ChapterXXIII:
　　TheKing'sGratitude。
　　Thetwomenwereonthepointofdartingtowardseachotherwhentheysuddenlyandabruptlystopped，asamutualrecognitiontookplace，andeachutteredacryofhorror。
　　"Haveyoucometoassassinateme，monsieur？"saidtheking，whenherecognizedFouquet。
　　"Thekinginthisstate！"murmuredtheminister。
　　NothingcouldbemoreterribleindeedthantheappearanceoftheyoungprinceatthemomentFouquethadsurprisedhim;hisclotheswereintatters;hisshirt，openandtorntorags，wasstainedwithsweatandwiththebloodwhichstreamedfromhislaceratedbreastandarms。？Haggard，ghastlypale，hishairindisheveledmasses，LouisXIV。presentedthemostperfectpictureofdespair，distress，angerandfearcombinedthatcouldpossiblybeunitedinonefigure。？Fouquetwassotouched，soaffectedanddisturbedbyit，thatherantowardshimwithhisarmsstretchedoutandhiseyesfilledwithtears。？Louisheldupthemassivepieceofwoodofwhichhehadmadesuchafurioususe。
　　"Sire，"
　　saidFouquet，inavoicetremblingwithemotion，"doyounotrecognizethemostfaithfulofyourfriends？"
　　"A
　　friend—you！"repeatedLouis，gnashinghisteethinamannerwhichbetrayedhishateanddesireforspeedyvengeance。
　　"Themostrespectfulofyourservants，"addedFouquet，throwinghimselfonhisknees。？Thekinglettherudeweaponfallfromhisgrasp。？Fouquetapproachedhim，kissedhisknees，andtookhiminhisarmswithinconceivabletenderness。
　　"Myking，mychild，"hesaid，"howyoumusthavesuffered！"
　　Louis，recalledtohimselfbythechangeofsituation，lookedathimself，andashamedofthedisorderedstateofhisapparel，ashamedofhisconduct，andashamedoftheairofpityandprotectionthatwasshowntowardshim，drewback。？Fouquetdidnotunderstandthismovement;hedidnotperceivethattheking'sfeelingofpridewouldneverforgivehimforhavingbeenawitnessofsuchanexhibitionofweakness。
　　"Come，sire，"hesaid，"youarefree。"
　　"Free？"
　　repeatedtheking。？"Oh！yousetmeatliberty，then，afterhavingdaredtoliftupyourhandagainstme。"
　　"Youdonotbelievethat！"exclaimedFouquet，indignantly;"youcannotbelievemetobeguiltyofsuchanact。"
　　Andrapidly，warmlyeven，herelatedthewholeparticularsoftheintrigue，thedetailsofwhicharealreadyknowntothereader。？Whiletherecitalcontinued，Louissufferedthemosthorribleanguishofmind;andwhenitwasfinished，themagnitudeofthedangerhehadrunstruckhimfarmorethantheimportanceofthesecretrelativetohistwinbrother。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　hesaid，suddenlytoFouquet，"thisdoublebirthisafalsehood;itisimpossible—youcannothavebeenthedupeofit。"
　　"Sire！"
　　"Itisimpossible，Itellyou，thatthehonor，thevirtueofmymothercanbesuspected，andmyfirstministerhasnotyetdonejusticeonthecriminals！"
　　"Reflect，sire，beforeyouarehurriedawaybyanger，"repliedFouquet。？"Thebirthofyourbrother—"
　　"I
　　haveonlyonebrother—andthatisMonsieur。？Youknowitaswellasmyself。？Thereisaplot，Itellyou，beginningwiththegovernoroftheBastile。"
　　"Becareful，sire，forthismanhasbeendeceivedaseveryoneelsehasbytheprince'slikenesstoyourself。"
　　"Likeness？？Absurd！"
　　"ThisMarchialimustbesingularlylikeyourmajesty，tobeabletodeceiveeveryone'seye，"Fouquetpersisted。
　　"Ridiculous！"
　　"Donotsayso，sire;
