"I
　　hadnoarms，"murmuredAramis，aswildandterribleinhiswrathastheshadeofDido。？Andthen，withouttouchingFouquet'shand，heturnedhisheadaside，andsteppedbackapaceortwo。？Hislastwordwasanimprecation，hislastgestureacurse，whichhisblood—stainedhandseemedtoinvoke，asitsprinkledonFouquet'sfaceafewdropsofbloodwhichflowedfromhisbreast。？Andbothofthemdartedoutoftheroombythesecretstaircasewhichleddowntotheinnercourtyard。？Fouquetorderedhisbesthorses，whileAramispausedatthefootofthestaircasewhichledtoPorthos'sapartment。？Hereflectedprofoundlyandforsometime，whileFouquet'scarriageleftthecourtyardatfullgallop。
　　"ShallIgoalone？"saidAramistohimself，"orwarntheprince？？Oh！fury！？Warntheprince，andthen—dowhat？？Takehimwithme？？Tocarrythisaccusingwitnessaboutwithmeeverywhere？？War，too，wouldfollow—civilwar，implacableinitsnature！？Andwithoutanyresourcesavemyself—itisimpossible！？Whatcouldhedowithoutme？？Oh！withoutmehewillbeutterlydestroyed。？Yetwhoknows—letdestinybefulfilled—condemnedhewas，lethimremainsothen！？GoodorevilSpirit—gloomyandscornfulPower，whommencallthegeniusofhumanity，thouartapowermorerestlesslyuncertain，morebaselesslyuseless，thanwildmountainwind！？Chance，thouterm'stthyself，butthouartnothing;thouinflamesteverythingwiththybreath，crumblestmountainsatthyapproach，andsuddenlyartthyselfdestroyedatthepresenceoftheCrossofdeadwoodbehindwhichstandanotherPowerinvisiblelikethyself—whomthoudeniest，perhaps，butwhoseavenginghandisonthee，andhurlstheeinthedustdishonoredandunnamed！？Lost！—I
　　amlost！？Whatcanbedone？？FleetoBelle—Isle？？Yes，andleavePorthosbehindme，totalkandrelatethewholeaffairtoeveryone！？Porthos，too，whowillhavetosufferforwhathehasdone。？IwillnotletpoorPorthossuffer。？Heseemslikeoneofthemembersofmyownframe;andhisgrieformisfortunewouldbemineaswell。？Porthosshallleavewithme，andshallfollowmydestiny。？Itmustbeso。"
　　AndAramis，apprehensiveofmeetinganyonetowhomhishurriedmovementsmightappearsuspicious，ascendedthestaircasewithoutbeingperceived。？Porthos，sorecentlyreturnedfromParis，wasalreadyinaprofoundsleep;hishugebodyforgotitsfatigue，ashismindforgotitsthoughts。？Aramisentered，lightasashadow，andplacedhisnervousgrasponthegiant'sshoulder。？"Come，Porthos，"hecried，"come。"
　　Porthosobeyed，rosefromhisbed，openedhiseyes，evenbeforehisintelligenceseemedtobearoused。
　　"Weleaveimmediately，"saidAramis。
　　"Ah！"
　　returnedPorthos。
　　"Weshallgomounted，andfasterthanwehaveevergoneinourlives。"
　　"Ah！"
　　repeatedPorthos。
　　"Dressyourself，myfriend。"
　　Andhehelpedthegianttodresshimself，andthrusthisgoldanddiamondsintohispocket。？Whilsthewasthusengaged，aslightnoiseattractedhisattention，andonlookingup，hesawD'Artagnanwatchingthemthroughthehalf—openeddoor。？Aramisstarted。
　　"Whatthedevilareyoudoingthereinsuchanagitatedmanner？"saidthemusketeer。
　　"Hush！"
　　saidPorthos。
　　"Wearegoingoffonamissionofgreatimportance，"addedthebishop。
　　"Youareveryfortunate，"saidthemusketeer。
