"Yes，monseigneur，webothlovehim，buteachinadifferentmanner，"repliedLaValli鑢e，withsuchanaccentthattheheartoftheyoungkingwaspowerfullyaffectedbyit。？"Ilovehimsodeeply，thatthewholeworldisawareofit;sopurely，thatthekinghimselfdoesnotdoubtmyaffection。？Heismykingandmymaster;Iamtheleastofallhisservants。？Butwhosotoucheshishonorassailsmylife。？Therefore，Irepeat，thattheydishonorthekingwhoadvisehimtoarrestM。Fouquetunderhisownroof。"
　　Colberthungdownhishead，forhefeltthatthekinghadabandonedhim。？However，ashebenthishead，hemurmured，"Mademoiselle，Ihaveonlyonewordtosay。"
　　"Donotsayit，then，monsieur;forIwouldnotlistentoit。？Besides，whatcouldyouhavetotellme？？ThatM。Fouquethasbeenguiltyofcertaincrimes？？Ibelievehehas，becausethekinghassaidso;and，fromthemomentthekingsaid，'Ithinkso，'
　　Ihavenooccasionforotherlipstosay，'Iaffirmit。'？But，wereM。Fouquetthevilestofmen，I
　　shouldsayaloud，'M。Fouquet'spersonissacredtothekingbecauseheistheguestofM。Fouquet。？Werehishouseadenofthieves，wereVauxacaveofcoinersorrobbers，hishomeissacred，hispalaceisinviolable，sincehiswifeislivinginit;andthatisanasylumwhichevenexecutionerswouldnotdaretoviolate。'"
　　LaValli鑢epaused，andwassilent。？Inspiteofhimselfthekingcouldnotbutadmireher;hewasoverpoweredbythepassionateenergyofhervoice;bythenoblenessofthecausesheadvocated。？Colbertyielded，overcomebytheinequalityofthestruggle。？Atlastthekingbreathedagainmorefreely，shookhishead，andheldouthishandtoLaValli鑢e。？"Mademoiselle，"
　　hesaid，gently，"whydoyoudecideagainstme？？Doyouknowwhatthiswretchedfellowwilldo，ifIgivehimtimetobreatheagain？"
　　"Ishenotapreywhichwillalwaysbewithinyourgrasp？"
　　"Shouldheescape，andtaketoflight？"exclaimedColbert。
　　"Well，monsieur，itwillalwaysremainonrecord，totheking'seternalhonor，thatheallowedM。Fouquettoflee;andthemoreguiltyhemayhavebeen，thegreaterwilltheking'shonorandgloryappear，comparedwithsuchunnecessarymiseryandshame。"
　　LouiskissedLaValli鑢e'shand，ashekneltbeforeher。
　　"I
　　amlost，"thoughtColbert;thensuddenlyhisfacebrightenedupagain。？"Oh！no，no，aha，oldfox！
　　—notyet，"hesaidtohimself。
　　Andwhiletheking，protectedfromobservationbythethickcovertofanenormouslime，pressedLaValli鑢etohisbreast，withalltheardorofineffableaffection，Colberttranquillyfumbledamongthepapersinhispocket—bookanddrewoutofitapaperfoldedintheformofaletter，somewhatyellow，perhaps，butonethatmusthavebeenmostprecious，sincetheintendantsmiledashelookedatit;hethenbentalook，fullofhatred，uponthecharminggroupwhichtheyounggirlandthekingformedtogether—agrouprevealedbutforamoment，asthelightoftheapproachingtorchesshoneuponit。？LouisnoticedthelightreflecteduponLaValli鑢e'swhitedress。？"Leaveme，Louise，"hesaid，"forsomeoneiscoming。"
　　"Mademoiselle，mademoiselle，someoneiscoming，"criedColbert，toexpeditetheyounggirl'sdeparture。
　　Louisedisappearedrapidlyamongthetrees;andthen，astheking，whohadbeenonhiskneesbeforetheyounggirl，wasrisingfromhishumbleposture，Colbertexclaimed，"Ah！？MademoiselledelaValli鑢ehasletsomethingfall。"
　　"Whatisit？"inquiredtheking。
　　"A
　　paper—aletter—somethingwhite;lookthere，sire。"
