"What！？M。d'Artagnan？"saidFouquet，whohadalreadytakenhisrightarmoutofthesleeveofhisdoublet。
　　"Atyourservice，"repliedthemusketeer。
　　"Comein，mydearM。d'Artagnan。"
　　"Thankyou。"
　　"Haveyoucometocriticisethef阾e？？Youareingeniousenoughinyourcriticisms，Iknow。"
　　"Bynomeans。"
　　"Arenotyourmenlookedafterproperly？"
　　"Ineveryway。"
　　"Youarenotcomfortablylodged，perhaps？"
　　"Nothingcouldbebetter。"
　　"Inthatcase，Ihavetothankyouforbeingsoamiablydisposed，andImustnotfailtoexpressmyobligationstoyouforallyourflatteringkindness。"
　　Thesewordswereasmuchastosay，"MydearD'Artagnan，praygotobed，sinceyouhaveabedtoliedownon，andletmedothesame。"
　　D'Artagnandidnotseemtounderstandit。
　　"Areyougoingtobedalready？"hesaidtothesuperintendent。
　　"Yes;
　　haveyouanythingtosaytome？"
　　"Nothing，monsieur，nothingatall。？Yousleepinthisroom，then？"
　　"Yes;
　　asyousee。"
　　"Youhavegivenamostcharmingf阾etotheking。"
　　"Doyouthinkso？"
　　"Oh！
　　beautiful！"
　　"Isthekingpleased？"
　　"Enchanted。"
　　"Didhedesireyoutosayasmuchtome？"
　　"Hewouldnotchoosesounworthyamessenger，monseigneur。"
　　"Youdonotdoyourselfjustice，Monsieurd'Artagnan。"
　　"Isthatyourbed，there？"
　　"Yes;
　　butwhydoyouask？？Areyounotsatisfiedwithyourown？"
　　"MyIspeakfranklytoyou？"
　　"Mostassuredly。"
　　"Well，then，Iamnot。"
　　Fouquetstarted;andthenreplied，"Willyoutakemyroom，Monsieurd'Artagnan？"
　　"What！
　　depriveyouofit，monseigneur？never！"
　　"WhatamItodo，then？"
　　"Allowmetoshareyourswithyou。"
　　Fouquetlookedatthemusketeerfixedly。？"Ah！ah！"hesaid，"youhavejustlefttheking。"
　　"I
　　have，monseigneur。"
　　"Andthekingwishesyoutopassthenightinmyroom？"
　　"Monseigneur—"
　　"Verywell，Monsieurd'Artagnan，verywell。？Youarethemasterhere。"
　　"I
　　assureyou，monseigneur，thatIdonotwishtoabuse—"
　　Fouquetturnedtohisvalet，andsaid，"Leaveus。"？Whenthemanhadleft，hesaidtoD'Artagnan，"Youhavesomethingtosaytome？"
　　"I？"
　　"A
　　manofyoursuperiorintelligencecannothavecometotalkwithamanlikemyself，atsuchanhourasthepresent，withoutgravemotives。"
　　"Donotinterrogateme。"
　　"Onthecontrary。？Whatdoyouwantwithme？"
　　"Nothingmorethanthepleasureofyoursociety。"
　　"Comeintothegarden，then，"saidthesuperintendentsuddenly，"orintothepark。"
　　"No，"
　　repliedthemusketeer，hastily，"no。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Thefreshair—"
　　"Come，admitatoncethatyouarrestme，"saidthesuperintendenttothecaptain。
　　"Never！"
　　saidthelatter。
　　"Youintendtolookafterme，then？"
　　"Yes，monseigneur，Ido，uponmyhonor。"
　　"Uponyourhonor—ah！thatisquiteanotherthing！？SoIamtobearrestedinmyownhouse。"
　　"Donotsaysuchathing。"
　　"Onthecontrary，Iwillproclaimitaloud。"
　　"Ifyoudoso，Ishallbecompelledtorequestyoutobesilent。"
　　"Verygood！？Violencetowardsme，andinmyownhouse，too。"
　　"Wedonotseemtounderstandoneanotheratall。？Stayamoment;thereisachess—boardthere;wewillhaveagame，ifyouhavenoobjections。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，Iamindisgrace，then？"
　　"Notatall;but—"
　　"I
　　amprohibited，Isuppose，fromwithdrawingfromyoursight。"
　　"I
　　donotunderstandawordyouaresaying，monseigneur;andifyouwishmetowithdraw，tellmeso。"
