"Suchathingisverypossible。"
　　"YouareconspiringagainstM。Colbert。？Ifthatbeall，mordioux，tellmesoatonce。？Ihavetheinstrumentinmyownhand，andwillpulloutthetootheasilyenough。"
　　Aramiscouldnotconcealasmileofdisdainthatflittedoverhishaughtyfeatures。？"AndsupposingthatI
　　wereconspiringagainstColbert，whatharmwouldtherebeinthat？"
　　"No，no;thatwouldbetootriflingamatterforyoutotakeinhand，anditwasnotonthataccountyouaskedPercerinforthosepatternsoftheking'scostumes。？Oh！？Aramis，wearenotenemies，remember—wearebrothers。？Tellmewhatyouwishtoundertake，and，uponthewordofaD'Artagnan，ifIcannothelpyou，Iwillsweartoremainneuter。"
　　"I
　　amundertakingnothing，"saidAramis。
　　"Aramis，avoicewithinmespeaksandseemstotricklefortharilloflightwithinmydarkness:itisavoicethathasneveryetdeceivedme。？Itisthekingyouareconspiringagainst。"
　　"Theking？"exclaimedthebishop，pretendingtobeannoyed。
　　"Yourfacewillnotconvinceme;theking，Irepeat。"
　　"Willyouhelpme？"saidAramis，smilingironically。
　　"Aramis，Iwilldomorethanhelpyou—Iwilldomorethanremainneuter—Iwillsaveyou。"
　　"Youaremad，D'Artagnan。"
　　"I
　　amthewiserofthetwo，inthismatter。"
　　"Youtosuspectmeofwishingtoassassinatetheking！"
　　"Whospokeofsuchathing？"smiledthemusketeer。
　　"Well，letusunderstandoneanother。？Idonotseewhatanyonecandotoalegitimatekingasoursis，ifhedoesnotassassinatehim。"？D'Artagnandidnotsayaword。？"Besides，youhaveyourguardsandyourmusketeershere，"saidthebishop。
　　"True。"
　　"YouarenotinM。Fouquet'shouse，butinyourown。"
　　"True;
　　butinspiteofthat，Aramis，grantme，forpity'ssake，onesinglewordofatruefriend。"
　　"A
　　truefriend'swordisevertruthitself。？IfIthinkoftouching，evenwithmyfinger，thesonofAnneofAustria，thetruekingofthisrealmofFrance—ifIhavenotthefirmintentionofprostratingmyselfbeforehisthrone—ifineveryideaImayentertainto—morrow，hereatVaux，willnotbethemostgloriousdaymykingeverenjoyed—mayHeaven'slightningblastmewhereIstand！"？Aramishadpronouncedthesewordswithhisfaceturnedtowardsthealcoveofhisownbedroom，whereD'Artagnan，seatedwithhisbacktowardsthealcove，couldnotsuspectthatanyonewaslyingconcealed。？Theearnestnessofhiswords，thestudiedslownesswithwhichhepronouncedthem，thesolemnityofhisoath，gavethemusketeerthemostcompletesatisfaction。？HetookholdofbothAramis'shands，andshookthemcordially。？Aramishadenduredreproacheswithoutturningpale，andhadblushedashelistenedtowordsofpraise。？D'Artagnan，deceived，didhimhonor;butD'Artagnan，trustfulandreliant，madehimfeelashamed。？"Areyougoingaway？"hesaid，asheembracedhim，inordertoconcealtheflushonhisface。
　　"Yes。？Dutysummonsme。？Ihavetogetthewatch—word。？ItseemsIamtobelodgedintheking'sante—room。？WheredoesPorthossleep？"
　　"Takehimawaywithyou，ifyoulike，forherumblesthroughhissleepynoselikeaparkofartillery。"
　　"Ah！
　　hedoesnotstaywithyou，then？"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"Nottheleastintheworld。？Hehasachambertohimself，butIdon'tknowwhere。"
　　"Verygood！"saidthemusketeer;fromwhomthisseparationofthetwoassociatesremovedhislastsuspicion，andhetouchedPorthoslightlyontheshoulder;thelatterrepliedbyaloudyawn。？"Come，"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"What，D'Artagnan，mydearfellow，isthatyou？？Whataluckychance！？Oh，yes—
　　true;Ihaveforgotten;Iamatthef阾eatVaux。"
　　"Yes;
　　andyourbeautifuldress，too。"
　　"Yes，itwasveryattentiveonthepartofMonsieurCoquelindeVoli鑢e，wasitnot？"