　　Thekingstoopeddownimmediatelyandpickeduptheletter，crumplingitinhishand，ashedidso;andatthesamemomentthetorchesarrived，inundatingtheblacknessofthescenewithafloodoflightasbightasday。
　　ChapterXVI:
　　Jealousy。
　　Thetorcheswehavejustreferredto，theeagerattentioneveryonedisplayed，andthenewovationpaidtothekingbyFouquet，arrivedintimetosuspendtheeffectofaresolutionwhichLaValli鑢ehadalreadyconsiderablyshakeninLouisXIV。'sheart。？HelookedatFouquetwithafeelingalmostofgratitudeforhavinggivenLaValli鑢eanopportunityofshowingherselfsogenerouslydisposed，sopowerfulintheinfluencesheexercisedoverhisheart。？Themomentofthelastandgreatestdisplayhadarrived。？HardlyhadFouquetconductedthekingtowardsthech鈚eau，whenamassoffireburstfromthedomeofVaux，withaprodigiousuproar，pouringafloodofdazzlingcataractsofraysoneveryside，andilluminingtheremotestcornersofthegardens。？Thefireworksbegan。？Colbert，attwentypacesfromtheking，whowassurroundedandf阾edbytheownerofVaux，seemed，bytheobstinatepersistenceofhisgloomythoughts，todohisutmosttorecallLouis'sattention，whichthemagnificenceofthespectaclewasalready，inhisopinion，tooeasilydiverting。？Suddenly，justasLouiswasonthepointofholdingitouttoFouquet，heperceivedinhishandthepaperwhich，ashebelieved，LaValli鑢ehaddroppedathisfeetasshehurriedaway。？Thestillstrongermagnetoflovedrewtheyoungprince'sattentiontowardsthesouvenirofhisidol;
　　and，bythebrilliantlight，whichincreasedmomentarilyinbeauty，anddrewfromtheneighboringvillagesloudcheersofadmiration，thekingreadtheletter，whichhesupposedwasalovingandtenderepistleLaValli鑢ehaddestinedforhim。？Butashereadit，adeath—likepallorstoleoverhisface，andanexpressionofdeep—seatedwrath，illuminedbythemany—coloredfirewhichgleamedsobrightly，soaringlyaroundthescene，producedaterriblespectacle，whicheveryonewouldhaveshudderedat，couldtheyonlyhavereadintohisheart，nowtornbythemoststormyandmostbitterpassions。？Therewasnotruceforhimnow，influencedashewasbyjealousyandmadpassion。？Fromtheverymomentwhenthedarktruthwasrevealedtohim，everygentlerfeelingseemedtodisappear;pity，kindnessofconsideration，thereligionofhospitality，allwereforgotten。？Inthebitterpangwhichwrunghisheart，he，stilltooweaktohidehissufferings，wasalmostonthepointofutteringacryofalarm，andcallinghisguardstogatherroundhim。？ThisletterwhichColberthadthrowndownattheking'sfeet，thereaderhasdoubtlesslyguessed，wasthesamethathaddisappearedwiththeporterTobyatFontainebleau，aftertheattemptwhichFouquethadmadeuponLaValli鑢e'sheart。？Fouquetsawtheking'spallor，andwasfarfromguessingtheevil;
　　Colbertsawtheking'sanger，andrejoicedinwardlyattheapproachofthestorm。？Fouquet'svoicedrewtheyoungprincefromhiswrathfulreverie。
　　"Whatisthematter，sire？"inquiredthesuperintendent，withanexpressionofgracefulinterest。
　　Louismadeaviolenteffortoverhimself，ashereplied，"Nothing。"
　　"I
　　amafraidyourmajestyissuffering？"
　　"I
　　amsuffering，andhavealreadytoldyouso，monsieur;butitisnothing。"
