\"Well？\"
askedLouisXIV。，who，onperceivinghim，threwontothetablecoveredwithpapersalargegreencloth。
\"Theorderisexecuted，sire。\"
\"AndFouquet？\"
\"Monsieurlesurintendantfollowsme，\"saidD\'Artagnan。
\"Intenminuteslethimbeintroduced，\"saidtheking，dismissingD\'Artagnanagainwithagesture。？Thelatterretired;buthadscarcelyreachedthecorridorattheextremityofwhichFouquetwaswaitingforhim，whenhewasrecalledbytheking\'sbell。
\"Didhenotappearastonished？\"askedtheking。
\"Who，sire？\"
\"Fouquet，\"repliedtheking，withoutsayingmonsieur，apeculiaritywhichconfirmedthecaptainofthemusketeersinhissuspicions。
\"No，sire，\"repliedhe。
\"That\'swell！\"？AndasecondtimeLouisdismissedD\'Artagnan。
Fouquethadnotquittedtheterracewherehehadbeenleftbyhisguide。？Hereperusedhisnote，conceivedthus:
\"Somethingisbeingcontrivedagainstyou。？Perhapstheywillnotdaretocarryitoutatthecastle;itwillbeonyourreturnhome。？Thehouseisalreadysurroundedbymusketeers。？Donotenter。？Awhitehorseisinwaitingforyoubehindtheesplanade！\"
FouquetrecognizedthewritingandzealofGourville。？Notbeingwillingthat，ifanyevilhappenedtohimself，thispapershouldcompromiseafaithfulfriend，thesurintendantwasbusytearingitintoathousandmorsels，spreadaboutbythewindfromthebalustradeoftheterrace。？D\'Artagnanfoundhimwatchingthesnowflakeflutteringofthelastscrapsinspace。
\"Monsieur，\"
saidhe，\"thekingawaitsyou。\"
Fouquetwalkedwithadeliberatestepalongthelittlecorridor，whereMM。deBrienneandRosewereatwork，whilsttheDucdeSaint—Aignan，seatedonachair，likewiseinthecorridor，appearedtobewaitingfororders，withfeverishimpatience，hisswordbetweenhislegs。？ItappearedstrangetoFouquetthatMM。Brienne，Rose，anddeSaint—Aignan，ingeneralsoattentiveandobsequious，shouldscarcelytaketheleastnotice，ashe，thesurintendant，passed。？Buthowcouldheexpecttofinditotherwiseamongcourtiers，hewhomthekingnolongercalledanythingbutFouquet？？Heraisedhishead，determinedtolookeveryoneandeverythingbravelyintheface，andenteredtheking\'sapartment，wherealittlebell，whichwealreadyknow，hadalreadyannouncedhimtohismajesty。
Theking，withoutrising，noddedtohim，andwithinterest:\"Well！howareyou，MonsieurFouquet？\"saidhe。
\"I
aminahighfever，\"repliedthesurintendant;\"butIamattheking\'sservice。\"
\"Thatiswell;theStatesassembleto—morrow;haveyouaspeechready？\"
Fouquetlookedatthekingwithastonishment。？\"I
havenot，sire，\"repliedhe;\"butIwillimproviseone。？Iamtoowellacquaintedwithaffairstofeelanyembarrassment。？Ihaveonlyonequestiontoask;willyourmajestypermitme？\"
\"Certainly。？Askit。\"
\"WhydidnotyourmajestydohisfirstministerthehonorofgivinghimnoticeofthisinParis？\"
\"Youwereill;Iwasnotwillingtofatigueyou。\"
\"Neverdidalabor—neverdidanexplanationfatigueme，sire;andsincethemomentiscomeformetodemandanexplanationofmyking—\"
\"Oh，MonsieurFouquet！anexplanation？？Anexplanation，pray，ofwhat？\"
\"Ofyourmajesty\'sintentionswithrespecttomyself。\"
