Themanwiththelanternopenedthecarriage—door，andsaidtwoorthreewordstotheonewhoactedasdriver，whoimmediatelygotdownfromhisseat，tookupashortmusketwhichhekeptunderhisfeet，andplaceditsmuzzleonhisprisoner'schest。
　　"Andfireatonceifhespeaks！"addedaloudthemanwhoalightedfromthecarriage。
　　"Verygood，"repliedhiscompanion，withoutanotherremark。
　　Withthisrecommendation，thepersonwhohadaccompaniedthekinginthecarriageascendedtheflightofsteps，atthetopofwhichthegovernorwasawaitinghim。？"Monsieurd'Herblay！"saidthelatter。
　　"Hush！"
　　saidAramis。？"Letusgointoyourroom。"
　　"Goodheavens！whatbringsyouhereatthishour？"
　　"A
　　mistake，mydearMonsieurdeBaisemeaux，"Aramisreplied，quietly。？"Itappearsthatyouwerequiterighttheotherday。"
　　"Whatabout？"inquiredthegovernor。
　　"Abouttheorderofrelease，mydearfriend。"
　　"Tellmewhatyoumean，monsieur—no，monseigneur，"saidthegovernor，almostsuffocatedbysurpriseandterror。
　　"Itisaverysimpleaffair:youremember，dearM。deBaisemeaux，thatanorderofreleasewassenttoyou。"
　　"Yes，forMarchiali。"
　　"Verygood！weboththoughtthatitwasforMarchiali？"
　　"Certainly;
　　youwillrecollect，however，thatIwouldnotcreditit，butthatyoucompelledmetobelieveit。"
　　"Oh！？Baisemeaux，mygoodfellow，whatawordtomakeuseof！—stronglyrecommended，thatwasall。"
　　"Stronglyrecommended，yes;stronglyrecommendedtogivehimuptoyou;andthatyoucarriedhimoffwithyouinyourcarriage。"
　　"Well，mydearMonsieurdeBaisemeaux，itwasamistake;itwasdiscoveredattheministry，sothatInowbringyouanorderfromthekingtosetatlibertySeldon，—thatpoorSeldonfellow，youknow。"
　　"Seldon！
　　areyousurethistime？"
　　"Well，readityourself，"addedAramis，handinghimtheorder。
　　"Why，"
　　saidBaisemeaux，"thisorderistheverysamethathasalreadypassedthroughmyhands。"
　　"Indeed？"
　　"ItistheveryoneIassuredyouIsawtheotherevening。？Parbleu！？Irecognizeitbytheblotofink。"
　　"I
　　donotknowwhetheritisthat;butallIknowis，thatIbringitforyou。"
　　"Butthen，whatabouttheother？"
　　"Whatother？"
　　"Marchiali。"
　　"I
　　havegothimherewithme。"
　　"Butthatisnotenoughforme。？Irequireanewordertotakehimbackagain。"
　　"Don'ttalksuchnonsense，mydearBaisemeaux;youtalklikeachild！？WhereistheorderyoureceivedrespectingMarchiali？"
　　Baisemeauxrantohisironchestandtookitout。？Aramisseizedholdofit，coollytoreitinfourpieces，heldthemtothelamp，andburntthem。？"Goodheavens！whatareyoudoing？"exclaimedBaisemeaux，inanextremityofterror。
　　"Lookatyourpositionquietly，mygoodgovernor，"saidAramis，withimperturbableself—possession，"andyouwillseehowverysimplethewholeaffairis。？YounolongerpossessanyorderjustifyingMarchiali'srelease。"
　　"I
　　amalostman！"
　　"Farfromit，mygoodfellow，sinceIhavebroughtMarchialibacktoyou，andallaccordinglyisjustthesameasifhehadneverleft。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidthegovernor，completelyovercomebyterror。
　　"Plainenough，yousee;andyouwillgoandshuthimupimmediately。"
　　"I
　　shouldthinkso，indeed。"
　　"AndyouwillhandoverthisSeldontome，whoseliberationisauthorizedbythisorder。？Doyouunderstand？"
　　"I
　　—I—"
　　"Youdounderstand，Isee，"saidAramis。？"Verygood。"？Baisemeauxclappedhishandstogether。