　　Andtheking，withoutwaitingfortheterminationofthefireworks，turnedtowardsthech鈚eau。？Fouquetaccompaniedhim，andthewholecourtfollowed，leavingtheremainsofthefireworksconsumingfortheirownamusement。？ThesuperintendentendeavoredagaintoquestionLouisXIV。，butdidnotsucceedinobtainingareply。？HeimaginedtherehadbeensomemisunderstandingbetweenLouisandLaValli鑢einthepark，whichhadresultedinaslightquarrel;andthattheking，whowasnotordinarilysulkybydisposition，butcompletelyabsorbedbyhispassionforLaValli鑢e，hadtakenadisliketoeveryonebecausehismistresshadshownherselfoffendedwithhim。？Thisideawassufficienttoconsolehim;hehadevenafriendlyandkindlysmilefortheyoungking，whenthelatterwishedhimgoodnight。？This，however，wasnotallthekinghadtosubmitto;hewasobligedtoundergotheusualceremony，whichonthateveningwasmarkedbycloseadherencetothestrictestetiquette。？Thenextdaywastheonefixedforthedeparture;itwasbutproperthattheguestsshouldthanktheirhost，andshowhimalittleattentioninreturnfortheexpenditureofhistwelvemillions。？Theonlyremark，approachingtoamiability，whichthekingcouldfindtosaytoM。Fouquet，ashetookleaveofhim，wereinthesewords，"M。
　　Fouquet，youshallhearfromme。？BegoodenoughtodesireM。d'Artagnantocomehere。"
　　ButthebloodofLouisXIV。，whohadsoprofoundlydissimulatedhisfeelings，boiledinhisveins;andhewasperfectlywillingtoorderM。Fouquettobeputanendtowiththesamereadiness，indeed，ashispredecessorhadcausedtheassassinationofleMar閏hald'Ancre;andsohedisguisedtheterribleresolutionhehadformedbeneathoneofthoseroyalsmileswhich，likelightning—flashes，indicatedcoupsd'閠at。？Fouquettooktheking'shandandkissedit;
　　Louisshudderedthroughouthiswholeframe，butallowedM。Fouquettotouchhishandwithhislips。？Fiveminutesafterwards，D'Artagnan，towhomtheroyalorderhadbeencommunicated，enteredLouisXIV。'sapartment。？AramisandPhilippewereintheirs，stilleagerlyattentive，andstilllisteningwithalltheirears。？Thekingdidnotevengivethecaptainofthemusketeerstimetoapproachhisarmchair，butranforwardtomeethim。？"Takecare，"heexclaimed，"thatnooneentershere。"
　　"Verygood，sire，"repliedthecaptain，whoseglancehadforalongtimepastanalyzedthestormyindicationsontheroyalcountenance。？Hegavethenecessaryorderatthedoor;
　　but，returningtotheking，hesaid，"Istheresomethingfreshthematter，yourmajesty？"
　　"Howmanymenhaveyouhere？"inquiredtheking，withoutmakinganyotherreplytothequestionaddressedtohim。
　　"Whatfor，sire？"
　　"Howmanymenhaveyou，Isay？"repeatedtheking，stampinguponthegroundwithhisfoot。
　　"I
　　havethemusketeers。"
　　"Well;
　　andwhatothers？"
　　"TwentyguardsandthirteenSwiss。"
　　"Howmanymenwillberequiredto—"
　　"Todowhat，sire？"repliedthemusketeer，openinghislarge，calmeyes。
　　"ToarrestM。Fouquet。"
　　D'Artagnanfellbackastep。
　　"ToarrestM。Fouquet！"heburstforth。
　　"Areyougoingtotellmethatitisimpossible？"exclaimedtheking，intonesofcold，vindictivepassion。
　　"I
　　neversaythatanythingisimpossible，"repliedD'Artagnan，woundedtothequick。
　　"Verywell;doit，then。"
　　D'Artagnanturnedonhisheel，andmadehiswaytowardsthedoor;itwasbutashortdistance，andhecleareditinhalfadozenpaces;whenhereachedithesuddenlypaused，andsaid，"Yourmajestywillforgiveme，but，inordertoeffectthisarrest，Ishouldlikewrittendirections。"
