\"Good—day，Monsieurd\'Artagnan，\"saidtheminister，withmarkedaffability，\"haveyouhadapleasantjourney？\"
\"Yes，monsieur，\"saidD\'Artagnan，bowingtotheneckofhishorse。
\"Iheardthekinginviteyoutohistableforthisevening，\"continuedtheminister;\"youwillmeetanoldfriendthere。\"
\"Anoldfriendofmine？\"askedD\'Artagnan，plungingpainfullyintothedarkwavesofthepast，whichhadswallowedupforhimsomanyfriendshipsandsomanyhatreds。
\"M。leDucd\'Alm閐a，whoisarrivedthismorningfromSpain。\"
\"TheDucd\'Alm閐a？\"saidD\'Artagnan，reflectinginvain。
\"Here！\"
criedanoldman，whiteassnow，sittingbentinhiscarriage，whichhecausedtobethrownopentomakeroomforthemusketeer。
\"Aramis！\"criedD\'Artagnan，struckwithprofoundamazement。？Andhefelt，inertasitwas，thethinarmoftheoldnoblemanhangingroundhisneck。
Colbert，afterhavingobservedtheminsilenceforafewmoments，urgedhishorseforward，andleftthetwooldfriendstogether。
\"Andso，\"saidthemusketeer，takingAramis\'sarm，\"you，theexile，therebel，areagaininFrance？\"
\"Ah！andI
shalldinewithyouattheking\'stable，\"saidAramis，smiling。？\"Yes，willyounotaskyourselfwhatistheuseoffidelityinthisworld？？Stop！letusallowpoorLaValli鑢e\'scarriagetopass。？Look，howuneasysheis！？Howhereyes，dimwithtears，followtheking，whoisridingonhorsebackyonder！\"
\"Withwhom？\"
\"WithMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente，nowMadamedeMontespan，\"repliedAramis。
\"Sheisjealous。？Isshethendeserted？\"
\"Notquiteyet，butitwillnotbelongbeforesheis。\"
Transcriber\'snote:MadamedeMontespanwouldoustLouisefromtheking\'saffectionsby1667。—JB
Theychattedtogether，whilefollowingthesport，andAramis\'scoachmandrovethemsocleverlythattheyarrivedattheinstantwhenthefalcon，attackingthebird，beathimdown，andfelluponhim。？Thekingalighted;MadamedeMontespanfollowedhisexample。？Theywereinfrontofanisolatedchapel，concealedbyhugetrees，alreadydespoiledoftheirleavesbythefirstcuttingwindsofautumn。？Behindthischapelwasaninclosure，closedbyalatticedgate。？Thefalconhadbeatendownhispreyintheinclosurebelongingtothislittlechapel，andthekingwasdesirousofgoingintotakethefirstfeather，accordingtocustom。？Thecort鑗eformedacircleroundthebuildingandthehedges，toosmalltoreceivesomany。？D\'ArtagnanheldbackAramisbythearm，ashewasabout，liketherest，toalightfromhiscarriage，andinahoarse，brokenvoice，\"Doyouknow，Aramis，\"saidhe，\"whitherchancehasconductedus？\"
\"No，\"
repliedtheduke。
\"Herereposementhatweknewwell，\"saidD\'Artagnan，greatlyagitated。
Aramis，withoutdivininganything，andwithatremblingstep，penetratedintothechapelbyalittledoorwhichD\'Artagnanopenedforhim。？\"Wherearetheyburied？\"saidhe。
\"There，intheinclosure。？Thereisacross，yousee，beneathyonlittlecypress。？Thetreeofgriefisplantedovertheirtomb;don\'tgotoit;thekingisgoingthatway;theheronhasfallenjustthere。\"