Thekingblushed。？\"Ihavebeencalumniated，\"continuedFouquet，warmly，\"andIfeelcalledupontoadjurethejusticeofthekingtomakeinquiries。\"
\"Yousayallthistomeveryuselessly，MonsieurFouquet;IknowwhatIknow。\"
\"Yourmajestycanonlyknowthethingsthathavebeentoldtoyou;andI，onmypart，havesaidnothingtoyou，whilstothershavespokenmany，manytimes—\"
\"Whatdoyouwishtosay？\"saidtheking，impatienttoputanendtothisembarrassingconversation。
\"Iwillgostraighttothefacts，sire;andIaccuseacertainmanofhavinginjuredmeinyourmajesty\'sopinion。\"
\"Nobodyhasinjuredyou，MonsieurFouquet。\"
\"Thatreplyprovestome，sire，thatIamright。\"
\"MonsieurFouquet，Idonotlikepeopletobeaccused。\"
\"Notwhenoneisaccused？\"
\"Wehavealreadyspokentoomuchaboutthisaffair。\"
\"Yourmajestywillnotallowmetojustifymyself？\"
\"IrepeatthatIdonotaccuseyou。\"
Fouquet，withahalf—bow，madeastepbackward。？\"Itiscertain，\"thoughthe，\"thathehasmadeuphismind。？Healonewhocannotgobackcanshowsuchobstinacy。？Nottoseethedangernowwouldbetobeblindindeed;nottoshunitwouldbestupid。\"？Heresumedaloud，\"Didyourmajestysendformeonbusiness？\"
\"No，MonsieurFouquet，butforsomeadviceIwishtogiveyou。\"
\"I
respectfullyawaitit，sire。\"
\"Restyourself，MonsieurFouquet，donotthrowawayyourstrength;thesessionoftheStateswillbeshort，andwhenmysecretariesshallhaveclosedit，IdonotwishbusinesstobetalkedofinFranceforafortnight。\"
\"HasthekingnothingtosaytomeonthesubjectofthisassemblyoftheStates？\"
\"No，MonsieurFouquet。\"
\"Nottome，thesurintendantofthefinances？\"
\"Restyourself，Ibegyou;thatisallIhavetosaytoyou。\"
Fouquetbithislipsandhunghishead。？Hewasevidentlybusywithsomeuneasythought。？Thisuneasinessstrucktheking。？\"Areyouangryathavingtorestyourself，M。Fouquet？\"saidhe。
\"Yes，sire，Iamnotaccustomedtotakerest。\"
\"Butyouareill;youmusttakecareofyourself。\"
\"Yourmajestyspokejustnowofaspeechtobepronouncedto—morrow。\"
Hismajestymadenoreply;thisunexpectedstrokeembarrassedhim。？Fouquetfelttheweightofthishesitation。？Hethoughthecouldreaddangerintheeyesoftheyoungprince，whichfearwouldbutprecipitate。？\"IfIappearfrightened，Iamlost，\"thoughthe。
Theking，onhispart，wasonlyuneasyatthealarmofFouquet。？\"Hasheasuspicionofanything？\"murmuredhe。
\"Ifhisfirstwordissevere，\"againthoughtFouquet;\"ifhebecomesangry，orfeignstobeangryforthesakeofapretext，howshallIextricatemyself？？Letussmooththedeclivityalittle。？Gourvillewasright。\"
\"Sire，\"
saidhe，suddenly，\"sincethegoodnessofthekingwatchesovermyhealthtothepointofdispensingwithmylabor，mayInotbeallowedtobeabsentfromthecouncilofto—morrow？？Icouldpassthedayinbed，andwillentreatthekingtograntmehisphysician，thatwemayendeavortofindaremedyagainstthisfearfulfever。\"
\"Sobeit，MonsieurFouquet，itshallbeasyoudesire;youshallhaveaholidayto—morrow，youshallhavethephysician，andshallberestoredtohealth。\"
\"Thanks！\"
saidFouquet，bowing。？Then，openinghisgame:
\"ShallI
nothavethehappinessofconductingyourmajestytomyresidenceofBelle—Isle？\"