　　"Oh，dearme！"saidPorthos，"Ifeelsowearied;Iwouldfarsoonerhavebeenfastasleep。？Buttheserviceoftheking？;
　　"HaveyouseenM。Fouquet？"saidAramistoD'Artagnan。
　　"Yes，thisveryminute，inacarriage。"
　　"Whatdidhesaytoyou？"
　　"'Adieu;'
　　nothingmore。"
　　"Wasthatall？"
　　"Whatelsedoyouthinkhecouldsay？？AmI
　　worthanythingnow，sinceyouhavegotintosuchhighfavor？"
　　"Listen，"
　　saidAramis，embracingthemusketeer;"yourgoodtimesarereturningagain。？Youwillhavenooccasiontobejealousofanyone。"
　　"Ah！
　　bah！"
　　"I
　　predictthatsomethingwillhappentoyouto—daywhichwillincreaseyourimportancemorethanever。"
　　"Really？"
　　"YouknowthatIknowallthenews？"
　　"Oh，yes！"
　　"Come，Porthos，areyouready？？Letusgo。"
　　"I
　　amquiteready，Aramis。"
　　"LetusembraceD'Artagnanfirst。"
　　"Mostcertainly。"
　　"Butthehorses？"
　　"Oh！
　　thereisnowantofthemhere。？Willyouhavemine？"
　　"No;
　　Porthoshashisownstud。？Soadieu！
　　adieu！"
　　Thefugitivesmountedtheirhorsesbeneaththeveryeyesofthecaptainofthemusketeers，whoheldPorthos'sstirrupforhim，andgazedafterthemuntiltheywereoutofsight。
　　"Onanyotheroccasion，"thoughttheGascon，"Ishouldsaythatthosegentlemenweremakingtheirescape;butinthesedayspoliticsseemsochangedthatsuchanexitistermedgoingonamission。？Ihavenoobjection;letmeattendtomyownaffairs，thatismorethanenoughforme，"—andhephilosophicallyenteredhisapartments。
　　ChapterXXII:
　　ShowingHowtheCountersignWasRespectedattheBastile。
　　Fouquettorealongasfastashishorsescoulddraghim。？Onhiswayhetrembledwithhorrorattheideaofwhathadjustbeenrevealedtohim。
　　"Whatmusthavebeen，"hethought，"theyouthofthoseextraordinarymen，who，evenasageisstealingfastuponthem，arestillabletoconceivesuchgiganticplans，andcarrythemthroughwithoutatremor？"
　　AtonemomenthecouldnotresisttheideathatallAramishadjustbeenrecountingtohimwasnothingmorethanadream，andwhetherthefableitselfwasnotthesnare;sothatwhenFouquetarrivedattheBastile，hemightpossiblyfindanorderofarrest，whichwouldsendhimtojointhedethronedking。？Stronglyimpressedwiththisidea，hegavecertainsealedordersonhisroute，whilefreshhorseswerebeingharnessedtohiscarriage。？TheseorderswereaddressedtoM。d'Artagnanandtocertainotherswhosefidelitytothekingwasfarabovesuspicion。
　　"Inthisway，"saidFouquettohimself，"prisonerornot，IshallhaveperformedthedutythatIowemyhonor。？Theorderswillnotreachthemuntilaftermyreturn，ifIshouldreturnfree，andconsequentlytheywillnothavebeenunsealed。？Ishalltakethembackagain。？IfIamdelayed;itwillbebecausesomemisfortunewillhavebefallenme;andinthatcaseassistancewillbesentformeaswellasfortheking。"
　　Preparedinthismanner，thesuperintendentarrivedattheBastile;hehadtraveledattherateoffiveleaguesandahalfthehour。？EverycircumstanceofdelaywhichAramishadescapedinhisvisittotheBastilebefellFouquet。？Itwasuselessgivinghisname，equallyuselesshisbeingrecognized;hecouldnotsucceedinobtaininganentrance。？Bydintofentreaties，threats，commands，hesucceededininducingasentineltospeaktooneofthesubalterns，whowentandtoldthemajor。？Asforthegovernortheydidnotevendaredisturbhim。？Fouquetsatinhiscarriage，attheoutergateofthefortress，chafingwithrageandimpatience，awaitingthereturnoftheofficers，whoatlastre—appearedwithasufficientlysulkyair。
