\"Whowasfoolenoughtooccasionthisdelay？\"mutteredtheking，betweenhisteeth，asthechiefmagistratewasinthemiddleofalongaddress。
\"NotI，certainly，\"repliedD\'Artagnan，\"butIbelieveitwasM。
Colbert。\"
Colbert，havingheardhisnamepronounced，said，\"WhatwasM。d\'Artagnangoodenoughtosay？\"
\"I
wasgoodenoughtoremarkthatitwasyouwhostoppedtheking\'sprogress，sothathemighttastethevindeBrie。？WasIright？\"
\"Quiteso，monsieur。\"
\"Inthatcase，then，itwasyouwhomthekingcalledsomenameorother。\"
\"Whatname？\"
\"I
hardlyknow;butwaitamoment—idiot，Ithinkitwas—no，no，itwasfoolordolt。？Yes;hismajestysaidthatthemanwhohadthoughtofthevindeMelunwassomethingofthesort。\"
D\'Artagnan，afterthisbroadside，quietlycaressedhismustache;M。Colbert\'slargeheadseemedtobecomelargerandlargerthanever。？D\'Artagnan，seeinghowuglyangermadehim，didnotstophalf—way。？Theoratorstillwentonwithhisspeech，whiletheking\'scolorwasvisiblyincreasing。
\"Mordioux！\"saidthemusketeer，coolly，\"thekingisgoingtohaveanattackofdeterminationofbloodtothehead。？Wherethedeucedidyougetholdofthatidea，MonsieurColbert？？Youhavenoluck。\"
\"Monsieur，\"
saidthefinancier，drawinghimselfup，\"myzealfortheking\'sserviceinspiredmewiththeidea。\"
\"Bah！\"
\"Monsieur，Melunisacity，anexcellentcity，whichpayswell，andwhichitwouldbeimprudenttodisplease。\"
\"There，now！？I，whodonotpretendtobeafinancier，sawonlyoneideainyouridea。\"
\"Whatwasthat，monsieur？\"
\"ThatofcausingalittleannoyancetoM。Fouquet，whoismakinghimselfquitegiddyonhisdonjonsyonder，inwaitingforus。\"
Thiswasahome—stroke，hardenoughinallconscience。？Colbertwascompletelythrownoutofthesaddlebyit，andretired，thoroughlydiscomfited。？Fortunately，thespeechwasnowatanend;thekingdrankthewinewhichwaspresentedtohim，andtheneveryoneresumedtheprogressthroughthecity。？Thekingbithislipsinanger，fortheeveningwasclosingin，andallhopeofawalkwithLaValli鑢ewasatanend。？Inorderthatthewholeoftheking\'shouseholdshouldenterVaux，fourhoursatleastwerenecessary，owingtothedifferentarrangements。？Theking，therefore，whowasboilingwithimpatience，hurriedforwardasmuchaspossible，inordertoreachitbeforenightfall。？But，atthemomenthewassettingoffagain，otherandfreshdifficultiesarose。
\"IsnotthekinggoingtosleepatMelun？\"saidColbert，inalowtoneofvoice，toD\'Artagnan。
M。
Colbertmusthavebeenbadlyinspiredthatday，toaddresshimselfinthatmannertothechiefofthemusketeers;forthelatterguessedthattheking\'sintentionwasveryfarfromthatofremainingwherehewas。？D\'ArtagnanwouldnotallowhimtoenterVauxexcepthewerewellandstronglyaccompanied;anddesiredthathismajestywouldnotenterexceptwithalltheescort。？Ontheotherhand，hefeltthatthesedelayswouldirritatethatimpatientmonarchbeyondmeasure。？Inwhatwaycouldhepossiblyreconcilethesedifficulties？？D\'ArtagnantookupColbert\'sremark，anddeterminedtorepeatedittotheking。
\"Sire，\"
hesaid，\"M。ColberthasbeenaskingmeifyourmajestydoesnotintendtosleepatMelun。\"
\"SleepatMelun！？Whatfor？\"exclaimedLouisXIV。？\"SleepatMelun！？Who，inHeaven\'sname，canhavethoughtofsuchathing，whenM。Fouquetisexpectingusthisevening？\"