　　"MydearMonsieurd'Artagnan，yourmodeofactionisenoughtodrivememad;Iwasalmostsinkingforwantofsleep，butyouhavecompletelyawakenedme。"
　　"I
　　shallneverforgivemyself，Iamsure;andifyouwishtoreconcilemewithmyself，why，gotosleepinyourbedinmypresence;andIshallbedelighted。"
　　"I
　　amundersurveillance，Isee。"
　　"I
　　willleavetheroomifyousayanysuchthing。"
　　"Youarebeyondmycomprehension。"
　　"Goodnight，monseigneur，"saidD'Artagnan，ashepretendedtowithdraw。
　　Fouquetranafterhim。？"Iwillnotliedown，"hesaid。？"Seriously，andsinceyourefusetotreatmeasaman，andsinceyoufinessewithme，I
　　willtryandsetyouatbay，asahunterdoesawildboar。"
　　"Bah！"
　　criedD'Artagnan，pretendingtosmile。
　　"I
　　shallordermyhorses，andsetoffforParis，"saidFouquet，soundingthecaptainofthemusketeers。
　　"Ifthatbethecase，monseigneur，itisverydifficult。"
　　"Youwillarrestme，then？"
　　"No，butIshallgoalongwithyou。"
　　"Thatisquitesufficient，Monsieurd'Artagnan，"returnedFouquet，coldly。？"Itwasnotfornothingyouacquiredyourreputationasamanofintelligenceandresource;butwithmeallthisisquitesuperfluous。？Letuscometothepoint。？Domeaservice。？Whydoyouarrestme？？WhathaveIdone？"
　　"Oh！？Iknownothingaboutwhatyoumayhavedone;
　　butIdonotarrestyou—thisevening，atleast！"
　　"Thisevening！"saidFouquet，turningpale，"butto—morrow？"
　　"Itisnotto—morrowjustyet，monseigneur。？Whocaneveranswerforthemorrow？"
　　"Quick，quick，captain！letmespeaktoM。d'Herblay。"
　　"Alas！
　　thatisquiteimpossible，monseigneur。？Ihavestrictorderstoseethatyouholdnocommunicationwithanyone。"
　　"WithM。d'Herblay，captain—withyourfriend！"
　　"Monseigneur，isM。d'Herblaytheonlypersonwithwhomyououghttobepreventedholdinganycommunication？"
　　Fouquetcolored，andthenassuminganairofresignation，hesaid:"Youareright，monsieur;youhavetaughtmealessonIoughtnottohaveevoked。？Afallenmancannotasserthisrighttoanything，evenfromthosewhosefortuneshemayhavemade;forastillstrongerreason，hecannotclaimanythingfromthosetowhomhemayneverhavehadthehappinessofdoingaservice。"
　　"Monseigneur！"
　　"Itisperfectlytrue，Monsieurd'Artagnan;youhavealwaysactedinthemostadmirablemannertowardsme—insuchamanner，indeed，asmostbecomesthemanwhoisdestinedtoarrestme。？You，atleast，haveneveraskedmeanything。"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　repliedtheGascon，touchedbyhiseloquentandnobletoneofgrief，"willyou—Iaskitasafavor—pledgemeyourwordasamanofhonorthatyouwillnotleavethisroom？"
　　"Whatistheuseofit，dearMonsieurd'Artagnan，sinceyoukeepwatchandwardoverme？？DoyousupposeIshouldcontendagainstthemostvaliantswordinthekingdom？"
　　"Itisnotthat，atall，monseigneur;butthatIamgoingtolookforM。d'Herblay，and，consequently，toleaveyoualone。"
　　Fouquetutteredacryofdelightandsurprise。
　　"TolookforM。d'Herblay！toleavemealone！"heexclaimed，claspinghishandstogether。
　　"WhichisM。d'Herblay'sroom？？Theblueroomisitnot？"
　　"Yes，myfriend，yes。"
　　"Yourfriend！thankyouforthatword，monseigneur;youconferituponmeto—day，atleast，ifyouhaveneverdonesobefore。"
　　"Ah！
　　youhavesavedme。"
　　"Itwilltakeagoodtenminutestogofromhencetotheblueroom，andtoreturn？"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"Nearlyso。"