Aramisstopped，andconcealedhimselfintheshade。？Theythensaw，withoutbeingseen，thepalefaceofLaValli鑢e，who，neglectedinhercarriage，atfirstlookedon，withamelancholyheart，fromthedoor，andthen，carriedawaybyjealousy，advancedintothechapel，whence，leaningagainstapillar，shecontemplatedthekingsmilingandmakingsignstoMadamedeMontespantoapproach，astherewasnothingtobeafraidof。？MadamedeMontespancomplied;shetookthehandthekingheldouttoher，andhe，pluckingoutthefirstfeatherfromtheheron，whichthefalconerhadstrangled，placeditinhisbeautifulcompanion\'shat。？She，smilinginherturn，kissedthehandtenderlywhichmadeherthispresent。？Thekinggrewscarletwithvanityandpleasure;helookedatMadamedeMontespanwithallthefireofnewlove。
\"Whatwillyougivemeinexchange？\"saidhe。
Shebrokeoffalittlebranchofcypressandofferedittotheking，wholookedintoxicatedwithhope。
\"Humph！\"
saidAramistoD\'Artagnan;\"thepresentisbutasadone，forthatcypressshadesatomb。\"
\"Yes，andthetombisthatofRaouldeBragelonne，\"saidD\'Artagnanaloud;\"ofRaoul，whosleepsunderthatcrosswithhisfather。\"
Agroanresounded—theysawawomanfallfaintingtotheground。？MademoiselledelaValli鑢ehadseenall，heardall。
\"Poorwoman！\"mutteredD\'Artagnan，ashehelpedtheattendantstocarrybacktohercarriagethelonelyladywhoselothenceforthinlifewassuffering。
ThateveningD\'Artagnanwasseatedattheking\'stable，nearM。ColbertandM。leDucd\'Alm閐a。？Thekingwasverygay。？Hepaidathousandlittleattentionstothequeen，athousandkindnessestoMadame，seatedathislefthand，andverysad。？Itmighthavebeensupposedthattimeofcalmwhenthekingwaswonttowatchhismother\'seyesfortheapprovalordisapprovalofwhathehadjustdone。
Ofmistressestherewasnoquestionatthisdinner。？ThekingaddressedAramistwoorthreetimes，callinghimM。
l\'ambassadeur，whichincreasedthesurprisealreadyfeltbyD\'Artagnanatseeinghisfriendtherebelsomarvelouslywellreceivedatcourt。
Theking，onrisingfromtable，gavehishandtothequeen，andmadeasigntoColbert，whoseeyewasonhismaster\'sface。？ColberttookD\'ArtagnanandAramisononeside。？Thekingbegantochatwithhissister，whilstMonsieur，veryuneasy，entertainedthequeenwithapreoccupiedair，withoutceasingtowatchhiswifeandbrotherfromthecornerofhiseye。？TheconversationbetweenAramis，D\'Artagnan，andColbertturneduponindifferentsubjects。？Theyspokeofprecedingministers;ColbertrelatedthesuccessfultricksofMazarin，anddesiredthoseofRichelieutoberelatedtohim。？D\'Artagnancouldnotovercomehissurpriseatfindingthisman，withhisheavyeyebrowsandlowforehead，displaysomuchsoundknowledgeandcheerfulspirits。？Aramiswasastonishedatthatlightnessofcharacterwhichpermittedthisseriousmantoretardwithadvantagethemomentformoreimportantconversation，towhichnobodymadeanyallusion，althoughallthreeinterlocutorsfeltitsimminence。？Itwasveryplain，fromtheembarrassedappearanceofMonsieur，howmuchtheconversationofthekingandMadameannoyedhim。？Madame\'seyeswerealmostred:wasshegoingtocomplain？？Wasshegoingtoexposealittlescandalinopencourt？？Thekingtookherononeside，andinatonesotenderthatitmusthaveremindedtheprincessofthetimewhenshewaslovedforherself:
\"Sister，\"
saidhe，\"whydoIseetearsinthoselovelyeyes？\"
\"Why—sire—\"saidshe。
\"Monsieurisjealous，ishenot，sister？\"
ShelookedtowardsMonsieur，aninfalliblesignthattheyweretalkingabouthim。
\"Yes，\"
saidshe。
\"Listentome，\"saidtheking;\"ifyourfriendscompromiseyou，itisnotMonsieur\'sfault。\"
HespokethesewordswithsomuchkindnessthatMadame，encouraged，havingbornesomanysolitarygriefssolong，wasnearlyburstingintotears，sofullwasherheart。
