\"I
mustovertakehim，ifIkillmyhorse，\"thoughtthemusketeer;andhebegantosawthemouthofthepooranimal，whilstheburiedtherowelsofhismercilessspursintohissides。？Themaddenedhorsegainedtwentytoises，andcameupwithinpistol—shotofFouquet。
\"Courage！\"
saidthemusketeertohimself，\"courage！thewhitehorsewillperhapsgrowweaker，andifthehorsedoesnotfall，themastermustpullupatlast。\"？Buthorseandriderremaineduprighttogether，gaininggroundbydifficultdegrees。？D\'Artagnanutteredawildcry，whichmadeFouquetturnround，andaddedspeedtothewhitehorse。
\"A
famoushorse！amadrider！\"growledthecaptain。？\"Hola！mordioux！？MonsieurFouquet！stop！intheking\'sname！\"？Fouquetmadenoreply。
\"Doyouhearme？\"shoutedD\'Artagnan，whosehorsehadjuststumbled。
\"Pardieu！\"repliedFouquet，laconically;androdeonfaster。
D\'Artagnanwasnearlymad;thebloodrushedboilingtohistemplesandhiseyes。？\"Intheking\'sname！\"criedheagain，\"stop，orIwillbringyoudownwithapistol—shot！\"
\"Do！\"
repliedFouquet，withoutrelaxinghisspeed。
D\'Artagnanseizedapistolandcockedit，hopingthatthedoubleclickofthespringwouldstophisenemy。？\"Youhavepistolslikewise，\"saidhe，\"turnanddefendyourself。\"
Fouquetdidturnroundatthenoise，andlookingD\'Artagnanfullintheface，opened，withhisrighthand，thepartofhisdresswhichconcealedhisbody，buthedidnoteventouchhisholsters。？Therewerenotmorethantwentypacesbetweenthetwo。
\"Mordioux！\"saidD\'Artagnan，\"I
willnotassassinateyou;ifyouwillnotfireuponme，surrender！whatisaprison？\"
\"I
wouldratherdie！\"repliedFouquet;\"Ishallsufferless。\"
D\'Artagnan，drunkwithdespair，hurledhispistoltotheground。？\"Iwilltakeyoualive！\"saidhe;andbyaprodigyofskillwhichthisincomparablehorsemanalonewascapable，hethrewhishorseforwardtowithintenpacesofthewhitehorse;alreadyhishandwasstretchedouttoseizehisprey。
\"Killme！killme！\"criedFouquet，\"\'twouldbemorehumane！\"
\"No！
alive—alive！\"murmuredthecaptain。
Atthismomenthishorsemadeafalsestepforthesecondtime，andFouquet\'sagaintookthelead。？Itwasanunheard—ofspectacle，thisracebetweentwohorseswhichnowonlykeptalivebythewilloftheirriders。？ItmightbesaidthatD\'Artagnanrode，carryinghishorsealongbetweenhisknees。？Tothefuriousgallophadsucceededthefasttrot，andthathadsunktowhatmightbescarcelycalledatrotatall。？Butthechaseappearedequallywarminthetwofatiguedathlet？。？D\'Artagnan，quiteindespair，seizedhissecondpistol，andcockedit。
\"Atyourhorse！notatyou！\"criedhetoFouquet。？Andhefired。？Theanimalwashitinthequarters—hemadeafuriousbound，andplungedforward。？AtthatmomentD\'Artagnan\'shorsefelldead。
\"I
amdishonored！\"thoughtthemusketeer;\"Iamamiserablewretch！forpity\'ssake，M。Fouquet，throwmeoneofyourpistols，thatImayblowoutmybrains！\"？ButFouquetrodeaway。
\"Formercy\'ssake！formercy\'ssake！\"criedD\'Artagnan;\"thatwhichyouwillnotdoatthismoment，Imyselfwilldowithinanhour，buthere，uponthisroad，Ishoulddiebravely;Ishoulddieesteemed;domethatservice，M。
Fouquet！\"
M。