　　"AndthentowakeAramis，whosleepsverysoundly，whenheisasleep，Iputthatdownatanotherfiveminutes;makingatotaloffifteenminutes'absence。？Andnow，monseigneur，givemeyourwordthatyouwillnotinanywayattempttomakeyourescape，andthatwhenIreturnIshallfindyouhereagain。"
　　"I
　　giveit，monsieur，"repliedFouquet，withanexpressionofthewarmestanddeepestgratitude。
　　D'Artagnandisappeared。？Fouquetlookedathimashequittedtheroom，waitedwithafeverishimpatienceuntilthedoorwasclosedbehindhim，andassoonasitwasshut，flewtohiskeys，openedtwoorthreesecretdoorsconcealedinvariousarticlesoffurnitureintheroom，lookedvainlyforcertainpapers，whichdoubtlesshehadleftatSaint—Mand？
　　andwhichheseemedtoregretnothavingfoundinthem;thenhurriedlyseizingholdofletters，contracts，papers，writings，heheapedthemupintoapile，whichheburntintheextremesthasteuponthemarblehearthofthefireplace，noteventakingtimetodrawfromtheinteriorofitthevasesandpotsofflowerswithwhichitwasfilled。？Assoonashehadfinished，likeamanwhohasjustescapedanimminentdanger，andwhosestrengthabandonshimassoonasthedangerispast，hesankdown，completelyovercome，onacouch。？WhenD'Artagnanreturned，hefoundFouquetinthesameposition;theworthymusketeerhadnottheslightestdoubtthatFouquet，havinggivenhisword，wouldnoteventhinkoffailingtokeepit，buthehadthoughtitmostlikelythatFouquetwouldturnhis（D'Artagnan's）absencetothebestadvantageingettingridofallthepapers，memorandums，andcontracts，whichmightpossiblyrenderhisposition，whichwasevennowseriousenough，moredangerousthanever。？Andso，liftinguphisheadlikeadogwhohasregainedthescent，heperceivedanodorresemblingsmokehehadreliedonfindingintheatmosphere，andhavingfoundit，madeamovementofhisheadintokenofsatisfaction。？AsD'Artagnanentered，Fouquet，onhisside，raisedhishead，andnotoneofD'Artagnan'smovementsescapedhim。？Andthenthelooksofthetwomenmet，andtheybothsawthattheyhadunderstoodeachotherwithoutexchangingasyllable。
　　"Well！"
　　askedFouquet，thefirsttospeak，"andM。d'Herblay？"
　　"Uponmyword，monseigneur，"repliedD'Artagnan，"M。d'Herblaymustbedesperatelyfondofwalkingoutatnight，andcomposingversesbymoonlightintheparkofVaux，withsomeofyourpoets，inallprobability，forheisnotinhisownroom。"
　　"What！
　　notinhisownroom？"criedFouquet，whoselasthopethusescapedhim;forunlesshecouldascertaininwhatwaythebishopofVannescouldassisthim，heperfectlywellknewthathecouldexpectassistancefromnootherquarter。
　　"Or，indeed，"continuedD'Artagnan，"ifheisinhisownroom，hehasverygoodreasonsfornotanswering。"
　　"Butsurelyyoudidnotcallhiminsuchamannerthathecouldhaveheardyou？"
　　"Youcanhardlysuppose，monseigneur，thathavingalreadyexceededmyorders，whichforbademeleavingyouasinglemoment—youcanhardlysuppose，Isay，thatI
　　shouldhavebeenmadenoughtorousethewholehouseandallowmyselftobeseeninthecorridorofthebishopofVannes，inorderthatM。ColbertmightstatewithpositivecertaintythatIgaveyoutimetoburnyourpapers。"
　　"Mypapers？"
　　"Ofcourse;atleastthatiswhatIshouldhavedoneinyourplace。？WhenanyoneopensadoorformeIalwaysavailmyselfofit。"
　　"Yes，yes，andIthankyou，forIhaveavailedmyselfofit。"
　　"Andyouhavedoneperfectlyright。？Everymanhashisownpeculiarsecretswithwhichothershavenothingtodo。？ButletusreturntoAramis，monseigneur。"