　　"Forwhatpurpose—andsincewhenhastheking'swordbeeninsufficientforyou？"
　　"Becausethewordofaking，whenitspringsfromafeelingofanger，maypossiblychangewhenthefeelingchanges。"
　　"A
　　trucetosetphrases，monsieur;youhaveanotherthoughtbesidesthat？"
　　"Oh，I，atleast，havecertainthoughtsandideas，which，unfortunately，othershavenot，"D'Artagnanreplied，impertinently。
　　Theking，inthetempestofhiswrath，hesitated，anddrewbackinthefaceofD'Artagnan'sfrankcourage，justasahorsecrouchesonhishaunchesunderthestronghandofaboldandexperiencedrider。？"Whatisyourthought？"heexclaimed。
　　"This，sire，"repliedD'Artagnan:"youcauseamantobearrestedwhenyouarestillunderhisroof;andpassionisalonethecauseofthat。？Whenyourangershallhavepassed，youwillregretwhatyouhavedone;andthenIwishtobeinapositiontoshowyouyoursignature。？Ifthat，however，shouldfailtobeareparation，itwillatleastshowusthatthekingwaswrongtolosehistemper。"
　　"Wrongtolosehistemper！"criedtheking，inaloud，passionatevoice。？"Didnotmyfather，mygrandfathers，too，beforeme，losetheirtemperattimes，inHeaven'sname？"
　　"Thekingyourfatherandthekingyourgrandfatherneverlosttheirtemperexceptwhenundertheprotectionoftheirownpalace。"
　　"Thekingismasterwhereverhemaybe。"
　　"Thatisaflattering，complimentaryphrasewhichcannotproceedfromanyonebutM。
　　Colbert;butithappensnottobethetruth。？Thekingisathomeineveryman'shousewhenhehasdrivenitsowneroutofit。"
　　Thekingbithislips，butsaidnothing。
　　"Canitbepossible？"saidD'Artagnan;"hereisamanwhoispositivelyruininghimselfinordertopleaseyou，andyouwishtohavehimarrested！？Mordioux！？Sire，ifmynamewasFouquet，andpeopletreatedmeinthatmanner，Iwouldswallowatasinglegulpallsortsoffireworksandotherthings，andIwouldsetfiretothem，andsendmyselfandeverybodyelseinblown—upatomstothesky。？Butitisallthesame;itisyourwish，anditshallbedone。"
　　"Go，"
　　saidtheking;"buthaveyoumenenough？"
　　"DoyousupposeIamgoingtotakeawholehosttohelpme？？ArrestM。Fouquet！why，thatissoeasythataverychildmightdoit！？Itislikedrinkingaglassofwormwood;onemakesanuglyface，andthatisall。"
　　"Ifhedefendshimself？"
　　"He！
　　itisnotatalllikely。？Defendhimselfwhensuchextremeharshnessasyouaregoingtopracticemakesthemanaverymartyr！？Nay，Iamsurethatifhehasamillionoffrancsleft，whichIverymuchdoubt，hewouldbewillingenoughtogiveitinordertohavesuchaterminationasthis。？Butwhatdoesthatmatter？itshallbedoneatonce。"
　　"Stay，"
　　saidtheking;"donotmakehisarrestapublicaffair。"
　　"Thatwillbemoredifficult。"
　　"Whyso？"
　　"BecausenothingiseasierthantogouptoM。Fouquetinthemidstofathousandenthusiasticguestswhosurroundhim，andsay，'Intheking'sname，Iarrestyou。'？Buttogouptohim，toturnhimfirstonewayandthenanother，todrivehimupintooneofthecornersofthechess—board，insuchawaythathecannotescape;totakehimawayfromhisguests，andkeephimaprisonerforyou，withoutoneofthem，alas！havingheardanythingaboutit;that，indeed，isagenuinedifficulty，thegreatestofall，intruth;andIhardlyseehowitistobedone。"
　　"Youhadbettersayitisimpossible，andyouwillhavefinishedmuchsooner。？Heavenhelpme，butIseemtobesurroundedbypeoplewhopreventmedoingwhatIwish。"