AndhelookedLouisfullintheface，tojudgeoftheeffectofsuchaproposal。？Thekingblushedagain。
\"Doyouknow，\"repliedhe，endeavoringtosmile，\"thatyouhavejustsaid，\'MyresidenceofBelle—Isle\'？\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"Well！doyounotremember，\"continuedthekinginthesamecheerfultone，\"thatyougavemeBelle—Isle？\"
\"Thatistrueagain，sire。？Only，asyouhavenottakenit，youwilldoubtlesscomewithmeandtakepossessionofit。\"
\"Imeantodoso。\"
\"Thatwas，besides，yourmajesty\'sintentionaswellasmine;andIcannotexpresstoyourmajestyhowhappyandproudIhavebeentoseealltheking\'sregimentsfromParistohelptakepossession。\"
Thekingstammeredoutthathedidnotbringthemusketeersforthatalone。
\"Oh，Iamconvincedofthat，\"saidFouquet，warmly;\"yourmajestyknowsverywellthatyouhavenothingtodobuttocomealonewithacaneinyourhand，tobringtothegroundallthefortificationsofBelle—Isle。\"
\"Peste！\"criedtheking;\"Idonotwishthosefinefortifications，whichcostsomuchtobuild，tofallatall。？No，letthemstandagainsttheDutchandEnglish。？YouwouldnotguesswhatIwanttoseeatBelle—Isle，MonsieurFouquet;itistheprettypeasantsandwomenofthelandsonthesea—shore，whodancesowell，andaresoseducingwiththeirscarletpetticoats！？Ihaveheardgreatboastofyourprettytenants，monsieurlesurintendant;well，letmehaveasightofthem。\"
\"Wheneveryourmajestypleases。\"
\"Haveyouanymeansoftransport？？Itshallbeto—morrow，ifyoulike。\"
Thesurintendantfeltthisstroke，whichwasnotadroit，andreplied，\"No，sire;Iwasignorantofyourmajesty\'swish;aboveall，IwasignorantofyourhastetoseeBelle—Isle，andIampreparedwithnothing。\"
\"Youhaveaboatofyourown，nevertheless？\"
\"Ihavefive;buttheyareallinport，oratPaimb渦f;andtojointhem，orbringthemhither，wouldrequireatleasttwenty—fourhours。？HaveIanyoccasiontosendacourier？？MustIdoso？\"
\"Waitalittle，putanendtothefever，—waittillto—morrow。\"
\"Thatistrue。？Whoknowsbutthatbyto—morrowwemaynothaveahundredotherideas？\"repliedFouquet，nowperfectlyconvincedandverypale。
Thekingstarted，andstretchedhishandouttowardshislittlebell，butFouquetpreventedhisringing。
\"Sire，\"
saidhe，\"Ihaveanague—Iamtremblingwithcold。？IfIremainamomentlonger，Ishallmostlikelyfaint。？Irequestyourmajesty\'spermissiontogoandflingmyselfbeneaththebedclothes。\"
\"Indeed，youareinashiver;itispainfultobehold！？Come，MonsieurFouquet，begone！？Iwillsendtoinquireafteryou。\"
\"Yourmajestyoverwhelmsmewithkindness。？InanhourIshallbebetter。\"
\"Iwillcallsomeonetoreconductyou，\"saidtheking。
\"Asyouplease，sire;Iwouldgladlytakethearmofanyone。\"
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan！\"criedtheking，ringinghislittlebell。
\"Oh，sire，\"interruptedFouquet，laughinginsuchamannerasmadetheprincefeelcold，\"wouldyougivemethecaptainofyourmusketeerstotakemetomylodgings？？Anequivocalhonorthat，sire！？Asimplefootman，Ibeg。\"
\"Andwhy，M。Fouquet？？M。d\'Artagnanconductsmeoften，andextremelywell！\"
\"Yes，butwhenheconductsyou，sire，itistoobeyyou;whilstme—\"
\"Goon！\"