　　thosewhohadpreparedeverythinginordertofaceanddeceiveyourministers，yourmother，yourofficersofstate，themembersofyourfamily，mustbequiteconfidentoftheresemblancebetweenyou。"
　　"Butwherearethesepersons，then？"murmuredtheking。
　　"AtVaux。"
　　"AtVaux！andyousufferthemtoremainthere！"
　　"Mymostinstantdutyappearedtometobeyourmajesty'srelease。？Ihaveaccomplishedthatduty;andnow，whateveryourmajestymaycommand，shallbedone。？Iawaityourorders。"
　　Louisreflectedforafewmoments。
　　"MusterallthetroopsinParis，"hesaid。
　　"Allthenecessaryordersaregivenforthatpurpose，"repliedFouquet。
　　"Youhavegivenorders！"exclaimedtheking。
　　"Forthatpurpose，yes，sire;yourmajestywillbeattheheadoftenthousandmeninlessthananhour。"
　　TheonlyreplythekingmadewastotakeholdofFouquet'shandwithsuchanexpressionoffeeling，thatitwasveryeasytoperceivehowstronglyhehad，untilthatremark，maintainedhissuspicionsoftheminister，notwithstandingthelatter'sintervention。
　　"Andwiththesetroops，"hesaid，"weshallgoatonceandbesiegeinyourhousetherebelswhobythistimewillhaveestablishedandintrenchedthemselvestherein。"
　　"I
　　shouldbesurprisedifthatwerethecase，"repliedFouquet。
　　"Why？"
　　"Becausetheirchief—theverysouloftheenterprise—havingbeenunmaskedbyme，thewholeplanseemstometohavemiscarried。"
　　"Youhaveunmaskedthisfalseprincealso？"
　　"No，Ihavenotseenhim。"
　　"Whomhaveyouseen，then？"
　　"Theleaderoftheenterprise，notthatunhappyyoungman;thelatterismerelyaninstrument，destinedthroughhiswholelifetowretchedness，Iplainlyperceive。"
　　"Mostcertainly。"
　　"ItisM。l'Abb？d'Herblay，Ev阸uedeVannes";
　　"Yourfriend？"
　　"Hewasmyfriend，sire，"repliedFouquet，nobly。
　　"Anunfortunatecircumstanceforyou，"saidtheking，inalessgeneroustoneofvoice。
　　"Suchfriendships，sire，hadnothingdishonorableinthemsolongasIwasignorantofthecrime。"
　　"Youshouldhaveforeseenit。"
　　"IfIamguilty，Iplacemyselfinyourmajesty'shands。"
　　"Ah！？MonsieurFouquet，itwasnotthatI
　　meant，"returnedtheking，sorrytohaveshownthebitternessofhisthoughtinsuchamanner。？"Well！？Iassureyouthat，notwithstandingthemaskwithwhichthevillaincoveredhisface，Ihadsomethinglikeavaguesuspicionthathewastheveryman。？Butwiththischiefoftheenterprisetherewasamanofprodigiousstrength，theonewhomenacedmewithaforcealmostherculean;whatishe？"
　　"ItmustbehisfriendtheBaronduVallon，formerlyoneofthemusketeers。"
　　"ThefriendofD'Artagnan？thefriendoftheComtedelaF鑢e？？Ah！"exclaimedtheking，ashepausedatthenameofthelatter，"wemustnotforgettheconnectionthatexistedbetweentheconspiratorsandM。deBragelonne。"
　　"Sire，sire，donotgotoofar。？M。delaF鑢eisthemosthonorablemaninFrance。？BesatisfiedwiththosewhomIdeliveruptoyou。"
　　"Withthosewhomyoudeliveruptome，yousay？？Verygood，foryouwilldeliverupthosewhoareguiltytome。"
　　"Whatdoesyourmajestyunderstandbythat？"inquiredFouquet。
　　"I
　　understand，"repliedtheking，"thatweshallsoonarriveatVauxwithalargebodyoftroops，thatwewilllayviolenthandsuponthatnestofvipers，andthatnotasoulshallescape。"
　　"Yourmajestywillputthesementodeath！"criedFouquet。
　　"Totheverymeanestofthem。"
　　"Oh！
　　sire。"
　　"Letusunderstandoneanother，MonsieurFouquet，"saidtheking，haughtily。？"Wenolongerliveintimeswhenassassinationwastheonlyandthelastresourcekingsheldinreservationatextremity。？No，Heavenbepraised！？Ihaveparliamentswhositandjudgeinmyname，andIhavescaffoldsonwhichsupremeauthorityiscarriedout。"
