\"Oh！
oh！\"murmuredhe，\"thereismyweaknessseizingmeagain！？Icanwalknofurther！？Whatisthis？\"
Aramisperceivedhimthroughtheopening，andunabletoconceivewhatcouldinducehimtostopthus—\"Comeon，Porthos！comeon，\"hecried;\"comequickly！\"
\"Oh！\"
repliedthegiant，makinganeffortthatcontortedeverymuscleofhisbody—
\"oh！butIcannot。\"？Whilesayingthesewords，hefelluponhisknees，butwithhismightyhandsheclungtotherocks，andraisedhimselfupagain。
\"Quick！
quick！\"repeatedAramis，bendingforwardtowardstheshore，asiftodrawPorthostowardshimwithhisarms。
\"HereIam，\"stammeredPorthos，collectingallhisstrengthtomakeonestepmore。
\"InthenameofHeaven！？Porthos，makehaste！thebarrelwillblowup！\"
\"Makehaste，monseigneur！\"shoutedtheBretonstoPorthos，whowasflounderingasinadream。
Buttherewasnotime;theexplosionthundered，earthgaped，thesmokewhichhurledthroughthecleftsobscuredthesky;theseaflowedbackasthoughdrivenbytheblastofflamewhichdartedfromthegrottoasiffromthejawsofsomegiganticfierychimera;therefluxtookthebarkouttwentytoises;thesolidrockscrackedtotheirbase，andseparatedlikeblocksbeneaththeoperationofthewedge;aportionofthevaultwascarrieduptowardsheaven，asifithadbeenbuiltofcardboard;thegreenandblueandtopazconflagrationandblacklavaofliquefactionsclashedandcombatedaninstantbeneathamajesticdomeofsmoke;
thenoscillated，declined，andfellsuccessivelythemightymonolithsofrockwhichtheviolenceoftheexplosionhadnotbeenabletouprootfromthebedofages;theybowedtoeachotherlikegraveandstiffoldmen，thenprostratingthemselves，laydownforeverintheirdustytomb。
ThisfrightfulshockseemedtorestorePorthosthestrengththathehadlost;hearose，agiantamonggranitegiants。？Butatthemomenthewasflyingbetweenthedoublehedgeofgranitephantoms，theselatter，whichwerenolongersupportedbythecorrespondinglinks，begantorollandtotterroundourTitan，wholookedasifprecipitatedfromheavenamidstrockswhichhehadjustbeenlaunching。？Porthosfelttheveryearthbeneathhisfeetbecomingjelly—tremulous。？Hestretchedbothhandstorepulsethefallingrocks。？Agiganticblockwasheldbackbyeachofhisextendedarms。？Hebenthishead，andathirdgranitemasssankbetweenhisshoulders。？ForaninstantthepowerofPorthosseemedabouttofailhim，butthisnewHerculesunitedallhisforce，andthetwowallsoftheprisoninwhichhewasburiedfellbackslowlyandgavehimplace。？Foraninstantheappeared，inthisframeofgranite，liketheangelofchaos，butinpushingbackthelateralrocks，helosthispointofsupport，forthemonolithwhichweigheduponhisshoulders，andtheboulder，pressinguponhimwithallitsweight，broughtthegiantdownuponhisknees。？Thelateralrocks，foraninstantpushedback，drewtogetheragain，andaddedtheirweighttotheponderousmasswhichwouldhavebeensufficienttocrushtenmen。？Theherofellwithoutagroan—hefellwhileansweringAramiswithwordsofencouragementandhope，for，thankstothepowerfularchofhishands，foraninstanthebelievedthat，likeEnceladus，hewouldsucceedinshakingoffthetripleload。？ButbydegreesAramisbeheldtheblocksink;thehands，strungforaninstant，thearmsstiffenedforalasteffort，gaveway，theextendedshoulderssank，woundedandtorn，andtherockscontinuedtograduallycollapse。
\"Porthos！？Porthos！\"criedAramis，tearinghishair。？\"Porthos！whereareyou？？Speak！\"
\"Here，here，\"murmuredPorthos，withavoicegrowingevidentlyweaker，\"patience！patience！\"