\"Itwassimply，\"repliedColbert，quickly，\"thefearofcausingyourmajestytheleastdelay;for，accordingtoestablishedetiquette，youcannotenteranyplace，withtheexceptionofyourownroyalresidences，untilthesoldiers\'quartershavebeenmarkedoutbythequartermaster，andthegarrisonproperlydistributed。\"
D\'Artagnanlistenedwiththegreatestattention，bitinghismustachetoconcealhisvexation;andthequeenswerenotlessinterested。？Theywerefatigued，andwouldhavepreferredtogotorestwithoutproceedinganyfarther;moreespecially，inordertopreventthekingwalkingaboutintheeveningwithM。deSaint—Aignanandtheladiesofthecourt，for，ifetiquetterequiredtheprincessestoremainwithintheirownrooms，theladiesofhonor，assoonastheyhadperformedtheservicesrequiredofthem，hadnorestrictionsplaceduponthem，butwereatlibertytowalkaboutastheypleased。？Itwilleasilybeconjecturedthatalltheserivalinterests，gatheringtogetherinvapors，necessarilyproducedclouds，andthatthecloudswerelikelytobefollowedbyatempest。？Thekinghadnomustachetognaw，andthereforekeptbitingthehandleofhiswhipinstead，withill—concealedimpatience。？Howcouldhegetoutofit？？D\'Artagnanlookedasagreeableaspossible，andColbertassulkyashecould。？Whowastherehecouldgetinapassionwith？
\"Wewillconsultthequeen，\"saidLouisXIV。，bowingtotheroyalladies。？AndthiskindnessofconsiderationsoftenedMariaTheresa\'sheart，who，beingofakindandgenerousdisposition，whenlefttoherownfree—will，replied:
\"I
shallbedelightedtodowhateveryourmajestywishes。\"
\"HowlongwillittakeustogettoVaux？\"inquiredAnneofAustria，inslowandmeasuredaccents，placingherhanduponherbosom，wheretheseatofherpainlay。
\"Anhourforyourmajesty\'scarriages，\"saidD\'Artagnan;\"theroadsaretolerablygood。\"
Thekinglookedathim。？\"Andaquarterofanhourfortheking，\"hehastenedtoadd。
\"Weshouldarrivebydaylight？\"saidLouisXIV。
\"Butthebilletingoftheking\'smilitaryescort，\"objectedColbert，softly，\"willmakehismajestylosealltheadvantageofhisspeed，howeverquickhemaybe。\"
\"Doubleassthatyouare！\"thoughtD\'Artagnan;\"ifIhadanyinterestormotiveindemolishingyourcreditwiththeking，Icoulddoitintenminutes。？IfIwereintheking\'splace，\"headdedaloud，\"Ishould，ingoingtoM。Fouquet，leavemyescortbehindme;Ishouldgotohimasafriend;Ishouldenteraccompaniedonlybymycaptainoftheguards;IshouldconsiderthatIwasactingmorenobly，andshouldbeinvestedwithastillmoresacredcharacterbydoingso。\"
Delightsparkledintheking\'seyes。？\"Thatisindeedaverysensiblesuggestion。？Wewillgotoseeafriendasfriends;thegentlemenwhoarewiththecarriagescangoslowly:butwewhoaremountedwillrideon。\"？Andherodeoff，accompaniedbyallthosewhoweremounted。？Colberthidhisuglyheadbehindhishorse\'sneck。
\"I
shallbequits，\"saidD\'Artagnan，ashegallopedalong，\"bygettingalittletalkwithAramisthisevening。？Andthen，M。Fouquetisamanofhonor。？Mordioux！？Ihavesaidso，anditmustbeso。\"
Andthiswasthewayhow，towardsseveno\'clockintheevening，withoutannouncinghisarrivalbythedinoftrumpets，andwithoutevenhisadvancedguard，withoutout—ridersormusketeers，thekingpresentedhimselfbeforethegateofVaux，whereFouquet，whohadbeeninformedofhisroyalguest\'sapproach，hadbeenwaitingforthelasthalf—hour，withhisheaduncovered，surroundedbyhishouseholdandhisfriends。
ChapterXIII:
NectarandAmbrosia。
M。
