ChapterXX:
　　TheMorning。
　　InvividcontrasttothesadandterribledestinyofthekingimprisonedintheBastile，andtearing，insheerdespair，theboltsandbarsofhisdungeon，therhetoricofthechroniclersofoldwouldnotfailtopresent，asacompleteantithesis，thepictureofPhilippelyingasleepbeneaththeroyalcanopy。？Wedonotpretendtosaythatsuchrhetoricisalwaysbad，andalwaysscatters，inplaceswheretheyhavenorighttogrow，theflowerswithwhichitembellishesandenlivenshistory。？Butweshall，onthepresentoccasion，carefullyavoidpolishingtheantithesisinquestion，butshallproceedtodrawanotherpictureasminutelyaspossible，toserveasfoilandcounterfoiltotheoneintheprecedingchapter。？TheyoungprincealightedfromAramis'sroom，inthesamewaythekinghaddescendedfromtheapartmentdedicatedtoMorpheus。？ThedomegraduallyandslowlysankdownunderAramis'spressure，andPhilippestoodbesidetheroyalbed，whichhadascendedagainafterhavingdepositeditsprisonerinthesecretdepthsofthesubterraneanpassage。？Alone，inthepresenceofalltheluxurywhichsurroundedhim;alone，inthepresenceofhispower;alone，withtheparthewasabouttobeforcedtoact，Philippeforthefirsttimefelthisheart，andmind，andsoulexpandbeneaththeinfluenceofathousandmutableemotions，whicharethevitalthrobsofaking'sheart。？Hecouldnothelpchangingcolorwhenhelookedupontheemptybed，stilltumbledbyhisbrother'sbody。？Thismuteaccomplicehadreturned，afterhavingcompletedtheworkithadbeendestinedtoperform;itreturnedwiththetracesofthecrime;itspoketotheguiltyauthorofthatcrime，withthefrankandunreservedlanguagewhichanaccompliceneverfearstouseinthecompanyofhiscompanioninguilt;foritspokethetruth。？Philippebentoverthebed，andperceivedapocket—handkerchieflyingonit，whichwasstilldampfromthecoldsweatwhichhadpouredfromLouisXIV。'sface。？Thissweat—bestainedhandkerchiefterrifiedPhilippe，asthegoreofAbelfrightenedCain。
　　"I
　　amfacetofacewithmydestiny，"saidPhilippe，hiseyesonfire，andhisfacealividwhite。？"Isitlikelytobemoreterrifyingthanmycaptivityhasbeensadandgloomy？？ThoughIamcompelledtofollowout，ateverymoment，thesovereignpowerandauthorityIhaveusurped，shallIceasetolistentothescruplesofmyheart？？Yes！thekinghaslainonthisbed;itisindeedhisheadthathasleftitsimpressiononthispillow;hisbittertearsthathavestainedthishandkerchief:andyet，Ihesitatetothrowmyselfonthebed，ortopressinmyhandthehandkerchiefwhichisembroideredwithmybrother'sarms。？Awaywithsuchweakness;letmeimitateM。
　　d'Herblay，whoassertsthataman'sactionshouldbealwaysonedegreeabovehisthoughts;letmeimitateM。d'Herblay，whosethoughtsareofandforhimselfalone，whoregardshimselfasamanofhonor，solongasheinjuresorbetrayshisenemiesonly。？I，Ialone，shouldhaveoccupiedthisbed，ifLouisXIV。hadnot，owingtomymother'scriminalabandonment，stoodinmyway;andthishandkerchief，embroideredwiththearmsofFrance，wouldinrightandjusticebelongtomealone，if，asM。
　　d'Herblayobserves，Ihadbeenleftmyroyalcradle。？Philippe，sonofFrance，takeyourplaceonthatbed;Philippe，solekingofFrance，resumetheblazonrythatisyours！？Philippe，soleheirpresumptivetoLouisXIII。，yourfather，showyourselfwithoutpityormercyfortheusurperwho，atthismoment，hasnoteventosuffertheagonyoftheremorseofallthatyouhavehadtosubmitto。"