\"IfIamobligedtoreturnhomesupportedbytheleaderofthemusketeers，itwouldbeeverywheresaidyouhadhadmearrested。\"
\"Arrested！\"
repliedtheking，whobecamepalerthanFouquethimself，—\"arrested！
oh！\"
\"Andwhyshouldtheynotsayso？\"continuedFouquet，stilllaughing;\"andI
wouldlayawagertherewouldbepeoplefoundwickedenoughtolaughatit。\"？Thissallydisconcertedthemonarch。？Fouquetwasskillfulenough，orfortunateenough，tomakeLouisXIV。recoilbeforetheappearanceofthedeedhemeditated。？M。d\'Artagnan，whenheappeared，receivedanordertodesireamusketeertoaccompanythesurintendant。
\"Quiteunnecessary，\"saidthelatter;\"swordforsword;IpreferGourville，whoiswaitingformebelow。？ButthatwillnotpreventmeenjoyingthesocietyofM。d\'Artagnan。？IamgladhewillseeBelle—Isle，heissogoodajudgeoffortifications。\"
D\'Artagnanbowed，withoutatallcomprehendingwhatwasgoingon。？Fouquetbowedagainandlefttheapartment，affectingalltheslownessofamanwhowalkswithdifficulty。？Whenonceoutofthecastle，\"Iamsaved！\"saidhe。？\"Oh！yes，disloyalking，youshallseeBelle—Isle，butitshallbewhenIamnolongerthere。\"
Hedisappeared，leavingD\'Artagnanwiththeking。
\"Captain，\"
saidtheking，\"youwillfollowM。Fouquetatthedistanceofahundredpaces。\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"Heisgoingtohislodgingsagain。？Youwillgowithhim。\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"Youwillarresthiminmyname，andwillshuthimupinacarriage。\"
\"Inacarriage。？Well，sire？\"
\"Insuchafashionthathemaynot，ontheroad，eitherconversewithanyoneorthrownotestopeoplehemaymeet。\"
\"Thatwillberatherdifficult，sire。\"
\"Notatall。\"
\"Pardonme，sire，IcannotstifleM。Fouquet，andifheasksforlibertytobreathe，I
cannotpreventhimbyclosingboththewindowsandtheblinds。？Hewillthrowoutatthedoorsallthecriesandnotespossible。\"
\"Thecaseisprovidedfor，Monsieurd\'Artagnan;acarriagewithatrelliswillobviateboththedifficultiesyoupointout。\"
\"Acarriagewithanirontrellis！\"criedD\'Artagnan;\"butacarriagewithanirontrellisisnotmadeinhalfanhour，andyourmajestycommandsmetogoimmediatelytoM。Fouquet\'slodgings。\"
\"Thecarriageinquestionisalreadymade。\"
\"Ah！thatisquiteadifferentthing，\"saidthecaptain;\"ifthecarriageisreadymade，verywell，then，wehaveonlytosetitinmotion。\"
\"Itisready—andthehorsesharnessed。\"
\"Ah！\"
\"Andthecoachman，withtheoutriders，iswaitinginthelowercourtofthecastle。\"
D\'Artagnanbowed。？\"ThereonlyremainsformetoaskyourmajestywhitherIshallconductM。Fouquet。\"
\"TothecastleofAngers，atfirst。\"
\"Verywell，sire。\"
\"Afterwardswewillsee。\"
\"Yes，sire。\"
\"Monsieurd\'Artagnan，onelastword:youhaveremarkedthat，formakingthiscaptureofM。Fouquet，Ihavenotemployedmyguards，onwhichaccountM。deGesvreswillbefurious。\"
\"Yourmajestydoesnotemployyourguards，\"saidthecaptain，alittlehumiliated，\"becauseyoumistrustM。deGesvres，thatisall。\"
\"Thatistosay，monsieur，thatIhavemoreconfidenceinyou。\"
\"Iknowthatverywell，sire！anditisofnousetomakesomuchofit。\"