　　Fouquetturnedpale。？"Iwilltakethelibertyofobservingtoyourmajesty，thatanyproceedingsinstitutedrespectingthesematterswouldbringdownthegreatestscandaluponthedignityofthethrone。？TheaugustnameofAnneofAustriamustneverbeallowedtopassthelipsofthepeopleaccompaniedbyasmile。"
　　"Justicemustbedone，however，monsieur。"
　　"Good，sire;butroyalbloodmustnotbesheduponascaffold。"
　　"Theroyalblood！youbelievethat！"criedthekingwithfuryinhisvoice，stampinghisfootontheground。？"Thisdoublebirthisaninvention;andinthatinvention，particularly，doIseeM。
　　d'Herblay'scrime。？ItisthecrimeI
　　wishtopunishratherthantheviolence，ortheinsult。"
　　"Andpunishitwithdeath，sire？"
　　"Withdeath;yes，monsieur，Ihavesaidit。"
　　"Sire，"
　　saidthesurintendant，withfirmness，asheraisedhisheadproudly，"yourmajestywilltakethelife，ifyouplease，ofyourbrotherPhilippeofFrance;
　　thatconcernsyoualone，andyouwilldoubtlessconsultthequeen—motheruponthesubject。？Whatevershemaycommandwillbeperfectlycorrect。？Idonotwishtomixmyselfupinit，notevenforthehonorofyourcrown，butIhaveafavortoaskofyou，andIbegtosubmitittoyou。"
　　"Speak，"
　　saidtheking，innolittledegreeagitatedbyhisminister'slastwords。？"Whatdoyourequire？"
　　"ThepardonofM。d'HerblayandofM。duVallon。"
　　"Myassassins？"
　　"Tworebels，sire，thatisall。"
　　"Oh！？Iunderstand，then，youaskmetoforgiveyourfriends。"
　　"Myfriends！"saidFouquet，deeplywounded。
　　"Yourfriends，certainly;butthesafetyofthestaterequiresthatanexemplarypunishmentshouldbeinflictedontheguilty。"
　　"IwillnotpermitmyselftoremindyourmajestythatIhavejustrestoredyoutoliberty，andhavesavedyourlife。"
　　"Monsieur！"
　　"IwillnotallowmyselftoremindyourmajestythathadM。d'Herblaywishedtocarryouthischaracterofanassassin，hecouldveryeasilyhaveassassinatedyourmajestythismorningintheforestofSenart，andallwouldhavebeenover。"？Thekingstarted。
　　"A
　　pistol—bulletthroughthehead，"pursuedFouquet，"andthedisfiguredfeaturesofLouisXIV。，whichnoonecouldhaverecognized，wouldbeM。
　　d'Herblay'scompleteandentirejustification。"
　　Thekingturnedpaleandgiddyatthebareideaofthedangerhehadescaped。
　　"IfM。d'Herblay，"
　　continuedFouquet，"hadbeenanassassin，hehadnooccasiontoinformmeofhisplaninordertosucceed。？Freedfromtherealking，itwouldhavebeenimpossibleinallfuturitytoguessthefalse。？AndiftheusurperhadbeenrecognizedbyAnneofAustria，hewouldstillhavebeen—herson。？Theusurper，asfarasMonsieurd'Herblay'sconsciencewasconcerned，wasstillakingofthebloodofLouisXIII。？Moreover，theconspirator，inthatcourse，wouldhavehadsecurity，secrecy，impunity。？Apistol—bulletwouldhaveprocuredhimallthat。？ForthesakeofHeaven，sire，grantmehisforgiveness。"
　　Theking，insteadofbeingtouchedbythepicture，sofaithfullydrawninalldetails，ofAramis'sgenerosity，felthimselfmostpainfullyandcruellyhumiliated。？Hisunconquerablepriderevoltedattheideathatamanhadheldsuspendedattheendofhisfingerthethreadofhisroyallife。？EverywordthatfellfromFouquet'slips，andwhichhethoughtmostefficaciousinprocuringhisfriend'spardon，seemedtopouranotherdropofpoisonintothealreadyulceratedheartofLouisXIV。？Nothingcouldbendorsoftenhim。？AddressinghimselftoFouquet，hesaid，"Ireallydon'tknow，monsieur，whyyoushouldsolicitthepardonofthesemen。？Whatgoodisthereinaskingthatwhichcanbeobtainedwithoutsolicitation？"
