"Butwithfriends;butinyourowncarriageasfarasOrl閍ns;inyourownbargeasfarasNantes;alwaysreadytodefendyourself，ifyouareattacked;toescape，ifyouarethreatened。？Infact，youwillcarryyourmoneyagainstallchances;and，whilstflying，youwillonlyhaveobeyedtheking;then，reachingthesea，whenyoulike，youwillembarkforBelle—Isle，andfromBelle—Isleyouwillshootoutwhereveritmaypleaseyou，liketheeaglethatleapsintospacewhenithasbeendrivenfromitseyrie。"
　　A
　　generalassentfollowedP閘isson'swords。？"Yes，doso，"saidMadameFouquettoherhusband。
　　"Doso，"saidMadamedeBelli鑢e。
　　"Doit！doit！"criedallhisfriends。
　　"I
　　willdoso，"repliedFouquet。
　　"Thisveryevening？"
　　"Inanhour？"
　　"Instantly。"
　　"Withsevenhundredthousandlivresyoucanlaythefoundationofanotherfortune，"saidtheAbb？Fouquet。
　　"WhatistheretopreventourarmingcorsairsatBelle—Isle？"
　　"And，ifnecessary，wewillgoanddiscoveranewworld，"addedLaFontaine，intoxicatedwithfreshprojectsandenthusiasm。
　　A
　　knockatthedoorinterruptedthisconcertofjoyandhope。？"Acourierfromtheking，"saidthemasteroftheceremonies。
　　A
　　profoundsilenceimmediatelyensued，asifthemessagebroughtbythiscourierwasnothingbutareplytoalltheprojectsgivenbirthtoamomentbefore。？Everyonewaitedtoseewhatthemasterwoulddo。？Hisbrowwasstreamingwithperspiration，andhewasreallysufferingfromhisfeveratthatinstant。？Hepassedintohiscabinet，toreceivetheking'smessage。？Thereprevailed，aswehavesaid，suchasilenceinthechambers，andthroughouttheattendance，thatfromthedining—roomcouldbeheardthevoiceofFouquet，saying，"Thatiswell，monsieur。"？Thisvoicewas，however，brokenbyfatigue，andtrembledwithemotion。？Aninstantafter，FouquetcalledGourville，whocrossedthegalleryamidsttheuniversalexpectation。？Atlength，hehimselfre—appearedamonghisguests;butitwasnolongerthesamepale，spiritlesscountenancetheyhadbeheldwhenheleftthem;frompalehehadbecomelivid;
　　andfromspiritless，annihilated。？A
　　breathing，livingspecter，headvancedwithhisarmsstretchedout，hismouthparched，likeashadethatcomestosalutethefriendsofformerdays。？Onseeinghimthus，everyonecriedout，andeveryonerushedtowardsFouquet。？Thelatter，lookingatP閘isson，leaneduponhiswife，andpressedtheicyhandoftheMarquisedeBelli鑢e。
　　"Well，"
　　saidhe，inavoicewhichhadnothinghumaninit。
　　"Whathashappened，myGod！"saidsomeonetohim。
　　Fouquetopenedhisrighthand，whichwasclenched，butglisteningwithperspiration，anddisplayedapaper，uponwhichP閘issoncastaterrifiedglance。？Hereadthefollowinglines，writtenbytheking'shand:
　　"'DEARANDWELL—BELOVEDMONSIEURFOUQUET，—Giveus，uponthatwhichyouhaveleftofours，thesumofsevenhundredthousandlivres，ofwhichwestandinneedtoprepareforourdeparture。
　　"'And，asweknowyourhealthisnotgood，weprayGodtorestoreyou，andtohaveyouinHisholykeeping。
　　"'LOUIS。
　　"'Thepresentletteristoserveasareceipt。'"
　　Amurmurofterrorcirculatedthroughtheapartment。
　　"Well，"
　　criedP閘isson，inhisturn，"youhavereceivedthatletter？"
　　"Receivedit，yes！"
　　"Whatwillyoudo，then？"
　　"Nothing，sinceIhavereceivedit。"
　　"But—"
　　"IfIhavereceivedit，P閘isson，Ihavepaidit，"saidthesurintendant，withasimplicitythatwenttotheheartofallpresent。
　　"Youhavepaidit！"criedMadameFouquet。？"Thenweareruined！"
　　"Come，nouselesswords，"interruptedP閘isson。？"Nexttomoney，life。？Monseigneur，tohorse！tohorse！"