Scarcelyhadhepronouncedthesewords，whentheimpulseofthefallaugmentedtheweight;theenormousrocksankdown，pressedbythoseotherswhichsankinfromthesides，and，asitwere，swallowedupPorthosinasepulcherofbadlyjointedstones。？Onhearingthedyingvoiceofhisfriend，Aramishadsprungtoland。？TwooftheBretonsfollowedhim，witheachaleverinhishand—
onebeingsufficienttotakecareofthebark。？Thedyingrattleofthevaliantgladiatorguidedthemamidsttheruins。？Aramis，animated，activeandyoungasattwenty，sprangtowardsthetriplemass，andwithhishands，delicateasthoseofawoman，raisedbyamiracleofstrengththecorner—stoneofthisgreatgranitegrave。？Thenhecaughtaglimpse，throughthedarknessofthatcharnel—house，ofthestillbrillianteyeofhisfriend，towhomthemomentaryliftingofthemassrestoredamomentaryrespiration。？Thetwomencamerushingup，graspedtheirironlevers，unitedtheirtriplestrength，notmerelytoraiseit，butsustainit。？Allwasuseless。？Theygavewaywithcriesofgrief，andtheroughvoiceofPorthos，seeingthemexhaustthemselvesinauselessstruggle，murmuredinanalmostcheerfultonethosesupremewordswhichcametohislipswiththelastrespiration，\"Tooheavy！\"
Afterwhichhiseyesdarkenedandclosed，hisfacegrewashypale，thehandswhitened，andthecolossussankquitedown，breathinghislastsigh。？Withhimsanktherock，which，eveninhisdyingagonyhehadstillheldup。？Thethreemendroppedthelevers，whichrolleduponthetumularystone。？Then，breathless，pale，hisbrowcoveredwithsweat，Aramislistened，hisbreastoppressed，hisheartreadytobreak。
Nothingmore。？Thegiantslepttheeternalsleep，inthesepulcherwhichGodhadbuiltabouthimtohismeasure。
ChapterLI:
Porthos\'sEpitaph。
Aramis，silentandsadasice，tremblinglikeatimidchild，aroseshiveringfromthestone。？AChristiandoesnotwalkontombs。？But，thoughcapableofstanding，hewasnotcapableofwalking。？ItmightbesaidthatsomethingofdeadPorthoshadjustdiedwithinhim。？HisBretonssurroundedhim;Aramisyieldedtotheirkindexertions，andthethreesailors，liftinghimup，carriedhimtothecanoe。？Then，havinglaidhimdownuponthebenchneartherudder，theytooktotheiroars，preferringthistohoistingsail，whichmightbetraythem。
OnallthatleveledsurfaceoftheancientgrottoofLocmaria，onesinglehillockattractedtheireyes。？Aramisneverremovedhisfromit;and，atadistanceoutinthesea，inproportionastheshorereceded，thatmenacingproudmassofrockseemedtodrawitselfup，asformerlyPorthosusedtodrawhimselfup，raisingasmiling，yetinvincibleheadtowardsheaven，likethatofhisdearoldhonestvaliantfriend，thestrongestofthefour，yetthefirstdead。？Strangedestinyofthesemenofbrass！？Themostsimpleofheartalliedtothemostcrafty;strengthofbodyguidedbysubtletyofmind;andinthedecisivemoment，whenvigoralonecouldsavemindandbody，astone，arock，avilematerialweight，triumphedovermanlystrength，andfallinguponthebody，droveoutthemind。
WorthyPorthos！borntohelpothermen，alwaysreadytosacrificehimselfforthesafetyoftheweak，asifGodhadonlygivenhimstrengthforthatpurpose;
whendyingheonlythoughthewascarryingouttheconditionsofhiscompactwithAramis，acompact，however，whichAramisalonehaddrawnup，andwhichPorthoshadonlyknowntosufferbyitsterriblesolidarity。？NoblePorthos！ofwhatgoodnowarethych鈚eauxoverflowingwithsumptuousfurniture，forestsoverflowingwithgame，lakesoverflowingwithfish，cellarsoverflowingwithwealth！？Ofwhatservicetotheenowthylackeysinbrilliantliveries，andinthemidstofthemMousqueton，proudofthepowerdelegatedbythee！？Oh，noblePorthos！
