，buthetooktheorder，whichwasintheking\'sownwriting，andwasfortwohundredpistoles。？\"What！\"thoughthe，afterhavingpolitelythankedM。Brienne\'sclerk，\"M。Fouquetistopayforthejourney，then！？Mordioux！thatisabitofpureLouisXI。？WhywasnotthisorderonthechestofM。Colbert？？Hewouldhavepaiditwithsuchjoy。\"？AndD\'Artagnan，faithfultohisprincipleofneverlettinganorderatsightgetcold，wentstraighttothehouseofM。Fouquet，toreceivehistwohundredpistoles。
ChapterXXXV:
TheLastSupper。
Thesuperintendenthadnodoubtreceivedadviceoftheapproachingdeparture，forhewasgivingafarewelldinnertohisfriends。？Fromthebottomtothetopofthehouse，thehurryoftheservantsbearingdishes，andthediligenceoftheregistres，denotedanapproachingchangeinofficesandkitchen。？D\'Artagnan，withhisorderinhishand，presentedhimselfattheoffices，whenhewastolditwastoolatetopaycash，thechestwasclosed。？Heonlyreplied:\"Ontheking\'sservice。\"
Theclerk，alittleputoutbytheseriousairofthecaptain，replied，that\"thatwasaveryrespectablereason，butthatthecustomsofthehousewererespectablelikewise;andthat，inconsequence，hebeggedthebearertocallagainnextday。\"？D\'ArtagnanaskedifhecouldnotseeM。Fouquet。？TheclerkrepliedthatM。lesurintendantdidnotinterferewithsuchdetails，andrudelyclosedtheouterdoorinthecaptain\'sface。？Butthelatterhadforeseenthisstroke，andplacedhisbootbetweenthedoorandthedoor—case，sothatthelockdidnotcatch，andtheclerkwasstillnosetonosewithhisinterlocutor。？Thismadehimchangehistone，andsay，withterrifiedpoliteness，\"IfmonsieurwishestospeaktoM。lesurintendant，hemustgototheante—chambers;thesearetheoffices，wheremonseigneurnevercomes。\"
\"Oh！
verywell！？Wherearethey？\"
repliedD\'Artagnan。
\"Ontheothersideofthecourt，\"saidtheclerk，delightedtobefree。？D\'Artagnancrossedthecourt，andfellinwithacrowdofservants。
\"Monseigneurseesnobodyatthishour，\"hewasansweredbyafellowcarryingavermeildish，inwhichwerethreepheasantsandtwelvequails。
\"Tellhim，\"saidthecaptain，layingholdoftheservantbytheendofhisdish，\"thatIamM。d\'Artagnan，captainofhismajesty\'smusketeers。\"
Thefellowutteredacryofsurprise，anddisappeared;D\'Artagnanfollowinghimslowly。？HearrivedjustintimetomeetM。P閘issonintheante—chamber:thelatter，alittlepale，camehastilyoutofthedining—roomtolearnwhatwasthematter。？D\'Artagnansmiled。
\"Thereisnothingunpleasant，MonsieurP閘isson;onlyalittleordertoreceivethemoneyfor。\"
\"Ah！\"
saidFouquet\'sfriend，breathingmorefreely;andhetookthecaptainbythehand，and，dragginghimbehindhim，ledhimintothedining—room，whereanumberoffriendssurroundedthesurintendant，placedinthecenter，andburiedinthecushionsofafauteuil。？TherewereassembledalltheEpicureanswhosolatelyatVauxhaddonethehonorsofthemansionofwitandmoneyinaidofM。Fouquet。？Joyousfriends，forthemostpartfaithful，theyhadnotfledtheirprotectorattheapproachofthestorm，and，inspiteofthethreateningheavens，inspiteofthetremblingearth，theyremainedthere，smiling，cheerful，asdevotedinmisfortuneastheyhadbeeninprosperity。？OntheleftofthesurintendantsatMadamedeBelli鑢e;onhisrightwasMadameFouquet;asifbravingthelawsoftheworld，andputtingallvulgarreasonsofproprietytosilence，thetwoprotectingangelsofthismanunitedtooffer，atthemomentofthecrisis，thesupportoftheirtwinedarms。？MadamedeBelli鑢ewaspale，trembling，andfullofrespectfulattentionsformadamelasurintendante，who，withonehandonherhusband\'s，waslookinganxiouslytowardsthedoorbywhichP閘issonhadgoneouttobringD\'Artagnan。？Thecaptainenteredatfirstfullofcourtesy，andafterwardsofadmiration，when，withhisinfallibleglance，hehaddivinedaswellastakenintheexpressionofeveryface。？Fouquetraisedhimselfupinhischair。
\"Pardonme，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidhe，\"ifIdidnotmyselfreceiveyouwhencomingintheking\'sname。\"？Andhepronouncedthelastwordswithasortofmelancholyfirmness，whichfilledtheheartsofallhisfriendswithterror。
\"Monseigneur，\"
repliedD\'Artagnan，\"Ionlycometoyouintheking\'snametodemandpaymentofanorderfortwohundredpistoles。\"
ThecloudspassedfromeverybrowbutthatofFouquet，whichstillremainedovercast。
\"Ah！
then，\"saidhe，\"perhapsyoualsoaresettingoutforNantes？\"
\"I
