"Doesthekingexileme？"
　　"Donotactasifyouwereplayingatthegamechildrenplayatwhentheyhavetotryandguesswhereathinghasbeenhidden，andareinformed，byabellbeingrung，whentheyareapproachingneartoit，orgoingawayfromit。"
　　"Speak，then。"
　　"Guess。"
　　"Youalarmme。"
　　"Bah！
　　thatisbecauseyouhavenotguessed，then。"
　　"Whatdidthekingsaytoyou？？Inthenameofourfriendship，donotdeceiveme。"
　　"Thekinghasnotsaidonewordtome。"
　　"Youarekillingmewithimpatience，D'Herblay。？AmIstillsuperintendent？"
　　"Aslongasyoulike。"
　　"Butwhatextraordinaryempirehaveyousosuddenlyacquiredoverhismajesty'smind？"
　　"Ah！
　　that'sthepoint。"
　　"Hedoesyourbidding？"
　　"I
　　believeso。"
　　"Itishardlycredible。"
　　"Soanyonewouldsay。"
　　"D'Herblay，byouralliance，byourfriendship，byeverythingyouholddearestintheworld，speakopenly，Iimploreyou。？BywhatmeanshaveyousucceededinovercomingLouisXIV。'sprejudices，forhedidnotlikeyou，Iamcertain。"
　　"Thekingwilllikemenow，"saidAramis，layingstressuponthelastword。
　　"Youhavesomethingparticular，then，betweenyou？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"A
　　secret，perhaps？"
　　"A
　　secret。"
　　"A
　　secretofsuchanatureastochangehismajesty'sinterests？"
　　"Youare，indeed，amanofsuperiorintelligence，monseigneur，andhavemadeaparticularlyaccurateguess。？Ihave，infact，discoveredasecret，ofanaturetochangetheinterestsofthekingofFrance。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidFouquet，withthereserveofamanwhodoesnotwishtoaskanymorequestions。
　　"Andyoushalljudgeofityourself，"pursuedAramis;"andyoushalltellmeifIammistakenwithregardtotheimportanceofthissecret。"
　　"I
　　amlistening，sinceyouaregoodenoughtounbosomyourselftome;onlydonotforgetthatIhaveaskedyouaboutnothingwhichitmaybeindiscreetinyoutocommunicate。"
　　Aramisseemed，foramoment，asifhewerecollectinghimself。
　　"Donotspeak！"saidFouquet:"thereisstilltimeenough。"
　　"Doyouremember，"saidthebishop，castingdownhiseyes，"thebirthofLouisXIV。？"
　　"Asifitwereyesterday。"
　　"Haveyoueverheardanythingparticularrespectinghisbirth？"
　　"Nothing;
　　exceptthatthekingwasnotreallythesonofLouisXIII。"
　　"Thatdoesnotmattertous，orthekingdomeither;heisthesonofhisfather，saystheFrenchlaw，whosefatherisrecognizedbylaw。"
　　"True;
　　butitisagravematter，whenthequalityofracesiscalledintoquestion。"
　　"A
　　merelysecondaryquestion，afterall。？Sothat，infact，youhaveneverlearnedorheardanythinginparticular？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Thatiswheremysecretbegins。？Thequeen，youmustknow，insteadofbeingdeliveredofason，wasdeliveredoftwins。"
　　Fouquetlookedupsuddenlyashereplied:
　　"Andthesecondisdead？"
　　"Youwillsee。？Thesetwinsseemedlikelytoberegardedastheprideoftheirmother，andthehopeofFrance;buttheweaknatureoftheking，hissuperstitiousfeelings，madehimapprehendaseriesofconflictsbetweentwochildrenwhoserightswereequal;soheputoutoftheway—hesuppressed—oneofthetwins。"
　　"Suppressed，doyousay？"
　　"Havepatience。？Boththechildrengrewup;
　　theoneonthethrone，whoseministeryouare—theother，whoismyfriend，ingloomandisolation。"
　　"Goodheavens！？Whatareyousaying，Monsieurd'Herblay？？Andwhatisthispoorprincedoing？"
　　"Askme，rather，whathashedone。"
　　"Yes，yes。"
　　"Hewasbroughtupinthecountry，andthenthrownintoafortresswhichgoesbythenameoftheBastile。"
　　"Isitpossible？"criedthesurintendant，claspinghishands。
　　"Theonewasthemostfortunateofmen:theotherthemostunhappyandmiserableofalllivingbeings。"
　　"Doeshismothernotknowthis？"
　　"AnneofAustriaknowsitall。"
　　"Andtheking？"
　　"Knowsabsolutelynothing。"