Fouquetheldthestirrupoftheking，who，havingdismounted，bowedmostgraciously，andmoregraciouslystillheldouthishandtohim，whichFouquet，inspiteofaslightresistanceontheking\'spart，carriedrespectfullytohislips。？Thekingwishedtowaitinthefirstcourtyardforthearrivalofthecarriages，norhadhelongtowait，fortheroadshadbeenputintoexcellentorderbythesuperintendent，andastonewouldhardlyhavebeenfoundofthesizeofaneggthewholewayfromMeluntoVaux;sothatthecarriages，rollingalongasthoughonacarpet，broughttheladiestoVaux，withoutjoltingorfatigue，byeighto\'clock。？TheywerereceivedbyMadameFouquet，andatthemomenttheymadetheirappearance，alightasbrightasdayburstforthfromeveryquarter，trees，vases，andmarblestatues。？Thisspeciesofenchantmentlasteduntiltheirmajestieshadretiredintothepalace。？Allthesewondersandmagicaleffectswhichthechroniclerhasheapedup，orratherembalmed，inhisrecital，attheriskofrivalingthebrain—bornscenesofromancers;thesesplendorswherebynightseemedvanquishedandnaturecorrected，togetherwitheverydelightandluxurycombinedforthesatisfactionofallthesenses，aswellastheimagination，Fouquetdidinrealtruthoffertohissovereigninthatenchantingretreatofwhichnomonarchcouldatthattimeboastofpossessinganequal。？Wedonotintendtodescribethegrandbanquet，atwhichtheroyalguestswerepresent，northeconcerts，northefairy—likeandmorethanmagictransformationsandmetamorphoses;itwillbeenoughforourpurposetodepictthecountenancethekingassumed，which，frombeinggay，soonworeaverygloomy，constrained，andirritatedexpression。？Herememberedhisownresidence，royalthoughitwas，andthemeanandindifferentstyleofluxurythatprevailedthere，whichcomprisedbutlittlemorethanwhatwasmerelyusefulfortheroyalwants，withoutbeinghisownpersonalproperty。？ThelargevasesoftheLouvre，theolderfurnitureandplateofHenryII。，ofFrancisI。，andofLouisXI。，werebuthistoricmonumentsofearlierdays;nothingbutspecimensofart，therelicsofhispredecessors;whilewithFouquet，thevalueofthearticlewasasmuchintheworkmanshipasinthearticleitself。？Fouquetatefromagoldservice，whichartistsinhisownemployhadmodeledandcastforhimalone。？FouquetdrankwinesofwhichthekingofFrancedidnotevenknowthename，anddrankthemoutofgobletseachmorevaluablethantheentireroyalcellar。
What，too，wastobesaidoftheapartments，thehangings，thepictures，theservantsandofficers，ofeverydescription，ofhishousehold？？Whatofthemodeofserviceinwhichetiquettewasreplacedbyorder;stiffformalitybypersonal，unrestrainedcomfort;thehappinessandcontentmentoftheguestbecamethesupremelawofallwhoobeyedthehost？？Theperfectswarmofbusilyengagedpersonsmovingaboutnoiselessly;themultitudeofguests，—whowere，however，evenlessnumerousthantheservantswhowaitedonthem，—themyriadofexquisitelyprepareddishes，ofgoldandsilvervases;thefloodsofdazzlinglight，themassesofunknownflowersofwhichthehot—houseshadbeendespoiled，redundantwithluxurianceofunequaledscentandbeauty;theperfectharmonyofthesurroundings，which，indeed，wasnomorethanthepreludeofthepromisedf阾e，charmedallwhowerethere;andtheytestifiedtheiradmirationoverandoveragain，notbyvoiceorgesture，butbydeepsilenceandraptattention，thosetwolanguagesofthecourtierwhichacknowledgethehandofnomasterpowerfulenoughtorestrainthem。