carefulheaper—upoftreasure，wasitworthwhiletolabortosweetenandgildlife，tocomeuponadesertshore，surroundedbythecriesofseagulls，andlaythyself，withbrokenbones，beneathatorpidstone？？Wasitworthwhile，inshort，noblePorthos，toheapsomuchgold，andnothaveeventhedistichofapoorpoetengravenuponthymonument？？ValiantPorthos！？hestill，withoutdoubt，sleeps，lost，forgotten，beneaththerocktheshepherdsoftheheathtakeforthegiganticabodeofadolmen。？Andsomanytwiningbranches，somanymosses，bentbythebitterwindofocean，somanylichenssolderthysepulchertoearth，thatnopassers—bywillimaginesuchablockofgranitecouldeverhavebeensupportedbytheshouldersofoneman。
Aramis，stillpale，stillicy—cold，hisheartuponhislips，looked，eventill，withthelastrayofdaylight，theshorefadedonthehorizon。？Notawordescapedhim，notasighrosefromhisdeepbreast。？ThesuperstitiousBretonslookeduponhim，trembling。？Suchsilencewasnotthatofaman，itwasthesilenceofastatue。？Inthemeantime，withthefirstgraylinesthatlighteduptheheavens，thecanoehoisteditslittlesail，which，swellingwiththekissesofthebreeze，andcarryingthemrapidlyfromthecoast，madebravestwaytowardsSpain，acrossthedreadedGulfofGascony，sorifewithstorms。？Butscarcelyhalfanhourafterthesailhadbeenhoisted，therowersbecameinactive，recliningontheirbenches，and，makinganeye—shadewiththeirhands，pointedouttoeachotherawhitespotwhichappearedonthehorizonasmotionlessasagullrockedbytheviewlessrespirationofthewaves。？Butthatwhichmighthaveappearedmotionlesstoordinaryeyeswasmovingataquickratetotheexperiencedeyeofthesailor;thatwhichappearedstationaryupontheoceanwascuttingarapidwaythroughit。？Forsometime，seeingtheprofoundtorporinwhichtheirmasterwasplunged，theydidnotdaretorousehim，andsatisfiedthemselveswithexchangingtheirconjecturesinwhispers。？Aramis，infact，sovigilant，soactive—Aramis，whoseeye，likethatofthelynx，watchedwithoutceasing，andsawbetterbynightthanbyday—
Aramisseemedtosleepinthisdespairofsoul。？Anhourpassedthus，duringwhichdaylightgraduallydisappeared，butduringwhichalsothesailinviewgainedsoswiftlyonthebark，thatGoenne，oneofthethreesailors，venturedtosayaloud:
\"Monseigneur，wearebeingchased！\"
Aramismadenoreply;theshipstillgaineduponthem。？Then，oftheirownaccord，twoofthesailors，bythedirectionofthepatronYves，loweredthesail，inorderthatthatsinglepointuponthesurfaceofthewatersshouldceasetobeaguidetotheeyeoftheenemypursuingthem。？Onthepartoftheshipinsight，onthecontrary，twomoresmallsailswererunupattheextremitiesofthemasts。？Unfortunately，itwasthetimeofthefinestandlongestdaysoftheyear，andthemoon，inallherbrilliancy，succeededinauspiciousdaylight。？Thebalancelle，whichwaspursuingthelittlebarkbeforethewind，hadthenstillhalfanhouroftwilight，andawholenightalmostaslightasday。
\"Monseigneur！
monseigneur！wearelost！\"saidthecaptain。？\"Look！theyseeusplainly，thoughwehaveloweredsail。\"
\"Thatisnottobewonderedat，\"murmuredoneofthesailors，\"sincetheysaythat，bytheaidofthedevil，theParis—folkhavefabricatedinstrumentswithwhichtheyseeaswellatadistanceasnear，bynightaswellasbyday。\"
Aramistookatelescopefromthebottomoftheboat，focusseditsilently，andpassingittothesailor，\"Here，\"saidhe，\"look！\"？Thesailorhesitated。
\"Don\'tbealarmed，\"saidthebishop，\"thereisnosininit;andifthereisanysin，Iwilltakeitonmyself。\"
Thesailorliftedtheglasstohiseye，andutteredacry。？Hebelievedthatthevessel，whichappearedtobedistantaboutcannon—shot，hadatasingleboundclearedthewholedistance。？But，onwithdrawingtheinstrumentfromhiseye，hesawthat，exceptthewaywhichthebalancellehadbeenabletomakeduringthatbriefinstant，itwasstillatthesamedistance。