　　"Somuchthebetter，"saidFouquet。
　　ThisremarkseemedtomakeagreatimpressiononAramis;helookedatFouquetwiththemostanxiousexpressionofcountenance。
　　"I
　　begyourpardon;Iinterruptedyou，"saidFouquet。
　　"I
　　wassaying，"resumedAramis，"thatthispoorprincewastheunhappiestofhumanbeings，whenHeaven，whosethoughtsareoverallHiscreatures，undertooktocometohisassistance。"
　　"Oh！
　　inwhatway？？Tellme。"
　　"Youwillsee。？Thereigningking—Isaythereigningking—youcanguessverywellwhy？"
　　"No。？Why？"
　　"Becausebothofthem，beinglegitimateprinces，oughttohavebeenkings。？Isnotthatyouropinion？"
　　"Itis，certainly。"
　　"Unreservedly？"
　　"Mostunreservedly;twinsareonepersonintwobodies。"
　　"I
　　ampleasedthatalegistofyourlearningandauthorityshouldhavepronouncedsuchanopinion。？Itisagreed，then，thateachofthempossessedequalrights，isitnot？"
　　"Incontestably！
　　but，graciousheavens，whatanextraordinarycircumstance！"
　　"Wearenotattheendofityet。—Patience。"
　　"Oh！？Ishallfind'patience'enough。"
　　"Heavenwishedtoraiseupforthatoppressedchildanavenger，orasupporter，orvindicator，ifyoupreferit。？Ithappenedthatthereigningking，theusurper—youarequiteofmyopinion，I
　　believe，thatitisanactofusurpationquietlytoenjoy，andselfishlytoassumetherightover，aninheritancetowhichamanhasonlyhalfaright？"
　　"Yes，usurpationistheword。"
　　"Inthatcase，Icontinue。？ItwasHeaven'swillthattheusurpershouldpossess，inthepersonofhisfirstminister，amanofgreattalent，oflargeandgenerousnature。"
　　"Well，well，"saidFouquet，"Iunderstandyou;youhaverelieduponmetorepairthewrongwhichhasbeendonetothisunhappybrotherofLouisXIV。？Youhavethoughtwell;Iwillhelpyou。？Ithankyou，D'Herblay，Ithankyou。"
　　"Oh，no，itisnotthatatall;youhavenotallowedmetofinish，"saidAramis，perfectlyunmoved。
　　"I
　　willnotsayanotherword，then。"
　　"M。
　　Fouquet，Iwasobserving，theministerofthereigningsovereign，wassuddenlytakenintothegreatestaversion，andmenacedwiththeruinofhisfortune，lossofliberty，lossoflifeeven，byintrigueandpersonalhatred，towhichthekinggavetooreadilyanattentiveear。？ButHeavenpermits（still，however，outofconsiderationfortheunhappyprincewhohadbeensacrificed）thatM。Fouquetshouldinhisturnhaveadevotedfriendwhoknewthisstatesecret，andfeltthathepossessedstrengthandcourageenoughtodivulgethissecret，afterhavinghadthestrengthtocarryitlockedupinhisownheartfortwentyyears。
　　"Gonofarther，"saidFouquet，fullofgenerousfeelings。？"Iunderstandyou，andcanguesseverythingnow。？Youwenttoseethekingwhentheintelligenceofmyarrestreachedyou;youimploredhim，herefusedtolistentoyou;thenyouthreatenedhimwiththatsecret，threatenedtorevealit，andLouisXIV。，alarmedattheriskofitsbetrayal，grantedtotheterrorofyourindiscretionwhatherefusedtoyourgenerousintercession。？Iunderstand，I
　　understand;youhavethekinginyourpower;Iunderstand。"
　　"Youunderstandnothing—asyet，"
　　repliedAramis，"andagainyouinterruptme。？Then，too，allowmetoobservethatyoupaynoattentiontologicalreasoning，andseemtoforgetwhatyououghtmosttoremember。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"YouknowuponwhatIlaidthegreateststressatthebeginningofourconversation？"
　　"Yes，hismajesty'shate，invinciblehateforme;yes，butwhatfeelingofhatecouldresistthethreatofsucharevelation？"
　　"Sucharevelation，doyousay？thatistheverypointwhereyourlogicfailsyou。？What！doyousupposethatifIhadmadesucharevelationtotheking，Ishouldhavebeenalivenow？"
　　"Itisnottenminutesagothatyouwerewiththeking。"
　　"Thatmaybe。？Hemightnothavehadthetimetogetmekilledoutright，buthewouldhavehadthetimetogetmegaggedandthrowninadungeon。？Come，come，showalittleconsistencyinyourreasoning，mordieu！"