　　"Butwhy，atallevents，afterhavingtakenMarchialiawayfromme，doyoubringhimbackagain？"criedtheunhappygovernor，inaparoxysmofterror，andcompletelydumbfounded。
　　"Forafriendsuchasyouare，"saidAramis—"forsodevotedaservant，I
　　havenosecrets;"andheputhismouthclosetoBaisemeaux'sear，ashesaid，inalowtoneofvoice，"youknowtheresemblancebetweenthatunfortunatefellow，and—"
　　"Andtheking？—yes！"
　　"Verygood;thefirstusethatMarchialimadeofhislibertywastopersist—Canyouguesswhat？"
　　"HowisitlikelyIshouldguess？"
　　"TopersistinsayingthathewaskingofFrance;todresshimselfupinclotheslikethoseoftheking;andthenpretendtoassumethathewasthekinghimself。"
　　"Graciousheavens！"
　　"ThatisthereasonwhyIhavebroughthimbackagain，mydearfriend。？Heismadandletseveryoneseehowmadheis。"
　　"Whatistobedone，then？"
　　"Thatisverysimple;letnooneholdanycommunicationwithhim。？Youunderstandthatwhenhispeculiarstyleofmadnesscametotheking'sears，theking，whohadpitiedhisterribleaffliction，andsawthatallhiskindnesshadbeenrepaidbyblackingratitude，becameperfectlyfurious;sothat，now—andrememberthisverydistinctly，dearMonsieurdeBaisemeaux，foritconcernsyoumostclosely—sothatthereisnow，Irepeat，sentenceofdeathpronouncedagainstallthosewhomayallowhimtocommunicatewithanyoneelsebutmeorthekinghimself。？Youunderstand，Baisemeaux，sentenceofdeath！"
　　"YouneednotaskmewhetherIunderstand。"
　　"Andnow，letusgodown，andconductthispoordevilbacktohisdungeonagain，unlessyoupreferheshouldcomeuphere。"
　　"Whatwouldbethegoodofthat？"
　　"Itwouldbebetter，perhaps，toenterhisnameintheprison—bookatonce！"
　　"Ofcourse，certainly;notadoubtofit。"
　　"Inthatcase，havehimup。"
　　Baisemeauxorderedthedrumstobebeatenandthebelltoberung，asawarningtoeveryonetoretire，inordertoavoidmeetingaprisoner，aboutwhomitwasdesiredtoobserveacertainmystery。？Then，whenthepassageswerefree，hewenttotaketheprisonerfromthecarriage，atwhosebreastPorthos，faithfultothedirectionswhichhadbeengivenhim，stillkepthismusketleveled。？"Ah！isthatyou，miserablewretch？"criedthegovernor，assoonasheperceivedtheking。？"Verygood，verygood。"？Andimmediately，makingthekinggetoutofthecarriage，heledhim，stillaccompaniedbyPorthos，whohadnottakenoffhismask，andAramis，whoagainresumedhis，upthestairs，tothesecondBertaudi鑢e，andopenedthedooroftheroominwhichPhilippeforsixlongyearshadbemoanedhisexistence。？Thekingenteredthecellwithoutpronouncingasingleword:hefalteredinaslimpandhaggardasarain—strucklily。？Baisemeauxshutthedooruponhim，turnedthekeytwiceinthelock，andthenreturnedtoAramis。？"Itisquitetrue，"
　　hesaid，inalowtone，"thathebearsastrikingresemblancetotheking;
　　butlesssothanyousaid。"
　　"Sothat，"saidAramis，"youwouldnothavebeendeceivedbythesubstitutionoftheonefortheother？"
　　"Whataquestion！"
　　"Youareamostvaluablefellow，Baisemeaux，"saidAramis;"andnow，setSeldonfree。"
　　"Oh，yes。？Iwasgoingtoforgetthat。？Iwillgoandgiveordersatonce。"
　　"Bah！
　　to—morrowwillbetimeenough。"
　　"To—morrow！
　　—oh，no。？Thisveryminute。"
　　"Well;
　　goofftoyouraffairs，Iwillgoawaytomine。？Butitisquiteunderstood，isitnot？"