　　"Idonotunderstandyou，sire。"
　　"Itisnotdifficult，either。？WhereamI
　　now？"
　　"IntheBastile，sire。"
　　"Yes;inadungeon。？Iamlookeduponasamadman，amInot？"
　　"Yes，sire。"
　　"AndnooneisknownherebutMarchiali？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Well;
　　changenothinginthepositionofaffairs。？LetthepoormadmanrotbetweentheslimywallsoftheBastile，andM。
　　d'HerblayandM。duVallonwillstandinnoneedofmyforgiveness。？Theirnewkingwillabsolvethem。"
　　"Yourmajestydoesmeagreatinjustice，sire;andyouarewrong，"repliedFouquet，dryly;"Iamnotchildenough，norisM。d'Herblaysillyenough，tohaveomittedtomakeallthesereflections;andifIhadwishedtomakeanewking，asyousay，IhadnooccasiontohavecomeheretoforceopenthegatesanddoorsoftheBastile，tofreeyoufromthisplace。？Thatwouldshowawantofevencommonsense。？Yourmajesty'smindisdisturbedbyanger;otherwiseyouwouldbefarfromoffending，groundlessly，theveryoneofyourservantswhohasrenderedyouthemostimportantserviceofall。"
　　Louisperceivedthathehadgonetoofar;thatthegatesoftheBastilewerestillcloseduponhim，whilst，bydegrees，thefloodgatesweregraduallybeingopened，behindwhichthegenerous—heartedFouquethadrestrainedhisanger。？"Ididnotsaythattohumiliateyou，Heavenknows，monsieur，"hereplied。？"Onlyyouareaddressingyourselftomeinordertoobtainapardon，andIansweraccordingtomyconscience。？Andso，judgingbymyconscience，thecriminalswespeakofarenotworthyofconsiderationorforgiveness。"
　　Fouquetwassilent。
　　"WhatIdoisasgenerous，"addedtheking，"aswhatyouhavedone，forIaminyourpower。？Iwillevensayitismoregenerous，inasmuchasyouplacebeforemecertainconditionsuponwhichmyliberty，mylife，maydepend;andtorejectwhichistomakeasacrificeofboth。"
　　"Iwaswrong，certainly，"repliedFouquet。？"Yes，—Ihadtheappearanceofextortingafavor;Iregretit，andentreatyourmajesty'sforgiveness。"
　　"Andyouareforgiven，mydearMonsieurFouquet，"saidtheking，withasmile，whichrestoredthesereneexpressionofhisfeatures，whichsomanycircumstanceshadalteredsincetheprecedingevening。
　　"Ihavemyownforgiveness，"repliedtheminister，withsomedegreeofpersistence;
　　"butM。d'Herblay，andM。duVallon？"
　　"Theywillneverobtaintheirs，aslongasIlive，"repliedtheinflexibleking。？"Domethekindnessnottospeakofitagain。"
　　"Yourmajestyshallbeobeyed。"
　　"Andyouwillbearmenoill—willforit？"
　　"Oh！no，sire;forIanticipatedtheevent。"
　　"Youhad'anticipated'thatIshouldrefusetoforgivethosegentlemen？"
　　"Certainly;
　　andallmymeasuresweretakeninconsequence。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeantosay？"criedtheking，surprised。
　　"M。
　　d'Herblaycame，asmaybesaid，todeliverhimselfintomyhands。？M。d'Herblaylefttomethehappinessofsavingmykingandmycountry。？IcouldnotcondemnM。d'Herblaytodeath;norcouldI，ontheotherhand，exposehimtoyourmajesty'sjustifiablewrath;itwouldhavebeenjustthesameasifI
　　hadkilledhimmyself。"
　　"Well！andwhathaveyoudone？"
　　"Sire，I
　　gaveM。d'Herblaythebesthorsesinmystablesandfourhours'startoverallthoseyourmajestymight，probably，dispatchafterhim。"