　　"Hush！"
　　saidAramis。？"Youarewalkingsoheavilyyouwillmaketheflooringgiveway。"
　　"True，"
　　saidthemusketeer;"thisroomisabovethedome，Ithink。"
　　"AndIdidnotchooseitforafencing—room，Iassureyou，"addedthebishop。？"Theceilingoftheking'sroomhasallthelightnessandcalmofwholesomesleep。？Donotforget，therefore，thatmyflooringismerelythecoveringofhisceiling。？Goodnight，myfriends，andintenminutesIshallbeasleepmyself。"？AndAramisaccompaniedthemtothedoor，laughingquietlyallthewhile。？Assoonastheywereoutside，heboltedthedoor，hurriedly;
　　closedupthechinksofthewindows，andthencalledout，"Monseigneur！—
　　monseigneur！"？Philippemadehisappearancefromthealcove，ashepushedasideaslidingpanelplacedbehindthebed。
　　"M。
　　d'Artagnanentertainsagreatmanysuspicions，itseems，"hesaid。
　　"Ah！
　　—yourecognizedM。d'Artagnan，then？"
　　"Beforeyoucalledhimbyhisname，even。"
　　"Heisyourcaptainofmusketeers。"
　　"Heisverydevotedtome，"repliedPhilippe，layingastressuponthepersonalpronoun。
　　"Asfaithfulasadog;buthebitessometimes。？IfD'Artagnandoesnotrecognizeyoubeforetheotherhasdisappeared，relyuponD'Artagnantotheendoftheworld;forinthatcase，ifhehasseennothing，hewillkeephisfidelity。？Ifhesees，whenitistoolate，heisaGascon，andwillneveradmitthathehasbeendeceived。"
　　"I
　　thoughtso。？Whatarewetodo，now？"
　　"Sitinthisfolding—chair。？Iamgoingtopushasideaportionoftheflooring;youwilllookthroughtheopening，whichanswerstooneofthefalsewindowsmadeinthedomeoftheking'sapartment。？Canyousee？"
　　"Yes，"
　　saidPhilippe，startingasatthesightofanenemy;"Iseetheking！"
　　"Whatishedoing？"
　　"Heseemstowishsomemantositdownclosetohim。"
　　"M。
　　Fouquet？"
　　"No，no;
　　waitamoment—"
　　"Lookatthenotesandtheportraits，myprince。"
　　"ThemanwhomthekingwishestositdowninhispresenceisM。Colbert。"
　　"Colbertsitdownintheking'spresence！"exclaimedAramis。？"Itisimpossible。"
　　"Look。"
　　Aramislookedthroughtheopeningintheflooring。？"Yes，"hesaid。？"Colberthimself。？Oh，monseigneur！whatcanwebegoingtohear—andwhatcanresultfromthisintimacy？"
　　"NothinggoodforM。Fouquet，atallevents。"
　　Theprincedidnotdeceivehimself。
　　WehaveseenthatLouisXIV。hadsentforColbert，andColberthadarrived。？Theconversationbeganbetweenthembythekingaccordingtohimoneofthehighestfavorsthathehadeverdone;itwastruethekingwasalonewithhissubject。？"Colbert，"saidhe，"sitdown。"
　　Theintendant，overcomewithdelight，forhefearedhewasabouttobedismissed，refusedthisunprecedentedhonor。
　　"Doesheaccept？"saidAramis。
　　"No，heremainsstanding。"
　　"Letuslisten，then。"？Andthefuturekingandthefuturepopelistenedeagerlytothesimplemortalstheyheldundertheirfeet，readytocrushthemwhentheyliked。
　　"Colbert，"
　　saidtheking，"youhaveannoyedmeexceedinglyto—day。"
　　"Iknowit，sire。"？"Verygood;Ilikethatanswer。？Yes，youknewit，andtherewascourageinthedoingofit。"
　　"I
　　rantheriskofdispleasingyourmajesty，butIrisked，also，theconcealmentofyourbestinterests。"
　　"What！youwereafraidofsomethingonmyaccount？"
　　"I
　　was，sire，evenifitwerenothingmorethananindigestion，"saidColbert;"forpeopledonotgivetheirsovereignssuchbanquetsastheoneofto—day，unlessitbetostiflethembeneaththeburdenofgoodliving。"？Colbertawaitedtheeffectthiscoarsejestwouldproduceupontheking;andLouisXIV。，whowasthevainestandthemostfastidiouslydelicatemaninhiskingdom，forgaveColbertthejoke。
　　"Thetruthis，"hesaid，"thatM。Fouquethasgivenmetoogoodameal。？Tellme，Colbert，wheredoeshegetallthemoneyrequiredforthisenormousexpenditure，—canyoutell？"