　　"I
　　donotpreventyourdoinganything。？Haveyouindeeddecided？"
　　"TakecareofM。Fouquet，untilIshallhavemadeupmymindbyto—morrowmorning。"
　　"Thatshallbedone，sire。"
　　"Andreturn，whenIriseinthemorning，forfurtherorders;andnowleavemetomyself。"
　　"YoudonotevenwantM。Colbert，then？"saidthemusketeer，firinghislastshotashewasleavingtheroom。？Thekingstarted。？Withhiswholemindfixedonthethoughtofrevenge，hehadforgottenthecauseandsubstanceoftheoffense。
　　"No，noone，"hesaid;"noonehere！？Leaveme。"
　　D'Artagnanquittedtheroom。？Thekingclosedthedoorwithhisownhands，andbegantowalkupanddownhisapartmentatafuriouspace，likeawoundedbullinanarena，trailingfromhishornthecoloredstreamersandtheirondarts。？Atlasthebegantotakecomfortintheexpressionofhisviolentfeelings。
　　"Miserablewretchthatheis！notonlydoeshesquandermyfinances，butwithhisill—gottenplunderhecorruptssecretaries，friends，generals，artists，andall，andtriestorobmeoftheonetowhomIammostattached。？Thisisthereasonthatperfidiousgirlsoboldlytookhispart！？Gratitude！andwhocantellwhetheritwasnotastrongerfeeling—loveitself？"？Hegavehimselfupforamomenttothebitterestreflections。？"A
　　satyr！"hethought，withthatabhorrenthatewithwhichyoungmenregardthosemoreadvancedinlife，whostillthinkoflove。？"Amanwhohasneverfoundoppositionorresistanceinanyone，wholavisheshisgoldandjewelsineverydirection，andwhoretainshisstaffofpaintersinordertotaketheportraitsofhismistressesinthecostumeofgoddesses。"？Thekingtrembledwithpassionashecontinued，"Hepollutesandprofaneseverythingthatbelongstome！？Hedestroyseverythingthatismine。？Hewillbemydeathatlast，Iknow。？Thatmanistoomuchforme;heismymortalenemy，butheshallforthwithfall！？Ihatehim—Ihatehim—Ihatehim！"
　　andashepronouncedthesewords，hestruckthearmofthechairinwhichhewassittingviolently，overandoveragain，andthenroselikeoneinanepilepticfit。？"To—morrow！
　　to—morrow！oh，happyday！"hemurmured，"whenthesunrises，nootherrivalshallthatbrilliantkingofspacepossessbutme。？Thatmanshallfallsolowthatwhenpeoplelookattheabjectruinmyangershallhavewrought，theywillbeforcedtoconfessatlastandatleastthatIamindeedgreaterthanhe。"？Theking，whowasincapableofmasteringhisemotionsanylonger，knockedoverwithablowofhisfistasmalltableplacedclosetohisbedside，andintheverybitternessofanger，almostweeping，andhalf—suffocated，hethrewhimselfonhisbed，dressedashewas，andbitthesheetsinhisextremityofpassion，tryingtofindreposeofbodyatleastthere。？Thebedcreakedbeneathhisweight，andwiththeexceptionofafewbrokensounds，emerging，or，onemightsay，exploding，fromhisoverburdenedchest，absolutesilencesoonreignedinthechamberofMorpheus。
　　ChapterXVII:
　　HighTreason。