Asfortheking，hiseyesfilledwithtears;hedarednotlookatthequeen。？AnneofAustria，whosepridewassuperiortothatofanycreaturebreathing，overwhelmedherhostbythecontemptwithwhichshetreatedeverythinghandedtoher。？Theyoungqueen，kind—heartedbynatureandcuriousbydisposition，praisedFouquet，atewithanexceedinglygoodappetite，andaskedthenamesofthestrangefruitsastheywereplaceduponthetable。？Fouquetrepliedthathewasnotawareoftheirnames。？Thefruitscamefromhisownstores;hehadoftencultivatedthemhimself，havinganintimateacquaintancewiththecultivationofexoticfruitsandplants。？Thekingfeltandappreciatedthedelicacyofthereplies，butwasonlythemorehumiliated;hethoughtthequeenalittletoofamiliarinhermanners，andthatAnneofAustriaresembledJunoalittletoomuch，inbeingtooproudandhaughty;hischiefanxiety，however，washimself，thathemightremaincoldanddistantinhisbehavior，borderinglightlythelimitsofsupremedisdainorsimpleadmiration。
ButFouquethadforeseenallthis;hewas，infact，oneofthosemenwhoforeseeeverything。？Thekinghadexpresslydeclaredthat，solongasheremainedunderFouquet\'sroof，hedidnotwishhisowndifferentrepaststobeservedinaccordancewiththeusualetiquette，andthathewould，consequently，dinewiththerestofsociety;butbythethoughtfulattentionofthesurintendant，theking\'sdinnerwasservedupseparately，ifonemaysoexpressit，inthemiddleofthegeneraltable;thedinner，wonderfulineveryrespect，fromthedishesofwhichwascomposed，comprisedeverythingthekinglikedandgenerallypreferredtoanythingelse。？Louishadnoexcuse—he，indeed，whohadthekeenestappetiteinhiskingdom—forsayingthathewasnothungry。？Nay，M。Fouquetdidevenbetterstill;hecertainly，inobediencetotheking\'sexpresseddesire，seatedhimselfatthetable，butassoonasthesoupswereserved，hearoseandpersonallywaitedontheking，whileMadameFouquetstoodbehindthequeen—mother\'sarmchair。？ThedisdainofJunoandthesulkyfitsoftemperofJupitercouldnotresistthisexcessofkindlyfeelingandpoliteattention。？ThequeenateabiscuitdippedinaglassofSan—Lucarwine;andthekingateofeverything，sayingtoM。Fouquet:\"Itisimpossible，monsieurlesurintendant，todinebetteranywhere。\"？Whereuponthewholecourtbegan，onallsides，todevourthedishesspreadbeforethemwithsuchenthusiasmthatitlookedasthoughacloudofEgyptianlocustswassettlingdownongreenandgrowingcrops。
Assoon，however，ashishungerwasappeased，thekingbecamemoroseandovergloomedagain;themoresoinproportiontothesatisfactionhefanciedhehadpreviouslymanifested，andparticularlyonaccountofthedeferentialmannerwhichhiscourtiershadshowntowardsFouquet。？D\'Artagnan，whoateagooddealanddrankbutlittle，withoutallowingittobenoticed，didnotloseasingleopportunity，butmadeagreatnumberofobservationswhichheturnedtogoodprofit。
Whenthesupperwasfinished，thekingexpressedawishnottolosethepromenade。？Theparkwasilluminated;
themoon，too，asifshehadplacedherselfattheordersofthelordofVaux，silveredthetreesandlakewithherownbrightandquasi—phosphorescentlight。？Theairwasstrangelysoftandbalmy;thedaintilyshell—gravelledwalksthroughthethicklysetavenuesyieldedluxuriouslytothefeet。？Thef阾ewascompleteineveryrespect，fortheking，havingmetLaValli鑢einoneofthewindingpathsofthewood，wasabletopressherhandandsay，\"Iloveyou，\"withoutanyoneoverhearinghimexceptM。d\'Artagnan，whofollowed，andM。Fouquet，whoprecededhim。