　　"What'isquiteunderstood'？"
　　"Thatnooneistoentertheprisoner'scell，expectwithanorderfromtheking;anorderwhichIwillmyselfbring。"
　　"Quiteso。？Adieu，monseigneur。"
　　Aramisreturnedtohiscompanion。？"Now，Porthos，mygoodfellow，backagaintoVaux，andasfastaspossible。"
　　"A
　　manislightandeasyenough，whenhehasfaithfullyservedhisking;and，inservinghim，savedhiscountry，"saidPorthos。？"Thehorseswillbeaslightasifourtissueswereconstructedofthewindofheaven。？Soletusbeoff。"？Andthecarriage，lightenedofaprisoner，whomightwellbe—asheinfactwas—veryheavyinthesightofAramis，passedacrossthedrawbridgeoftheBastile，whichwasraisedagainimmediatelybehindit。
　　ChapterXVIII:
　　A
　　NightattheBastile。
　　Pain，anguish，andsufferinginhumanlifearealwaysinproportiontothestrengthwithwhichamanisendowed。？WewillnotpretendtosaythatHeavenalwaysapportionstoaman'scapabilityofendurancetheanguishwithwhichheafflictshim;forthat，indeed，wouldnotbetrue，sinceHeavenpermitstheexistenceofdeath，whichis，sometimes，theonlyrefugeopentothosewhoaretoocloselypressed—toobitterlyafflicted，asfarasthebodyisconcerned。？Sufferingisinproportiontothestrengthwhichhasbeenaccorded;inotherwords，theweaksuffermore，wherethetrialisthesame，thanthestrong。？Andwhataretheelementaryprinciples，wemayask，thatcomposehumanstrength？？Isitnot—morethananythingelse—exercise，habit，experience？？Weshallnoteventakethetroubletodemonstratethis，foritisanaxiominmorals，asinphysics。？Whentheyoungking，stupefiedandcrushedineverysenseandfeeling，foundhimselfledtoacellintheBastile，hefancieddeathitselfisbutasleep;thatit，too，hasitsdreamsaswell;thatthebedhadbrokenthroughtheflooringofhisroomatVaux;thatdeathhadresultedfromtheoccurrence;andthat，stillcarryingouthisdream，theking，LouisXIV。，nownolongerliving，wasdreamingoneofthosehorrors，impossibletorealizeinlife，whichistermeddethronement，imprisonment，andinsulttowardsasovereignwhoformerlywieldedunlimitedpower。？Tobepresentat—anactualwitness，too—ofthisbitternessofdeath;tofloat，indecisively，inanincomprehensiblemystery，betweenresemblanceandreality;toheareverything，toseeeverything，withoutinterferinginasingledetailofagonizingsuffering，was—sothekingthoughtwithinhimself—atorturefarmoreterrible，sinceitmightlastforever。？"Isthiswhatistermedeternity—hell？"hemurmured，atthemomentthedoorwascloseduponhim，whichwerememberBaisemeauxhadshutwithhisownhands。？Hedidnotevenlookroundhim;andintheroom，leaningwithhisbackagainstthewall，heallowedhimselftobecarriedawaybytheterriblesuppositionthathewasalreadydead，asheclosedhiseyes，inordertoavoidlookinguponsomethingevenworsestill。？"HowcanIhavedied？"hesaidtohimself，sickwithterror。？"Thebedmighthavebeenletdownbysomeartificialmeans？？Butno！？Idonotremembertohavefeltabruise，noranyshockeither。？Wouldtheynotratherhavepoisonedmeatmymeals，orwiththefumesofwax，astheydidmyancestress，Jeanned'Albret？"？Suddenly，thechillofthedungeonsseemedtofalllikeawetcloakuponLouis'sshoulders。？"Ihaveseen，"hesaid，"myfatherlyingdeaduponhisfuneralcouch，inhisregalrobes。？