donotknowwhitherIamsettingout，monseigneur。\"
\"But，\"
saidMadameFouquet，recoveredfromherfright，\"youarenotgoingsosoon，monsieurlecapitaine，asnottodousthehonortotakeaseatwithus？\"
\"Madame，Ishouldesteemthatagreathonordoneme，butIamsopressedfortime，that，yousee，Ihavebeenobligedtopermitmyselftointerruptyourrepasttoprocurepaymentofmynote。\"
\"Thereplytowhichshallbegold，\"saidFouquet，makingasigntohisintendant，whowentoutwiththeorderD\'Artagnanhandedhim。
\"Oh！\"
saidthelatter，\"Iwasnotuneasyaboutthepayment;thehouseisgood。\"
A
painfulsmilepassedoverthepalefeaturesofFouquet。
\"Areyouinpain？\"askedMadamedeBelli鑢e。
\"Doyoufeelyourattackcomingon？\"askedMadameFouquet。
\"Neither，thankyouboth，\"saidFouquet。
\"Yourattack？\"saidD\'Artagnan，inhisturn;\"areyouunwell，monseigneur？\"
\"I
haveatertianfever，whichseizedmeafterthef阾eatVaux。\"
\"Caughtcoldinthegrottos，atnight，perhaps？\"
\"No，no;nothingbutagitation，thatwasall。\"
\"Thetoomuchheartyoudisplayedinyourreceptionoftheking，\"saidLaFontaine，quietly，withoutsuspicionthathewasutteringasacrilege。
\"Wecannotdevotetoomuchhearttothereceptionofourking，\"saidFouquet，mildly，tohispoet。
\"Monsieurmeanttosaythetoogreatardor，\"interruptedD\'Artagnan，withperfectfranknessandmuchamenity。？\"Thefactis，monseigneur，thathospitalitywasneverpracticedasatVaux。\"
MadameFouquetpermittedhercountenancetoshowclearlythatifFouquethadconductedhimselfwelltowardstheking，thekinghadhardlydonetheliketotheminister。？ButD\'Artagnanknewtheterriblesecret。？HealonewithFouquetknewit;thosetwomenhadnot，theonethecouragetocomplain，theothertherighttoaccuse。？Thecaptain，towhomthetwohundredpistoleswerebrought，wasabouttotakehisleave，whenFouquet，rising，tookaglassofwine，andorderedonetobegiventoD\'Artagnan。
\"Monsieur，\"
saidhe，\"tothehealthoftheking，whatevermayhappen。\"
\"Andtoyourhealth，monseigneur，whatevermayhappen，\"saidD\'Artagnan。
Hebowed，withthesewordsofevilomen，toallthecompany，whoroseassoonastheyheardthesoundofhisspursandbootsatthebottomofthestairs。
\"I，foramoment，thoughtitwasIandnotmymoneyhewanted，\"saidFouquet，endeavoringtolaugh。
\"You！\"
criedhisfriends;\"andwhatfor，inthenameofHeaven！\"
\"Oh！
donotdeceiveyourselves，mydearbrothersinEpicurus，\"saidthesuperintendent;\"Idonotwishtomakeacomparisonbetweenthemosthumblesinnerontheearth，andtheGodweadore，butremember，hegaveonedaytohisfriendsarepastwhichiscalledtheLastSupper，andwhichwasnothingbutafarewelldinner，likethatwhichwearemakingatthismoment。\"
A
painfulcryofdenialarosefromallpartsofthetable。？\"Shutthedoors，\"saidFouquet，andtheservantsdisappeared。？\"Myfriends，\"continuedFouquet，loweringhisvoice，\"whatwasI
formerly？？WhatamInow？？Consultamongyourselvesandreply。？Amanlikemesinkswhenhedoesnotcontinuetorise。？Whatshallwesay，then，whenhereallysinks？？Ihavenomoremoney，nomorecredit;Ihavenolongeranythingbutpowerfulenemies，andpowerlessfriends。\"
\"Quick！\"
criedP閘isson。？\"Sinceyouexplainyourselfwithsuchfrankness，itisourdutytobefrank，likewise。？Yes，youareruined—yes，youarehasteningtoyourruin—stop。？And，inthefirstplace，whatmoneyhaveweleft？\"
\"Sevenhundredthousandlivres，\"saidtheintendant。
\"Bread，\"
murmuredMadameFouquet。
\"Relays，\"
saidP閘isson，\"relays，andfly！\"
\"Whither？\"
\"ToSwitzerland—toSavoy—butfly！\"
\"Ifmonseigneurflies，\"saidMadameBelli鑢e，\"itwillbesaidthathewasguilty—wasafraid。\"
\"Morethanthat，itwillbesaidthatIhavecarriedawaytwentymillionswithme。\"
\"Wewilldrawupmemoirstojustifyyou，\"saidLaFontaine。？\"Fly！\"
\"I
willremain，\"saidFouquet。？\"And，besides，doesnoteverythingserveme？\"
\"YouhaveBelle—Isle，\"criedtheAbb？Fouquet。
\"AndIamnaturallygoingthere，whengoingtoNantes，\"repliedthesuperintendent。？\"Patience，then，patience！\"
\"BeforearrivingatNantes，whatadistance！\"saidMadameFouquet。
\"Yes，Iknowthatwell，\"repliedFouquet。？\"Butwhatistobedonethere？？ThekingsummonsmetotheStates。？Iknowwellitisforthepurposeofruiningme;buttorefusetogowouldbetoevinceuneasiness。\"
\"Well，Ihavediscoveredthemeansofreconcilingeverything，\"criedP閘isson。？\"YouaregoingtosetoutforNantes。\"
Fouquetlookedathimwithanairofsurprise。