　　TheungovernablefurywhichtookpossessionofthekingatthesightandattheperusalofFouquet'slettertoLaValli鑢ebydegreessubsidedintoafeelingofpainandextremeweariness。？Youth，invigoratedbyhealthandlightnessofspirits，requiringsoonthatwhatitlosesshouldbeimmediatelyrestored—youthknowsnotthoseendless，sleeplessnightswhichenableustorealizethefableofthevultureunceasinglyfeedingonPrometheus。？Incaseswherethemanofmiddlelife，inhisacquiredstrengthofwillandpurpose，andtheold，intheirstateofnaturalexhaustion，findincessantaugmentationoftheirbittersorrow，ayoungman，surprisedbythesuddenappearanceofmisfortune，weakenshimselfinsighs，andgroans，andtears，directlystrugglingwithhisgrief，andistherebyfarsooneroverthrownbytheinflexibleenemywithwhomheisengaged。？Onceoverthrown，hisstrugglescease。？Louiscouldnotholdoutmorethanafewminutes，attheendofwhichhehadceasedtoclenchhishands，andscorchinfancywithhislookstheinvisibleobjectsofhishatred;hesoonceasedtoattackwithhisviolentimprecationsnotM。Fouquetalone，butevenLaValli鑢eherself;fromfuryhesubsidedintodespair，andfromdespairtoprostration。？Afterhehadthrownhimselfforafewminutestoandfroconvulsivelyonhisbed，hisnervelessarmsfellquietlydown;hisheadlaylanguidlyonhispillow;hislimbs，exhaustedwithexcessiveemotion，stilltrembledoccasionally，agitatedbymuscularcontractions;whilefromhisbreastfaintandinfrequentsighsstillissued。？Morpheus，thetutelarydeityoftheapartment，towardswhomLouisraisedhiseyes，weariedbyhisangerandreconciledbyhistears，showereddownuponhimthesleep—inducingpoppieswithwhichhishandsareeverfilled;sopresentlythemonarchclosedhiseyesandfellasleep。？Thenitseemedtohim，asitoftenhappensinthatfirstsleep，solightandgentle，whichraisesthebodyabovethecouch，andthesoulabovetheearth—itseemedtohim，wesay，asifthegodMorpheus，paintedontheceiling，lookedathimwitheyesresemblinghumaneyes;thatsomethingshonebrightly，andmovedtoandfrointhedomeabovethesleeper;thatthecrowdofterribledreamswhichthrongedtogetherinhisbrain，andwhichwereinterruptedforamoment，halfrevealedahumanface，withahandrestingagainstthemouth，andinanattitudeofdeepandabsorbedmeditation。？Andstrangeenough，too，thismanboresowonderfularesemblancetothekinghimself，thatLouisfanciedhewaslookingathisownfacereflectedinamirror;withtheexception，however，thatthefacewassaddenedbyafeelingoftheprofoundestpity。？Thenitseemedtohimasifthedomegraduallyretired，escapingfromhisgaze，andthatthefiguresandattributespaintedbyLebrunbecamedarkeranddarkerasthedistancebecamemoreandmoreremote。？Agentle，easymovement，asregularasthatbywhichavesselplungesbeneaththewaves，hadsucceededtotheimmovablenessofthebed。？Doubtlessthekingwasdreaming，andinthisdreamthecrownofgold，whichfastenedthecurtainstogether，seemedtorecedefromhisvision，justasthedome，towhichitremainedsuspended，haddone，sothatthewingedgeniuswhich，withbothitshand，supportedthecrown，seemed，thoughvainlyso，tocallupontheking，whowasfastdisappearingfromit。？Thebedstillsunk。？Louis，withhiseyesopen，couldnotresistthedeceptionofthiscruelhallucination。？Atlast，asthelightoftheroyalchamberfadedawayintodarknessandgloom，somethingcold，gloomy，andinexplicableinitsnatureseemedtoinfecttheair。？Nopaintings，norgold，norvelvethangings，werevisibleanylonger，nothingbutwallsofadullgraycolor，whichtheincreasinggloommadedarkereverymoment。？Andyetthebedstillcontinuedtodescend，andafteraminute，whichseemedinitsdurationalmostanagetotheking，itreachedastratumofair，blackandchillasdeath，andthenitstopped。？Thekingcouldnolongerseethelightinhisroom，exceptasfromthebottomofawellwecanseethelightofday。？"Iamundertheinfluenceofsomeatrociousdream，"hethought。？"Itistimetoawakenfromit。？Come！letmewake。"