　　Andbythemereuseofthisword，whichwassothoroughlyhisoldmusketeer'sexpression，forgottenbyonewhoneverseemedtoforgetanything，Fouquetcouldnotbutunderstandtowhatapitchofexaltationthecalm，impenetrablebishopofVanneshadwroughthimself。？Heshuddered。
　　"Andthen，"repliedthelatter，afterhavingmasteredhisfeelings，"shouldIbethemanIreallyam，shouldIbethetruefriendyoubelieveme，ifIweretoexposeyou，whomthekingalreadyhatessobitterly，toafeelingmorethanevertobedreadedinthatyoungman？？Tohaverobbedhim，isnothing;tohaveaddressedthewomanheloves，isnotmuch;buttoholdinyourkeepingbothhiscrownandhishonor，why，hewouldpluckoutyourheartwithhisownhands。"
　　"Youhavenotallowedhimtopenetrateyoursecret，then？"
　　"I
　　wouldsooner，farsooner，haveswallowedatonedraughtallthepoisonsthatMithridatesdrankintwentyyears，inordertotryandavoiddeath，thanhavebetrayedmysecrettotheking。"
　　"Whathaveyoudone，then？"
　　"Ah！
　　nowwearecomingtothepoint，monseigneur。？IthinkIshallnotfailtoexciteinyoualittleinterest。？Youarelistening，Ihope。"
　　"HowcanyouaskmeifIamlistening？？Goon。"
　　Aramiswalkedsoftlyallroundtheroom，satisfiedhimselfthattheywerealone，andthatallwassilent，andthenreturnedandplacedhimselfclosetothearmchairinwhichFouquetwasseated，awaitingwiththedeepestanxietytherevelationhehadtomake。
　　"I
　　forgottotellyou，"resumedAramis，addressinghimselftoFouquet，wholistenedtohimwiththemostabsorbedattention—"Iforgottomentionamostremarkablecircumstancerespectingthesetwins，namely，thatGodhadformedthemsostartlingly，somiraculously，likeeachother，thatitwouldbeutterlyimpossibletodistinguishtheonefromtheother。？Theirownmotherwouldnotbeabletodistinguishthem。"
　　"Isitpossible？"exclaimedFouquet。
　　"Thesamenoblecharacterintheirfeatures，thesamecarriage，thesamestature，thesamevoice。"
　　"Buttheirthoughts？degreeofintelligence？theirknowledgeofhumanlife？"
　　"Thereisinequalitythere，Iadmit，monseigneur。？Yes;fortheprisoneroftheBastileis，mostincontestably，superiorineverywaytohisbrother;andif，fromhisprison，thisunhappyvictimweretopasstothethrone，Francewouldnot，fromtheearliestperiodofitshistory，perhaps，havehadamastermorepowerfulingeniusandnobilityofcharacter。"
　　Fouquetburiedhisfaceinhishands，asifhewereoverwhelmedbytheweightofthisimmensesecret。？Aramisapproachedhim。
　　"Thereisafurtherinequality，"hesaid，continuinghisworkoftemptation，"aninequalitywhichconcernsyourself，monseigneur，betweenthetwins，bothsonsofLouisXIII。，namely，thelastcomerdoesnotknowM。
　　Colbert。"
　　Fouquetraisedhisheadimmediately—hisfeatureswerepaleanddistorted。？Thebolthadhititsmark—nothisheart，buthismindandcomprehension。
　　"I
　　understandyou，"hesaidtoAramis;"youareproposingaconspiracytome？"
　　"Somethinglikeit。"
　　"Oneofthoseattemptswhich，asyousaidatthebeginningofthisconversation，altersthefateofempires？"
　　"Andofsuperintendents，too;yes，monseigneur。"
　　"Inaword，youproposethatIshouldagreetothesubstitutionofthesonofLouisXIII。，whoisnowaprisonerintheBastile，forthesonofLouisXIII。，whoisatthismomentasleepintheChamberofMorpheus？"
　　Aramissmiledwiththesinisterexpressionofthesinisterthoughtwhichwaspassingthroughhisbrain。？"Exactly，"
　　hesaid。
　　"Haveyouthought，"continuedFouquet，becominganimatedwiththatstrengthoftalentwhichinafewsecondsoriginates，andmaturestheconceptionofaplan，andwiththatlargenessofviewwhichforeseesallconsequences，andembraceseveryresultataglance—"haveyouthoughtthatwemustassemblethenobility，theclergy，andthethirdestateoftherealm;thatweshallhavetodeposethereigningsovereign，todisturbbysofrightfulascandalthetomboftheirdeadfather，tosacrificethelife，thehonorofawoman，AnneofAustria，thelifeandpeaceofmindandheartofanotherwoman，MariaTheresa;andsupposethatitwerealldone，ifweweretosucceedindoingit—"