\"Come，come，dearlittlesister，\"saidtheking，\"tellmeyourgriefs;onthewordofabrother，Ipitythem;onthewordofaking，Iwillputanendtothem。\"
Sheraisedhergloriouseyesand，inamelancholytone:
\"Itisnotmyfriendswhocompromiseme，\"saidshe;\"theyareeitherabsentorconcealed;theyhavebeenbroughtintodisgracewithyourmajesty;they，sodevoted，sogood，soloyal！\"
\"YousaythisonaccountofDeGuiche，whomIhaveexiled，atMonsieur\'sdesire？\"
\"Andwho，sincethatunjustexile，hasendeavoredtogethimselfkilledonceeveryday。\"
\"Unjust，sayyou，sister？\"
\"Sounjust，thatifIhadnothadtherespectmixedwithfriendshipthatIhavealwaysentertainedforyourmajesty—\"
\"Well！\"
\"Well！？IwouldhaveaskedmybrotherCharles，uponwhomIcanalways—\"
Thekingstarted。？\"What，then？\"
\"IwouldhaveaskedhimtohavehaditrepresentedtoyouthatMonsieurandhisfavoriteM。leChevalierdeLorraineoughtnotwithimpunitytoconstitutethemselvestheexecutionersofmyhonorandmyhappiness。\"
\"TheChevalierdeLorraine，\"saidtheking;\"thatdismalfellow？\"
\"Ismymortalenemy。？Whilstthatmanlivesinmyhousehold，whereMonsieurretainshimanddelegateshispowertohim，I
shallbethemostmiserablewomaninthekingdom。\"
\"So，\"
saidtheking，slowly，\"youcallyourbrotherofEnglandabetterfriendthanIam？\"
\"Actionsspeakforthemselves，sire。\"
\"Andyouwouldprefergoingtoaskassistancethere—\"
\"Tomyowncountry！\"saidshewithpride;\"yes，sire。\"
\"YouarethegrandchildofHenryIV。aswellasmyself，lady。？Cousinandbrother—in—law，doesnotthatamountprettywelltothetitleofbrother—germain？\"
\"Then，\"
saidHenrietta，\"act！\"
\"Letusformanalliance。\"
\"Begin。\"
\"Ihave，yousay，unjustlyexiledDeGuiche。\"
\"Oh！
yes，\"saidshe，blushing。
\"DeGuicheshallreturn。\"
Transcriber\'snote:DeGuichewouldnotreturntocourtuntil1671。—JB
\"Sofar，well。\"
\"AndnowyousaythatIdowronginhavinginyourhouseholdtheChevalierdeLorraine，whogivesMonsieurilladvicerespectingyou？\"
\"RememberwellwhatItellyou，sire;theChevalierdeLorrainesomeday—Observe，ifeverIcometoadreadfulend，IbeforehandaccusetheChevalierdeLorraine;
hehasaspiritthatiscapableofanycrime！\"
\"TheChevalierdeLorraineshallnolongerannoyyou—Ipromiseyouthat。\"
Transcriber\'snote:Madamediddieofpoisonin1670，shortlyafterreturningfromthemissiondescribedlater。？TheChevalierdeLorrainehadactuallybeenorderedoutofFrancein1662。—JB
\"Thenthatwillbeatruepreliminaryofalliance，sire，—Isign;butsinceyouhavedoneyourpart，tellmewhatshallbemine。\"
\"InsteadofembroilingmewithyourbrotherCharles，youmustmakehimamoreintimatefriendthanever。\"
\"Thatisveryeasy。\"
\"Oh！notquitesoeasyasyoumaysuppose，forinordinaryfriendshippeopleembraceorexercisehospitality，andthatonlycostsakissorareturn，profitableexpenses;butinpoliticalfriendship—\"
\"Ah！it\'sapoliticalfriendship，isit？\"
\"Yes，mysister;andthen，insteadofembracesandfeasts，itissoldiers—itissoldiersallaliveandwellequipped—thatwemustserveuptoourfriends;
vesselswemustoffer，allarmedwithcannonsandstoredwithprovisions。？Ithenceresultsthatwehavenotalwayscoffersinafitconditionforsuchfriendships。\"
\"Ah！youarequiteright，\"saidMadame;\"thecoffersofthekingofEnglandhavebeensonorousforsometime。\"