Fouquetmadenoreply，butcontinuedtotroton。？D\'Artagnanbegantorunafterhisenemy。？Successivelyhethrewawayhishat，hiscoat，whichembarrassedhim，andthenthesheathofhissword，whichgotbetweenhislegsashewasrunning。？Theswordinhishanditselfbecametooheavy，andhethrewitafterthesheath。？Thewhitehorsebegantorattleinitsthroat;D\'Artagnangaineduponhim。？Fromatrottheexhaustedanimalsunktoastaggeringwalk—thefoamfromhismouthwasmixedwithblood。？D\'Artagnanmadeadesperateeffort，sprangtowardsFouquet，andseizedhimbytheleg，sayinginabroken，breathlessvoice，\"Iarrestyouintheking\'sname！blowmybrainsout，ifyoulike;wehavebothdoneourduty。\"
Fouquethurledfarfromhim，intotheriver，thetwopistolsD\'Artagnanmighthaveseized，anddismountingfromhishorse—\"Iamyourprisoner，monsieur，\"saidhe;\"willyoutakemyarm，forIseeyouarereadytofaint？\"
\"Thanks！\"
murmuredD\'Artagnan，who，infact，felttheearthslidingfromunderhisfeet，andthelightofdayturningtoblacknessaroundhim;thenherolleduponthesand，withoutbreathorstrength。？Fouquethastenedtothebrinkoftheriver，dippedsomewaterinhishat，withwhichhebathedthetemplesofthemusketeer，andintroducedafewdropbetweenhislips。？D\'Artagnanraisedhimselfwithdifficulty，andlookedabouthimwithawanderingeye。？HebeheldFouquetonhisknees，withhiswethatinhishand，smilinguponhimwithineffablesweetness。？\"Youarenotoff，then？\"criedhe。？\"Oh，monsieur！thetruekingofroyalty，inheart，insoul，isnotLouisoftheLouvre，orPhilippeofSainte—Marguerite;itisyou，proscribed，condemned！\"
\"I，whothisdayamruinedbyasingleerror，M。d\'Artagnan。\"
\"What，inthenameofHeaven，isthat？\"
\"I
shouldhavehadyouforafriend！？ButhowshallwereturntoNantes？？Weareagreatwayfromit。\"
\"Thatistrue，\"saidD\'Artagnan，gloomily。
\"Thewhitehorsewillrecover，perhaps;heisagoodhorse！？Mount，Monsieurd\'Artagnan;Iwillwalktillyouhaverestedalittle。\"
\"Poorbeast！andwounded，too？\"saidthemusketeer。
\"Hewillgo，Itellyou;Iknowhim;butwecandobetterstill，letusbothgetup，andrideslowly。\"
\"Wecantry，\"saidthecaptain。？Buttheyhadscarcelychargedtheanimalwiththisdoubleload，whenhebegantostagger，andthenwithagreateffortwalkedafewminutes，thenstaggeredagain，andsankdowndeadbythesideoftheblackhorse，whichhehadjustmanagedtocomeupto。
\"Wewillgoonfoot—destinywillsitso—thewalkwillbepleasant，\"saidFouquet，passinghisarmthroughthatofD\'Artagnan。
\"Mordioux！\"criedthelatter，withafixedeye，acontractedbrow，andaswellingheart—\"Whatadisgracefulday！\"
Theywalkedslowlythefourleagueswhichseparatedthemfromthelittlewoodbehindwhichthecarriageandescortwereinwaiting。？WhenFouquetperceivedthatsinistermachine，hesaidtoD\'Artagnan，whocastdownhiseyes，ashamedofLouisXIV。，\"Thereisanideathatdidnotemanatefromabraveman，Captaind\'Artagnan;itisnotyours。？Whatarethesegratingsfor？\"saidhe。
\"Topreventyourthrowinglettersout。\"
\"Ingenious！\"
\"Butyoucanspeak，ifyoucannotwrite，\"saidD\'Artagnan。
\"CanIspeaktoyou？\"
\"Why，certainly，ifyouwishtodoso。\"
Fouquetreflectedforamoment，thenlookingthecaptainfullintheface，\"Onesingleword，\"saidhe;\"willyourememberit？\"