　　"What，leaveus！"atoncecriedboththewomen，wildwithgrief。
　　"Eh！
　　monseigneur，insavingyourself，yousaveusall。？Tohorse！"
　　"Buthecannotholdhimselfon。？Lookathim。"
　　"Oh！
　　ifhetakestimetoreflect—"saidtheintrepidP閘isson。
　　"Heisright，"murmuredFouquet。
　　"Monseigneur！？Monseigneur！"criedGourville，rushingupthestairs，fourstepsatonce。？"Monseigneur！"
　　"Well！
　　what？"
　　"I
　　escorted，asyoudesired，theking'scourierwiththemoney。"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well！
　　whenIarrivedatthePalaisRoyal，Isaw—"
　　"Takebreath，mypoorfriend，takebreath;youaresuffocating。"
　　"Whatdidyousee？"criedtheimpatientfriends。
　　"I
　　sawthemusketeersmountingonhorseback，"saidGourville。
　　"There，then！"criedeveryvoiceatonce;"there，then！isthereaninstanttobelost？"
　　MadameFouquetrusheddownstairs，callingforherhorses;MadamedeBelli鑢eflewafterher，catchingherinherarms，andsaying:"Madame，inthenameofhissafety，donotbetrayanything，donotmanifestalarm。"
　　P閘issonrantohavethehorsesputtothecarriages。？And，inthemeantime，Gourvillegatheredinhishatallthattheweepingfriendswereabletothrowintoitofgoldandsilver—thelastoffering，thepiousalmsmadetomiserybypoverty。？Thesurintendant，draggedalongbysome，carriedbyothers，wasshutupinhiscarriage。？Gourvilletookthereins，andmountedthebox。？P閘issonsupportedMadameFouquet，whohadfainted。？MadamedeBelli鑢ehadmorestrength，andwaswellpaidforit;shereceivedFouquet'slastkiss。？P閘issoneasilyexplainedthisprecipitatedeparturebysayingthatanorderfromthekinghadsummonedtheministertoNantes。
　　ChapterXXXVI:
　　InM。Colbert'sCarriage。
　　AsGourvillehadseen，theking'smusketeersweremountingandfollowingtheircaptain。？Thelatter，whodidnotliketobeconfinedinhisproceedings，lefthisbrigadeundertheordersofalieutenant，andsetoffonposthorses，recommendinghismentousealldiligence。？Howeverrapidlytheymighttravel，theycouldnotarrivebeforehim。？Hehadtime，inpassingalongtheRuedesPetits—Champs，toseesomethingwhichaffordedhimplentyoffoodforthoughtandconjecture。？HesawM。Colbertcomingoutfromhishousetogetintohiscarriage，whichwasstationedbeforethedoor。？InthiscarriageD'Artagnanperceivedthehoodsoftwowomen，andbeingrathercurious，hewishedtoknowthenamesoftheladieshidbeneaththesehoods。？Togetaglimpseatthem，fortheykeptthemselvescloselycoveredup，heurgedhishorsesonearthecarriage，thathedrovehimagainstthestepwithsuchforceastoshakeeverythingcontainingandcontained。？Theterrifiedwomenuttered，theoneafaintcry，bywhichD'Artagnanrecognizedayoungwoman，theotheranimprecation，inwhichherecognizedthevigorand鄍lombthathalfacenturybestows。？Thehoodswerethrownback:oneofthewomenwasMadameVanel，theothertheDuchessedeChevreuse。？D'Artagnan'seyeswerequickerthanthoseoftheladies;hehadseenandknownthem，whilsttheydidnotrecognizehim;andastheylaughedattheirfright，pressingeachother'shands，—
　　"Humph！"
　　saidD'Artagnan，"theoldduchesseisnomoreinaccessibletofriendshipthanformerly。？ShepayinghercourttothemistressofM。Colbert！？PoorM。Fouquet！thatpresagesyounothinggood！"
　　Herodeon。？M。ColbertgotintohiscarriageandthedistinguishedtriocommencedasufficientlyslowpilgrimagetowardthewoodofVincennes。？MadamedeChevreusesetdownMadameVanelatherhusband'shouse，and，leftalonewithM。