\"Butyou，mysister，whohavesomuchinfluenceoveryourbrother，youcansecuremorethananambassadorcouldevergetthepromiseof。\"
\"ToeffectthatImustgotoLondon，mydearbrother。\"
\"Ihavethoughtso，\"repliedtheking，eagerly;\"andIhavesaidtomyselfthatsuchavoyagewoulddoyourhealthandspiritsgood。\"
\"Only，\"
interruptedMadame，\"itispossibleIshouldfail。？ThekingofEnglandhasdangerouscounselors。\"
\"Counselors，doyousay？\"
\"Precisely。？If，bychance，yourmajestyhadanyintention—Iamonlysupposingso—ofaskingCharlesII。hisallianceinawar—\"
\"A
war？\"
\"Yes;well！
thentheking\'scounselors，whoareinnumberseven—MademoiselleStewart，MademoiselleWells，MademoiselleGwyn，MissOrchay，MademoiselleZunga，MissDavies，andtheproudCountessofCastlemaine—willrepresenttothekingthatwarcostsagreatdealofmoney;thatitisbettertogiveballsandsuppersatHamptonCourtthantoequipshipsofthelineatPortsmouthandGreenwich。\"
\"Andthenyournegotiationswillfail？\"
\"Oh！thoseladiescauseallnegotiationstofallthroughwhichtheydon\'tmakethemselves。\"
\"Doyouknowtheideathathasstruckme，sister？\"
\"No;informmewhatitis。\"
\"Itisthat，searchingwellaroundyou，youmightperhapsfindafemalecounselortotakewithyoutoyourbrother，whoseeloquencemightparalyzetheill—willofthesevenothers。\"
\"Thatisreallyanidea，sire，andIwillsearch。\"
\"Youwillfindwhatyouwant。\"
\"Ihopeso。\"
\"Aprettyambassadressisnecessary;anagreeablefaceisbetterthananuglyone，isitnot？\"
\"Mostassuredly。\"
\"Ananimated，lively，audaciouscharacter。\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Nobility;
thatis，enoughtoenablehertoapproachthekingwithoutawkwardness—nottoolofty，soasnottotroubleherselfaboutthedignityofherrace。\"
\"Verytrue。\"
\"AndwhoknowsalittleEnglish。\"
\"MonDieu！why，someone，\"criedMadame，\"likeMademoiselledeK閞oualle，forinstance！\"
\"Oh！why，yes！\"saidLouisXIV。;\"youhavehitthemark，—itisyouwhohavefound，mysister。\"
\"Iwilltakeher;shewillhavenocausetocomplain，Isuppose。\"
\"Oh！no，I
willnamehers閐uctricepl閚ipotentiaireatonce，andwilladdadowrytothetitle。\"
\"Thatiswell。\"
\"Ifancyyoualreadyonyourroad，mydearlittlesister，consoledforallyourgriefs。\"
\"Iwillgo，ontwoconditions。？Thefirstis，thatI
shallknowwhatIamnegotiatingabout。\"
\"Thatisit。？TheDutch，youknow，insultmedailyintheirgazettes，andbytheirrepublicanattitude。？Idonotlikerepublics。\"
\"Thatmayeasilybeimagined，sire。\"
\"Iseewithpainthatthesekingsofthesea—theycallthemselvesso—keeptradefromFranceintheIndies，andthattheirvesselswillsoonoccupyalltheportsofEurope。？Suchapoweristoonearme，sister。\"
\"Theyareyourallies，nevertheless。\"
\"Thatiswhytheywerewronginhavingthemedalyouhaveheardofstruck;amedalwhichrepresentsHollandstoppingthesun，asJoshuadid，withthislegend:Thesunhadstoppedbeforeme。？Thereisnotmuchfraternityinthat，isthere？\"
\"Ithoughtyouhadforgottenthatmiserableepisode？\"
\"Ineverforgetanything，sister。？Andifmytruefriends，suchasyourbrotherCharles，arewillingtosecondme—\"？Theprincessremainedpensivelysilent。
\"Listentome;thereistheempireof？theseastobeshared，\"saidLouisXIV。？\"Forthispartition，whichEnglandsubmitsto，couldInotrepresentthesecondpartyaswellastheDutch？\"