\"So，\"
murmuredthesailor，\"theycanseeusasweseethem。\"
\"Theyseeus，\"saidAramis，andsankagainintoimpassibility。
\"What！
—theyseeus！\"saidYves。？\"Impossible！\"
\"Well，captain，lookyourself，\"saidthesailor。？Andhepassedhimtheglass。
\"Monseigneurassuresmethatthedevilhasnothingtodowiththis？\"askedYves。
Aramisshruggedhisshoulders。
Theskipperliftedtheglasstohiseye。？\"Oh！monseigneur，\"saidhe，\"itisamiracle—theretheyare;itseemsasifIweregoingtotouchthem。？Twenty—fivemenatleast！？Ah！？Iseethecaptainforward。？Heholdsaglasslikethis，andislookingatus。？Ah！heturnsround，andgivesanorder;theyarerollingapieceofcannonforward—theyareloadingit—pointingit。？Mis閞icorde！theyarefiringatus！\"
Andbyamechanicalmovement，theskipperputasidethetelescope，andthepursuingship，relegatedtothehorizon，appearedagaininitstrueaspect。？Thevesselwasstillatthedistanceofnearlyaleague，butthemaneuversightedthuswasnotlessreal。？Alightcloudofsmokeappearedbeneaththesails，morebluethanthey，andspreadinglikeafloweropening;then，ataboutamilefromthelittlecanoe，theysawtheballtakethecrownofftwoorthreewaves，digawhitefurrowinthesea，anddisappearattheendofit，asinoffensiveasthestonewithwhich，inplay，aboymakesducksanddrakes。？Itwasatonceamenaceandawarning。
\"Whatistobedone？\"askedthepatron。
\"Theywillsinkus！\"saidGoenne，\"giveusabsolution，monseigneur！\"？Andthesailorsfellontheirkneesbeforehim。
\"Youforgetthattheycanseeyou，\"saidhe。
\"Thatistrue！\"saidthesailors，ashamedoftheirweakness。？\"Giveusyourorders，monseigneur，wearepreparedtodieforyou。\"
\"Letuswait，\"saidAramis。
\"How—letuswait？\"
\"Yes;
doyounotsee，asyoujustnowsaid，thatifweendeavortofly，theywillsinkus？\"
\"But，perhaps，\"thepatronventuredtosay，\"perhapsundercoverofnight，wecouldescapethem。\"
\"Oh！\"
saidAramis，\"theyhave，nodoubt，Greekfirewithwhichtolightentheirowncourseandourslikewise。\"
Atthesamemoment，asifthevesselwasresponsivetotheappealofAramis，asecondcloudofsmokemountedslowlytotheheavens，andfromthebosomofthatcloudsparkledanarrowofflame，whichdescribedaparabolalikearainbow，andfellintothesea，whereitcontinuedtoburn，illuminatingaspaceofaquarterofaleagueindiameter。
TheBretonslookedateachotherinterror。？\"Youseeplainly，\"saidAramis，\"itwillbebettertowaitforthem。\"
Theoarsdroppedfromthehandsofthesailors，andthebark，ceasingtomakeway，rockedmotionlessuponthesummitsofthewaves。？Nightcameon，butstilltheshipdrewnearer。？Itmightbeimagineditredoubleditsspeedwithdarkness。？Fromtimetotime，asavulturerearsitsheadoutofitsnest，theformidableGreekfiredartedfromitssides，andcastitsflameupontheoceanlikeanincandescentsnowfall。？Atlastitcamewithinmusket—shot。？Allthemenwereondeck，armsinhand;thecannonierswereattheirguns，thematchesburning。？Itmightbethoughttheywereabouttoboardafrigateandtofightacrewsuperiorinnumbertotheirown，nottoattemptthecaptureofacanoemannedbyfourpeople。
\"Surrender！\"
criedthecommanderofthebalancelle，withtheaidofhisspeaking—trumpet。
ThesailorslookedatAramis。？Aramismadeasignwithhishead。？Yveswavedawhiteclothattheendofagaff。？Thiswaslikestrikingtheirflag。？Thepursuercameonlikearace—horse。？ItlaunchedafreshGreekfire，whichfellwithintwentypacesofthelittlecanoe，andthrewalightuponthemaswhiteassunshine。