　　"Well，then，Itellyou，youcouldnothavecalledloudenough，orAramiswouldhaveheardyou。"
　　"HoweversoftlyanyonemaycallAramis，monseigneur，Aramisalwayshearswhenhehasaninterestinhearing。？IrepeatwhatI
　　saidbefore—Aramiswasnotinhisownroom，orAramishadcertainreasonsfornotrecognizingmyvoice，ofwhichIamignorant，andofwhichyoumaybeevenignorantyourself，notwithstandingyourliege—manisHisGreatnesstheLordBishopofVannes。"
　　Fouquetdrewadeepsigh，rosefromhisseat，tookthreeorfourturnsinhisroom，andfinishedbyseatinghimself，withanexpressionofextremedejection，uponhismagnificentbedwithvelvethangings，andcostliestlace。？D'ArtagnanlookedatFouquetwithfeelingsofthedeepestandsincerestpity。
　　"I
　　haveseenagoodmanymenarrestedinmylife，"saidthemusketeer，sadly;
　　"IhaveseenbothM。deCinq—MarsandM。deChalaisarrested，thoughIwasveryyoungthen。？IhaveseenM。deCond？arrestedwiththeprinces;IhaveseenM。deRetzarrested;IhaveseenM。Brousselarrested。？Stayamoment，monseigneur，itisdisagreeabletohavetosay，buttheveryoneofallthosewhomyoumostresembleatthismomentwasthatpoorfellowBroussel。？Youwereveryneardoingashedid，puttingyourdinnernapkininyourportfolio，andwipingyourmouthwithyourpapers。？Mordioux！？MonseigneurFouquet，amanlikeyououghtnottobedejectedinthismanner。？Supposeyourfriendssawyou？"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"returnedthesurintendant，withasmilefullofgentleness，"youdonotunderstandme;itispreciselybecausemyfriendsarenotlookingon，thatIamasyouseemenow。？Idonotlive，existeven，isolatedfromothers;Iamnothingwhenlefttomyself。？UnderstandthatthroughoutmywholelifeIhavepassedeverymomentofmytimeinmakingfriends，whomI
　　hopedtorendermystayandsupport。？Intimesofprosperity，allthesecheerful，happyvoices—renderedsothroughandbymymeans—formedinmyhonoraconcertofpraiseandkindlyactions。？Intheleastdisfavor，thesehumblervoicesaccompaniedinharmoniousaccentsthemurmurofmyownheart。？IsolationIhaveneveryetknown。？Poverty（aphantomIhavesometimesbeheld，cladinrags，awaitingmeattheendofmyjourneythroughlife）—povertyhasbeenthespecterwithwhichmanyofmyownfriendshavetrifledforyearspast，whichtheypoetizeandcaress，andwhichhasattractedmetowardsthem。？Poverty！？Iacceptit，acknowledgeit，receiveit，asadisinheritedsister;forpovertyisneithersolitude，norexile，norimprisonment。？IsitlikelyIshalleverbepoor，withsuchfriendsasP閘isson，asLaFontaine，asMoli鑢e？withsuchamistressas—Oh！
　　ifyouknewhowutterlylonelyanddesolateIfeelatthismoment，andhowyou，whoseparatemefromallIlove，seemtoresembletheimageofsolitude，ofannihilation—deathitself。"
　　"ButIhavealreadytoldyou，MonsieurFouquet，"repliedD'Artagnan，movedtothedepthsofhissoul，"thatyouarewoefullyexaggerating。？Thekinglikesyou。"
　　"No，no，"saidFouquet，shakinghishead。
　　"M。Colberthatesyou。"
　　"M。
　　Colbert！？Whatdoesthatmattertome？"
　　"Hewillruinyou。"
　　"Ah！？Idefyhimtodothat，forIamruinedalready。"