\"I
willnotforgetit。\"
\"WillyouspeakittowhomIwish？\"
\"I
will。\"
\"Saint—Mand？;
articulatedFouquet，inalowvoice。
\"Well！
andforwhom？\"
\"ForMadamedeBelli鑢eorP閘isson。\"
\"Itshallbedone。\"
ThecarriagerolledthroughNantes，andtooktheroutetoAngers。
ChapterXLI:
InWhichtheSquirrelFalls，—theAdderFlies。
Itwastwoo\'clockintheafternoon。？Theking，fullofimpatience，wenttohiscabinetontheterrace，andkeptopeningthedoorofthecorridor，toseewhathissecretariesweredoing。？M。Colbert，seatedinthesameplaceM。deSaint—Aignanhadsolongoccupiedinthemorning，waschattinginalowvoicewithM。deBrienne。？Thekingopenedthedoorsuddenly，andaddressedthem。？\"Whatisityouaresaying？\"
\"WewerespeakingofthefirstsittingoftheStates，\"saidM。deBrienne，rising。
\"Verywell，\"repliedtheking，andreturnedtohisroom。
Fiveminutesafter，thesummonsofthebellrecalledRose，whosehouritwas。
\"Haveyoufinishedyourcopies？\"askedtheking。
\"Notyet，sire。\"
\"SeeifM。d\'Artagnanhasreturned。\"
\"Notyet，sire。\"
\"Itisverystrange，\"murmuredtheking。？\"CallM。Colbert。\"
Colbertentered;hehadbeenexpectingthisallthemorning。
\"MonsieurColbert，\"saidtheking，verysharply;\"youmustascertainwhathasbecomeofM。d\'Artagnan。\"
Colbertinhiscalmvoicereplied，\"Wheredoesyourmajestydesirehimtobesoughtfor？\"
\"Eh！
monsieur！doyounotknowonwhatIhavesenthim？\"repliedLouis，acrimoniously。
\"Yourmajestydidnotinformme。\"
\"Monsieur，therearethingsthatmustbeguessed;andyou，aboveall，areapttoguessthem。\"
\"I
mighthavebeenabletoimagine，sire;butIdonotpresumetobepositive。\"
Colberthadnotfinishedthesewordswhenaroughervoicethanthatofthekinginterruptedtheinterestingconversationthusbegunbetweenthemonarchandhisclerk。
\"D\'Artagnan！\"
criedtheking，withevidentjoy。
D\'Artagnan，paleandinevidentlybadhumor，criedtotheking，asheentered，\"Sire，isityourmajestywhohasgivenorderstomymusketeers？\"
\"Whatorders？\"saidtheking。
\"AboutM。Fouquet\'shouse？\"
\"None！\"
repliedLouis。
\"Ha！\"
saidD\'Artagnan，bitinghismustache;\"Iwasnotmistaken，then;itwasmonsieurhere;\"andhepointedtoColbert。
\"Whatorders？？Letmeknow，\"saidtheking。
\"Orderstoturnthehousetopsy—turvy，tobeatM。Fouquet\'sservants，toforcethedrawers，togiveoverapeacefulhousetopillage！？Mordioux！thesearesavageorders！\"
\"Monsieur！\"
saidColbert，turningpale。
\"Monsieur，\"
interruptedD\'Artagnan，\"thekingalone，understand，—thekingalonehasarighttocommandmymusketeers;but，astoyou，Iforbidyoutodoit，andI
tellyousobeforehismajesty;gentlemenwhocarryswordsdonotslingpensbehindtheirears。\"
\"D\'Artagnan！？D\'Artagnan！\"murmuredtheking。
\"Itishumiliating，\"continuedthemusketeer;\"mysoldiersaredisgraced。？Idonotcommandre顃res，thankyou，norclerksoftheintendant，mordioux！\"
\"Well！
butwhatisallthisabout？\"saidthekingwithauthority。