　　"Well，"
　　saidFouquet，impatiently，"whatdidthemajorsay？"
　　"Well，monsieur，"repliedthesoldier，"themajorlaughedinmyface。？HetoldmethatM。FouquetwasatVaux，andthatevenwereheatParis，M。Fouquetwouldnotgetupatsoearlyanhourasthepresent。"
　　"Mordieu！youareanabsolutesetoffools，"criedtheminister，dartingoutofthecarriage;andbeforethesubalternhadtimetoshutthegate，Fouquetsprangthroughit，andranforwardinspiteofthesoldier，whocriedoutforassistance。？Fouquetgainedground，regardlessofthecriesoftheman，who，however，havingatlastcomeupwithFouquet，calledouttothesentinelofthesecondgate，"Lookout，lookout，sentinel！"？Themancrossedhispikebeforetheminister;butthelatter，robustandactive，andhurriedaway，too，byhispassion，wrestedthepikefromthesoldierandstruckhimaviolentblowontheshoulderwithit。？Thesubaltern，whoapproachedtooclosely，receivedashareoftheblowsaswell。？Bothofthemutteredloudandfuriouscries，atthesoundofwhichthewholeofthefirstbodyoftheadvancedguardpouredoutoftheguardhouse。？Amongthemtherewasone，however，whorecognizedthesuperintendent，andwhocalled，"Monseigneur，ah！monseigneur。？Stop，stop，youfellows！"？Andheeffectuallycheckedthesoldiers，whowereonthepointofrevengingtheircompanions。？Fouquetdesiredthemtoopenthegate，buttheyrefusedtodosowithoutthecountersign;hedesiredthemtoinformthegovernorofhispresence;butthelatterhadalreadyheardthedisturbanceatthegate。？Heranforward，followedbyhismajor，andaccompaniedbyapicketoftwentymen，persuadedthatanattackwasbeingmadeontheBastile。？BaisemeauxalsorecognizedFouquetimmediately，anddroppedtheswordhebravelyhadbeenbrandishing。
　　"Ah！
　　monseigneur，"hestammered，"howcanIexcuse—"
　　"Monsieur，"
　　saidthesuperintendent，flushedwithanger，andheatedbyhisexertions，"Icongratulateyou。？Yourwatchandwardareadmirablykept。"
　　Baisemeauxturnedpale，thinkingthatthisremarkwasmadeironically，andportendedafuriousburstofanger。？ButFouquethadrecoveredhisbreath，and，beckoningthesentinelandthesubaltern，whowererubbingtheirshoulders，towardshim，hesaid，"Therearetwentypistolesforthesentinel，andfiftyfortheofficer。？Prayreceivemycompliments，gentlemen。？Iwillnotfailtospeaktohismajestyaboutyou。？Andnow，M。Baisemeaux，awordwithyou。"
　　Andhefollowedthegovernortohisofficialresidence，accompaniedbyamurmurofgeneralsatisfaction。？Baisemeauxwasalreadytremblingwithshameanduneasiness。？Aramis'searlyvisit，fromthatmoment，seemedtopossessconsequences，whichafunctionarysuchashe（Baisemeaux）was，wasperfectlyjustifiedinapprehending。？Itwasquiteanotherthing，however，whenFouquetinasharptoneofvoice，andwithanimperiouslook，said，"YouhaveseenM。d'Herblaythismorning？"
　　"Yes，monseigneur。"
　　"Andareyounothorrifiedatthecrimeofwhichyouhavemadeyourselfanaccomplice？"
　　"Well，"
　　thoughtBaisemeaux，"goodsofar;"andthenheadded，aloud，"Butwhatcrime，monseigneur，doyoualludeto？"