　　Atthissingularconfessionofthesuperintendent，D'Artagnancasthisglanceallroundtheroom;andalthoughhedidnotopenhislips，Fouquetunderstoodhimsothoroughly，thatheadded:"Whatcanbedonewithsuchwealthofsubstanceassurroundsus，whenamancannolongercultivatehistasteforthemagnificent？？Doyouknowwhatgoodthegreaterpartofthewealthandthepossessionswhichwerichenjoy，conferuponus？merelytodisgustus，bytheirverysplendoreven，witheverythingwhichdoesnotequalit！？Vaux！youwillsay，andthewondersofVaux！？Whatofit？？Whatbootthesewonders？？IfIamruined，howshallIfillwithwatertheurnswhichmyNaiadsbearintheirarms，orforcetheairintothelungsofmyTritons？？Toberichenough，Monsieurd'Artagnan，amanmustbetoorich。"
　　D'Artagnanshookhishead。
　　"Oh！？Iknowverywellwhatyouthink，"
　　repliedFouquet，quickly。？"IfVauxwereyours，youwouldsellit，andwouldpurchaseanestateinthecountry;anestatewhichshouldhavewoods，orchards，andlandattached，sothattheestateshouldbemadetosupportitsmaster。？Withfortymillionsyoumight—"
　　"Tenmillions，"interruptedD'Artagnan。
　　"Notamillion，mydearcaptain。？NooneinFranceisrichenoughtogivetwomillionsforVaux，andtocontinuetomaintainitasIhavedone;noonecoulddoit，noonewouldknowhow。"
　　"Well，"
　　saidD'Artagnan，"inanycase，amillionisnotabjectmisery。"
　　"Itisnotfarfromit，mydearmonsieur。？Butyoudonotunderstandme。？No;IwillnotsellmyresidenceatVaux;Iwillgiveittoyou，ifyoulike;"andFouquetaccompaniedthesewordswithamovementoftheshoulderstowhichitwouldbeimpossibletodojustice。
　　"Giveittotheking;youwillmakeabetterbargain。"
　　"Thekingdoesnotrequiremetogiveittohim，"saidFouquet;"hewilltakeitawayfrommewiththemostabsoluteeaseandgrace，ifitpleaseshimtodoso;andthatistheveryreasonIshouldprefertoseeitperish。？Doyouknow，Monsieurd'Artagnan，thatifthekingdidnothappentobeundermyroof，Iwouldtakethiscandle，gostraighttothedome，andsetfiretoacoupleofhugechestsoffuseesandfireworkswhichareinreservethere，andwouldreducemypalacetoashes。"
　　"Bah！"
　　saidthemusketeer，negligently。？"Atallevents，youwouldnotbeabletoburnthegardens，andthatisthefinestfeatureoftheplace。"
　　"Andyet，"resumedFouquet，thoughtfully，"whatwasIsaying？？Greatheavens！burnVaux！destroymypalace！？ButVauxisnotmine;thesewonderfulcreationsare，itistrue，theproperty，asfarassenseofenjoymentgoes，ofthemanwhohaspaidforthem;butasfarasdurationisconcerned，theybelongtothosewhocreatedthem。？VauxbelongstoLebrun，toLen魌re，toP閘isson，toLevau，toLaFontaine，toMoli鑢e;Vauxbelongstoposterity，infact。？Yousee，Monsieurd'Artagnan，thatmyveryhousehasceasedtobemyown。"
　　"Thatisallwellandgood，"saidD'Artagnan;"theideaisagreeableenough，andIrecognizeM。Fouquethimselfinit。？Thatidea，indeed，makesmeforgetthatpoorfellowBrousselaltogether;andInowfailtorecognizeinyouthewhiningcomplaintsofthatoldFrondeur。？Ifyouareruined，monsieur，lookattheaffairmanfully，foryoutoo，mordioux！belongtoposterity，andhavenorighttolessenyourselfinanyway。？Stayamoment;lookatme，Iwhoseemtoexerciseinsomedegreeakindofsuperiorityoveryou，becauseI
　　amarrestingyou;fate，whichdistributestheirdifferentpartstothecomediansofthisworld，accordedmealessagreeableandlessadvantageousparttofillthanyourshasbeen。？Iamoneofthosewhothinkthatthepartswhichkingsandpowerfulnoblesarecalledupontoactareinfinitelyofmoreworththanthepartsofbeggarsorlackeys。？Itisfarbetteronthestage—onthestage，Imean，ofanothertheaterthanthetheaterofthisworld—itisfarbettertowearafinecoatandtotalkafinelanguage，thantowalktheboardsshodwithapairofoldshoes，ortogetone'sbackbonegentlypolishedbyaheartydressingwithastick。？Inoneword，youhavebeenaprodigalwithmoney，youhaveorderedandbeenobeyed—