Thatpaleface，socalmandworn;thosehands，oncesoskillful，lyingnervelessbyhisside;thoselimbsstiffenedbytheicygraspofdeath;nothingtherebetokenedasleepthatwasdisturbedbydreams。？Andyet，hownumerouswerethedreamswhichHeavenmighthavesentthatroyalcorpse—himwhomsomanyothershadpreceded，hurriedawaybyhimintoeternaldeath！？No，thatkingwasstilltheking:hewasenthronedstilluponthatfuneralcouch，asuponavelvetarmchair;hehadnotabdicatedonetitleofhismajesty。？God，whohadnotpunishedhim，cannot，willnotpunishme，whohavedonenothing。"？Astrangesoundattractedtheyoungman'sattention。？Helookedroundhim，andsawonthemantel—shelf，justbelowanenormouscrucifix，coarselypaintedinfrescoonthewall，aratofenormoussizeengagedinnibblingapieceofdrybread，butfixingallthetime，anintelligentandinquiringlookuponthenewoccupantofthecell。？Thekingcouldnotresistasuddenimpulseoffearanddisgust:hemovedbacktowardsthedoor，utteringaloudcry;andasifhebutneededthiscry，whichescapedfromhisbreastalmostunconsciously，torecognizehimself，Louisknewthathewasaliveandinfullpossessionofhisnaturalsenses。？"Aprisoner！"hecried。？"I—I，aprisoner！"？Helookedroundhimforabelltosummonsomeonetohim。？"TherearenobellsintheBastile，"hesaid，"anditisintheBastileIamimprisoned。？InwhatwaycanIhavebeenmadeaprisoner？？ItmusthavebeenowingtoaconspiracyofM。Fouquet。？IhavebeendrawntoVaux，astoasnare。？M。Fouquetcannotbeactingaloneinthisaffair。？Hisagent—ThatvoicethatIbutjustnowheardwasM。d'Herblay's;Irecognizedit。？Colbertwasright，then。？ButwhatisFouquet'sobject？？Toreigninmyplaceandstead？—
　　Impossible。？Yetwhoknows！"
　　thoughttheking，relapsingintogloomagain。？"Perhapsmybrother，theDucd'Orl閍ns，isdoingthatwhichmyunclewishedtododuringthewholeofhislifeagainstmyfather。？Butthequeen？—Mymother，too？？AndLaValli鑢e？？Oh！？LaValli鑢e，shewillhavebeenabandonedtoMadame。？Dear，deargirl！？Yes，itis—itmustbeso。？Theyhaveshutherupastheyhaveme。？Weareseparatedforever！"？Andatthisideaofseparationthepoorloverburstintoafloodoftearsandsobsandgroans。
　　"Thereisagovernorinthisplace，"thekingcontinued，inafuryofpassion;
　　"Iwillspeaktohim，Iwillsummonhimtome。"
　　Hecalled—novoicerepliedtohis。？Heseizedholdofhischair，andhurleditagainstthemassiveoakendoor。？Thewoodresoundedagainstthedoor，andawakenedmanyamournfulechointheprofounddepthsofthestaircase;butfromahumancreature，none。
　　ThiswasafreshproofforthekingoftheslightregardinwhichhewasheldattheBastile。？Therefore，whenhisfirstfitofangerhadpassedaway，havingremarkedabarredwindowthroughwhichtherepassedastreamoflight，lozenge—shaped，whichmustbe，heknew，thebrightorbofapproachingday，Louisbegantocallout，atfirstgentlyenough，thenlouderandlouderstill;butnoonereplied。？Twentyotherattemptswhichhemade，oneafteranother，obtainednootherorbettersuccess。？Hisbloodbegantoboilwithinhim，andmounttohishead。？Hisnaturewassuch，that，accustomedtocommand，hetrembledattheideaofdisobedience。？Theprisonerbrokethechair，whichwastooheavyforhimtolift，andmadeuseofitasabatteringramtostrikeagainstthedoor。？Hestrucksoloudly，andsorepeatedly，thattheperspirationsoonbegantopourdownhisface。？