　　Withthesewords，Philippe，notwithstandinganinstinctiverepugnanceoffeeling，andinspiteoftheshudderofterrorwhichmasteredhiswill，threwhimselfontheroyalbed，andforcedhismusclestopressthestillwarmplacewhereLouisXIV。hadlain，whileheburiedhisburningfaceinthehandkerchiefstillmoistenedbyhisbrother'stears。？Withhisheadthrownbackandburiedinthesoftdownofhispillow，PhilippeperceivedabovehimthecrownofFrance，suspended，aswehavestated，byangelswithoutspreadgoldenwings。
　　A
　　manmaybeambitiousoflyinginalion'sden，butcanhardlyhopetosleeptherequietly。？Philippelistenedattentivelytoeverysound;hisheartpantedandthrobbedattheverysuspicionofapproachingterrorandmisfortune;butconfidentinhisownstrength，whichwasconfirmedbytheforceofanoverpoweringlyresolutedetermination，hewaiteduntilsomedecisivecircumstanceshouldpermithimtojudgeforhimself。？Hehopedthatimminentdangermightberevealedtohim，likethosephosphoriclightsofthetempestwhichshowthesailorsthealtitudeofthewavesagainstwhichtheyhavetostruggle。？Butnothingapproached。？Silence，thatmortalenemyofrestlesshearts，andofambitiousminds，shroudedinthethicknessofitsgloomduringtheremainderofthenightthefuturekingofFrance，wholaythereshelteredbeneathhisstolencrown。？Towardsthemorningashadow，ratherthanabody，glidedintotheroyalchamber;Philippeexpectedhisapproachandneitherexpressednorexhibitedanysurprise。
　　"Well，M。d'Herblay？"
　　"Well，sire，allisaccomplished。"
　　"How？"
　　"Exactlyasweexpected。"
　　"Didheresist？"
　　"Terribly！
　　tearsandentreaties。"
　　"Andthen？"
　　"A
　　perfectstupor。"
　　"Butatlast？"
　　"Oh！
　　atlast，acompletevictory，andabsolutesilence。"
　　"DidthegovernoroftheBastilesuspectanything？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Theresemblance，however—"
　　"Wasthecauseofthesuccess。"
　　"Buttheprisonercannotfailtoexplainhimself。？Thinkwellofthat。？Ihavemyselfbeenabletodoasmuchasthat，onformeroccasion。"
　　"I
　　havealreadyprovidedforeverychance。？Inafewdays，soonerifnecessary，wewilltakethecaptiveoutofhisprison，andwillsendhimoutofthecountry，toaplaceofexilesoremote—
　　"
　　"Peoplecanreturnfromtheirexile，Monsieurd'Herblay。"
　　"Toaplaceofexilesodistant，Iwasgoingtosay，thathumanstrengthandthedurationofhumanlifewouldnotbeenoughforhisreturn。"
　　OncemoreacoldlookofintelligencepassedbetweenAramisandtheyoungking。
　　"AndM。duVallon？"askedPhilippeinordertochangetheconversation。
　　"Hewillbepresentedtoyouto—day，andconfidentiallywillcongratulateyouonthedangerwhichthatconspiratorhasmadeyourun。"
　　"Whatistobedonewithhim？"
　　"WithM。duVallon？"
　　"Yes;
　　conferadukedomonhim，Isuppose。"
　　"A
　　dukedom，"repliedAramis，smilinginasignificantmanner。
　　"Whydoyoulaugh，Monsieurd'Herblay？"
　　"I
　　laughattheextremecautionofyouridea。"
　　"Cautious，whyso？"
　　"YourmajestyisdoubtlessafraidthatpoorPorthosmaypossiblebecomeatroublesomewitness，andyouwishtogetridofhim。"
　　"What！
　　inmakinghimaduke？"
　　"Certainly;
　　youwouldassuredlykillhim，forhewoulddiefromjoy，andthesecretwoulddiewithhim。"
　　"Goodheavens！"
　　"Yes，"
　　saidAramis，phlegmatically;"Ishouldloseaverygoodfriend。"
　　Atthismoment，andinthemiddleofthisidleconversation，underthelighttoneofwhichthetwoconspiratorsconcealedtheirjoyandprideattheirmutualsuccess，Aramisheardsomethingwhichmadehimprickuphisears。
　　"Whatisthat？"saidPhilippe。
　　"Thedawn，sire。"
　　"Well？"
　　"Well，beforeyouretiredtobedlastnight，youprobablydecidedtodosomethingthismorningatbreakofday。"
　　"Yes，Itoldmycaptainofthemusketeers，"repliedtheyoungmanhurriedly，"thatIshouldexpecthim。"