\"Itisonlyforthesakeofarrivingatthis，monsieur，thatif，fromthismoment，itshouldhappenthatbyanychancewhateverM。Fouquetshouldescape—suchchanceshavebeen，monsieur—\"
\"Oh！veryoften，sire;butforothers，notforme。\"
\"Andwhynotwithyou？\"
\"BecauseI，sire，have，foraninstant，wishedtosaveM。Fouquet。\"
Thekingstarted。？\"Because，\"continuedthecaptain，\"Ihadthenarighttodoso，havingguessedyourmajesty\'splan，withoutyouhavingspokentomeofit，andthatItookaninterestinM。
Fouquet。？Now，wasInotatlibertytoshowmyinterestinthisman？\"
\"Intruth，monsieur，youdonotreassuremewithregardtoyourservices。\"
\"IfIhadsavedhimthen，Ishouldhavebeenperfectlyinnocent;Iwillsaymore，I
shouldhavedonewell，forM。Fouquetisnotabadman。？Buthewasnotwilling;hisdestinyprevailed;heletthehouroflibertyslipby。？Somuchtheworse！？NowIhaveorders，Iwillobeythoseorders，andM。Fouquetyoumayconsiderasamanarrested。？HeisatthecastleofAngers，thisveryM。Fouquet。\"
\"Oh！youhavenotgothimyet，captain。\"
\"Thatconcernsme;everyonetohistrade，sire;only，oncemore，reflect！？DoyouseriouslygivemeorderstoarrestM。
Fouquet，sire？\"
\"Yes，athousandtimes，yes！\"
\"Inwriting，sire，then。\"
\"Hereistheorder。\"
D\'Artagnanreadit，bowedtotheking，andlefttheroom。？FromtheheightoftheterraceheperceivedGourville，whowentbywithajoyousairtowardsthelodgingsofM。Fouquet。
ChapterXL:
TheWhiteHorseandtheBlack。
\"Thatisrathersurprising，\"saidD\'Artagnan;\"Gourvillerunningaboutthestreetssogayly，whenheisalmostcertainthatM。Fouquetisindanger;whenitisalmostequallycertainthatitwasGourvillewhowarnedM。Fouquetjustnowbythenotewhichwastornintoathousandpiecesupontheterrace，andgiventothewindsbymonsieurlesurintendant。？Gourvilleisrubbinghishands;thatisbecausehehasdonesomethingclever。？WhencecomesM。Gourville？？GourvilleiscomingfromtheRueauxHerbes。？WhitherdoestheRueauxHerbeslead？\"？AndD\'Artagnanfollowed，alongthetopsofthehousesofNantes，dominatedbythecastle，thelinetracedbythestreets，ashewouldhavedoneuponatopographicalplan;only，insteadofthedead，flatpaper，thelivingchartroseinreliefwiththecries，themovements，andtheshadowsofmenandthings。？Beyondtheinclosureofthecity，thegreatverdantplainsstretchedout，borderingtheLoire，andappearedtoruntowardsthepinkhorizon，whichwascutbytheazureofthewatersandthedarkgreenofthemarshes。？ImmediatelyoutsidethegatesofNantestwowhiteroadswereseendiverginglikeseparatefingersofagigantichand。？D\'Artagnan，whohadtakeninallthepanoramaataglancebycrossingtheterrace，wasledbythelineoftheRueauxHerbestothemouthofoneofthoseroadswhichtookitsriseunderthegatesofNantes。？Onestepmore，andhewasabouttodescendthestairs，takehistrellisedcarriage，andgotowardsthelodgingsofM。Fouquet。？Butchancedecreed，atthemomentofplungingintothestaircase，thathewasattractedbyamovingpointthengaininggrounduponthatroad。