\"Aboutthis，sire;monsieur—monsieur，whocouldnotguessyourmajesty\'sorders，andconsequentlycouldnotknowIwasgonetoarrestM。Fouquet;monsieur，whohascausedtheironcagetobeconstructedforhispatronofyesterday—hassentM。deRoncherollestothelodgingsofM。Fouquet，and，underthepretenseofsecuringthesurintendant\'spapers，theyhavetakenawaythefurniture。？Mymusketeershavebeenpostedroundthehouseallthemorning;suchweremyorders。？Whydidanyonepresumetoorderthemtoenter？？Why，byforcingthemtoassistinthispillage，havetheybeenmadeaccomplicesinit？？Mordioux！weservetheking，wedo;butwedonotserveM。Colbert！\"
Transcriber\'snote:Dumashere，andlaterinthechapter，usesthenameRoncherat。？Roncherollesistheactualnameoftheman。
—JB
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidtheking，sternly，\"takecare;itisnotinmypresencethatsuchexplanations，andmadeinsuchatone，shouldtakeplace。\"
\"I
haveactedforthegoodoftheking，\"saidColbert，inafalteringvoice。？\"Itishardtobesotreatedbyoneofyourmajesty\'sofficers，andthatwithoutredress，onaccountoftherespectIowetheking。\"
\"Therespectyouowetheking，\"criedD\'Artagnan，hiseyesflashingfire，\"consists，inthefirstplace，inmakinghisauthorityrespected，andhispersonbeloved。？Everyagentofapowerwithoutcontrolrepresentsthatpower，andwhenpeoplecursethehandwhichstrikesthem，itistheroyalhandthatGodreproaches，doyouhear？？Mustasoldier，hardenedbyfortyyearsofwoundsandblood，giveyouthislesson，monsieur？？Mustmercybeonmyside，andferocityonyours？？Youhavecausedtheinnocenttobearrested，bound，andimprisoned！\"
\"Accomplices，perhaps，ofM。Fouquet，\"saidColbert。
\"WhotoldyouM。Fouquethadaccomplices，oreventhathewasguilty？？Thekingaloneknowsthat;hisjusticeisnotblind！？Whenhesays，\'Arrestandimprison\'suchandsuchaman，heisobeyed。？Donottalktome，then，anymoreoftherespectyouowetheking，andbecarefulofyourwords，thattheymaynotchancetoconveytheslightestmenace;forthekingwillnotallowthosetobethreatenedwhodohimservicebyotherswhodohimdisservice;andifincaseIshouldhave，whichGodforbid！amastersoungrateful，Iwouldmakemyselfrespected。\"
Thussaying，D\'Artagnantookhisstationhaughtilyintheking\'scabinet，hiseyesflashing，hishandonhissword，hislipstrembling，affectingmuchmoreangerthanhereallyfelt。？Colbert，humiliatedanddevouredwithrage，bowedtothekingasiftoaskhispermissiontoleavetheroom。？Theking，thwartedalikeinprideandincuriosity，knewnotwhichparttotake。？D\'Artagnansawhimhesitate。？Toremainlongerwouldhavebeenamistake:
itwasnecessarytoscoreatriumphoverColbert，andtheonlymethodwastotouchthekingsonearthequick，thathismajestywouldhavenoothermeansofextricationbutchoosingbetweenthetwoantagonists。？D\'ArtagnanbowedasColberthaddone;buttheking，who，inpreferencetoeverythingelse，wasanxioustohavealltheexactdetailsofthearrestofthesurintendantofthefinancesfromhimwhohadmadehimtrembleforamoment，—theking，perceivingthattheill—humorofD\'Artagnanwouldputoffforhalfanhouratleastthedetailshewasburningtobeacquaintedwith，—Louis，wesay，forgotColbert，whohadnothingnewtotellhim，andrecalledhiscaptainofthemusketeers。
\"Inthefirstplace，\"saidhe，\"letmeseetheresultofyourcommission，monsieur;youmayrestyourselfhereafter。\"