　　Everyonehasexperiencedthesensationtheaboveremarkconveys;thereishardlyapersonwho，inthemidstofanightmarewhoseinfluenceissuffocating，hasnotsaidtohimself，bythehelpofthatlightwhichstillburnsinthebrainwheneveryhumanlightisextinguished，"Itisnothingbutadream，afterall。"？ThiswaspreciselywhatLouisXIV。saidtohimself;butwhenhesaid，"Come，come！wakeup，"heperceivedthatnotonlywashealreadyawake，butstillmore，thathehadhiseyesopenalso。？Andthenhelookedallroundhim。？Onhisrighthandandonhislefttwoarmedmenstoodinstolidsilence，eachwrappedinahugecloak，andthefacecoveredwithamask;oneofthemheldasmalllampinhishand，whoseglimmeringlightrevealedthesaddestpictureakingcouldlookupon。？Louiscouldnothelpsayingtohimselfthathisdreamstilllasted，andthatallhehadtodotocauseittodisappearwastomovehisarmsortosaysomethingaloud;hedartedfromhisbed，andfoundhimselfuponthedamp，moistground。？Then，addressinghimselftothemanwhoheldthelampinhishand，hesaid:
　　"Whatisthis，monsieur，andwhatisthemeaningofthisjest？"
　　"Itisnojest，"repliedinadeepvoicethemaskedfigurethatheldthelantern。
　　"DoyoubelongtoM。Fouquet？"inquiredtheking，greatlyastonishedathissituation。
　　"Itmattersverylittletowhomwebelong，"saidthephantom;"weareyourmastersnow，thatissufficient。"
　　Theking，moreimpatientthanintimidated，turnedtotheothermaskedfigure。？"Ifthisisacomedy，"hesaid，"youwilltellM。FouquetthatIfinditunseemlyandimproper，andthatI
　　commanditshouldcease。"
　　Thesecondmaskedpersontowhomthekinghadaddressedhimselfwasamanofhugestatureandvastcircumference。？Heheldhimselferectandmotionlessasanyblockofmarble。？"Well！"addedtheking，stampinghisfoot，"youdonotanswer！"
　　"Wedonotansweryou，mygoodmonsieur，"saidthegiant，inastentorianvoice，"becausethereisnothingtosay。"
　　"Atleast，tellmewhatyouwant，"exclaimedLouis，foldinghisarmswithapassionategesture。
　　"Youwillknowbyandby，"repliedthemanwhoheldthelamp。
　　"InthemeantimetellmewhereIam。"
　　"Look。"
　　Louislookedallroundhim;butbythelightofthelampwhichthemaskedfigureraisedforthepurpose，hecouldperceivenothingbutthedampwallswhichglistenedhereandtherewiththeslimytracesofthesnail。？"Oh—oh！—adungeon，"criedtheking。
　　"No，asubterraneanpassage。"
　　"Whichleads—？"
　　"Willyoubegoodenoughtofollowus？"
　　"I
　　shallnotstirfromhence！"criedtheking。
　　"Ifyouareobstinate，mydearyoungfriend，"repliedthetallerofthetwo，"Iwillliftyouupinmyarms，androllyouupinyourowncloak，andifyoushouldhappentobestifled，why—somuchtheworseforyou。"
　　Ashesaidthis，hedisengagedfrombeneathhiscloakahandofwhichMiloofCrotonawouldhaveenviedhimthepossession，onthedaywhenhehadthatunhappyideaofrendinghislastoak。？Thekingdreadedviolence，forhecouldwellbelievethatthetwomenintowhosepowerhehadfallenhadnotgonesofarwithanyideaofdrawingback，andthattheywouldconsequentlybereadytoproceedtoextremities，ifnecessary。？Heshookhisheadandsaid:
　　"ItseemsIhavefallenintothehandsofacoupleofassassins。？Moveon，then。"