Thesoundbecametremendousandcontinuous;certainstifled，smotheredcriesrepliedindifferentdirections。？Thissoundproducedastrangeeffectupontheking。？Hepausedtolisten;itwasthevoiceoftheprisoners，formerlyhisvictims，nowhiscompanions。？Thevoicesascendedlikevaporsthroughthethickceilingsandthemassivewalls，androseinaccusationsagainsttheauthorofthisnoise，asdoubtlesstheirsighsandtearsaccused，inwhisperedtones，theauthoroftheircaptivity。？Afterhavingdeprivedsomanypeopleoftheirliberty，thekingcameamongthemtorobthemoftheirrest。？Thisideaalmostdrovehimmad;itredoubledhisstrength，orratherhiswell，bentuponobtainingsomeinformation，oraconclusiontotheaffair。？Withaportionofthebrokenchairherecommencedthenoise。？Attheendofanhour，Louisheardsomethinginthecorridor，behindthedoorofhiscell，andaviolentblow，whichwasreturneduponthedooritself，madehimceasehisown。
　　"Areyoumad？"saidarude，brutalvoice。？"Whatisthematterwithyouthismorning？"
　　"Thismorning！"thoughttheking;buthesaidaloud，politely，"Monsieur，areyouthegovernoroftheBastile？"
　　"Mygoodfellow，yourheadisoutofsorts，"repliedthevoice;"butthatisnoreasonwhyyoushouldmakesuchaterribledisturbance。？Bequiet;mordioux！"
　　"Areyouthegovernor？"thekinginquiredagain。
　　Heheardadooronthecorridorclose;thejailerhadjustleft，notcondescendingtoreplyasingleword。？Whenthekinghadassuredhimselfofhisdeparture，hisfuryknewnolongeranybounds。？Asagileasatiger，heleapedfromthetabletothewindow，andstrucktheironbarswithallhismight。？Hebrokeapaneofglass，thepiecesofwhichfellclankingintothecourtyardbelow。？Heshoutedwithincreasinghoarseness，"Thegovernor，thegovernor！"？Thisexcesslastedfullyanhour，duringwhichtimehewasinaburningfever。？Withhishairindisorderandmattedonhisforehead，hisdresstornandcoveredwithdustandplaster，hislineninshreds，thekingneverresteduntilhisstrengthwasutterlyexhausted，anditwasnotuntilthenthatheclearlyunderstoodthepitilessthicknessofthewalls，theimpenetrablenatureofthecement，invincibletoeveryinfluencebutthatoftime，andthathepossessednootherweaponbutdespair。？Heleanedhisforeheadagainstthedoor，andletthefeverishthrobbingsofhisheartcalmbydegrees;ithadseemedasifonesingleadditionalpulsationwouldhavemadeitburst。
　　"A
　　momentwillcomewhenthefoodwhichisgiventotheprisonerswillbebroughttome。？Ishallthenseesomeone，I
　　shallspeaktohim，andgetananswer。"
　　AndthekingtriedtorememberatwhathourthefirstrepastoftheprisonerswasservedattheBastile;hewasignorantevenofthisdetail。？Thefeelingofremorseatthisremembrancesmotehimlikethethrustofadagger，thatheshouldhavelivedforfiveandtwentyyearsaking，andintheenjoymentofeveryhappiness，withouthavingbestowedamoment'sthoughtonthemiseryofthosewhohadbeenunjustlydeprivedoftheirliberty。？Thekingblushedforveryshame。？HefeltthatHeaven，inpermittingthisfearfulhumiliation，didnomorethanrendertothemanthesametortureashadbeeninflictedbythatmanuponsomanyothers。？Nothingcouldbemoreefficaciousforreawakeninghismindtoreligiousinfluencesthantheprostrationofhisheartandmindandsoulbeneaththefeelingofsuchacutewretchedness。？ButLouisdarednotevenkneelinprayertoGodtoentreathimtoterminatehisbittertrial。