　　"Thatforwhichyoucanbequarteredalive，monsieur—donotforgetthat！？Butthisisnotatimetoshowanger。？Conductmeimmediatelytotheprisoner。"
　　"Towhatprisoner？"saidBaisemeaux，trembling。
　　"Youpretendtobeignorant？？Verygood—itisthebestplanforyou，perhaps;forif，infact，youweretoadmityourparticipationinsuchacrime，itwouldbealloverwithyou。？Iwish，therefore，toseemtobelieveinyourassumptionofignorance。"
　　"I
　　entreatyou，monseigneur—"
　　"Thatwilldo。？Leadmetotheprisoner。"
　　"ToMarchiali？"
　　"WhoisMarchiali？"
　　"TheprisonerwhowasbroughtbackthismorningbyM。d'Herblay。"
　　"HeiscalledMarchiali？"saidthesuperintendent，hisconvictionsomewhatshakenbyBaisemeaux'scoolmanner。
　　"Yes，monseigneur;thatisthenameunderwhichhewasinscribedhere。"
　　FouquetlookedsteadilyatBaisemeaux，asifhewouldreadhisveryheart;andperceived，withthatclear—sightednessmostmenpossesswhoareaccustomedtotheexerciseofpower，thatthemanwasspeakingwithperfectsincerity。？Besides，inobservinghisfaceforafewmoments，hecouldnotbelievethatAramiswouldhavechosensuchaconfidant。
　　"Itistheprisoner，"saidthesuperintendenttohim，"whomM。d'Herblaycarriedawaythedaybeforeyesterday？"
　　"Yes，monseigneur。"
　　"Andwhomhebroughtbackthismorning？"addedFouquet，quickly:forheunderstoodimmediatelythemechanismofAramis'splan。
　　"Precisely，monseigneur。"
　　"AndhisnameisMarchiali，yousay？"
　　"Yes，Marchiali。？Ifmonseigneurhascomeheretoremovehim，somuchthebetter，forIwasgoingtowriteabouthim。"
　　"Whathashedone，then？"
　　"Eversincethismorninghehasannoyedmeextremely。？Hehashadsuchterriblefitsofpassion，asalmosttomakemebelievethathewouldbringtheBastileitselfdownaboutourears。"
　　"I
　　willsoonrelieveyouofhispossession，"saidFouquet。
　　"Ah！
　　somuchthebetter。"
　　"Conductmetohisprison。"
　　"Willmonseigneurgivemetheorder？"
　　"Whatorder？"
　　"Anorderfromtheking。"
　　"WaituntilIsignyouone。"
　　"Thatwillnotbesufficient，monseigneur。？I
　　musthaveanorderfromtheking。"
　　Fouquetassumedanirritatedexpression。？"Asyouaresoscrupulous，"hesaid，"withregardtoallowingprisonerstoleave，showmetheorderbywhichthisonewassetatliberty。"
　　BaisemeauxshowedhimtheordertoreleaseSeldon。
　　"Verygood，"saidFouquet;"butSeldonisnotMarchiali。"
　　"ButMarchialiisnotatliberty，monseigneur;heishere。"
　　"ButyousaidthatM。d'Herblaycarriedhimawayandbroughthimbackagain。"
　　"I
　　didnotsayso。"
　　"Sosurelydidyousayit，thatIalmostseemtohearitnow。"
　　"Itwasaslipofmytongue，then，monseigneur。"
　　"Takecare，M。Baisemeaux，takecare。"
　　"I
　　havenothingtofear，monseigneur;Iamactingaccordingtotheverystrictestregulation。"
　　"Doyoudaretosayso？"
　　"Iwouldsaysointhepresenceofoneoftheapostles。？M。d'HerblaybroughtmeanordertosetSeldonatliberty。？Seldonisfree。"
　　"ItellyouthatMarchialihaslefttheBastile。"
　　"Youmustprovethat，monseigneur。"
　　"Letmeseehim。"
　　"You，monseigneur，whogovernthiskingdom，knowverywellthatnoonecanseeanyoftheprisonerswithoutanexpressorderfromtheking。"
　　"M。