　　havebeensteepedtothelipsinenjoyment;whileIhavedraggedmytetherafterme，havebeencommandedandhaveobeyed，andhavedrudgedmylifeaway。？Well，althoughImayseemofsuchtriflingimportancebesideyou，monseigneur，Idodeclaretoyou，thattherecollectionofwhatIhavedoneservesmeasaspur，andpreventsmefrombowingmyoldheadtoosoon。？Ishallremainuntotheveryendatrooper;andwhenmyturncomes，Ishallfallperfectlystraight，allinaheap，stillalive，afterhavingselectedmyplacebeforehand。？DoasIdo，MonsieurFouquet，youwillnotfindyourselftheworseforit;afallhappensonlyonceinalifetimetomenlikeyourself，andthechiefthingis，totakeitgracefullywhenthechancepresentsitself。？ThereisaLatinproverb—thewordshaveescapedme，butIrememberthesenseofitverywell，forIhavethoughtoveritmorethanonce—whichsays，'Theendcrownsthework！'"
　　Fouquetrosefromhisseat，passedhisarmroundD'Artagnan'sneck，andclaspedhiminacloseembrace，whilstwiththeotherhandhepressedhishand。？"Anexcellenthomily，"hesaid，afteramoment'spause。
　　"A
　　soldier's，monseigneur。"
　　"Youhavearegardforme，intellingmeallthat。"
　　"Perhaps。"
　　Fouquetresumedhispensiveattitudeoncemore，andthen，amomentafter，hesaid:
　　"WherecanM。d'Herblaybe？？Idarenotaskyoutosendforhim。"
　　"Youwouldnotaskme，becauseIwouldnotdoit，MonsieurFouquet。？Peoplewouldlearnit，andAramis，whoisnotmixedupwiththeaffair，mightpossiblybecompromisedandincludedinyourdisgrace。"
　　"Iwillwaitheretilldaylight，"saidFouquet。
　　"Yes;thatisbest。"
　　"Whatshallwedowhendaylightcomes？"
　　"Iknownothingatallaboutit，monseigneur。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，willyoudomeafavor？"
　　"Mostwillingly。"
　　"Youguardme，Iremain;youareactinginthefulldischargeofyourduty，Isuppose？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Verygood，then;remainasclosetomeasmyshadowifyoulike;andIinfinitelyprefersuchashadowtoanyoneelse。"
　　D'Artagnanbowedtothecompliment。
　　"But，forgetthatyouareMonsieurd'Artagnan，captainofthemusketeers;forgetthatIamMonsieurFouquet，surintendantofthefinances;andletustalkaboutmyaffairs。"
　　"Thatisratheradelicatesubject。"
　　"Indeed？"
　　"Yes;
　　but，foryoursake，MonsieurFouquet，Iwilldowhatmayalmostberegardedasanimpossibility。"
　　"Thankyou。？Whatdidthekingsaytoyou？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Ah！isthatthewayyoutalk？"
　　"Thedeuce！"
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofmysituation？"
　　"Idonotknow。"
　　"However，unlessyouhavesomeillfeelingagainstme—"
　　"Yourpositionisadifficultone。"
　　"Inwhatrespect？"
　　"Becauseyouareunderyourownroof。"
　　"Howeverdifficultitmaybe，Iunderstanditverywell。"
　　"Doyousupposethat，withanyoneelsebutyourself，Ishouldhaveshownsomuchfrankness？"
　　"What！somuchfrankness，doyousay？you，whorefusetotellmetheslightestthing？"
　　"Atallevents，then，somuchceremonyandconsideration。"
　　"Ah！？Ihavenothingtosayinthatrespect。"
　　"Onemoment，monseigneur:letmetellyouhowIshouldhavebehavedtowardsanyonebutyourself。？ItmightbethatI