　　"Yes，Idoknow，sire。"
　　"Willyoubeabletoproveitwithtolerablecertainty？"
　　"Easily;
　　andtotheutmostfarthing。"
　　"Iknowyouareveryexact。"
　　"Exactitudeistheprincipalqualificationrequiredinanintendantoffinances。"
　　"Butallarenotso。"
　　"Ithankyoumajestyforsoflatteringacomplimentfromyourownlips。"
　　"M。
　　Fouquet，therefore，isrich—veryrich，andIsupposeeverymanknowsheisso。"
　　"Everyone，sire;thelivingaswellasthedead。"
　　"Whatdoesthatmean，MonsieurColbert？"
　　"ThelivingarewitnessesofM。Fouquet'swealth，—theyadmireandapplaudtheresultproduced;butthedead，wiserandbetterinformedthanweare，knowhowthatwealthwasobtained—andtheyriseupinaccusation。"
　　"SothatM。
　　Fouquetoweshiswealthtosomecauseorother。"
　　"Theoccupationofanintendantveryoftenfavorsthosewhopracticeit。"
　　"Youhavesomethingtosaytomemoreconfidentially，Iperceive;donotbeafraid，wearequitealone。"
　　"I
　　amneverafraidofanythingundertheshelterofmyownconscience，andundertheprotectionofyourmajesty，"saidColbert，bowing。
　　"Ifthedead，therefore，weretospeak—"
　　"Theydospeaksometimes，sire，—read。"
　　"Ah！"
　　murmuredAramis，intheprince'sear，who，closebesidehim，listenedwithoutlosingasyllable，"sinceyouareplacedhere，monseigneur，inordertolearnyourvocationofaking，listentoapieceofinfamy—ofanaturetrulyroyal。？Youareabouttobeawitnessofoneofthosesceneswhichthefoulfiendaloneconceivesandexecutes。？Listenattentively，—youwillfindyouradvantageinit。"
　　Theprinceredoubledhisattention，andsawLouisXIV。takefromColbert'shandsaletterthelatterheldouttohim。
　　"Thelatecardinal'shandwriting，"saidtheking。
　　"Yourmajestyhasanexcellentmemory，"repliedColbert，bowing;"itisanimmenseadvantageforakingwhoisdestinedforhardworktorecognizehandwritingsatthefirstglance。"
　　ThekingreadMazarin'sletter，and，asitscontentsarealreadyknowntothereader，inconsequenceofthemisunderstandingbetweenMadamedeChevreuseandAramis，nothingfurtherwouldbelearnedifwestatedthemhereagain。
　　"Idonotquiteunderstand，"saidtheking，greatlyinterested。
　　"Yourmajestyhasnotacquiredtheutilitarianhabitofcheckingthepublicaccounts。"
　　"IseethatitreferstomoneythathadbeengiventoM。Fouquet。"
　　"Thirteenmillions。？Atolerablygoodsum。"
　　"Yes。？Well，thesethirteenmillionsarewantingtobalancethetotaloftheaccount。？ThatiswhatIdonotverywellunderstand。？Howwasthisdeficitpossible？"
　　"PossibleI
　　donotsay;butthereisnodoubtaboutfactthatitisreallyso。"
　　"Yousaythatthesethirteenmillionsarefoundtobewantingintheaccounts？"
　　"Idonotsayso，buttheregistrydoes。"
　　"AndthisletterofM。Mazarinindicatestheemploymentofthatsumandthenameofthepersonwithwhomitwasdeposited？"
　　"Asyourmajestycanjudgeforyourself。"
　　"Yes;andtheresultis，then，thatM。Fouquethasnotyetrestoredthethirteenmillions。"
　　"Thatresultsfromtheaccounts，certainly，sire。"
　　"Well，and，consequently—"
　　"Well，sire，inthatcase，inasmuchasM。Fouquethasnotyetgivenbackthethirteenmillions，hemusthaveappropriatedthemtohisownpurpose;andwiththosethirteenmillionsonecouldincurfourtimesandalittlemoreasmuchexpense，andmakefourtimesasgreatadisplay，asyourmajestywasabletodoatFontainebleau，whereweonlyspentthreemillionsaltogether，ifyouremember。"