　　"Beitso！"murmuredtheking。？"Butstill，theworldiswideenoughandlargeenoughforthosewhomImaysendtoovertakeyourhorses，notwithstandingthe'fourhours'start'whichyouhavegiventoM。d'Herblay。"
　　"Ingivinghimthesefourhours，sire，IknewIwasgivinghimhislife，andhewillsavehislife。"
　　"Inwhatway？"
　　"Afterhavinggallopedashardaspossible，withthefourhours'start，beforeyourmusketeers，hewillreachmych鈚eauofBelle—Isle，whereIhavegivenhimasafeasylum。"
　　"Thatmaybe！？ButyouforgetthatyouhavemademeapresentofBelle—Isle。"
　　"Butnotforyoutoarrestmyfriends。"
　　"Youtakeitbackagain，then？"
　　"Asfarasthatgoes—yes，sire。"
　　"Mymusketeersshallcaptureit，andtheaffairwillbeatanend。"
　　"Neitheryourmusketeers，noryourwholearmycouldtakeBelle—Isle，"saidFouquet，coldly。？"Belle—Isleisimpregnable。"
　　Thekingbecameperfectlylivid;alightningflashseemedtodartfromhiseyes。？Fouquetfeltthathewaslost，butheasnotonetoshrinkwhenthevoiceofhonorspokeloudlywithinhim。？Heboretheking'swrathfulgaze;thelatterswallowedhisrage，andafterafewmoments'silence，said，"ArewegoingtoreturntoVaux？"
　　"Iamatyourmajesty'sorders，"repliedFouquet，withalowbow;"butIthinkthatyourmajestycanhardlydispensewithchangingyourclothesprevioustoappearingbeforeyourcourt。"
　　"WeshallpassbytheLouvre，"saidtheking。？"Come。"？Andtheylefttheprison，passingbeforeBaisemeaux，wholookedcompletelybewilderedashesawMarchialioncemoreleave;and，inhishelplessness，toreoutthemajorportionofhisfewremaininghairs。？Itwasperfectlytrue，however，thatFouquetwroteandgavehimanauthorityfortheprisoner'srelease，andthatthekingwrotebeneathit，"Seenandapproved，Louis";apieceofmadnessthatBaisemeaux，incapableofputtingtwoideastogether，acknowledgedbygivinghimselfaterribleblowontheforeheadwithhisownfist。
　　ChapterXXIV:
　　TheFalseKing。
　　Inthemeantime，usurpedroyaltywasplayingoutitspartbravelyatVaux。？Philippegaveordersthatforhispetitleverthegrandesentr閑s，alreadypreparedtoappearbeforetheking，shouldbeintroduced。？HedeterminedtogivethisordernotwithstandingtheabsenceofM。d'Herblay，whodidnotreturn—
　　ourreadersknowthereason。？Buttheprince，notbelievingthatabsencecouldbeprolonged，wished，asallrashspiritsdo，totryhisvalorandhisfortunefarfromallprotectionandinstruction。？Anotherreasonurgedhimtothis—AnneofAustriawasabouttoappear;theguiltymotherwasabouttostandinthepresenceofhersacrificedson。？Philippewasnotwilling，ifhehadaweakness，torenderthemanawitnessofitbeforewhomhewasboundthenceforthtodisplaysomuchstrength。？Philippeopenedhisfoldingdoors，andseveralpersonsenteredsilently。？Philippedidnotstirwhilsthisvaletsdechambredressedhim。？Hehadwatched，theeveningbefore，allthehabitsofhisbrother，andplayedthekinginsuchamannerastoawakennosuspicion。？Hewasthuscompletelydressedinhuntingcostumewhenhereceivedhisvisitors。？HisownmemoryandthenotesofAramisannouncedeverybodytohim，firstofallAnneofAustria，towhomMonsieurgavehishand，andthenMadamewithM。deSaint—Aignan。？Hesmiledatseeingthesecountenances，buttrembledonrecognizinghismother。？Thatstillsonobleandimposingfigure，ravagedbypain，pleadedinhisheartthecauseofthefamousqueenwhohadimmolatedachildtoreasonsofstate。？Hefoundhismotherstillhandsome。？