\"Atthefirstsignofresistance，\"criedthecommanderofthebalancelle，\"fire！\"？Thesoldiersbroughttheirmusketstothepresent。
\"Didwenotsaywesurrendered？\"saidYves。
\"Alive，alive，captain！\"criedoneexcitedsoldier，\"theymustbetakenalive。\"
\"Well，yes—living，\"saidthecaptain。？ThenturningtowardstheBretons，\"Yourlivesaresafe，myfriends！\"criedhe，\"allbuttheChevalierd\'Herblay。\"
Aramisstaredimperceptibly。？Foraninstanthiseyewasfixeduponthedepthsoftheocean，illuminedbythelastflashesoftheGreekfire，whichranalongthesidesofthewaves，playedonthecrestslikeplumes，andrenderedstilldarkerandmoreterriblethegulfstheycovered。
\"Doyouhear，monseigneur？\"saidthesailors。
\"Yes。\"
\"Whatareyourorders？\"
\"Accept！\"
\"Butyou，monseigneur？\"
Aramisleanedstillmoreforward，anddippedtheendsofhislongwhitefingersinthegreenlimpidwatersofthesea，towhichheturnedwithsmilesastoafriend。
\"Accept！\"
repeatedhe。
\"Weaccept，\"repeatedthesailors;\"butwhatsecurityhavewe？\"
\"Thewordofagentleman，\"saidtheofficer。？\"BymyrankandbymynameIswearthatallexceptM。leChevalierd\'Herblayshallhavetheirlivesspared。？Iamlieutenantoftheking\'sfrigatethe\'Pomona，\'andmynameisLouisConstantdePressigny。\"
Witharapidgesture，Aramis—alreadybentoverthesideofthebarktowardsthesea—drewhimselfup，andwithaflashingeye，andasmileuponhislips，\"Throwouttheladder，messieurs，\"saidhe，asifthecommandhadbelongedtohim。？Hewasobeyed。？WhenAramis，seizingtheropeladder，walkedstraightuptothecommander，withafirmstep，lookedathimearnestly，madeasigntohimwithhishand，amysteriousandunknownsignatsightofwhichtheofficerturnedpale，trembled，andbowedhishead，thesailorswereprofoundlyastonished。？WithoutawordAramisthenraisedhishandtotheeyesofthecommanderandshowedhimthecolletofaringheworeonthering—fingerofhislefthand。？AndwhilemakingthissignAramis，drapedincoldandhaughtymajesty，hadtheairofanemperorgivinghishandtobekissed。？Thecommandant，whoforamomenthadraisedhishead，bowedasecondtimewithmarksofthemostprofoundrespect。？Thenstretchinghishandout，inhisturn，towardsthepoop，thatistosay，towardshisowncabin，hedrewbacktoallowAramistogofirst。？ThethreeBretons，whohadcomeonboardaftertheirbishop，lookedateachother，stupefied。？Thecrewwereawedtosilence。？Fiveminutesafter，thecommandercalledthesecondlieutenant，whoreturnedimmediately，orderingtheheadtobeputtowardsCorunna。？Whilstthisorderwasbeingexecuted，Aramisreappeareduponthedeck，andtookaseatnearthebastingage。？Nighthadfallen;themoonhadnotyetrisen，yetAramislookedincessantlytowardsBelle—Isle。？Yvesthenapproachedthecaptain，whohadreturnedtotakehispostinthestern，andsaid，inalowandhumblevoice，\"Whatcoursearewetofollow，captain？\"
\"Wetakewhatcoursemonseigneurpleases，\"repliedtheofficer。
Aramispassedthenightleaninguponthebastingage。？Yves，onapproachinghimnextmorning，remarkedthat\"thenightmusthavebeenaverydampone，forthewoodonwhichthebishop\'sheadhadrestedwassoakedwithdew。\"？Whoknows？—thatdewwas，itmaybe，thefirsttearsthathadeverfallenfromtheeyesofAramis！
Whatepitaphwouldhavebeenworththat，goodPorthos？
ChapterLII:
M。
deGesvres\'sRound。