　　Forablunderer，thesouvenirhehadevokedwasaratherskillfullycontrivedpieceofbaseness;forbytheremembranceofhisownf阾ehe，forthefirsttime，perceiveditsinferioritycomparedwiththatofFouquet。？ColbertreceivedbackagainatVauxwhatFouquethadgivenhimatFontainebleau，and，asagoodfinancier，returneditwiththebestpossibleinterest。？Havingoncedisposedtheking'smindinthisartfulway，Colberthadnothingofmuchimportancetodetainhim。？Hefeltthatsuchwasthecase，fortheking，too，hadagainsunkintoadullandgloomystate。？Colbertawaitedthefirstwordsfromtheking'slipswithasmuchimpatienceasPhilippeandAramisdidfromtheirplaceofobservation。
　　"Areyouawarewhatistheusualandnaturalconsequenceofallthis，MonsieurColbert？"saidtheking，afterafewmoments'reflection。
　　"No，sire，Idonotknow。"
　　"Well，then，thefactoftheappropriationofthethirteenmillions，ifitcanbeproved—"
　　"Butitissoalready。"
　　"Imeanifitweretobedeclaredandcertified，M。Colbert。"
　　"Ithinkitwillbeto—morrow，ifyourmajesty—"
　　"WerewenotunderM。Fouquet'sroof，youweregoingtosay，perhaps，"repliedtheking，withsomethingofnobilityinhisdemeanor。
　　"Thekingisinhisownpalacewhereverhemaybe—especiallyinhouseswhichtheroyalmoneyhasconstructed。"
　　"I
　　think，"saidPhilippeinalowtonetoAramis，"thatthearchitectwhoplannedthisdomeought，anticipatingtheuseitcouldbeputtoatafutureopportunity，sotohavecontrivedthatitmightbemadetofallupontheheadsofscoundrelssuchasM。Colbert。"
　　"Ithinksotoo，"repliedAramis;"butM。Colbertissoverynearthekingatthismoment。"
　　"Thatistrue，andthatwouldopenthesuccession。"
　　"Ofwhichyouryoungerbrotherwouldreapalltheadvantage，monseigneur。？Butstay，letuskeepquiet，andgoonlistening。"
　　"Weshallnothavelongtolisten，"saidtheyoungprince。
　　"Whynot，monseigneur？"
　　"Because，ifIwereking，Ishouldmakenofurtherreply。"
　　"Andwhatwouldyoudo？"
　　"Ishouldwaituntilto—morrowmorningtogivemyselftimeforreflection。"
　　LouisXIV。atlastraisedhiseyes，andfindingColbertattentivelywaitingforhisnextremarks，said，hastily，changingtheconversation，"M。Colbert，I
　　perceiveitisgettingverylate，andIshallnowretiretobed。？Byto—morrowmorningIshallhavemadeupmymind。"
　　"Verygood，sire，"returnedColbert，greatlyincensed，althoughherestrainedhimselfinthepresenceoftheking。
　　Thekingmadeagestureofadieu，andColbertwithdrewwitharespectfulbow。？"Myattendants！"criedtheking;
　　and，astheyenteredtheapartment，Philippewasabouttoquithispostofobservation。
　　"A
　　momentlonger，"saidAramistohim，withhisaccustomedgentlenessofmanner;"whathasjustnowtakenplaceisonlyadetail，andto—morrowweshallhavenooccasiontothinkanythingmoreaboutit;buttheceremonyoftheking'sretiringtorest，theetiquetteobservedinaddressingtheking，thatindeedisofthegreatestimportance。？Learn，sire，andstudywellhowyououghttogotobedofanight。？Look！look！"
　　ChapterXV:
　　Colbert。
　　Historywilltellus，orratherhistoryhastoldus，ofthevariouseventsofthefollowingday，ofthesplendidf阾esgivenbythesurintendanttohissovereign。？Nothingbutamusementanddelightwasallowedtoprevailthroughoutthewholeofthefollowingday;therewasapromenade，abanquet，acomedytobeacted，andacomedy，too，inwhich，tohisgreatamazement，Porthosrecognized"M。CoquelindeVoli鑢e"asoneoftheactors，inthepiececalled"LesF鈉heux。"？Fullofpreoccupation，however，fromthesceneofthepreviousevening，andhardlyrecoveredfromtheeffectsofthepoisonwhichColberthadthenadministeredtohim，theking，duringthewholeoftheday，sobrilliantinitseffects，sofullofunexpectedandstartlingnovelties，inwhichallthewondersofthe"ArabianNight'sEntertainments"seemedtobereproducedforhisespecialamusement—theking，wesay，showedhimselfcold，reserved，andtaciturn。？