Thedreamynightofmagicalenchantmentsstolesmoothlyon。？Thekinghavingrequestedtobeshowntohisroom，therewasimmediatelyamovementineverydirection。？Thequeenspassedtotheirownapartments，accompaniedbythemmusicoftheorbosandlutes;thekingfoundhismusketeersawaitinghimonthegrandflightofsteps，forM。FouquethadbroughtthemonfromMelunandhadinvitedthemtosupper。？D\'Artagnan\'ssuspicionsatoncedisappeared。？Hewasweary，hehadsuppedwell，andwished，foronceinhislife，thoroughlytoenjoyaf阾egivenbyamanwhowasineverysenseofthewordaking。？\"M。Fouquet，\"hesaid，\"isthemanforme。\"
ThekingwasconductedwiththegreatestceremonytothechamberofMorpheus，ofwhichweowesomecursorydescriptiontoourreaders。？Itwasthehandsomestandlargestinthepalace。？LebrunhadpaintedonthevaultedceilingthehappyaswellastheunhappydreamswhichMorpheusinflictsonkingsaswellasonothermen。？Everythingthatsleepgivesbirthtothatislovely，itsfairyscenes，itsflowersandnectar，thewildvoluptuousnessorprofoundreposeofthesenses，hadthepainterelaboratedonhisfrescoes。？Itwasacompositionassoftandpleasinginonepartasdarkandgloomyandterribleinanother。？Thepoisonedchalice，theglitteringdaggersuspendedovertheheadofthesleeper;wizardsandphantomswithterrificmasks，thosehalf—dimshadowsmorealarmingthantheapproachoffireorthesomberfaceofmidnight，these，andsuchasthese，hehadmadethecompanionsofhismorepleasingpictures。？Nosoonerhadthekingenteredhisroomthanacoldshiverseemedtopassthroughhim，andonFouquetaskinghimthecauseofit，thekingreplied，aspaleasdeath:
\"I
amsleepy，thatisall。\"
\"Doesyourmajestywishforyourattendantsatonce？\"
\"No;
Ihavetotalkwithafewpersonsfirst，\"saidtheking。？\"WillyouhavethegoodnesstotellM。
ColbertIwishtoseehim。\"
Fouquetbowedandlefttheroom。
ChapterXIV:
A
Gascon，andaGasconandaHalf。
D\'Artagnanhaddeterminedtolosenotime，andinfactheneverwasinthehabitofdoingso。？AfterhavinginquiredforAramis，hehadlookedforhimineverydirectionuntilhehadsucceededinfindinghim。？Besides，nosoonerhadthekingenteredVaux，thanAramishadretiredtohisownroom，meditating，doubtless，somenewpieceofgallantattentionforhismajesty\'samusement。？D\'Artagnandesiredtheservantstoannouncehim，andfoundonthesecondstory（inabeautifulroomcalledtheBlueChamber，onaccountofthecolorofitshangings）thebishopofVannesincompanywithPorthosandseveralofthemodernEpicureans。？Aramiscameforwardtoembracehisfriend，andofferedhimthebestseat。？Asitwasafterawhilegenerallyremarkedamongthosepresentthatthemusketeerwasreserved，andwishedforanopportunityforconversingsecretlywithAramis，theEpicureanstooktheirleave。？Porthos，however，didnotstir;fortrueitisthat，havingdinedexceedinglywell，hewasfastasleepinhisarmchair;andthefreedomofconversationthereforewasnotinterruptedbyathirdperson。？Porthoshadadeep，harmonioussnore，andpeoplemighttalkinthemidstofitsloudbasswithoutfearofdisturbinghim。？D\'Artagnanfeltthathewascalledupontoopentheconversation。
\"Well，andsowehavecometoVaux，\"hesaid。
\"Why，yes，D\'Artagnan。？Andhowdoyouliketheplace？\"
\"Verymuch，andIlikeM。Fouquet，also。\"
\"Ishenotacharminghost？\"
\"Noonecouldbemoreso。\"
\"I
amtoldthatthekingbeganbyshowinggreatdistanceofmannertowardsM。
Fouquet，butthathismajestygrewmuchmorecordialafterwards。\"
\"Youdidnotnoticeit，then，sinceyousayyouhavebeentoldso？\"