　　d'Herblayhasentered，however。"
　　"Thatremainstobeproved，monseigneur。"
　　"M。deBaisemeaux，oncemoreIwarnyoutopayparticularattentiontowhatyouaresaying。"
　　"Allthedocumentsarethere，monseigneur。"
　　"M。
　　d'Herblayisoverthrown。"
　　"Overthrown？
　　—M。d'Herblay！？Impossible！"
　　"Youseethathehasundoubtedlyinfluencedyou。"
　　"No，monseigneur;whatdoes，infact，influenceme，istheking'sservice。？Iamdoingmyduty。？Givemeanorderfromhim，andyoushallenter。"
　　"Stay，M。
　　legouverneur，Igiveyoumywordthatifyouallowmetoseetheprisoner，I
　　willgiveyouanorderfromthekingatonce。"
　　"Giveittomenow，monseigneur。"
　　"Andthat，ifyourefuseme，Iwillhaveyouandallyourofficersarrestedonthespot。"
　　"Beforeyoucommitsuchanactofviolence，monseigneur，youwillreflect，"saidBaisemeaux，whohadturnedverypale，"thatwewillonlyobeyanordersignedbytheking;andthatitwillbejustaseasyforyoutoobtainonetoseeMarchialiastoobtainonetodomesomuchinjury;me，too，whoamperfectlyinnocent。"
　　"True。？True！"criedFouquet，furiously;
　　"perfectlytrue。？M。deBaisemeaux，"
　　headded，inasonorousvoice，drawingtheunhappygovernortowardshim，"doyouknowwhyIamsoanxioustospeaktotheprisoner？"
　　"No，monseigneur;andallowmetoobservethatyouareterrifyingmeoutofmysenses;Iamtremblingallover—infact，IfeelasthoughIwereabouttofaint。"
　　"Youwillstandabetterchanceoffaintingoutright，MonsieurBaisemeaux，whenIreturnhereattheheadoftenthousandmenandthirtypiecesofcannon。"
　　"Goodheavens，monseigneur，youarelosingyoursenses。"
　　"WhenI
　　haverousedthewholepopulationofParisagainstyouandyouraccursedtowers，andhavebatteredopenthegatesofthisplace，andhangedyoutothetopmosttreeofyonderpinnacle！"
　　"Monseigneur！
　　monseigneur！forpity'ssake！"
　　"Igiveyoutenminutestomakeupyourmind，"addedFouquet，inacalmvoice。？"Iwillsitdownhere，inthisarmchair，andwaitforyou;if，intenminutes'time，youstillpersist，I
　　leavethisplace，andyoumaythinkmeasmadasyoulike。？Then—youshallsee！"
　　Baisemeauxstampedhisfootonthegroundlikeamaninastateofdespair，buthedidnotreplyasinglesyllable;whereuponFouquetseizedapenandink，andwrote:
　　"OrderforM。lePr関魌desMarchandstoassemblethemunicipalguardandtomarchupontheBastileontheking'simmediateservice。"
　　Baisemeauxshruggedhisshoulders。？Fouquetwrote:
　　"OrderfortheDucdeBouillonandM。lePrincedeCond？toassumethecommandoftheSwissguards，oftheking'sguards，andtomarchupontheBastileontheking'simmediateservice";
　　Baisemeauxreflected。？Fouquetstillwrote:
　　"Orderforeverysoldier，citizen，orgentlemantoseizeandapprehend，whereverhemaybefound，leChevalierd'Herblay，Ev阸uedeVannes，andhisaccomplices，whoare:
　　first，M。deBaisemeaux，governoroftheBastile，suspectedofthecrimesofhightreasonandrebellion—"
　　"Stop，monseigneur！"criedBaisemeaux;"Idonotunderstandasinglejotofthewholematter;butsomanymisfortunes，evenwereitmadnessitselfthathadsetthemattheirawfulwork，mighthappenhereinacoupleofhours，thattheking，bywhomImustbejudged，willseewhetherIhavebeenwronginwithdrawingthecountersignbeforethisfloodofimminentcatastrophes。？Comewithmetothekeep，monseigneur，youshallseeMarchiali。"