Nothingcouldsmooththefrownsuponhisface;everyonewhoobservedhimnoticedthatadeepfeelingofresentment，ofremoteorigin，increasedbyslowdegrees，asthesourcebecomesariver，thankstothethousandthreadsofwaterthatincreaseitsbody，waskeenlyaliveinthedepthsoftheking'sheart。？Towardsthemiddleofthedayonlydidhebegintoresumealittleserenityofmanner，andbythattimehehad，inallprobability，madeuphismind。？Aramis，whofollowedhimstepbystepinhisthoughts，asinhiswalk，concludedthattheeventhewasexpectingwouldnotbelongbeforeitwasannounced。？ThistimeColbertseemedtowalkinconcertwiththebishopofVannes，andhadhereceivedforeveryannoyancewhichheinflictedonthekingawordofdirectionfromAramis，hecouldnothavedonebetter。？Duringthewholeofthedaytheking，who，inallprobability，wishedtofreehimselffromsomeofthethoughtswhichdisturbedhismind，seemedtoseekLaValli鑢e'ssocietyasactivelyasheseemedtoshowhisanxietytofleethatofM。ColbertorM。Fouquet。？Theeveningcame。？Thekinghadexpressedawishnottowalkintheparkuntilaftercardsintheevening。？Intheintervalbetweensupperandthepromenade，cardsanddicewereintroduced。？Thekingwonathousandpistoles，and，havingwonthem，puttheminhispocket，andthenrose，saying，"Andnow，gentlemen，tothepark。"？Hefoundtheladiesofthecourtwerealreadythere。？Theking，wehavebeforeobserved，hadwonathousandpistoles，andhadputtheminhispocket;butM。Fouquethadsomehowcontrivedtolosetenthousand，sothatamongthecourtierstherewasstillleftahundredandninetythousandfrancs'profittodivide，acircumstancewhichmadethecountenancesofthecourtiersandtheofficersoftheking'shouseholdthemostjoyouscountenancesintheworld。？Itwasnotthesame，however，withtheking'sface;for，notwithstandinghissuccessatplay，towhichhewasbynomeansinsensible，therestillremainedaslightshadeofdissatisfaction。？Colbertwaswaitingfororuponhimatthecornerofoneoftheavenues;hewasmostprobablywaitingthereinconsequenceofarendezvouswhichhadbeengivenhimbytheking，asLouisXIV。，whohadavoidedhim，orwhohadseemedtoavoidhim，suddenlymadehimasign，andtheythenstruckintothedepthsoftheparktogether。？ButLaValli鑢e，too，hadobservedtheking'sgloomyaspectandkindlingglances;shehadremarkedthis—
　　andasnothingwhichlayhiddenorsmolderinginhisheartwashiddenfromthegazeofheraffection，sheunderstoodthatthisrepressedwrathmenacedsomeone;shepreparedtowithstandthecurrentofhisvengeance，andintercedelikeanangelofmercy。？Overcomebysadness，nervouslyagitated，deeplydistressedathavingbeensolongseparatedfromherlover，disturbedatthesightoftheemotionshehaddivined，sheaccordinglypresentedherselftothekingwithanembarrassedaspect，whichinhisthendispositionofmindthekinginterpretedunfavorably。？Then，astheywerealone—nearlyalone，inasmuchasColbert，assoonasheperceivedtheyounggirlapproaching，hadstoppedanddrawnbackadozenpaces—thekingadvancedtowardsLaValli鑢eandtookherbythehand。？"Mademoiselle，"hesaidtoher，"shouldIbeguiltyofanindiscretionifIweretoinquireifyouwereindisposed？foryouseemtobreatheasifyouwereoppressedbysomesecretcauseofuneasiness，andyoureyesarefilledwithtears。"
　　"Oh！
　　sire，ifIbeindeedso，andifmyeyesareindeedfulloftears，Iamsorrowfulonlyatthesadnesswhichseemstooppressyourmajesty。"
　　"Mysadness？？Youaremistaken，mademoiselle;no，itisnotsadnessIexperience。"
　　"Whatisit，then，sire？"
　　"Humiliation。"
　　"Humiliation？
　　oh！sire，whatawordforyoutouse！"
　　"I