HeknewthatLouisXIV。lovedher，andhepromisedhimselftoloveherlikewise，andnottoproveascourgetoheroldage。？Hecontemplatedhisbrotherwithatendernesseasilytobeunderstood。？Thelatterhadusurpednothing，hadcastnoshadesathwarthislife。？Aseparatetree，heallowedthestemtorisewithoutheedingitselevationormajesticlife。？Philippepromisedhimselftobeakindbrothertothisprince，whorequirednothingbutgoldtoministertohispleasures。？HebowedwithafriendlyairtoSaint—Aignan，whowasallreverencesandsmiles，andtremblingheldouthishandtoHenrietta，hissister—in—law，whosebeautystruckhim;buthesawintheeyesofthatprincessanexpressionofcoldnesswhichwouldfacilitate，ashethought，theirfuturerelations。
　　"Howmuchmoreeasy，"thoughthe，"itwillbetobethebrotherofthatwomanthanhergallant，ifsheevincestowardsmeacoldnessthatmybrothercouldnothaveforher，butwhichisimposeduponmeasaduty。"？Theonlyvisithedreadedatthismomentwasthatofthequeen;hisheart—hismind—hadjustbeenshakenbysoviolentatrial，that，inspiteoftheirfirmtemperament，theywouldnot，perhaps，supportanothershock。？Happilythequeendidnotcome。？Thencommenced，onthepartofAnneofAustria，apoliticaldissertationuponthewelcomeM。
　　FouquethadgiventothehouseofFrance。？Shemixeduphostilitieswithcomplimentsaddressedtotheking，andquestionsastohishealth，withlittlematernalflatteriesanddiplomaticartifices。
　　"Well，myson，"saidshe，"areyouconvincedwithregardtoM。
　　Fouquet？"
　　"Saint—Aignan，"
　　saidPhilippe，"havethegoodnesstogoandinquireafterthequeen。"
　　Atthesewords，thefirstPhilippehadpronouncedaloud，theslightdifferencethattherewasbetweenhisvoiceandthatofthekingwassensibletomaternalears，andAnneofAustrialookedearnestlyatherson。？Saint—Aignanlefttheroom，andPhilippecontinued:
　　"Madame，IdonotliketohearM。Fouquetill—spokenof，youknowIdonot—andyouhaveevenspokenwellofhimyourself。"
　　"Thatistrue;thereforeIonlyquestionyouonthestateofyoursentimentswithrespecttohim。"
　　"Sire，"
　　saidHenrietta，"I，onmypart，havealwayslikedM。Fouquet。？Heisamanofgoodtaste，—asuperiorman。"
　　"A
　　superintendentwhoisneversordidorniggardly，"addedMonsieur;
　　"andwhopaysingoldalltheordersIhaveonhim。"
　　"Everyoneinthisthinkstoomuchofhimself，andnobodyforthestate，"saidtheoldqueen。？"M。Fouquet，itisafact，M。Fouquetisruiningthestate。"
　　"Well，mother！"repliedPhilippe，inratheralowerkey，"doyoulikewiseconstituteyourselfthebucklerofM。Colbert？"
　　"Howisthat？"repliedtheoldqueen，rathersurprised。
　　"Why，intruth，"repliedPhilippe，"youspeakthatjustasyouroldfriendMadamedeChevreusewouldspeak。"
　　"WhydoyoumentionMadamedeChevreusetome？"saidshe，"andwhatsortofhumorareyouinto—daytowardsme？"
　　Philippecontinued:"IsnotMadamedeChevreusealwaysinleagueagainstsomebody？？HasnotMadamedeChevreusebeentopayyouavisit，mother？"
　　"Monsieur，youspeaktomenowinsuchamannerthatIcanalmostfancyIamlisteningtoyourfather。"
　　"MyfatherdidnotlikeMadamedeChevreuse，andhadgoodreasonfornotlikingher，"saidtheprince。？"Formypart，Ilikehernobetterthanhedid，andifshethinkspropertocomehereassheformerlydid，tosowdivisionsandhatredsunderthepretextofbeggingmoney—why—"
　　"Well！
　　what？"saidAnneofAustria，proudly，herselfprovokingthestorm。
　　"Well！"