　　"Ifyoutoldhimthat，hewillcertainlybehere，forheisamostpunctualman。"
　　"I
　　hearastepinthevestibule。"
　　"Itmustbehe。"
　　"Come，letusbegintheattack，"saidtheyoungkingresolutely。
　　"BecautiousforHeaven'ssake。？Tobegintheattack，andwithD'Artagnan，wouldbemadness。？D'Artagnanknowsnothing，hehasseennothing;heisahundredmilesfromsuspectingourmysteryintheslightestdegree，butifhecomesintothisroomthefirstthismorning，hewillbesuretodetectsomethingofwhathastakenplace，andwhichhewouldimagineithisbusinesstooccupyhimselfabout。？BeforeweallowD'Artagnantopenetrateintothisroom，wemustairtheroomthoroughly，orintroducesomanypeopleintoit，thatthekeenestscentinthewholekingdommaybedeceivedbythetracesoftwentydifferentpersons。"
　　"ButhowcanIsendhimaway，sinceIhavegivenhimarendezvous？"observedtheprince，impatienttomeasureswordswithsoredoubtableanantagonist。
　　"I
　　willtakecareofthat，"repliedthebishop，"andinordertobegin，Iamgoingtostrikeablowwhichwillcompletelystupefyourman。"
　　"He，too，isstrikingablow，forIhearhimatthedoor，"addedtheprince，hurriedly。
　　And，infact，aknockatthedoorwasheardatthatmoment。？Aramiswasnotmistaken;foritwasindeedD'Artagnanwhoadoptedthatmodeofannouncinghimself。
　　WehaveseenhowhepassedthenightinphilosophizingwithM。Fouquet，butthemusketeerwasverywearyevenoffeigningtofallasleep，andassoonasearliestdawnilluminedwithitsgloomygleamsoflightthesumptuouscornicesofthesuperintendent'sroom，D'Artagnanrosefromhisarmchair，arrangedhissword，brushedhiscoatandhatwithhissleeve，likeaprivatesoldiergettingreadyforinspection。
　　"Areyougoingout？"saidFouquet。
　　"Yes，monseigneur。？Andyou？"
　　"I
　　shallremain。"
　　"Youpledgeyourword？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Verygood。？Besides，myonlyreasonforgoingoutistotryandgetthatreply，—youknowwhatImean？"
　　"Thatsentence，youmean—"
　　"Stay，IhavesomethingoftheoldRomaninme。？Thismorning，whenIgotup，Iremarkedthatmyswordhadgotcaughtinoneoftheaiguillettes，andthatmyshoulder—belthadslippedquiteoff。？Thatisaninfalliblesign。"
　　"Ofprosperity？"
　　"Yes，besureofit;foreverytimethatthatconfoundedbeltofminestuckfasttomyback，italwayssignifiedapunishmentfromM。deTr関ille，orarefusalofmoneybyM。deMazarin。？Everytimemyswordhungfasttomyshoulder—belt，italwayspredictedsomedisagreeablecommissionoranotherformetoexecute，andIhavehadshowersofthemallmylifethrough。？Everytime，too，mysworddancedaboutinitssheath，aduel，fortunateinitsresult，wassuretofollow:wheneveritdangledaboutthecalvesofmylegs，itsignifiedaslightwound;everytimeitfellcompletelyoutofthescabbard，Iwasbooked，andmadeupmymindthatIshouldhavetoremainonthefieldofbattle，withtwoorthreemonthsundersurgicalbandagesintothebargain。"
　　"I
　　didnotknowyourswordkeptyousowellinformed，"saidFouquet，withafaintsmile，whichshowedhowhewasstrugglingagainsthisownweakness。？"Isyourswordbewitched，orundertheinfluenceofsomeimperialcharm？"
　　"Why，youmustknowthatmyswordmayalmostberegardedaspartofmyownbody。？Ihaveheardthatcertainmenseemtohavewarningsgiventhembyfeelingsomethingthematterwiththeirlegs，orathrobbingoftheirtemples。？Withme，itismyswordthatwarnsme。？Well，ittoldmeofnothingthismorning。？But，stayamoment—lookhere，ithasjustfallenofitsownaccordintothelastholeofthebelt。？Doyouknowwhatthatisawarningof？"
　　"No。"
　　"Well，thattellsmeofanarrestthatwillhavetobemadethisveryday。"