\"Whatisthat？\"saidthemusketeertohimself;\"ahorsegalloping，—arunawayhorse，nodoubt。？Whatarateheisgoingat！\"？Themovingpointbecamedetachedfromtheroad，andenteredintothefields。？\"Awhitehorse，\"continuedthecaptain，whohadjustobservedthecolorthrownluminouslyagainstthedarkground，\"andheismounted;itmustbesomeboywhosehorseisthirstyandhasrunawaywithhim。\"
Thesereflections，rapidaslightning，simultaneouswithvisualperception，D\'Artagnanhadalreadyforgottenwhenhedescendedthefirststepsofthestaircase。？Somemorselsofpaperwerespreadoverthestairs，andshoneoutwhiteagainstthedirtystones。？\"Eh！eh！\"saidthecaptaintohimself，\"herearesomeofthefragmentsofthenotetornbyM。
Fouquet。？Poorman！hehasgivenhissecrettothewind;thewindwillhavenomoretodowithit，andbringsitbacktotheking。？Decidedly，Fouquet，youplaywithmisfortune！thegameisnotafairone，—fortuneisagainstyou。？ThestarofLouisXIV。obscuresyours;theadderisstrongerandmorecunningthanthesquirrel。\"？D\'Artagnanpickeduponeofthesemorselsofpaperashedescended。？\"Gourville\'sprettylittlehand！\"criedhe，whilstexaminingoneofthefragmentsofthenote;\"Iwasnotmistaken。\"？Andhereadtheword\"horse。\"？\"Stop！\"saidhe;andheexaminedanother，uponwhichtherewasnotalettertraced。？Uponathirdhereadtheword\"white;\"\"whitehorse，\"repeatedhe，likeachildthatisspelling。？\"Ah，mordioux！\"criedthesuspiciousspirit，\"awhitehorse！\"？And，likethatgrainofpowderwhich，burning，dilatesintotenthousandtimesitsvolume，D\'Artagnan，enlightenedbyideasandsuspicions，rapidlyreascendedthestairstowardstheterrace。？ThewhitehorsewasstillgallopinginthedirectionoftheLoire，attheextremityofwhich，meltingintothevaporsofthewater，alittlesailappeared，wave—balancedlikeawater—butterfly。？\"Oh！\"criedthemusketeer，\"onlyamanwhowantstoflywouldgoatthatpaceacrossplowedlands;thereisbutoneFouquet，afinancier，toridethusinopendayuponawhitehorse;thereisnoonebutthelordofBelle—Islewhowouldmakehisescapetowardsthesea，whiletherearesuchthickforestsonland，andthereisbutoneD\'ArtagnanintheworldtocatchM。Fouquet，whohashalfanhour\'sstart，andwhowillhavegainedhisboatwithinanhour。\"？Thisbeingsaid，themusketeergaveordersthatthecarriagewiththeirontrellisshouldbetakenimmediatelytoathicketsituatedjustoutsidethecity。？Heselectedhisbesthorse，jumpeduponhisback，gallopedalongtheRueauxHerbes，taking，nottheroadFouquethadtaken，butthebankitselfoftheLoire，certainthatheshouldgaintenminutesuponthetotaldistance，and，attheintersectionofthetwolines，comeupwiththefugitive，whocouldhavenosuspicionofbeingpursuedinthatdirection。？Intherapidityofthepursuit，andwiththeimpatienceoftheavenger，animatinghimselfasinwar，D\'Artagnan，somild，sokindtowardsFouquet，wassurprisedtofindhimselfbecomeferocious—almostsanguinary。？Foralongtimehegallopedwithoutcatchingsightofthewhitehorse。？Hisrageassumedfury，hedoubtedhimself，—hesuspectedthatFouquethadburiedhimselfinsomesubterraneanroad，orthathehadchangedthewhitehorseforoneofthosefamousblackones，asswiftasthewind，whichD\'Artagnan，atSaint—Mand？hadsofrequentlyadmiredandenviedfortheirvigorandtheirfleetness。