　　mean，mademoiselle，thatwhereverImayhappentobe，nooneelseoughttobethemaster。？Well，then，lookroundyouoneveryside，andjudgewhetherIamnoteclipsed—I，thekingofFrance—
　　beforethemonarchofthesewidedomains。？Oh！"hecontinued，clenchinghishandsandteeth，"whenI
　　thinkthatthisking—"
　　"Well，sire？"saidLouise，terrified。
　　"
　　—Thatthiskingisafaithless，unworthyservant，whogrowsproudandself—sufficientuponthestrengthofpropertythatbelongstome，andwhichhehasstolen。？AndthereforeIamabouttochangethisimpudentminister'sf阾eintosorrowandmourning，ofwhichthenymphofVaux，asthepoetssay，shallnotsoonlosetheremembrance。"
　　"Oh！
　　yourmajesty—"
　　"Well，mademoiselle，areyouabouttotakeM。Fouquet'spart？"saidLouis，impatiently。
　　"No，sire;Iwillonlyaskwhetheryouarewellinformed。？Yourmajestyhasmorethanoncelearnedthevalueofaccusationsmadeatcourt。"
　　LouisXIV。madeasignforColberttoapproach。？"Speak，MonsieurColbert，"saidtheyoungprince，"forI
　　almostbelievethatMademoiselledelaValli鑢ehasneedofyourassistancebeforeshecanputanyfaithintheking'sword。？TellmademoisellewhatM。Fouquethasdone;andyou，mademoiselle，willperhapshavethekindnesstolisten。？Itwillnotbelong。"
　　WhydidLouisXIV。insistuponitinsuchamanner？？Averysimplereason—hisheartwasnotatrest，hismindwasnotthoroughlyconvinced;heimaginedtherelaysomedark，hidden，tortuousintriguebehindthesethirteenmillionsoffrancs;andhewishedthatthepureheartofLaValli鑢e，whichhadrevoltedattheideaoftheftorrobbery，shouldapprove—evenwereitonlybyasingleword—theresolutionhehadtaken，andwhich，nevertheless，hehesitatedbeforecarryingintoexecution。
　　"Speak，monsieur，"saidLaValli鑢etoColbert，whohadadvanced;"speak，sincethekingwishesmetolistentoyou。？Tellme，whatisthecrimewithwhichM。Fouquetischarged？"
　　"Oh！
　　notveryheinous，mademoiselle，"hereturned，"amereabuseofconfidence。"
　　"Speak，speak，Colbert;andwhenyouhaverelatedit，leaveus，andgoandinformM。
　　d'ArtagnanthatIhavecertainorderstogivehim。"
　　"M。
　　d'Artagnan，sire！"exclaimedLaValli鑢e;"butwhysendforM。
　　d'Artagnan？？Ientreatyoutotellme。"
　　"Pardieu！inordertoarrestthishaughty，arrogantTitanwho，truetohismenace，threatenstoscalemyheaven。"
　　"ArrestM。Fouquet，doyousay？"
　　"Ah！
　　doesthatsurpriseyou？"
　　"Inhisownhouse！"
　　"Whynot？？Ifhebeguilty，heisasguiltyinhisownhouseasanywhereelse。"
　　"M。
　　Fouquet，whoatthismomentisruininghimselfforhissovereign。"
　　"Inplaintruth，mademoiselle，itseemsasifyouweredefendingthistraitor。"
　　Colbertbegantochucklesilently。？Thekingturnedroundatthesoundofthissuppressedmirth。
　　"Sire，"
　　saidLaValli鑢e，"itisnotM。FouquetIamdefending;itisyourself。"
　　"Me！
　　youaredefendingme？"
　　"Sire，youwoulddishonoryourselfifyouweretogivesuchanorder。"
　　"Dishonormyself！"murmuredtheking，turningpalewithanger。？"Inplaintruth，mademoiselle，youshowastrangepersistenceinwhatyousay。"
　　"IfIdo，sire，myonlymotiveisthatofservingyourmajesty，"repliedthenoble—heartedgirl:"forthatIwouldrisk，Iwouldsacrificemyverylife，withouttheleastreserve。"
　　Colbertseemedinclinedtogrumbleandcomplain。？LaValli鑢e，thattimid，gentlelamb，turnedrounduponhim，andwithaglancelikelightningimposedsilenceuponhim。？"Monsieur，"shesaid，"whenthekingactswell，whether，indoingso，hedoeseithermyselforthosewhobelongtomeaninjury，Ihavenothingtosay;butwerethekingtoconferabenefiteitheruponmeormine，andifheactedbadly，Ishouldtellhimso。"
　　"Butitappearstome，mademoiselle，"Colbertventuredtosay，"thatItoolovetheking。"