　　Colbert，chatteduponaffairswhilstcontinuingherride。？Shehadaninexhaustiblefundofconversation，thatdearduchesse，andasshealwaystalkedfortheillofothers，thougheverwithaviewtoherowngood，herconversationamusedherinterlocutor，anddidnotfailtoleaveafavorableimpression。
　　ShetaughtColbert，who，poorman！wasignorantofthefact，howgreataministerhewas，andhowFouquetwouldsoonbecomeacipher。？Shepromisedtorallyaroundhim，whenheshouldbecomesurintendant，alltheoldnobilityofthekingdom，andquestionedhimastothepreponderanceitwouldbepropertoallowLaValli鑢e。？Shepraisedhim，sheblamedhim，shebewilderedhim。？Sheshowedhimthesecretofsomanysecretsthat，foramoment，Colbertthoughthewasdoingbusinesswiththedevil。？SheprovedtohimthatsheheldinherhandtheColbertofto—day，asshehadheldtheFouquetofyesterday;andasheaskedherverysimplythereasonofherhatredforthesurintendant:"Whydoyouyourselfhatehim？"saidshe。
　　"Madame，inpolitics，"repliedhe，"thedifferencesofsystemoftbringaboutdissentionsbetweenmen。？M。Fouquetalwaysappearedtometopracticeasystemopposedtothetrueinterestsoftheking。"
　　Sheinterruptedhim。—"IwillsaynomoretoyouaboutM。Fouquet。？ThejourneythekingisabouttotaketoNanteswillgiveagoodaccountofhim。？M。Fouquet，forme，isamangoneby—andforyoualso。"
　　Colbertmadenoreply。？"OnhisreturnfromNantes，"continuedtheduchesse，"theking，whoisonlyanxiousforapretext，willfindthattheStateshavenotbehavedwell—thattheyhavemadetoofewsacrifices。？TheStateswillsaythattheimpostsaretooheavy，andthatthesurintendanthasruinedthem。？ThekingwilllayalltheblameonM。
　　Fouquet，andthen—"
　　"Andthen？"saidColbert。
　　"Oh！
　　hewillbedisgraced。？Isnotthatyouropinion？"
　　Colbertdartedaglanceattheduchesse，whichplainlysaid:"IfM。Fouquetbeonlydisgraced，youwillnotbethecauseofit。"
　　"Yourplace，M。Colbert，"theduchessehastenedtosay，"mustbeahighplace。？Doyouperceiveanyonebetweenthekingandyourself，afterthefallofM。Fouquet？"
　　"I
　　donotunderstand，"saidhe。
　　"Youwillunderstand。？Towhatdoesyourambitionaspire？"
　　"I
　　havenone。"
　　"Itwasuseless，then，tooverthrowthesuperintendent，MonsieurColbert。？Itwasidle。"
　　"I
　　hadthehonortotellyou，madame—"
　　"Oh！
　　yes，Iknow，allabouttheinterestoftheking—but，ifyouplease，wewillspeakofyourown。"
　　"Mine！
　　thatistosay，theaffairsofhismajesty。"
　　"Inshort，areyou，orareyounotendeavoringtoruinM。Fouquet？？Answerwithoutevasion。"
　　"Madame，Iruinnobody。"
　　"I
　　amendeavoringtocomprehend，then，whyyoupurchasedfrommethelettersofM。
　　MazarinconcerningM。Fouquet。？NeithercanIconceivewhyyouhavelaidthoselettersbeforetheking。"
　　Colbert，halfstupefied，lookedattheduchessewithanairofconstraint。
　　"Madame，"
　　saidhe，"Icanlesseasilyconceivehowyou，whoreceivedthemoney，canreproachmeonthathead—"
　　"Thatis，"saidtheoldduchesse，"becausewemustwillthatwhichwewishfor，unlesswearenotabletoobtainwhatwewish。"
　　"Will！"saidColbert，quiteconfoundedbysuchcoarselogic。
　　"Youarenotable，hein！？Speak。"
　　"I
　　amnotable，Iallow，todestroycertaininfluencesneartheking。"
　　"ThatfightinfavorofM。Fouquet？？Whatarethey？？Stop，letmehelpyou。"
　　"Do，madame。"
　　"LaValli鑢e？"
　　"Oh！
　　verylittleinfluence;noknowledgeofbusiness，andsmallmeans。？M。Fouquethaspaidhiscourttoher。"
　　"Todefendhimwouldbetoaccuseherself，woulditnot？"
　　"I
　　thinkitwould。"
　　"Thereisstillanotherinfluence，whatdoyousaytothat？"