\"WehaveMademoiselledeK閞oualletotreatthatquestion，\"repliedMadame。
\"Yoursecondconditionforgoing，ifyouplease，sister？\"
\"TheconsentofMonsieur，myhusband。\"
\"Youshallhaveit。\"
\"Thenconsidermealreadygone，brother。\"
Onhearingthesewords，LouisXIV。turnedroundtowardsthecorneroftheroominwhichD\'Artagnan，Colbert，andAramisstood，andmadeanaffirmativesigntohisminister。？Colbertthenbrokeinontheconversationsuddenly，andsaidtoAramis:
\"Monsieurl\'ambassadeur，shallwetalkaboutbusiness？\"
D\'Artagnanimmediatelywithdrew，frompoliteness。？Hedirectedhisstepstowardsthefireplace，withinhearingofwhatthekingwasabouttosaytoMonsieur，who，evidentlyuneasy，hadgonetohim。？Thefaceofthekingwasanimated。？Uponhisbrowwasstampedastrengthofwill，theexpressionofwhichalreadymetnofurthercontradictioninFrance，andwassoontomeetnomoreinEurope。
\"Monsieur，\"
saidthekingtohisbrother，\"IamnotpleasedwithM。leChevalierdeLorraine。？You，whodohimthehonortoprotecthim，mustadvisehimtotravelforafewmonths。\"
ThesewordsfellwiththecrushofanavalancheuponMonsieur，whoadoredhisfavorite，andconcentratedallhisaffectionsinhim。
\"Inwhathasthechevalierbeeninconsiderateenoughtodispleaseyourmajesty？\"
criedhe，dartingafuriouslookatMadame。
\"Iwilltellyouthatwhenheisgone，\"saidtheking，suavely。？\"AndalsowhenMadame，here，shallhavecrossedoverintoEngland。\"
\"Madame！inEngland！\"murmuredMonsieur，inamazement。
\"Inaweek，brother，\"continuedtheking，\"whilstwewillgowhitherIwillshortlytellyou。\"？Andthekingturnedonhisheel，smilinginhisbrother\'sface，tosweeten，asitwere，thebitterdraughthehadgivenhim。
DuringthistimeColbertwastalkingwiththeDucd\'Alm閐a。
\"Monsieur，\"
saidColberttoAramis，\"thisisthemomentforustocometoanunderstanding。？Ihavemadeyourpeacewiththeking，andIowedthatclearlytoamanofsomuchmerit;butasyouhaveoftenexpressedfriendshipforme，anopportunitypresentsitselfforgivingmeaproofofit。？Youare，besides，moreaFrenchmanthanaSpaniard。？Shallwesecure—answermefrankly—theneutralityofSpain，ifweundertakeanythingagainsttheUnitedProvinces？\"
\"Monsieur，\"
repliedAramis，\"theinterestofSpainisclear。？ToembroilEuropewiththeProvinceswoulddoubtlessbeourpolicy，butthekingofFranceisanallyoftheUnitedProvinces。？Youarenotignorant，besides，thatitwouldinferamaritimewar，andthatFranceisinnostatetoundertakethiswithadvantage。\"
Colbert，turningroundatthismoment，sawD\'Artagnanwhowasseekingsomeinterlocutor，duringthis\"aside\"ofthekingandMonsieur。？Hecalledhim，atthesametimesayinginalowvoicetoAramis，\"WemaytalkopenlywithD\'Artagnan，Isuppose？\"
\"Oh！
certainly，\"repliedtheambassador。
\"Weweresaying，M。d\'Alm閐aandI，\"saidColbert，\"thataconflictwiththeUnitedProvinceswouldmeanamaritimewar。\"
\"That\'sevidentenough，\"repliedthemusketeer。
\"Andwhatdoyouthinkofit，Monsieurd\'Artagnan？\"
\"Ithinkthattocarryonsuchawarsuccessfully，youmusthaveverylargelandforces。\"
\"Whatdidyousay？\"saidColbert，thinkinghehadillunderstoodhim。
\"Whysuchalargelandarmy？\"saidAramis。
\"BecausethekingwillbebeatenbyseaifhehasnottheEnglishwithhim，andthatwhenbeatenbysea，hewillsoonbeinvaded，eitherbytheDutchinhisports，orbytheSpaniardsbyland。\"