D\'Artagnan，whowasjustpassingthroughthedoorway，stoppedatthevoiceoftheking，retracedhissteps，andColbertwasforcedtoleavethecloset。？Hiscountenanceassumedalmostapurplehue，hisblackandthreateningeyesshonewithadarkfirebeneaththeirthickbrows;hesteppedout，bowedbeforetheking，halfdrewhimselfupinpassingD\'Artagnan，andwentawaywithdeathinhisheart。？D\'Artagnan，onbeingleftalonewiththeking，softenedimmediately，andcomposinghiscountenance:\"Sire，\"saidhe，\"youareayoungking。？Itisbythedawnthatpeoplejudgewhetherthedaywillbefineordull。？How，sire，willthepeople，whomthehandofGodhasplacedunderyourlaw，argueofyourreign，ifbetweenthemandyou，youallowangryandviolentministerstointerposetheirmischief？？Butletusspeakofmyself，sire，letusleaveadiscussionthatmayappearidle，andperhapsinconvenienttoyou。？Letusspeakofmyself。？IhavearrestedM。Fouquet。\"
\"Youtookplentyoftimeaboutit，\"saidtheking，sharply。
D\'Artagnanlookedattheking。？\"IperceivethatIhaveexpressedmyselfbadly。？I
announcedtoyourmajestythatIhadarrestedMonsieurFouquet。\"
\"Youdid;andwhatthen？\"
\"Well！？IoughttohavetoldyourmajestythatM。
Fouquethadarrestedme;thatwouldhavebeenmorejust。？Ire—establishthetruth，then;IhavebeenarrestedbyM。Fouquet。\"
ItwasnowtheturnofLouisXIV。tobesurprised。？Hismajestywasastonishedinhisturn。
D\'Artagnan，withhisquickglance，appreciatedwhatwaspassingintheheartofhismaster。？Hedidnotallowhimtimetoputanyquestions。？Herelated，withthatpoetry，thatpicturesqueness，whichperhapshealonepossessedatthatperiod，theescapeofFouquet，thepursuit，thefuriousrace，and，lastly，theinimitablegenerosityofthesurintendant，whomighthavefledtentimesover，whomighthavekilledtheadversaryinthepursuit，butwhohadpreferredimprisonment，perhapsworse，tothehumiliationofonewhowishedtorobhimofhisliberty。？Inproportionasthetaleadvanced，thekingbecameagitated，devouringthenarrator\'swords，anddrummingwithhisfinger—nailsuponthetable。
\"Itresultsfromallthis，sire，inmyeyes，atleast，thatthemanwhoconductshimselfthusisagallantman，andcannotbeanenemytotheking。？Thatismyopinion，andIrepeatittoyourmajesty。？Iknowwhatthekingwillsaytome，andIbowtoit，—reasonsofstate。？Sobeit！？Tomyearsthatsoundshighlyrespectable。？ButIamasoldier，andIhavereceivedmyorders，myordersareexecuted—veryunwillinglyonmypart，itistrue，buttheyareexecuted。？Isaynomore。\"
\"WhereisM。Fouquetatthismoment？\"askedLouis，afterashortsilence。
\"M。
Fouquet，sire，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，\"isintheironcagethatM。
Colberthadpreparedforhim，andisgallopingasfastasfourstronghorsescandraghim，towardsAngers。\"
\"Whydidyouleavehimontheroad？\"
\"BecauseyourmajestydidnottellmetogotoAngers。？Theproof，thebestproofofwhatIadvance，isthatthekingdesiredmetobesoughtforbutthisminute。？AndthenIhadanotherreason。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"
\"WhilstIwaswithhim，poorM。Fouquetwouldneverattempttoescape。\"
\"Well！\"
criedtheking，astonished。