Atsuchmoments，whenthewindcuthiseyessoastomakethetearsspringfromthem，whenthesaddlehadbecomeburninghot，whenthegalledandspurredhorserearedwithpain，andthrewbehindhimashowerofdustandstones，D\'Artagnan，raisinghimselfinhisstirrups，andseeingnothingonthewaters，nothingbeneaththetrees，lookedupintotheairlikeamadman。？Hewaslosinghissenses。？Intheparoxysmsofeagernesshedreamtofaerialways，—thediscoveryoffollowingcentury;hecalledtohismindD鎑alusandthevastwingsthathadsavedhimfromtheprisonsofCrete。？Ahoarsesighbrokefromhislips，asherepeated，devouredbythefearofridicule，\"I！？I！dupedbyaGourville！？I！？TheywillsaythatIamgrowingold，—theywillsayIhavereceivedamilliontoallowFouquettoescape！\"？Andheagaindughisspursintothesidesofhishorse:hehadriddenastonishinglyfast。？Suddenly，attheextremityofsomeopenpasture—ground，behindthehedges，hesawawhiteformwhichshoweditself，disappeared，andatlastremaineddistinctlyvisibleagainsttherisingground。？D\'Artagnan\'sheartleapedwithjoy。？Hewipedthestreamingsweatfromhisbrow，relaxedthetensionofhisknees，—bywhichthehorsebreathedmorefreely，—and，gatheringuphisreins，moderatedthespeedofthevigorousanimal，hisactiveaccompliceonthisman—hunt。？Hehadthentimetostudythedirectionoftheroad，andhispositionwithregardtoFouquet。？Thesuperintendenthadcompletelywindedhishorsebycrossingthesoftground。？Hefeltthenecessityofgainingafirmerfooting，andturnedtowardstheroadbytheshortestsecantline。？D\'Artagnan，onhispart，hadnothingtodobuttoridestraighton，concealedbytheslopingshore;sothathewouldcuthisquarryofftheroadwhenhecameupwithhim。？Thentherealracewouldbegin，—thenthestrugglewouldbeinearnest。
D\'Artagnangavehishorsegoodbreathing—time。？Heobservedthatthesuperintendenthadrelaxedintoatrot，whichwastosay，he，too，wasfavoringhishorse。？Butbothofthemweretoomuchpressedfortimetoallowthemtocontinuelongatthatpace。？Thewhitehorsesprangofflikeanarrowthemomenthisfeettouchedfirmground。？D\'Artagnandroppedhishead，andhisblackhorsebrokeintoagallop。？Bothfollowedthesameroute;
thequadrupleechoesofthisnewrace—coursewereconfounded。？FouquethadnotyetperceivedD\'Artagnan。？Butonissuingfromtheslope，asingleechostrucktheair;itwasthatofthestepsofD\'Artagnan\'shorse，whichrolledalonglikethunder。？Fouquetturnedround，andsawbehindhim，withinahundredpaces，hisenemybentovertheneckofhishorse。？Therecouldbenodoubt—theshiningbaldrick，theredcassock—itwasamusketeer。？Fouquetslackenedhishandlikewise，andthewhitehorseplacedtwentyfeetmorebetweenhisadversaryandhimself。
\"Oh，but，\"thoughtD\'Artagnan，becomingveryanxious，\"thatisnotacommonhorseM。Fouquetisupon—letussee！\"？Andheattentivelyexaminedwithhisinfallibleeyetheshapeandcapabilitiesofthecourser。？Roundfullquarters—athinlongtail—largehocks—thinlegs，asdryasbarsofsteel—hoofshardasmarble。？Hespurredhisown，butthedistancebetweenthetworemainedthesame。？D\'Artagnanlistenedattentively;notabreathofthehorsereachedhim，andyetheseemedtocuttheair。？Theblackhorse，onthecontrary，begantopufflikeanyblacksmith\'sbellows。