\"No;
Iwasengagedwiththegentlemenwhohavejustlefttheroomaboutthetheatricalperformancesandthetournamentswhicharetotakeplaceto—morrow。\"
\"Ah，indeed！youarethecomptroller—generalofthef阾eshere，then？\"
\"YouknowIamafriendofallkindsofamusementwheretheexerciseoftheimaginationiscalledintoactivity;Ihavealwaysbeenapoetinonewayoranother。\"
\"Yes，Iremembertheversesyouusedtowrite，theywerecharming。\"
\"I
haveforgottenthem，butIamdelightedtoreadtheversesofothers，whenthoseothersareknownbythenamesofMoli鑢e，P閘isson，LaFontaine，etc。\"
\"Doyouknowwhatideaoccurredtomethisevening，Aramis？\"
\"No;
tellmewhatitwas，forIshouldneverbeabletoguessit，youhavesomany。\"
\"Well，theideaoccurredtome，thatthetruekingofFranceisnotLouisXIV。\"
\"What！\"saidAramis，involuntarily，lookingthemusketeerfullintheeyes。
\"No，itisMonsieurFouquet。\"
Aramisbreathedagain，andsmiled。？\"Ah！
youarelikealltherest，jealous，\"hesaid。？\"IwouldwagerthatitwasM。Colbertwhoturnedthatprettyphrase。\"？D\'Artagnan，inordertothrowAramisoffhisguard，relatedColbert\'smisadventureswithregardtothevindeMelun。
\"Hecomesofameanrace，doesColbert，\"saidAramis。
\"Quitetrue。\"
\"WhenIthink，too，\"addedthebishop，\"thatthatfellowwillbeyourministerwithinfourmonths，andthatyouwillservehimasblindlyasyoudidRichelieuorMazarin—\"
\"AndasyouserveM。Fouquet，\"saidD\'Artagnan。
\"Withthisdifference，though，thatM。FouquetisnotM。Colbert。\"
\"True，true，\"saidD\'Artagnan，ashepretendedtobecomesadandfullofreflection;andthen，amomentafter，headded，\"WhydoyoutellmethatM。Colbertwillbeministerinfourmonths？\"
\"BecauseM。Fouquetwillhaveceasedtobeso，\"repliedAramis。
\"Hewillberuined，youmean？\"saidD\'Artagnan。
\"Completelyso。\"
\"Whydoeshegivethesef阾es，then？\"
saidthemusketeer，inatonesofullofthoughtfulconsideration，andsowellassumed，thatthebishopwasforthemomentdeceivedbyit。？\"Whydidyounotdissuadehimfromit？\"
Thelatterpartofthephrasewasjustalittletoomuch，andAramis\'sformersuspicionswereagainaroused。？\"Itisdonewiththeobjectofhumoringtheking。\"
\"Byruininghimself？\"
\"Yes，byruininghimselffortheking。\"
\"A
mosteccentric，onemightsay，sinistercalculation，that。\"
\"Necessity，necessity，myfriend。\"
\"I
don\'tseethat，dearAramis。\"
\"Doyounot？？HaveyounotremarkedM。
Colbert\'sdailyincreasingantagonism，andthatheisdoinghisutmosttodrivethekingtogetridofthesuperintendent？\"
\"Onemustbeblindnottoseeit。\"
\"AndthatacabalisalreadyarmedagainstM。Fouquet？\"
\"Thatiswellknown。\"
\"Whatlikelihoodistherethatthekingwouldjoinapartyformedagainstamanwhowillhavespenteverythinghehadtopleasehim？\"
\"True，true，\"saidD\'Artagnan，slowly，hardlyconvinced，yetcurioustobroachanotherphaseoftheconversation。？\"Therearefollies，andfollies，\"heresumed，\"andIdonotlikethoseyouarecommitting。\"
\"Whatdoyoualludeto？\"
\"Asforthebanquet，theball，theconcert，thetheatricals，thetournaments，thecascades，thefireworks，theilluminations，andthepresents—thesearewellandgood，Igrant;butwhywerenottheseexpensessufficient？？Whywasitnecessarytohavenewliveriesandcostumesforyourwholehousehold？\"
\"Youarequiteright。？ItoldM。Fouquetthatmyself;hereplied，thatifhewererichenoughhewouldofferthekinganewlyerectedch鈚eau，fromthevanesatthehousestotheverysub—cellars;