D\'Artagnanwaslittleusedtoresistancelikethathehadjustexperienced。？Hereturned，profoundlyirritated，toNantes。？Irritation，withthisvigorousman，usuallyventeditselfinimpetuousattack，whichfewpeople，hitherto，weretheyking，weretheygiants，hadbeenabletoresist。？Tremblingwithrage，hewentstraighttothecastle，andaskedanaudiencewiththeking。？Itmightbeaboutseveno\'clockinthemorning，and，sincehisarrivalatNantes，thekinghadbeenanearlyriser。？Butonarrivingatthecorridorwithwhichweareacquainted，D\'ArtagnanfoundM。deGesvres，whostoppedhimpolitely，tellinghimnottospeaktooloudanddisturbtheking。？\"Isthekingasleep？\"saidD\'Artagnan。？\"Well，Iwilllethimsleep。？Butaboutwhato\'clockdoyousupposehewillrise？\"
\"Oh！
inabouttwohours;hismajestyhasbeenupallnight。\"
D\'Artagnantookhishatagain，bowedtoM。deGesvres，andreturnedtohisownapartments。？Hecamebackathalf—pastnine，andwastoldthatthekingwasatbreakfast。？\"Thatwilljustsuitme，\"saidD\'Artagnan。？\"Iwilltalktothekingwhileheiseating。\"
M。
deBrienneremindedD\'Artagnanthatthekingwouldnotseeanyoneatmeal—time。
\"But，\"
saidD\'Artagnan，lookingaskantatBrienne，\"youdonotknow，perhaps，monsieur，thatIhavetheprivilegeofentr閑anywhere—andatanyhour。\"
Briennetookthecaptain\'shandkindly，andsaid，\"NotatNantes，dearMonsieurd\'Artagnan。？Theking，inthisjourney，haschangedeverything。\"
D\'Artagnan，alittlesoftened，askedaboutwhato\'clockthekingwouldhavefinishedhisbreakfast。
\"Wedon\'tknow。\"
\"Eh？
—don\'tknow！？Whatdoesthatmean？？Youdon\'tknowhowmuchtimethekingdevotestoeating？？Itisgenerallyanhour;and，ifweadmitthattheairoftheLoiregivesanadditionalappetite，wewillextendittoanhourandahalf;thatisenough，Ithink。？IwillwaitwhereIam。\"
\"Oh！
dearMonsieurd\'Artagnan，theorderofthedayisnottoallowanypersontoremaininthiscorridor;Iamonguardforthatparticularpurpose。\"
D\'Artagnanfelthisangermountingtohisbrainasecondtime。？Hewentoutquickly，forfearofcomplicatingtheaffairbyadisplayofprematureill—humor。？Assoonashewasouthebegantoreflect。？\"Theking，\"saidhe，\"willnotreceiveme，thatisevident。？Theyoungmanisangry;heisafraid，beforehand，ofthewordsthatImayspeaktohim。？Yes;butinthemeantimeBelle—Isleisbesieged，andmytwofriendsbynowprobablytakenorkilled。？PoorPorthos！？AstoMasterAramis，heisalwaysfullofresources，andIameasyonhisaccount。？But，no，no;
Porthosisnotyetaninvalid，norisAramisinhisdotage。？Theonewithhisarm，theotherwithhisimagination，willfindworkforhismajesty\'ssoldiers。？WhoknowsifthesebravemenmaynotgetupfortheedificationofhismostChristianmajestyalittlebastionofSaint—Gervais！？Idon\'tdespairofit。？Theyhavecannonandagarrison。？Andyet，\"continuedD\'Artagnan，\"Idon\'tknowwhetheritwouldnotbebettertostopthecombat。？FormyselfaloneIwillnotputupwitheithersurlylooksorinsultsfromtheking;butformyfriendsImustputupwitheverything。？ShallIgotoM。Colbert？？Now，thereisamanImustacquirethehabitofterrifying。？IwillgotoM。Colbert。\"？AndD\'ArtagnansetforwardbravelytofindM。Colbert，butwasinformedthathewasworkingwiththeking，atthecastleofNantes。？\"Good！\"criedhe，\"thetimeshavecomeagaininwhichI
measuredmystepsfromDeTr関illetothecardinal，fromthecardinaltothequeen，fromthequeentoLouisXIII。？Trulyisitsaidthatmen，ingrowingold，becomechildrenagain！—Tothecastle，then！\"？Hereturnedthither。？M。deLyonnewascomingout。？HegaveD\'Artagnanbothhands，buttoldhimthatthekinghadbeenbusyalltheprecedingeveningandallnight，andthatordershadbeengiventhatnooneshouldbeadmitted。？\"Noteventhecaptainwhotakestheorder？\"criedD\'Artagnan。？\"I
thinkthatisrathertoostrong。\"
\"Notevenhe，\"saidM。deLyonne。