　　"Isitconsiderable？"
　　"Thequeen—mother，perhaps？"
　　"Hermajesty，？thequeen—mother，hasaweaknessforM。Fouquetveryprejudicialtoherson。"
　　"Neverbelievethat，"saidtheoldduchesse，smiling。
　　"Oh！"
　　saidColbert，withincredulity，"Ihaveoftenexperiencedit。"
　　"Formerly？"
　　"Veryrecently，madame，atVaux。？ItwasshewhopreventedthekingfromhavingM。Fouquetarrested。"
　　"Peopledonotforeverentertainthesameopinions，mydearmonsieur。？Thatwhichthequeenmayhavewishedrecently，shewouldnotwish，perhaps，to—day。"
　　"Andwhynot？"saidColbert，astonished。
　　"Oh！thereasonisofverylittleconsequence。"
　　"Onthecontrary，Ithinkitisofgreatconsequence;for，ifIwerecertainofnotdispleasinghermajesty，thequeen—mother，myscrupleswouldbeallremoved。"
　　"Well！haveyouneverheardtalkofacertainsecret？"
　　"A
　　secret？"
　　"Callitwhatyoulike。？Inshort，thequeen—motherhasconceivedabitterhatredforallthosewhohaveparticipated，inonefashionoranother，inthediscoveryofthissecret，andM。FouquetI
　　believeisoneofthese。"
　　"Then，"
　　saidColbert，"wemaybesureoftheassentofthequeen—mother？"
　　"Ihavejustlefthermajesty，andsheassuresmeso。"
　　"Sobeit，then，madame。"
　　"Butthereissomethingfurther;doyouhappentoknowamanwhowastheintimatefriendofM。Fouquet，M。d'Herblay，abishop，Ibelieve？"
　　"BishopofVannes。"
　　"Well！thisM。d'Herblay，whoalsoknewthesecret，thequeen—motherispursuingwiththeutmostrancor。"
　　"Indeed！"
　　"Sohotlypursued，thatifheweredead，shewouldnotbesatisfiedwithanythinglessthanhishead，tosatisfyherhewouldneverspeakagain。"
　　"Andisthatthedesireofthequeen—mother？"
　　"Anorderisgivenforit。"
　　"ThisMonsieurd'Herblayshallbesoughtfor，madame。"
　　"Oh！itiswellknownwhereheis。"
　　Colbertlookedattheduchesse。
　　"Saywhere，madame。"
　　"HeisatBelle—蝜e—en—Mer。"
　　"AttheresidenceofM。Fouquet？"
　　"AttheresidenceofM。Fouquet。"
　　"Heshallbetaken。"
　　Itwasnowtheduchesse'sturntosmile。？"Donotfancythecapturesoeasy，"saidshe;"donotpromiseitsolightly。"
　　"Whynot，madame？"
　　"BecauseM。
　　d'Herblayisnotoneofthosepeoplewhocanbetakenwhenandwhereyouplease。"
　　"Heisarebel，then？"
　　"Oh！？MonsieurColbert，wehavepassedallourlivesinmakingrebels，andyetyouseeplainly，thatsofarfrombeingtaken，wetakeothers。"
　　Colbertfixedupontheoldduchesseoneofthosefiercelooksofwhichnowordscanconveytheexpression，accompaniedbyafirmnessnotaltogetherwantingingrandeur。？"Thetimesaregone，"saidhe，"inwhichsubjectsgainedduchiesbymakingwaragainstthekingofFrance。？IfM。d'Herblayconspires，hewillperishonthescaffold。？Thatwillgive，orwillnotgive，pleasuretohisenemies，—amatter，bytheway，oflittleimportancetous。"
　　Andthisus，astrangewordinthemouthofColbert，madetheduchessethoughtfulforamoment。？Shecaughtherselfreckoninginwardlywiththisman—Colberthadregainedhissuperiorityintheconversation，andhemeanttokeepit。
　　"Youaskme，madame，"hesaid，"tohavethisM。d'Herblayarrested？"
　　"I？—Iaskyounothingofthekind！"
　　"Ithoughtyoudid，madame。？ButasIhavebeenmistaken，wewillleavehimalone;thekinghassaidnothingabouthim。"
　　Theduchessebithernails。
　　"Besides，"
　　continuedColbert，"whatapoorcapturewouldthisbishopbe！？Abishopgameforaking！？Oh！no，no;Iwillnoteventaketheslightestnoticeofhim。"
　　Thehatredoftheduchessenowdiscovereditself。
　　"Gameforawoman！"saidshe。？"Isnotthequeenawoman？？IfshewishesM。