　　"Heavenisright，"hesaid;"Heavenactswisely。？ItwouldbecowardlytopraytoHeavenforthatwhichIhavesooftenrefusedmyownfellow—creatures。"
　　Hehadreachedthisstageofhisreflections，thatis，ofhisagonyofmind，whenasimilarnoisewasagainheardbehindhisdoor，followedthistimebythesoundofthekeyinthelock，andoftheboltsbeingwithdrawnfromtheirstaples。？Thekingboundedforwardtobenearertothepersonwhowasabouttoenter，but，suddenlyreflectingthatitwasamovementunworthyofasovereign，hepaused，assumedanobleandcalmexpression，whichforhimwaseasyenough，andwaitedwithhisbackturnedtowardsthewindow，inorder，tosomeextent，toconcealhisagitationfromtheeyesofthepersonwhowasabouttoenter。？Itwasonlyajailerwithabasketofprovisions。？Thekinglookedatthemanwithrestlessanxiety，andwaiteduntilhespoke。
　　"Ah！"
　　saidthelatter，"youhavebrokenyourchair。？Isaidyouhaddoneso！？Why，youhavegonequitemad。"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidtheking，"becarefulwhatyousay;itwillbeaveryseriousaffairforyou。"
　　Thejailerplacedthebasketonthetable，andlookedathisprisonersteadily。？"Whatdoyousay？"
　　hesaid。
　　"Desirethegovernortocometome，"addedtheking，inaccentsfullofcalmanddignity。
　　"Come，myboy，"saidtheturnkey，"youhavealwaysbeenveryquietandreasonable，butyouaregettingvicious，itseems，andIwishyoutoknowitintime。？Youhavebrokenyourchair，andmadeagreatdisturbance;thatisanoffensepunishablebyimprisonmentinoneofthelowerdungeons。？Promisemenottobeginoveragain，andIwillnotsayawordaboutittothegovernor。"
　　"I
　　wishtoseethegovernor，"repliedtheking，stillgoverninghispassions。
　　"Hewillsendyouofftooneofthedungeons，Itellyou;sotakecare。"
　　"I
　　insistuponit，doyouhear？"
　　"Ah！
　　ah！youreyesarebecomingwildagain。？Verygood！？Ishalltakeawayyourknife。"
　　Andthejailerdidwhathesaid，quittedtheprisoner，andclosedthedoor，leavingthekingmoreastounded，morewretched，moreisolatedthanever。？Itwasuseless，thoughhetriedit，tomakethesamenoiseagainonhisdoor，andequallyuselessthathethrewtheplatesanddishesoutofthewindow;notasinglesoundwasheardinrecognition。？Twohoursafterwardshecouldnotberecognizedasaking，agentleman，aman，ahumanbeing;hemightratherbecalledamadman，tearingthedoorwithhisnails，tryingtotearuptheflooringofhiscell，andutteringsuchwildandfearfulcriesthattheoldBastileseemedtotrembletoitsveryfoundationsforhavingrevoltedagainstitsmaster。？Asforthegovernor，thejailerdidnoteventhinkofdisturbinghim;theturnkeysandthesentinelshadreportedtheoccurrencetohim，butwhatwasthegoodofit？？Werenotthesemadmencommonenoughinsuchaprison？andwerenotthewallsstillstronger？？M。deBaisemeaux，thoroughlyimpressedwithwhatAramishadtoldhim，andinperfectconformitywiththeking'sorder，hopedonlythatonethingmighthappen;namely，thatthemadmanMarchialimightbemadenoughtohanghimselftothecanopyofhisbed，ortooneofthebarsofthewindow。？Infact，theprisonerwasanythingbutaprofitableinvestmentforM。Baisemeaux，andbecamemoreannoyingthanagreeabletohim。？ThesecomplicationsofSeldonandMarchiali—thecomplicationsfirstofsettingatlibertyandthenimprisoningagain，thecomplicationsarisingfromthestronglikenessinquestion—hadatlastfoundaveryproperd閚ouement。？BaisemeauxeventhoughthehadremarkedthatD'Herblayhimselfwasnotaltogetherdissatisfiedwiththeresult。