\"Sincethatisthecase，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，woundedtotheheart;\"sincethecaptainofthemusketeers，whohasalwaysenteredtheking\'schamber，isnolongerallowedtoenterit，hiscabinet，orhissalle—？manger，eitherthekingisdead，orhiscaptainisindisgrace。？Domethefavor，then，M。deLyonne，whoareinfavor，toreturnandtelltheking，plainly，Isendhimmyresignation。\"
\"D\'Artagnan，bewareofwhatyouaredoing！\"
\"Forfriendship\'ssake，go！\"andhepushedhimgentlytowardsthecabinet。
\"Well，Iwillgo，\"saidLyonne。
D\'Artagnanwaited，walkingaboutthecorridorinnoenviablemood。？Lyonnereturned。
\"Well，whatdidthekingsay？\"exclaimedD\'Artagnan。
\"Hesimplyanswered，\'\'Tiswell，\'\"repliedLyonne。
\"Thatitwaswell！\"saidthecaptain，withanexplosion。？\"Thatistosay，thatheacceptsit？？Good！？Now，then，Iamfree！？I
amonlyaplaincitizen，M。deLyonne。？Ihavethepleasureofbiddingyougood—bye！？Farewell，castle，corridor，ante—chamber！abourgeois，abouttobreatheatliberty，takeshisfarewellofyou。\"
Andwithoutwaitinglonger，thecaptainsprangfromtheterracedownthestaircase，wherehehadpickedupthefragmentsofGourville\'sletter。？Fiveminutesafter，hewasatthehostelry，where，accordingtothecustomofallgreatofficerswhohavelodgingsatthecastle，hehadtakenwhatwascalledhiscity—chamber。？Butwhenhearrivedthere，insteadofthrowingoffhisswordandcloak，hetookhispistols，puthismoneyintoalargeleatherpurse，sentforhishorsesfromthecastle—stables，andgaveordersthatwouldensuretheirreachingVannesduringthenight。？Everythingwentonaccordingtohiswishes。？Ateighto\'clockintheevening，hewasputtinghisfootinthestirrup，whenM。deGesvresappeared，attheheadoftwelveguards，infrontofthehostelry。？D\'Artagnansawallfromthecornerofhiseye;hecouldnotfailseeingthirteenmenandthirteenhorses。？Buthefeignednottoobserveanything，andwasabouttoputhishorseinmotion。？Gesvresrodeuptohim。？\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan！\"saidhe，aloud。
\"Ah，MonsieurdeGesvres！goodevening！\"
\"Onewouldsayyouweregettingonhorseback。\"
\"Morethanthat，—Iammounted，—asyousee。\"
\"ItisfortunateIhavemetwithyou。\"
\"Wereyoulookingforme，then？\"
\"MonDieu！yes。\"
\"Onthepartoftheking，Iwillwager？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"AsI，threedaysago，wentinsearchofM。Fouquet？\"
\"Oh！\"
\"Nonsense！？Itisofnousebeingover—delicatewithme;
thatisalllaborlost。？Tellmeatonceyouarecometoarrestme。\"
\"Toarrestyou？—Goodheavens！no。\"
\"Whydoyoucometoaccostmewithtwelvehorsemenatyourheels，then？\"
\"Iammakingmyround。\"
\"Thatisn\'tbad！？Andsoyoupickmeupinyourround，eh？\"
\"Idon\'tpickyouup;
Imeetwithyou，andIbegyoutocomewithme。\"
\"Where？\"
\"Totheking。\"
\"Good！\"
saidD\'Artagnan，withabanteringair;\"thekingisdisengaged。\"
\"ForHeaven\'ssake，captain，\"saidM。deGesvres，inalowvoicetothemusketeer，\"donotcompromiseyourself！thesemenhearyou。\"
D\'Artagnanlaughedaloud，andreplied:
\"March！？Peoplewhoarearrestedareplacedbetweenthesixfirstguardsandthesixlast。\"
\"ButasIamnotarrestingyou，\"saidM。deGesvres，\"youwillmarchbehind，withme，ifyouplease。\"
\"Well，\"
saidD\'Artagnan，\"thatisverypolite，duke，andyouarerightinbeingso;forifeverIhadhadtomakemyroundsnearyourchambre—de—ville，Ishouldhavebeencourteoustoyou，Iassureyou，onthewordofagentleman！？Now，onefavormore;whatdoesthekingwantwithme？\"
\"Oh，thekingisfurious！\"
\"Verywell！theking，whohasthoughtitworthwhiletobeangry，maytakethetroubletogrowcalmagain;thatisall。？Ishan\'tdieofthat，Iwillswear。\"