　　"Well，"
　　saidthesurintendant，moreastonishedthanannoyedbythisfrankness，"ifthereisnothingdisagreeablepredictedtoyoubyyoursword，Iamtoconcludethatitisnotdisagreeableforyoutoarrestme。"
　　"You！
　　arrestyou！"
　　"Ofcourse。？Thewarning—"
　　"Doesnotconcernyou，sinceyouhavebeenarrestedeversinceyesterday。？ItisnotyouIshallhavetoarrest，beassuredofthat。？ThatisthereasonwhyIamdelighted，andalsothereasonwhyIsaidthatmydaywillbeahappyone。"
　　Andwiththesewords，pronouncedwiththemostaffectionategraciousnessofmanner，thecaptaintookleaveofFouquetinordertowaitupontheking。？Hewasonthepointofleavingtheroom，whenFouquetsaidtohim，"Onelastmarkofkindness。"
　　"Whatisit，monseigneur？"
　　"M。
　　d'Herblay;letmeseeMonsieurd'Herblay。"
　　"Iamgoingtotryandgethimtocometoyou。"
　　D'Artagnandidnotthinkhimselfsogoodaprophet。？Itwaswrittenthatthedaywouldpassawayandrealizeallthepredictionsthathadbeenmadeinthemorning。？Hehadaccordinglyknocked，aswehaveseen，attheking'sdoor。？Thedooropened。？Thecaptainthoughtthatitwasthekingwhohadjustopenedithimself;andthissuppositionwasnotaltogetherinadmissible，consideringthestateofagitationinwhichhehadleftLouisXIV。thepreviousevening;butinsteadofhisroyalmaster，whomhewasonthepointofsalutingwiththegreatestrespect，heperceivedthelong，calmfeaturesofAramis。？Soextremewashissurprisethathecouldhardlyrefrainfromutteringaloudexclamation。？"Aramis！"hesaid。
　　"Goodmorning，dearD'Artagnan，"repliedtheprelate，coldly。
　　"Youhere！"stammeredoutthemusketeer。
　　"Hismajestydesiresyoutoreportthatheisstillsleeping，afterhavingbeengreatlyfatiguedduringthewholenight。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidD'Artagnan，whocouldnotunderstandhowthebishopofVannes，whohadbeensoindifferentafavoritethepreviousevening，hadbecomeinhalfadozenhoursthemostmagnificentmushroomoffortunethathadeversprungupinasovereign'sbedroom。？Infact，totransmittheordersofthekingeventothemerethresholdofthatmonarch'sroom，toserveasanintermediaryofLouisXIV。soastobeabletogiveasingleorderinhisnameatacouplepacesfromhim，hemusthavebecomemorethanRichelieuhadeverbeentoLouisXIII。？D'Artagnan'sexpressiveeye，half—openedlips，hiscurlingmustache，saidasmuchindeedintheplainestlanguagetothechieffavorite，whoremainedcalmandperfectlyunmoved。
　　"Moreover，"
　　continuedthebishop，"youwillbegoodenough，monsieurlecapitainedesmousquetaires，toallowthoseonlytopassintotheking'sroomthismorningwhohavespecialpermission。？Hismajestydoesnotwishtobedisturbedjustyet。"
　　"But，"
　　objectedD'Artagnan，almostonthepointofrefusingtoobeythisorder，andparticularlyofgivingunrestrainedpassagetothesuspicionswhichtheking'ssilencehadaroused—"but，monsieurl'関阸ue，hismajestygavemearendezvousforthismorning。"
　　"Later，later，"saidtheking'svoice，fromthebottomofthealcove;avoicewhichmadeacoldshudderpassthroughthemusketeer'sveins。？Hebowed，amazed，confused，andstupefiedbythesmilewithwhichAramisseemedtooverwhelmhim，assoonasthesewordshadbeenpronounced。
　　"Andthen，"continuedthebishop，"asananswertowhatyouwerecomingtoasktheking，mydearD'Artagnan，hereisanorderofhismajesty，whichyouwillbegoodenoughtoattendtoforthwith，foritconcernsM。Fouquet。"