　　Neitherofthemenansweredawordtothisremark。？Theonewhocarriedthelanternwalkedfirst，thekingfollowedhim，whilethesecondmaskedfigureclosedtheprocession。？Inthismannertheypassedalongawindinggalleryofsomelength，withasmanystaircasesleadingoutofitasaretobefoundinthemysteriousandgloomypalacesofAnnRadcliffe'screation。？Allthesewindingsandturnings，duringwhichthekingheardthesoundofrunningwateroverhishead，endedatlastinalongcorridorclosedbyanirondoor。？Thefigurewiththelampopenedthedoorwithoneofthekeysheworesuspendedathisgirdle，where，duringthewholeofthebriefjourney，thekinghadheardthemrattle。？Assoonasthedoorwasopenedandadmittedtheair，Louisrecognizedthebalmyodorsthattreesexhaleinhotsummernights。？Hepaused，hesitatingly，foramomentortwo;butthehugesentinelwhofollowedhimthrusthimoutofthesubterraneanpassage。
　　"Anotherblow，"saidtheking，turningtowardstheonewhohadjusthadtheaudacitytotouchhissovereign;"whatdoyouintendtodowiththekingofFrance？"
　　"Trytoforgetthatword，"repliedthemanwiththelamp，inatonewhichaslittleadmittedofareplyasoneofthefamousdecreesofMinos。
　　"Youdeservetobebrokenonthewheelforthewordsthatyouhavejustmadeuseof，"saidthegiant，asheextinguishedthelamphiscompanionhandedtohim;"butthekingistookind—hearted。"
　　Louis，atthatthreat，madesosuddenamovementthatitseemedasifhemeditatedflight;
　　butthegiant'shandwasinamomentplacedonhisshoulder，andfixedhimmotionlesswherehestood。？"Buttellme，atleast，wherewearegoing，"saidtheking。
　　"Come，"
　　repliedtheformerofthetwomen，withakindofrespectinhismanner，andleadinghisprisonertowardsacarriagewhichseemedtobeinwaiting。
　　Thecarriagewascompletelyconcealedamidthetrees。？Twohorses，withtheirfeetfettered，werefastenedbyahaltertothelowerbranchesofalargeoak。
　　"Getin，"saidthesameman，openingthecarriage—doorandlettingdownthestep。？Thekingobeyed，seatedhimselfatthebackofthecarriage，thepaddeddoorofwhichwasshutandlockedimmediatelyuponhimandhisguide。？Asforthegiant，hecutthefasteningsbywhichthehorseswerebound，harnessedthemhimself，andmountedontheboxofthecarriage，whichwasunoccupied。？Thecarriagesetoffimmediatelyataquicktrot，turnedintotheroadtoParis，andintheforestofSenartfoundarelayofhorsesfastenedtothetreesinthesamemannerthefirsthorseshadbeen，andwithoutapostilion。？Themanontheboxchangedthehorses，andcontinuedtofollowtheroadtowardsPariswiththesamerapidity，sothattheyenteredthecityaboutthreeo'clockinthemorning。？TheycarriageproceededalongtheFaubourgSaint—Antoine，and，afterhavingcalledouttothesentinel，"Bytheking'sorder，"thedriverconductedthehorsesintothecircularinclosureoftheBastile，lookingoutuponthecourtyard，calledLaCourduGouvernement。？Therethehorsesdrewup，reekingwithsweat，attheflightofsteps，andasergeantoftheguardranforward。？"Goandwakethegovernor，"saidthecoachmaninavoiceofthunder。
　　Withtheexceptionofthisvoice，whichmighthavebeenheardattheentranceoftheFaubourgSaint—Antoine，everythingremainedascalminthecarriageasintheprison。？Tenminutesafterwards，M。deBaisemeauxappearedinhisdressing—gownonthethresholdofthedoor。？"Whatisthematternow？"heasked;"andwhomhaveyoubroughtmethere？"