\"Yourmajestyoughttounderstand，anddoesunderstand，certainly，thatmywarmestwishistoknowthatM。Fouquetisatliberty。？Ihavegivenhimoneofmybrigadiers，themoststupidIcouldfindamongmymusketeers，inorderthattheprisonermighthaveachanceofescaping。\"
\"Areyoumad，Monsieurd\'Artagnan？\"criedtheking，crossinghisarmsonhisbreast。？\"Dopeopleuttersuchenormities，evenwhentheyhavethemisfortunetothinkthem？\"
\"Ah！
sire，youcannotexpectthatIshouldbeanenemytoM。Fouquet，afterwhathehasjustdoneforyouandme。？No，no;
ifyoudesirethatheshouldremainunderyourlockandbolt，nevergivehiminchargetome;howevercloselywiredmightbethecage，thebirdwould，intheend，takewing。\"
\"I
amsurprised，\"saidtheking，inhissternesttone，\"youdidnotfollowthefortunesofthemanM。Fouquetwishedtoplaceuponmythrone。？Youhadinhimallyouwant—affection，gratitude。？Inmyservice，monsieur，youwillonlyfindamaster。\"
\"IfM。FouquethadnotgonetoseekyouintheBastile，sire，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，withadeeplyimpressivemanner，\"onesinglemanwouldhavegonethere，andIshouldhavebeenthatman—youknowthatrightwell，sire。\"
Thekingwasbroughttoapause。？Beforethatspeechofhiscaptainofthemusketeers，sofranklyspokenandsotrue，thekinghadnothingtooffer。？OnhearingD\'Artagnan，LouisrememberedtheD\'Artagnanofformertimes;himwho，atthePalaisRoyal，heldhimselfconcealedbehindthecurtainsofhisbed，whenthepeopleofParis，ledbyCardinaldeRetz，cametoassurethemselvesofthepresenceoftheking;theD\'Artagnanwhomhesalutedwithhishandatthedoorofhiscarriage，whenrepairingtoNotreDameonhisreturntoParis;thesoldierwhohadquittedhisserviceatBlois;thelieutenanthehadrecalledtobebesidehispersonwhenthedeathofMazarinrestoredhispower;themanhehadalwaysfoundloyal，courageous，devoted。？LouisadvancedtowardsthedoorandcalledColbert。？Colberthadnotleftthecorridorwherethesecretarieswereatwork。？Hereappeared。
\"Colbert，didyoumakeaperquisitiononthehouseofM。Fouquet？\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"Whathasitproduced？\"
\"M。
deRoncherolles，whowassentwithyourmajesty\'smusketeers，hasremittedmesomepapers，\"repliedColbert。
\"I
willlookatthem。？Givemeyourhand。\"
\"Myhand，sire！\"
\"Yes，thatImayplaceitinthatofM。d\'Artagnan。？Infact，M。d\'Artagnan，\"addedhe，withasmile，turningtowardsthesoldier，who，atsightoftheclerk，hadresumedhishaughtyattitude，\"youdonotknowthisman;makehisacquaintance。\"？AndhepointedtoColbert。？\"Hehasbeenmadebutamoderatelyvaluableservantinsubalternpositions，buthewillbeagreatmanifIraisehimtotheforemostrank。\"
\"Sire！\"
stammeredColbert，confusedwithpleasureandfear。
\"I
alwaysunderstoodwhy，\"murmuredD\'Artagnanintheking\'sear;\"hewasjealous。\"
\"Precisely，andhisjealousyconfinedhiswings。\"
\"Hewillhenceforwardbeawinged—serpent，\"grumbledthemusketeer，witharemnantofhatredagainsthisrecentadversary。
ButColbert，approachinghim，offeredtohiseyesaphysiognomysodifferentfromthatwhichhehadbeenaccustomedtoseehimwear;heappearedsogood，somild，soeasy;hiseyestooktheexpressionofanintelligencesonoble，thatD\'Artagnan，aconnoisseurinphysiognomies，wasmoved，andalmostchangedinhisconvictions。？Colbertpressedhishand。