　　"Andthen，really，"saidBaisemeauxtohisnextincommand，"anordinaryprisonerisalreadyunhappyenoughinbeingaprisoner;hesuffersquiteenough，indeed，toinduceonetohope，charitablyenough，thathisdeathmaynotbefardistant。？Withstillgreaterreason，accordingly，whentheprisonerhasgonemad，andmightbiteandmakeaterribledisturbanceintheBastile;why，insuchacase，itisnotsimplyanactofmerecharitytowishhimdead;itwouldbealmostagoodandevencommendableaction，quietlytohavehimputoutofhismisery。"
　　Andthegood—naturedgovernorthereuponsatdowntohislatebreakfast。
　　ChapterXIX:
　　TheShadowofM。Fouquet。
　　D'Artagnan，stillconfusedandoppressedbytheconversationhehadjusthadwiththeking，couldnotresistaskinghimselfifhewerereallyinpossessionofhissenses，ifhewerereallyandtrulyatVaux;ifhe，D'Artagnan，werereallythecaptainofthemusketeers，andM。Fouquettheownerofthech鈚eauinwhichLouisXIV。
　　wasatthatmomentpartakingofhishospitality。？Thesereflectionswerenotthoseofadrunkenman，althougheverythingwasinprodigalprofusionatVaux，andthesurintendant'swineshadmetwithadistinguishedreceptionatthef阾e。？TheGascon，however，wasamanofcalmself—possession;andnosoonerdidhetouchhisbrightsteelblade，thanheknewhowtoadoptmorallythecold，keenweaponashisguideofaction。
　　"Well，"
　　hesaid，ashequittedtheroyalapartment，"Iseemnowtobemixeduphistoricallywiththedestiniesofthekingandoftheminister;itwillbewritten，thatM。d'Artagnan，ayoungersonofaGasconfamily，placedhishandontheshoulderofM。NicolasFouquet，thesurintendantofthefinancesofFrance。？Mydescendants，ifIhaveany，willflatterthemselveswiththedistinctionwhichthisarrestwillconfer，justasthemembersoftheDeLuynesfamilyhavedonewithregardtotheestatesofthepoorMar閏hald'Ancre。？Butthethingis，howbesttoexecutetheking'sdirectionsinapropermanner。？AnymanwouldknowhowtosaytoM。Fouquet，'Yoursword，monsieur。'？ButitisnoteveryonewhowouldbeabletotakecareofM。Fouquetwithoutothersknowinganythingaboutit。？HowamItomanage，then，sothatM。lesurintendantpassfromtheheightoffavortothedirestdisgrace;thatVauxbeturnedintoadungeonforhim;thatafterhavingbeensteepedtohislips，asitwere，inalltheperfumesandincenseofAhasuerus，heistransferredtothegallowsofHaman;inotherwords，ofEnguerranddeMarigny？"？Andatthisreflection，D'Artagnan'sbrowbecamecloudedwithperplexity。？Themusketeerhadcertainscruplesonthematter，itmustbeadmitted。？Todeliveruptodeath（fornotadoubtexistedthatLouishatedFouquetmortally）themanwhohadjustshownhimselfsodelightfulandcharmingahostineveryway，wasarealinsulttoone'sconscience。？"Italmostseems，"saidD'Artagnantohimself，"thatifIamnotapoor，mean，miserablefellow，IshouldletM。Fouquetknowtheopinionthekinghasabouthim。？Yet，ifIbetraymymaster'ssecret，Ishallbeafalse—hearted，treacherousknave，atraitor，too，acrimeprovidedforandpunishablebymilitarylaws—somuchso，indeed，thattwentytimes，informerdayswhenwarswererife，Ihaveseenmanyamiserablefellowstrunguptoatreefordoing，inbutasmalldegree，whatmyscruplescounselmetoundertakeuponagreatscalenow。？No，Ithinkthatamanoftruereadinessofwitoughttogetoutofthisdifficultywithmoreskillthanthat。？Andnow，letusadmitthatIdopossessalittlereadinessofinvention;