　　d'Herblayarrested，shehasherreasons。？Besides，isnotM。d'Herblaythefriendofhimwhoisdoomedtofall？"
　　"Oh！nevermindthat，"saidColbert。？"Thismanshallbespared，ifheisnottheenemyoftheking。？Isthatdispleasingtoyou？"
　　"Isaynothing。"
　　"Yes—youwishtoseehiminprison，intheBastile，forinstance。"
　　"IbelieveasecretbetterconcealedbehindthewallsoftheBastilethanbehindthoseofBelle—Isle。"
　　"Iwillspeaktothekingaboutit;hewillclearupthepoint。"
　　"Andwhilstwaitingforthatenlightenment，Monsieurl'Ev阸uedeVanneswillhaveescaped。？Iwoulddoso。"
　　"Escaped！
　　he！andwhithershouldheescape？？Europeisours，inwill，ifnotinfact。"
　　"Hewillalwaysfindanasylum，monsieur。？Itisevidentyouknownothingofthemanyouhavetodowith。？YoudonotknowD'Herblay;youdonotknowAramis。？Hewasoneofthosefourmusketeerswho，underthelateking，madeCardinaldeRichelieutremble，andwho，duringtheregency，gavesomuchtroubletoMonseigneurMazarin。"
　　"But，madame，whatcanhedo，unlesshehasakingdomtobackhim？"
　　"Hehasone，monsieur。"
　　"Akingdom，he！what，Monsieurd'Herblay？"
　　"Irepeattoyou，monsieur，thatifhewantsakingdom，heeitherhasitorwillhaveit。"
　　"Well，asyouaresoearnestthatthisrebelshouldnotescape，madame，Ipromiseyouheshallnotescape。"
　　"Belle—Isleisfortified，M。Colbert，andfortifiedbyhim。"
　　"IfBelle—Islewerealsodefendedbyhim，Belle—Isleisnotimpregnable;andifMonsieurl'Ev阸uedeVannesisshutupinBelle—Isle，well，madame，theplaceshallbebesieged，andhewillbetaken。"
　　"Youmaybeverycertain，monsieur，thatthezealyoudisplayintheinterestofthequeen—motherwillpleasehermajestymightily，andyouwillbemagnificentlyrewarded;butwhatshallItellherofyourprojectsrespectingthisman？"
　　"Thatwhenoncetaken，heshallbeshutupinafortressfromwhichhersecretshallneverescape。"
　　"Verywell，MonsieurColbert，andwemaysay，that，datingfromthisinstant，wehaveformedasolidalliance，thatis，youandI，andthatIamabsolutelyatyourservice。"
　　"ItisI，madame，whoplacemyselfatyours。？ThisChevalierd'HerblayisakindofSpanishspy，ishenot？"
　　"Muchmore。"
　　"Asecretambassador？"
　　"Higherstill。"
　　"Stop—
　　KingPhillipIII。ofSpainisabigot。？Heis，perhaps，theconfessorofPhillipIII。"
　　"Youmustgohighereventhanthat。"
　　"Mordieu！"criedColbert，whoforgothimselfsofarastoswearinthepresenceofthisgreatlady，ofthisoldfriendofthequeen—mother。？"HemustthenbethegeneraloftheJesuits。"
　　"Ibelieveyouhaveguesseditatlast，"repliedtheduchesse。
　　"Ah！then，madame，thismanwillruinusallifwedonotruinhim;andwemustmakehaste，too。"
　　"Suchwasmyopinion，monsieur，butIdidnotdaretogiveityou。"
　　"Anditwasluckyforushehasattackedthethrone，andnotus。"
　　"But，markthiswell，M。Colbert。？M。d'Herblayisneverdiscouraged;ifhehasmissedoneblow，hewillbesuretomakeanother;
　　hewillbeginagain。？Ifhehasallowedanopportunitytoescapeofmakingakingforhimself，soonerorlater，hewillmakeanother，ofwhom，toacertainty，youwillnotbeprimeminister。"
　　Colbertknittedhisbrowwithamenacingexpression。？"Ifeelassuredthataprisonwillsettlethisaffairforus，madame，inamannersatisfactoryforboth。"
　　Theduchessesmiledagain。
　　"Oh！ifyouknew，"saidshe，"howmanytimesAramishasgotoutofprison！"
　　"Oh！"
　　repliedColbert，"wewilltakecarethatheshallnotgetoutthistime。"
　　"ButyouwerenotattendingtowhatIsaidtoyoujustnow。？DoyourememberthatAramiswasoneofthefourinvincibleswhomRichelieusodreaded？？Andatthatperiodthefourmusketeerswerenotinpossessionofthatwhichtheyhavenow—