　　D'Artagnantooktheorderwhichwasheldouttohim。？"Tobesetatliberty！"hemurmured。？"Ah！"andheutteredasecond"ah！"stillmorefullofintelligencethantheformer;forthisorderexplainedAramis'spresencewiththeking，andthatAramis，inordertohaveobtainedFouquet'spardon，musthavemadeconsiderableprogressintheroyalfavor，andthatthisfavorexplained，initstenor，thehardlyconceivableassurancewithwhichM。
　　d'Herblayissuedtheorderintheking'sname。？ForD'Artagnanitwasquitesufficienttohaveunderstoodsomethingofthematterinhandtoordertounderstandtherest。？Hebowedandwithdrewacoupleofpaces，asthoughhewereabouttoleave。
　　"Iamgoingwithyou，"saidthebishop。
　　"Whereto？"
　　"ToM。
　　Fouquet;Iwishtobeawitnessofhisdelight。"
　　"Ah！？Aramis，howyoupuzzledmejustnow！"
　　saidD'Artagnanagain。
　　"Butyouunderstandnow，Isuppose？"
　　"OfcourseIunderstand，"hesaidaloud;butaddedinalowtonetohimself，almosthissingthewordsbetweenhisteeth，"No，no，Idonotunderstandyet。？Butitisallthesame，forhereistheorderforit。"？Andthenheadded，"Iwillleadtheway，monseigneur，"andheconductedAramistoFouquet'sapartments。
　　ChapterXXI:
　　TheKing'sFriend。
　　Fouquetwaswaitingwithanxiety;hehadalreadysentawaymanyofhisservantsandfriends，who，anticipatingtheusualhourofhisordinaryreceptions，hadcalledathisdoortoinquireafterhim。？Preservingtheutmostsilencerespectingthedangerwhichhungsuspendedbyahairabovehishead，heonlyaskedthem，ashedideveryone，indeed，whocametothedoor，whereAramiswas。？WhenhesawD'Artagnanreturn，andwhenheperceivedthebishopofVannesbehindhim，hecouldhardlyrestrainhisdelight;itwasfullyequaltohispreviousuneasiness。？ThemeresightofAramiswasacompletecompensationtothesurintendantfortheunhappinesshehadundergoneinhisarrest。？Theprelatewassilentandgrave;D'Artagnancompletelybewilderedbysuchanaccumulationofevents。
　　"Well，captain，soyouhavebroughtM。d'Herblaytome。"
　　"Andsomethingbetterstill，monseigneur。"
　　"Whatisthat？"
　　"Liberty。"
　　"I
　　amfree！"
　　"Yes;
　　bytheking'sorder。"
　　Fouquetresumedhisusualserenity，thathemightinterrogateAramiswithalook。
　　"Oh！
　　yes，youcanthankM。l'関阸uedeVannes，"pursuedD'Artagnan，"foritisindeedtohimthatyouowethechangethathastakenplaceintheking。"
　　"Oh！"
　　saidFouquet，morehumiliatedattheservicethangratefulatitssuccess。
　　"Butyou，"continuedD'Artagnan，addressingAramis—"you，whohavebecomeM。Fouquet'sprotectorandpatron，canyounotdosomethingforme？"
　　"Anythinginthewideworldyoulike，myfriend，"repliedthebishop，inhiscalmesttones。
　　"Onethingonly，then，andIshallbeperfectlysatisfied。？Howonearthdidyoumanagetobecomethefavoriteoftheking，youwhohaveneverspokentohimmorethantwiceinyourlife？"
　　"Fromafriendsuchasyouare，"saidAramis，"Icannotconcealanything。"
　　"Ah！
　　verygood，tellme，then。"
　　"Verywell。？YouthinkthatIhaveseenthekingonlytwice，whilstthefactisIhaveseenhimmorethanahundredtimes;
　　onlywehavekeptitverysecret，thatisall。"？AndwithouttryingtoremovethecolorwhichatthisrevelationmadeD'Artagnan'sfaceflushscarlet，AramisturnedtowardsM。Fouquet，whowasasmuchsurprisedasthemusketeer。？"Monseigneur，"heresumed，"thekingdesiresmetoinformyouthatheismorethaneveryourfriend，andthatyourbeautifulf阾e，sogenerouslyofferedbyyouonhisbehalf，hastouchedhimtotheveryheart。"
　　AndthereuponhesalutedM。Fouquetwithsomuchreverenceofmanner，thatthelatter，incapableofunderstandingamanwhosediplomacywasofsoprodigiousacharacter，remainedincapableofutteringasinglesyllable，andequallyincapableofthoughtormovement。？D'Artagnanfanciedheperceivedthatthesetwomenhadsomethingtosaytoeachother，andhewasabouttoyieldtothatfeelingofinstinctivepolitenesswhichinsuchacasehurriesamantowardsthedoor，whenhefeelshispresenceisaninconvenienceforothers;buthiseagercuriosity，spurredonbysomanymysteries，counseledhimtoremain。