　　itisnotatallcertain，though，for，afterhavingforfortyyearsabsorbedsolargeaquantity，Ishallbeluckyifthereweretobeapistole's—worthleft。"？D'Artagnanburiedhisheadinhishands，toreathismustacheinsheervexation，andadded，"WhatcanbethereasonofM。Fouquet'sdisgrace？？Thereseemtobethreegoodones:thefirst，becauseM。Colbertdoesn'tlikehim;thesecond，becausehewishedtofallinlovewithMademoiselledelaValli鑢e;andlastly，becausethekinglikesM。ColbertandlovesMademoiselledelaValli鑢e。？Oh！heislost！？ButshallIputmyfootonhisneck，I，ofallmen，whenheisfallingapreytotheintriguesofapackofwomenandclerks？？Forshame！？Ifhebedangerous，Iwilllayhimlowenough;if，however，hebeonlypersecuted，Iwilllookon。？Ihavecometosuchadecisivedetermination，thatneitherkingnorlivingmanshallchangemymind。？IfAthoswerehere，hewoulddoasIhavedone。？Therefore，insteadofgoing，incoldblood，uptoM。Fouquet，andarrestinghimoff—handandshuttinghimupaltogether，Iwilltryandconductmyselflikeamanwhounderstandswhatgoodmannersare。？Peoplewilltalkaboutit，ofcourse;buttheyshalltalkwellofit，Iamdetermined。"？AndD'Artagnan，drawingbyagesturepeculiartohimselfhisshoulder—beltoverhisshoulder，wentstraightofftoM。Fouquet，who，afterhehadtakenleaveofhisguests，waspreparingtoretireforthenightandtosleeptranquillyafterthetriumphsoftheday。？Theairwasstillperfumed，orinfected，whicheverwayitmaybeconsidered，withtheodorsofthetorchesandthefireworks。？Thewax—lightsweredyingawayintheirsockets，theflowersfellunfastenedfromthegarlands，thegroupsofdancersandcourtierswereseparatinginthesalons。？Surroundedbyhisfriends，whocomplimentedhimandreceivedhisflatteringremarksinreturn，thesurintendanthalf—closedhisweariedeyes。？Helongedforrestandquiet;hesankuponthebedoflaurelswhichhadbeenheapedupforhimforsomanydayspast;itmightalmosthavebeensaidthatheseemedbowedbeneaththeweightofthenewdebtswhichhehadincurredforthepurposeofgivingthegreatestpossiblehonortothisf阾e。？Fouquethadjustretiredtohisroom，stillsmiling，butmorethanhalf—asleep。？Hecouldlistentonothingmore，hecouldhardlykeephiseyesopen;hisbedseemedtopossessafascinatingandirresistibleattractionforhim。？ThegodMorpheus，thepresidingdeityofthedomepaintedbyLebrun，hadextendedhisinfluenceovertheadjoiningrooms，andshowereddownhismostsleep—inducingpoppiesuponthemasterofthehouse。？Fouquet，almostentirelyalone，wasbeingassistedbyhisvaletdechambretoundress，whenM。d'Artagnanappearedattheentranceoftheroom。？D'Artagnanhadneverbeenabletosucceedinmakinghimselfcommonatthecourt;andnotwithstandinghewasseeneverywhereandonalloccasions，heneverfailedtoproduceaneffectwhereverandwheneverhemadehisappearance。？Suchisthehappyprivilegeofcertainnatures，whichinthatrespectresembleeitherthunderorlightning;everyonerecognizesthem;buttheirappearanceneverfailstoarousesurpriseandastonishment，andwhenevertheyoccur，theimpressionisalwaysleftthatthelastwasthemostconspicuousormostimportant。