　　Fouquetdartedoutoftheroom，followedbyBaisemeauxashewipedtheperspirationfromhisface。？"Whataterriblemorning！"hesaid;"whatadisgraceforme！"
　　"Walkfaster，"repliedFouquet。
　　Baisemeauxmadeasigntothejailertoprecedethem。？Hewasafraidofhiscompanion，whichthelattercouldnotfailtoperceive。
　　"Atrucetothischild'splay，"hesaid，roughly。？"Letthemanremainhere;takethekeysyourself，andshowmetheway。？Notasingleperson，doyouunderstand，musthearwhatisgoingtotakeplacehere。"
　　"Ah！"
　　saidBaisemeaux，undecided。
　　"Again！"
　　criedM。Fouquet。？"Ah！say'no'atonce，andIwillleavetheBastileandwillmyselfcarrymyowndispatches。"
　　Baisemeauxbowedhishead，tookthekeys，andunaccompanied，exceptbytheminister，ascendedthestaircase。？Thehighertheyadvancedupthespiralstaircase，themoreclearlydidcertainmuffledmurmursbecomedistinctappealsandfearfulimprecations。
　　"Whatisthat？"askedFouquet。
　　"ThatisyourMarchiali，"saidthegovernor;"thisisthewaythesemadmenscream。"
　　Andheaccompaniedthatreplywithaglancemorepregnantwithinjuriousallusion，asfarasFouquetwasconcerned，thanpoliteness。？Thelattertrembled;hehadjustrecognizedinonecrymoreterriblethananythathadprecededit，theking'svoice。？Hepausedonthestaircase，snatchingthebunchofkeysfromBaisemeaux，whothoughtthisnewmadmanwasgoingtodashouthisbrainswithoneofthem。？"Ah！"hecried，"M。d'Herblaydidnotsayawordaboutthat。"
　　"Givemethekeysatonce！"criedFouquet，tearingthemfromhishand。？"WhichisthekeyofthedoorIamtoopen？"
　　"Thatone。"
　　Afearfulcry，followedbyaviolentblowagainstthedoor，madethewholestaircaseresoundwiththeecho。
　　"Leavethisplace，"saidFouquettoBaisemeaux，inathreateningtone。
　　"Iasknothingbetter，"murmuredthelatter，tohimself。？"Therewillbeacoupleofmadmenfacetoface，andtheonewillkilltheother，Iamsure。"
　　"Go！"
　　repeatedFouquet。？"IfyouplaceyourfootonthisstaircasebeforeIcallyou，rememberthatyoushalltaketheplaceofthemeanestprisonerintheBastile。"
　　"Thisjobwillkillme，Iamsureitwill，"mutteredBaisemeaux，ashewithdrewwithtotteringsteps。
　　Theprisoner'scriesbecamemoreandmoreterrible。？WhenFouquethadsatisfiedhimselfthatBaisemeauxhadreachedthebottomofthestaircase，heinsertedthekeyinthefirstlock。？Itwasthenthatheheardthehoarse，chokingvoiceoftheking，cryingout，inafrenzyofrage，"Help，help！？Iamtheking。"？Thekeyoftheseconddoorwasnotthesameasthefirst，andFouquetwasobligedtolookforitonthebunch。？Theking，however，furiousandalmostmadwithrageandpassion，shoutedatthetopofhisvoice，"ItwasM。Fouquetwhobroughtmehere。？HelpmeagainstM。
　　Fouquet！？Iamtheking！？HelpthekingagainstM。Fouquet！"？Thesecriesfilledtheminister'sheartwithterribleemotions。？Theywerefollowedbyashowerofblowsleveledagainstthedoorwithapartofthebrokenchairwithwhichthekinghadarmedhimself。？Fouquetatlastsucceededinfindingthekey。？Thekingwasalmostexhausted;hecouldhardlyarticulatedistinctlyasheshouted，"DeathtoFouquet！deathtothetraitorFouquet！"？Thedoorflewopen。