　　Aramisthereuponturnedtowardshim，andsaid，inaquiettone，"Youwillnotforget，myfriend，theking'sorderrespectingthosewhomheintendstoreceivethismorningonrising。"？Thesewordswereclearenough，andthemusketeerunderstoodthem;hethereforebowedtoFouquet，andthentoAramis，—tothelatterwithaslightadmixtureofironicalrespect，—anddisappeared。
　　Nosoonerhadheleft，thanFouquet，whoseimpatiencehadhardlybeenabletowaitforthatmoment，dartedtowardsthedoortocloseit，andthenreturningtothebishop，hesaid，"MydearD'Herblay，Ithinkitnowhightimeyoushouldexplainallthathaspassed，for，inplainandhonesttruth，Idonotunderstandanything。"
　　"Wewillexplainallthattoyou，"saidAramis，sittingdown，andmakingFouquetsitdownalso。？"WhereshallIbegin？"
　　"Withthisfirstofall。？Whydoesthekingsetmeatliberty？"
　　"Yououghtrathertoaskmewhathisreasonwasforhavingyouarrested。"
　　"Sincemyarrest，Ihavehadtimetothinkoverit，andmyideaisthatitarisesoutofsomeslightfeelingofjealousy。？Myf阾eputM。Colbertoutoftemper，andM。
　　Colbertdiscoveredsomecauseofcomplaintagainstme;Belle—Isle，forinstance。"
　　"No;
　　thereisnoquestionatalljustnowofBelle—Isle。"
　　"Whatisit，then？"
　　"DoyourememberthosereceiptsforthirteenmillionswhichM。deMazarincontrivedtostealfromyou？"
　　"Yes，ofcourse！"
　　"Well，youarepronouncedapublicrobber。"
　　"Goodheavens！"
　　"Oh！
　　thatisnotall。？DoyoualsorememberthatletteryouwrotetoLaValli鑢e？"
　　"Alas！
　　yes。"
　　"Andthatproclaimsyouatraitorandasuborner。"
　　"Whyshouldhehavepardonedme，then？"
　　"Wehavenotyetarrivedatthatpartofourargument。？Iwishyoutobequiteconvincedofthefactitself。？Observethiswell:thekingknowsyoutobeguiltyofanappropriationofpublicfunds。？Oh！ofcourseIknowthatyouhavedonenothingofthekind;but，atallevents，thekinghasseenthereceipts，andhecandonootherthanbelieveyouareincriminated。"
　　"I
　　begyourpardon，Idonotsee—"
　　"Youwillseepresently，though。？Theking，moreover，havingreadyourlove—lettertoLaValli鑢e，andtheoffersyoutheremadeher，cannotretainanydoubtofyourintentionswithregardtothatyounglady;youwilladmitthat，Isuppose？"
　　"Certainly。？Prayconclude。"
　　"Inthefewestwords。？Theking，wemayhenceforthassume，isyourpowerful，implacable，andeternalenemy。"
　　"Agreed。？ButamI，then，sopowerful，thathehasnotdaredtosacrificeme，notwithstandinghishatred，withallthemeanswhichmyweakness，ormymisfortunes，mayhavegivenhimasaholduponme？"
　　"Itisclear，beyondalldoubt，"pursuedAramis，coldly，"thatthekinghasquarreledwithyou—irreconcilably。"
　　"But，sincehehasabsolvedme—"
　　"Doyoubelieveitlikely？"askedthebishop，withasearchinglook。
　　"Withoutbelievinginhissincerity，Ibelieveitintheaccomplishedfact。"
　　Aramisslightlyshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Butwhy，then，shouldLouisXIV。havecommissionedyoutotellmewhatyouhavejuststated？"
　　"Thekingchargedmewithnomessageforyou。"
　　"Withnothing！"saidthesuperintendent，stupefied。？"But，thatorder—"
　　"Oh！
　　yes。？Youarequiteright。？Thereisanorder，certainly;"andthesewordswerepronouncedbyAramisinsostrangeatone，thatFouquetcouldnotresiststarting。
　　"Youareconcealingsomethingfromme，Isee。？Whatisit？"
　　Aramissoftlyrubbedhiswhitefingersoverhischin，butsaidnothing。