completelynewinsideandout;andthat，assoonasthekinghadleft，hewouldburnthewholebuildinganditscontents，inorderthatitmightnotbemadeuseofbyanyoneelse。\"
\"HowcompletelySpanish！\"
\"I
toldhimso，andhethenaddedthis:\'Whoeveradvisesmetospareexpense，I
shalllookuponasmyenemy。\'\"
\"Itispositivemadness;andthatportrait，too！\"
\"Whatportrait？\"saidAramis。
\"Thatoftheking，andthesurpriseaswell。\"
\"Whatsurprise？\"
\"Thesurpriseyouseemtohaveinview，andonaccountofwhichyoutooksomespecimensaway，whenImetyouatPercerin\'s。\"？D\'Artagnanpaused。？Theshaftwasdischarged，andallhehadtodowastowaitandwatchitseffect。
\"Thatismerelyanactofgracefulattention，\"repliedAramis。
D\'Artagnanwentuptohisfriend，tookholdofbothhishands，andlookinghimfullintheeyes，said，\"Aramis，doyoustillcareformeaverylittle？\"
\"Whataquestiontoask！\"
\"Verygood。？Onefavor，then。？Whydidyoutakesomepatternsoftheking\'scostumesatPercerin\'s？\"
\"ComewithmeandaskpoorLebrun，whohasbeenworkinguponthemforthelasttwodaysandnights。\"
\"Aramis，thatmaybetruthforeverybodyelse，butforme—\"
\"Uponmyword，D\'Artagnan，youastonishme。\"
\"Bealittleconsiderate。？Tellmetheexacttruth;youwouldnotlikeanythingdisagreeabletohappentome，wouldyou？\"
\"Mydearfriend，youarebecomingquiteincomprehensible。？Whatsuspicioncanyouhavepossiblygotholdof？\"
\"Doyoubelieveinmyinstinctivefeelings？？Formerlyyouusedtohavefaithinthem。？Well，then，aninstincttellsmethatyouhavesomeconcealedprojectonfoot。\"
\"I
—aproject？\"
\"I
amconvincedofit。\"
\"Whatnonsense！\"
\"I
amnotonlysureofit，butIwouldevenswearit。\"
\"Indeed，D\'Artagnan，youcausemethegreatestpain。？Isitlikely，ifIhaveanyprojectinhandthatIoughttokeepsecretfromyou，Ishouldtellyouaboutit？？IfIhadonethatIcouldandoughttohaverevealed，shouldInothavelongagodivulgedit？\"
\"No，Aramis，no。？Therearecertainprojectswhichareneverrevealeduntilthefavorableopportunityarrives。\"
\"Inthatcase，mydearfellow，\"returnedthebishop，laughing，\"theonlythingnowis，thatthe\'opportunity\'hasnotyetarrived。\"
D\'Artagnanshookhisheadwithasorrowfulexpression。？\"Oh，friendship，friendship！\"hesaid，\"whatanidlewordyouare！？Hereisamanwho，ifIwerebuttoaskit，wouldsufferhimselftobecutinpiecesformysake。\"
\"Youareright，\"saidAramis，nobly。
\"Andthisman，whowouldshedeverydropofbloodinhisveinsforme，willnotopenupbeforemetheleastcornerinhisheart。？Friendship，Irepeat，isnothingbutanunsubstantialshadow—alure，likeeverythingelseinthisbright，dazzlingworld。\"
\"Itisnotthusyoushouldspeakofourfriendship，\"repliedthebishop，inafirm，assuredvoice;\"foroursisnotofthesamenatureasthoseofwhichyouhavebeenspeaking。\"
\"Lookatus，Aramis;threeoutoftheold\'four。\'？Youaredeceivingme;Isuspectyou;andPorthosisfastasleep。？Anadmirabletriooffriends，don\'tyouthinkso？？Whatanaffectingrelicoftheformerdearoldtimes！\"
\"I
canonlytellyouonething，D\'Artagnan，andIswearitontheBible:IloveyoujustasIusedtodo。？IfIeversuspectyou，itisonaccountofothers，andnotonaccountofeitherofus。？IneverythingImaydo，andshouldhappentosucceedin，youwillfindyourfourth。？Willyoupromisemethesamefavor？\"
\"IfIamnotmistaken，Aramis，yourwords—atthemomentyoupronouncethem—arefullofgenerousfeeling。\"