　　moneyandexperience。"
　　Colbertbithislips。
　　"Wewillrenouncetheideaoftheprison，"saidhe，inalowertone:"wewillfindalittleretreatfromwhichtheinvinciblecannotpossiblyescape。"
　　"Thatwaswellspoken，ourally！"repliedtheduchesse。？"Butitisgettinglate;hadwenotbetterreturn？"
　　"Themorewillingly，madame，frommyhavingmypreparationstomakeforsettingoutwiththeking。"
　　"ToParis！"criedtheduchessetothecoachman。
　　AndthecarriagereturnedtowardstheFaubourgSaintAntoine，aftertheconclusionofthetreatythatgavetodeaththelastfriendofFouquet，thelastdefenderofBelle—Isle，theformerfriendofMarieMichon，thenewfoeoftheoldduchesse。
　　ChapterXXXVII:
　　TheTwoLighters。
　　D'Artagnanhadsetoff;Fouquetlikewisewasgone，andwitharapiditywhichdoubledthetenderinterestofhisfriends。？Thefirstmomentsofthisjourney，orbettersay，thisflight，weretroubledbyaceaselessdreadofeveryhorseandcarriagetobeseenbehindthefugitive。？Itwasnotnatural，infact，ifLouisXIV。wasdeterminedtoseizethisprey，thatheshouldallowittoescape;theyounglionwasalreadyaccustomedtothechase，andhehadbloodhoundssufficientlyclevertobetrusted。？Butinsensiblyallfearsweredispersed;thesurintendant，byhardtraveling，placedsuchadistancebetweenhimselfandhispersecutors，thatnooneofthemcouldreasonablybeexpectedtoovertakehim。？Astohisposition，hisfriendshadmadeitexcellentforhim。？WashenottravelingtojointhekingatNantes，andwhatdidtherapidityprovebuthiszealtoobey？？Hearrived，fatigued，butreassured，atOrl閍ns，wherehefound，thankstothecareofacourierwhohadprecededhim，ahandsomelighterofeightoars。？Theselighters，intheshapeofgondolas，somewhatwideandheavy，containingasmallchamber，coveredbythedeck，andachamberinthepoop，formedbyatent，thenactedaspassage—boatsfromOrl閍nstoNantes，bytheLoire，andthispassage，alongoneinourdays，appearedthenmoreeasyandconvenientthanthehigh—road，withitspost—hacksanditsill—hungcarriages。？Fouquetwentonboardthislighter，whichsetoutimmediately。？Therowers，knowingtheyhadthehonorofconveyingthesurintendantofthefinances，pulledwithalltheirstrength，andthatmagicword，thefinances，promisedthemaliberalgratification，ofwhichtheywishedtoprovethemselvesworthy。？ThelighterseemedtoleapthemimicwavesoftheLoire。？Magnificentweather，asunrisethatempurpledallthelandscape，displayedtheriverinallitslimpidserenity。？ThecurrentandtherowerscarriedFouquetalongaswingscarryabird，andhearrivedbeforeBeaugencywithouttheslightestaccidenthavingsignalizedthevoyage。？FouquethopedtobethefirsttoarriveatNantes;therehewouldseethenotablesandgainsupportamongtheprincipalmembersoftheStates;hewouldmakehimselfanecessity，athingveryeasyforamanofhismerit，andwoulddelaythecatastrophe，ifhedidnotsucceedinavoidingitentirely。？"Besides，"saidGourvilletohim，"atNantes，youwillmakeout，orwewillmakeout，theintentionsofyourenemies;wewillhavehorsesalwaysreadytoconveyyoutoPoitou，abarkinwhichtogainthesea，andwhenonceupontheopensea，Belle—Isleisyourinviolableport。？Yousee，besides，thatnooneiswatchingyou，nooneisfollowing。"？Hehadscarcelyfinishedwhentheydiscoveredatadistance，behindanelbowformedbytheriver，themastsofahugelightercomingdown。？TherowersofFouquet'sboatutteredacryofsurpriseonseeingthisgalley。