　　happenedtoarriveatyourdoorjustasyourguestsoryourfriendshadleftyou—or，iftheyhadnotgoneyet，Ishouldwaituntiltheywereleaving，andshouldthencatchthemoneaftertheother，likerabbits;Ishouldlockthemupquietlyenough，Ishouldstealsoftlyalongthecarpetofyourcorridor，andwithonehanduponyou，beforeyoususpectedtheslightestthingamiss，I
　　shouldkeepyousafelyuntilmymaster'sbreakfastinthemorning。？Inthisway，Ishouldjustthesamehaveavoidedallpublicity，alldisturbance，allopposition;buttherewouldalsohavebeennowarningforM。Fouquet，noconsiderationforhisfeelings，noneofthosedelicateconcessionswhichareshownbypersonswhoareessentiallycourteousintheirnatures，wheneverthedecisivemomentmayarrive。？Areyousatisfiedwiththeplan？"
　　"Itmakesmeshudder。"
　　"I
　　thoughtyouwouldnotlikeit。？Itwouldhavebeenverydisagreeabletohavemademyappearanceto—morrow，withoutanypreparation，andtohaveaskedyoutodeliverupyoursword。"
　　"Oh！
　　monsieur，Ishouldhavediedofshameandanger。"
　　"Yourgratitudeistooeloquentlyexpressed。？Ihavenotdoneenoughtodeserveit，Iassureyou。"
　　"Mostcertainly，monsieur，youwillnevergetmetobelievethat。"
　　"Well，then，monseigneur，ifyouaresatisfiedwithwhatIhavedone，andhavesomewhatrecoveredfromtheshockwhichIpreparedyouforasmuchasI
　　possiblycould，letusallowthefewhoursthatremaintopassawayundisturbed。？Youareharassed，andshouldarrangeyourthoughts;Ibegyou，therefore，gotosleep，orpretendtogotosleep，eitheronyourbed，orinyourbed;Iwillsleepinthisarmchair;
　　andwhenIfallasleep，myrestissosoundthatacannonwouldnotwakeme。"
　　Fouquetsmiled。？"Iexpect，however，"
　　continuedthemusketeer，"thecaseofadoorbeingopened，whetherasecretdoor，oranyother;orthecaseofanyonegoingoutof，orcominginto，theroom—foranythinglikethatmyearisasquickandsensitiveastheearofamouse。？Creakingnoisesmakemestart。？Itarises，Isuppose，fromanaturalantipathytoanythingofthekind。？Moveaboutasmuchasyoulike;walkupanddowninanypartoftheroom，write，efface，destroy，burn，—nothinglikethatwillpreventmefromgoingtosleeporevenpreventmefromsnoring，butdonottoucheitherthekeyorthehandleofthedoor，forIshouldstartupinamoment，andthatwouldshakemynervesandmakemeill。"
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidFouquet，"youarecertainlythemostwittyandthemostcourteousmanIevermetwith;andyouwillleavemeonlyoneregret，thatofhavingmadeyouracquaintancesolate。"
　　D'Artagnandrewadeepsigh，whichseemedtosay，"Alas！youhaveperhapsmadeittoosoon。"？Hethensettledhimselfinhisarmchair，whileFouquet，halflyingonhisbedandleaningonhisarm，wasmeditatingonhismisadventures。？Inthisway，bothofthem，leavingthecandlesburning，awaitedthefirstdawnoftheday;andwhenFouquethappenedtosightooloudly，D'Artagnanonlysnoredthelouder。？Notasinglevisit，notevenfromAramis，disturbedtheirquietude:notasoundevenwasheardthroughoutthewholevastpalace。？Outside，however，theguardsofhonoronduty，andthepatrolofmusketeers，pacedupanddown;andthesoundoftheirfeetcouldbeheardonthegravelwalks。？Itseemedtoactasanadditionalsoporificforthesleepers，whilethemurmuringofthewindthroughthetrees，andtheunceasingmusicofthefountainswhosewaterstumbledinthebasin，stillwentonuninterruptedly，withoutbeingdisturbedattheslightnoisesanditemsoflittlemomentthatconstitutethelifeanddeathofhumannature。