　　repliedtheyoungmanfirmly，"IwilldriveMadamedeChevreuseoutofmykingdom—andwithherallwhomeddlewithitssecretsandmysteries。"
　　Hehadnotcalculatedtheeffectofthisterriblespeech，orperhapshewishedtojudgetheeffectofit，likethosewho，sufferingfromachronicpain，andseekingtobreakthemonotonyofthatsuffering，touchtheirwoundtoprocureasharperpang。？AnneofAustriawasnearlyfainting;hereyes，openbutmeaningless，ceasedtoseeforseveralseconds;shestretchedoutherarmstowardsherotherson，whosupportedandembracedherwithoutfearofirritatingtheking。
　　"Sire，"
　　murmuredshe，"youaretreatingyourmotherverycruelly。"
　　"Inwhatrespect，madame？"repliedhe。？"IamonlyspeakingofMadamedeChevreuse;doesmymotherpreferMadamedeChevreusetothesecurityofthestateandofmyperson？？Well，then，madame，ItellyouMadamedeChevreusehasreturnedtoFrancetoborrowmoney，andthatsheaddressedherselftoM。Fouquettosellhimacertainsecret。"
　　"A
　　certainsecret！"criedAnneofAustria。
　　"Concerningpretendedrobberiesthatmonsieurlesurintendanthadcommitted，whichisfalse，"addedPhilippe。？"M。
　　Fouquetrejectedherofferswithindignation，preferringtheesteemofthekingtocomplicitywithsuchintriguers。？ThenMadamedeChevreusesoldthesecrettoM。Colbert，andassheisinsatiable，andwasnotsatisfiedwithhavingextortedahundredthousandcrownsfromaservantofthestate，shehastakenastillbolderflight，insearchofsurersourcesofsupply。？Isthattrue，madame？"
　　"Youknowall，sire，"saidthequeen，moreuneasythanirritated。
　　"Now，"
　　continuedPhilippe，"Ihavegoodreasontodislikethisfury，whocomestomycourttoplantheshameofsomeandtheruinofothers。？IfHeavenhassufferedcertaincrimestobecommitted，andhasconcealedthemintheshadowofitsclemency，IwillnotpermitMadamedeChevreusetocounteractthejustdesignsoffate。"
　　Thelatterpartofthisspeechhadsoagitatedthequeen—mother，thathersonhadpityonher。？Hetookherhandandkissedittenderly;shedidnotfeelthatinthatkiss，giveninspiteofrepulsionandbitternessoftheheart，therewasapardonforeightyearsofsuffering。？Philippeallowedthesilenceofamomenttoswallowtheemotionsthathadjustdevelopedthemselves。？Then，withacheerfulsmile:
　　"Wewillnotgoto—day，"saidhe，"Ihaveaplan。"？And，turningtowardsthedoor，hehopedtoseeAramis，whoseabsencebegantoalarmhim。？Thequeen—motherwishedtoleavetheroom。
　　"Remainwhereyouare，mother，"saidhe，"IwishyoutomakeyourpeacewithM。Fouquet。"
　　"I
　　bearM。Fouquetnoill—will;Ionlydreadedhisprodigalities。"
　　"Wewillputthattorights，andwilltakenothingofthesuperintendentbuthisgoodqualities。"
　　"Whatisyourmajestylookingfor？"saidHenrietta，seeingtheking'seyesconstantlyturnedtowardsthedoor，andwishingtoletflyalittlepoisonedarrowathisheart，supposinghewassoanxiouslyexpectingeitherLaValli鑢eoraletterfromher。
　　"Mysister，"saidtheyoungman，whohaddivinedherthought，thankstothatmarvelousperspicuityofwhichfortunewasfromthattimeabouttoallowhimtheexercise，"mysister，Iamexpectingamostdistinguishedman，amostablecounselor，whomIwishtopresenttoyouall，recommendinghimtoyourgoodgraces。？Ah！comein，then，D'Artagnan。"
　　"Whatdoesyourmajestywish？"saidD'Artagnan，appearing。
　　"WhereismonsieurthebishopofVannes，yourfriend？"
　　"Why，sire—"
　　"I
　　amwaitingforhim，andhedoesnotcome。？Lethimbesoughtfor。"