\"Thatwhichthekinghasjusttoldyou，monsieur，proveshowwellhismajestyisacquaintedwithmen。？TheinveterateoppositionIhavedisplayed，uptothisday，againstabusesandnotagainstmen，provesthatIhaditinviewtoprepareformykingagloriousreign，formycountryagreatblessing。？Ihavemanyideas，M。d\'Artagnan。？Youwillseethemexpandinthesunofpublicpeace;andifIhavenotthegoodfortunetoconquerthefriendshipofhonestmen，Iamatleastcertain，monsieur，thatI
shallobtaintheiresteem。？Fortheiradmiration，monsieur，Iwouldgivemylife。\"
Thischange，thissuddenelevation，thismuteapprobationoftheking，gavethemusketeermatterforprofoundreflection。？HebowedcivillytoColbert，whodidnottakehiseyesoffhim。？Theking，whenhesawtheywerereconciled，dismissedthem。？Theylefttheroomtogether。？Assoonastheywereoutofthecabinet，thenewminister，stoppingthecaptain，said:
\"Isitpossible，M。d\'Artagnan，thatwithsuchaneyeasyours，youdidnot，atthefirstglance，atthefirstimpression，discoverwhatsortofmanIam？\"
\"MonsieurColbert，\"repliedthemusketeer，\"arayofthesuninoureyespreventsusfromseeingthemostvividflame。？Themaninpowerradiates，youknow;andsinceyouarethere，whyshouldyoucontinuetopersecutehimwhohadjustfallenintodisgrace，andfallenfromsuchaheight？\"
\"I，monsieur！\"saidColbert;\"oh，monsieur！？Iwouldneverpersecutehim。？Iwishedtoadministerthefinancesandtoadministerthemalone，becauseIamambitious，and，aboveall，becauseIhavethemostentireconfidenceinmyownmerit;becauseIknowthatallthegoldofthiscountrywillebbandflowbeneathmyeyes，andIlovetolookattheking\'sgold;
because，ifIlivethirtyyears，inthirtyyearsnotad閚irofitwillremaininmyhands;because，withthatgold，Iwillbuildgranaries，castles，cities，andharbors;becauseIwillcreateamarine，IwillequipnaviesthatshallwaftthenameofFrancetothemostdistantpeople;becauseIwillcreatelibrariesandacademies;becauseIwillmakeFrancethefirstcountryintheworld，andthewealthiest。？ThesearethemotivesformyanimosityagainstM。Fouquet，whopreventedmyacting。？Andthen，whenIshallbegreatandstrong，whenFranceisgreatandstrong，inmyturn，then，willIcry，\'Mercy\'！\"
\"Mercy，didyousay？thenaskhislibertyoftheking。？Thekingisonlycrushinghimonyouraccount。\"
Colbertagainraisedhishead。？\"Monsieur，\"saidhe，\"youknowthatisnotso，andthatthekinghashisownpersonalanimosityagainstM。Fouquet;itisnotformetoteachyouthat。\"
\"Butthekingwillgrowtired;hewillforget。\"
\"Thekingneverforgets，M。d\'Artagnan。？Hark！thekingcalls。？Heisgoingtoissueanorder。？Ihavenotinfluencedhim，haveI？？Listen。\"
Theking，infact，wascallinghissecretaries。？\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidhe。
\"I
amhere，sire。\"
\"GivetwentyofyourmusketeerstoM。deSaint—Aignan，toformaguardforM。
Fouquet。\"
D\'ArtagnanandColbertexchangedlooks。？\"AndfromAngers，\"continuedtheking，\"theywillconducttheprisonertotheBastile，inParis。\"
\"Youwereright，\"saidthecaptaintotheminister。