\"AndSpainneutral？\"askedAramis。
\"Neutralaslongasthekingshallprovestronger，\"rejoinedD\'Artagnan。
Colbertadmiredthatsagacitywhichnevertouchedaquestionwithoutenlighteningitthoroughly。？Aramissmiled，ashehadlongknownthatindiplomacyD\'Artagnanacknowledgednosuperior。？Colbert，who，likeallproudmen，dweltuponhisfantasywithacertaintyofsuccess，resumedthesubject，\"Whotoldyou，M。d\'Artagnan，thatthekinghadnonavy？\"
\"Oh！？Itakenoheedofthesedetails，\"
repliedthecaptain。？\"Iambutanindifferentsailor。？Likeallnervouspeople，Ihatethesea;andyetIhaveanideathat，withships，Francebeingaseaportwithtwohundredexits，wemighthavesailors。\"
Colbertdrewfromhispocketalittleoblongbookdividedintotwocolumns。？Onthefirstwerethenamesofvessels，ontheotherthefiguresrecapitulatingthenumberofcannonandmenrequisitetoequiptheseships。？\"Ihavehadthesameideaasyou，\"saidhetoD\'Artagnan，\"andIhavehadanaccountdrawnupofthevesselswehavealtogether—thirty—fiveships。\"
\"Thirty—fiveships！impossible！\"criedD\'Artagnan。
\"Somethingliketwothousandpiecesofcannon，\"saidColbert。？\"Thatiswhatthekingpossessesatthismoment。？Offiveandthirtyvesselswecanmakethreesquadrons，butImusthavefive。\"
\"Five！\"
criedAramis。
\"Theywillbeafloatbeforetheendoftheyear，gentlemen;thekingwillhavefiftyshipoftheline。？Wemayventureonacontestwiththem，maywenot？\"
\"Tobuildvessels，\"saidD\'Artagnan，\"isdifficult，butpossible。？Astoarmingthem，howisthattobedone？？InFrancethereareneitherfoundriesnormilitarydocks。\"
\"Bah！\"
repliedColbert，inabanteringtone，\"Ihaveplannedallthatthisyearandahalfpast，didyounotknowit？？DoyouknowM。d\'Imfreville？\"
\"D\'Imfreville？\"
repliedD\'Artagnan;\"no。\"
\"HeisamanIhavediscovered;hehasaspecialty;heisamanofgenius—heknowshowtosetmentowork。？ItishewhohascastcannonandcutthewoodsofBourgogne。？Andthen，monsieurl\'ambassadeur，youmaynotbelievewhatIamgoingtotellyou，butIhaveastillfurtheridea。\"
\"Oh，monsieur！\"saidAramis，civilly，\"Ialwaysbelieveyou。\"
\"CalculatinguponthecharacteroftheDutch，ourallies，Isaidtomyself，\'Theyaremerchants，theyarefriendlywiththeking;theywillbehappytoselltothekingwhattheyfabricateforthemselves;thenthemorewebuy\'—Ah！？Imustaddthis:IhaveForant—doyouknowForant，D\'Artagnan？\"
Colbert，inhiswarmth，forgothimself;hecalledthecaptainsimplyD\'Artagnan，asthekingdid。？Butthecaptainonlysmiledatit。
\"No，\"
repliedhe，\"Idonotknowhim。\"
\"ThatisanothermanIhavediscovered，withageniusforbuying。？ThisForanthaspurchasedforme350，000
poundsofironinballs，200，000poundsofpowder，twelvecargoesofNortherntimber，matches，grenades，pitch，tar—Iknownotwhat！witha？savingofsevenpercentuponwhatallthosearticleswouldcostmefabricatedinFrance。\"
\"Thatisacapitalandquaintidea，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，\"tohaveDutchcannon—ballscastwhichwillreturntotheDutch。\"
\"Isitnot，withloss，too？\"？AndColbertlaughedaloud。？Hewasdelightedwithhisownjoke。
\"Stillfurther，\"addedhe，\"thesesameDutcharebuildingfortheking，atthismoment，sixvesselsafterthemodelofthebestoftheirname。？Destouches—Ah！perhapsyoudon\'tknowDestouches？\"
\"No，monsieur。\"