　　"I
　　donotunderstandyou，"continuedAramis，coldly。？"Thereisnotasinglesyllableofsenseinallyouhavejustsaid。"
　　"What！"
　　saidthesuperintendent，surprised，"amanlikeyourefusetoviewthepracticalbearingofthecase！？Doyouconfineyourselftothechildishdelightofapoliticalillusion，andneglectthechancesofitsbeingcarriedintoexecution;inotherwords，therealityitself，isitpossible？"
　　"Myfriend，"saidAramis，emphasizingthewordwithakindofdisdainfulfamiliarity，"whatdoesHeavendoinordertosubstituteonekingforanother？"
　　"Heaven！"
　　exclaimedFouquet—"Heavengivesdirectionstoitsagent，whoseizesuponthedoomedvictim，hurrieshimaway，andseatsthetriumphantrivalontheemptythrone。？Butyouforgetthatthisagentiscalleddeath。？Oh！？Monsieurd'Herblay，inHeaven'sname，tellmeifyouhavehadtheidea—"
　　"Thereisnoquestionofthat，monseigneur;？youaregoingbeyondtheobjectinview。？WhospokeofLouisXIV。'sdeath？whospokeofadoptingtheexamplewhichHeavensetsinfollowingoutthestrictexecutionofitsdecrees？？No，IwishyoutounderstandthatHeaveneffectsitspurposeswithoutconfusionordisturbance，withoutexcitingcommentorremark，withoutdifficultyorexertion;andthatmen，inspiredbyHeaven，succeedlikeHeavenitself，inalltheirundertakings，inalltheyattempt，inalltheydo。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"I
　　mean，myfriend，"returnedAramis，withthesameintonationonthewordfriendthathehadappliedtoitthefirsttime—"Imeanthatiftherehasbeenanyconfusion，scandal，andeveneffortinthesubstitutionoftheprisonerfortheking，Idefyyoutoproveit。"
　　"What！"
　　criedFouquet，whiterthanthehandkerchiefwithwhichhewipedhistemples，"whatdoyousay？"
　　"Gototheking'sapartment，"continuedAramis，tranquilly，"andyouwhoknowthemystery，IdefyevenyoutoperceivethattheprisoneroftheBastileislyinginhisbrother'sbed。"
　　"Buttheking，"stammeredFouquet，seizedwithhorrorattheintelligence。
　　"Whatking？"saidAramis，inhisgentlesttone;"theonewhohatesyou，ortheonewholikesyou？"
　　"Theking—of—yesterday。"
　　"Thekingofyesterday！bequiteeasyonthatscore;hehasgonetotaketheplaceintheBastilewhichhisvictimoccupiedforsomanyyears。"
　　"GreatGod！？Andwhotookhimthere？"
　　"I。"
　　"You？"
　　"Yes，andinthesimplestway。？Icarriedhimawaylastnight。？Whilehewasdescendingintomidnight，theotherwasascendingintoday。？Idonotthinktherehasbeenanydisturbancewhatever。？Aflashoflightningwithoutthunderawakensnobody。"
　　Fouquetutteredathick，smotheredcry，asifhehadbeenstruckbysomeinvisibleblow，andclaspinghisheadbetweenhisclenchedhands，hemurmured:"Youdidthat？"
　　"Cleverlyenough，too;whatdoyouthinkofit？"
　　"Youdethronedtheking？imprisonedhim，too？"
　　"Yes，thathasbeendone。"
　　"Andsuchanactionwascommittedhere，atVaux？"
　　"Yes，here，atVaux，intheChamberofMorpheus。？Itwouldalmostseemthatithadbeenbuiltinanticipationofsuchanact。"
　　"Andatwhattimediditoccur？"
　　"Lastnight，betweentwelveandoneo'clock。"
　　FouquetmadeamovementasifhewereonthepointofspringinguponAramis;herestrainedhimself。？"AtVaux;
　　undermyroof！"hesaid，inahalf—strangledvoice。
　　"I
　　believeso！foritisstillyourhouse，anditislikelytocontinueso，sinceM。Colbertcannotrobyouofitnow。"
　　"Itwasundermyroof，then，monsieur，thatyoucommittedthiscrime？"
　　"Thiscrime？"saidAramis，stupefied。
　　"Thisabominablecrime！"pursuedFouquet，becomingmoreandmoreexcited;
　　"thiscrimemoreexecrablethananassassination！thiscrimewhichdishonorsmynameforever，andentailsuponmethehorrorofposterity。"
　　"Youarenotinyoursenses，monsieur，"repliedAramis，inanirresolutetoneofvoice;"youarespeakingtooloudly;takecare！"
　　"I
　　willcalloutsoloudly，thatthewholeworldshallhearme。"
　　"MonsieurFouquet，takecare！"
　　Fouquetturnedroundtowardstheprelate，whomhelookedatfullintheface。？"Youhavedishonoredme，"hesaid，"incommittingsofoulanactoftreason，soheinousacrimeuponmyguest，upononewhowaspeacefullyreposingbeneathmyroof。？Oh！woe，woeisme！"
　　"Woetotheman，rather，whobeneathyourroofmeditatedtheruinofyourfortune，yourlife。？Doyouforgetthat？"
　　"Hewasmyguest，mysovereign。"
　　Aramisrose，hiseyesliterallybloodshot，hismouthtremblingconvulsively。？"HaveIamanoutofhissensestodealwith？"hesaid。
　　"Youhaveanhonorablemantodealwith。"
　　"Youaremad。"
　　"A
　　manwhowillpreventyouconsummatingyourcrime。"
　　"Youaremad，Isay。"
　　"A
　　manwhowouldsooner，oh！farsooner，die;whowouldkillyoueven，ratherthanallowyoutocompletehisdishonor。"
　　AndFouquetsnatcheduphissword，whichD'Artagnanhadplacedattheheadofhisbed，andclencheditresolutelyinhishand。？Aramisfrowned，andthrusthishandintohisbreastasifinsearchofaweapon。？ThismovementdidnotescapeFouquet，who，fullofnoblenessandprideinhismagnanimity，threwhisswordtoadistancefromhim，andapproachedAramissocloseastotouchhisshoulderwithhisdisarmedhand。？"Monsieur，"hesaid，"Iwouldsoonerdiehereonthespotthansurvivethisterribledisgrace;andifyouhaveanypityleftforme，I
　　entreatyoutotakemylife。"
　　Aramisremainedsilentandmotionless。
　　"Youdonotreply？"saidFouquet。
　　Aramisraisedhisheadgently，andaglimmerofhopemightbeseenoncemoretoanimatehiseyes。？"Reflect，monseigneur，"hesaid，"uponeverythingwehavetoexpect。？Asthematternowstands，thekingisstillalive，andhisimprisonmentsavesyourlife。"
　　"Yes，"
　　repliedFouquet，"youmayhavebeenactingonmybehalf，butIwillnot，donot，acceptyourservices。？But，firstofall，Idonotwishyourruin。？Youwillleavethishouse。"
　　Aramisstifledtheexclamationwhichalmostescapedhisbrokenheart。
　　"I
　　amhospitabletowardsallwhoaredwellersbeneathmyroof，"continuedFouquet，withanairofinexpressiblemajesty;"youwillnotbemorefatallylostthanhewhoseruinyouhaveconsummated。"
　　"Youwillbeso，"saidAramis，inahoarse，propheticvoice，"youwillbeso，believeme。"
　　"I
　　accepttheaugury，Monsieurd'Herblay;butnothingshallpreventme，nothingshallstopme。？YouwillleaveVaux—
　　youmustleaveFrance;Igiveyoufourhourstoplaceyourselfoutoftheking'sreach。"
　　"Fourhours？"saidAramis，scornfullyandincredulously。
　　"UponthewordofFouquet，nooneshallfollowyoubeforetheexpirationofthattime。？Youwillthereforehavefourhours'advanceofthosewhomthekingmaywishtodispatchafteryou。"
　　Fourhours！"repeatedAramis，inathick，smotheredvoice。
　　"ItismorethanyouwillneedtogetonboardavesselandfleetoBelle—Isle，whichIgiveyouasaplaceofrefuge。"
　　"Ah！"
　　murmuredAramis。
　　"Belle—Isleisasmuchmineforyou，asVauxisminefortheking。？Go，D'Herblay，go！aslongasIlive，notahairofyourheadshallbeinjured。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidAramis，withacoldironyofmanner。
　　"Goatonce，then，andgivemeyourhand，beforewebothhastenaway;youtosaveyourlife，Itosavemyhonor。"
　　Aramiswithdrewfromhisbreastthehandhehadconcealedthere;itwasstainedwithhisblood。？Hehaddughisnailsintohisflesh，asifinpunishmentforhavingnursedsomanyprojects，morevain，insensate，andfleetingthanthelifeofthemanhimself。？Fouquetwashorror—stricken，andthenhisheartsmotehimwithpity。？Hethrewopenhisarmsasiftoembracehim。