"I
　　mustovertakehim，ifIkillmyhorse，"thoughtthemusketeer;andhebegantosawthemouthofthepooranimal，whilstheburiedtherowelsofhismercilessspursintohissides。？Themaddenedhorsegainedtwentytoises，andcameupwithinpistol—shotofFouquet。
　　"Courage！"
　　saidthemusketeertohimself，"courage！thewhitehorsewillperhapsgrowweaker，andifthehorsedoesnotfall，themastermustpullupatlast。"？Buthorseandriderremaineduprighttogether，gaininggroundbydifficultdegrees。？D'Artagnanutteredawildcry，whichmadeFouquetturnround，andaddedspeedtothewhitehorse。
　　"A
　　famoushorse！amadrider！"growledthecaptain。？"Hola！mordioux！？MonsieurFouquet！stop！intheking'sname！"？Fouquetmadenoreply。
　　"Doyouhearme？"shoutedD'Artagnan，whosehorsehadjuststumbled。
　　"Pardieu！"repliedFouquet，laconically;androdeonfaster。
　　D'Artagnanwasnearlymad;thebloodrushedboilingtohistemplesandhiseyes。？"Intheking'sname！"criedheagain，"stop，orIwillbringyoudownwithapistol—shot！"
　　"Do！"
　　repliedFouquet，withoutrelaxinghisspeed。
　　D'Artagnanseizedapistolandcockedit，hopingthatthedoubleclickofthespringwouldstophisenemy。？"Youhavepistolslikewise，"saidhe，"turnanddefendyourself。"
　　Fouquetdidturnroundatthenoise，andlookingD'Artagnanfullintheface，opened，withhisrighthand，thepartofhisdresswhichconcealedhisbody，buthedidnoteventouchhisholsters。？Therewerenotmorethantwentypacesbetweenthetwo。
　　"Mordioux！"saidD'Artagnan，"I
　　willnotassassinateyou;ifyouwillnotfireuponme，surrender！whatisaprison？"
　　"I
　　wouldratherdie！"repliedFouquet;"Ishallsufferless。"
　　D'Artagnan，drunkwithdespair，hurledhispistoltotheground。？"Iwilltakeyoualive！"saidhe;andbyaprodigyofskillwhichthisincomparablehorsemanalonewascapable，hethrewhishorseforwardtowithintenpacesofthewhitehorse;alreadyhishandwasstretchedouttoseizehisprey。
　　"Killme！killme！"criedFouquet，"'twouldbemorehumane！"
　　"No！
　　alive—alive！"murmuredthecaptain。
　　Atthismomenthishorsemadeafalsestepforthesecondtime，andFouquet'sagaintookthelead。？Itwasanunheard—ofspectacle，thisracebetweentwohorseswhichnowonlykeptalivebythewilloftheirriders。？ItmightbesaidthatD'Artagnanrode，carryinghishorsealongbetweenhisknees。？Tothefuriousgallophadsucceededthefasttrot，andthathadsunktowhatmightbescarcelycalledatrotatall。？Butthechaseappearedequallywarminthetwofatiguedathlet？。？D'Artagnan，quiteindespair，seizedhissecondpistol，andcockedit。
　　"Atyourhorse！notatyou！"criedhetoFouquet。？Andhefired。？Theanimalwashitinthequarters—hemadeafuriousbound，andplungedforward。？AtthatmomentD'Artagnan'shorsefelldead。
　　"I
　　amdishonored！"thoughtthemusketeer;"Iamamiserablewretch！forpity'ssake，M。Fouquet，throwmeoneofyourpistols，thatImayblowoutmybrains！"？ButFouquetrodeaway。
　　"Formercy'ssake！formercy'ssake！"criedD'Artagnan;"thatwhichyouwillnotdoatthismoment，Imyselfwilldowithinanhour，buthere，uponthisroad，Ishoulddiebravely;Ishoulddieesteemed;domethatservice，M。
　　Fouquet！"
　　M。
　　Fouquetmadenoreply，butcontinuedtotroton。？D'Artagnanbegantorunafterhisenemy。？Successivelyhethrewawayhishat，hiscoat，whichembarrassedhim，andthenthesheathofhissword，whichgotbetweenhislegsashewasrunning。？Theswordinhishanditselfbecametooheavy，andhethrewitafterthesheath。？Thewhitehorsebegantorattleinitsthroat;D'Artagnangaineduponhim。？Fromatrottheexhaustedanimalsunktoastaggeringwalk—thefoamfromhismouthwasmixedwithblood。？D'Artagnanmadeadesperateeffort，sprangtowardsFouquet，andseizedhimbytheleg，sayinginabroken，breathlessvoice，"Iarrestyouintheking'sname！blowmybrainsout，ifyoulike;wehavebothdoneourduty。"
　　Fouquethurledfarfromhim，intotheriver，thetwopistolsD'Artagnanmighthaveseized，anddismountingfromhishorse—"Iamyourprisoner，monsieur，"saidhe;"willyoutakemyarm，forIseeyouarereadytofaint？"
　　"Thanks！"
　　murmuredD'Artagnan，who，infact，felttheearthslidingfromunderhisfeet，andthelightofdayturningtoblacknessaroundhim;thenherolleduponthesand，withoutbreathorstrength。？Fouquethastenedtothebrinkoftheriver，dippedsomewaterinhishat，withwhichhebathedthetemplesofthemusketeer，andintroducedafewdropbetweenhislips。？D'Artagnanraisedhimselfwithdifficulty，andlookedabouthimwithawanderingeye。？HebeheldFouquetonhisknees，withhiswethatinhishand，smilinguponhimwithineffablesweetness。？"Youarenotoff，then？"criedhe。？"Oh，monsieur！thetruekingofroyalty，inheart，insoul，isnotLouisoftheLouvre，orPhilippeofSainte—Marguerite;itisyou，proscribed，condemned！"
　　"I，whothisdayamruinedbyasingleerror，M。d'Artagnan。"
　　"What，inthenameofHeaven，isthat？"
　　"I
　　shouldhavehadyouforafriend！？ButhowshallwereturntoNantes？？Weareagreatwayfromit。"
　　"Thatistrue，"saidD'Artagnan，gloomily。
　　"Thewhitehorsewillrecover，perhaps;heisagoodhorse！？Mount，Monsieurd'Artagnan;Iwillwalktillyouhaverestedalittle。"
　　"Poorbeast！andwounded，too？"saidthemusketeer。
　　"Hewillgo，Itellyou;Iknowhim;butwecandobetterstill，letusbothgetup，andrideslowly。"
　　"Wecantry，"saidthecaptain。？Buttheyhadscarcelychargedtheanimalwiththisdoubleload，whenhebegantostagger，andthenwithagreateffortwalkedafewminutes，thenstaggeredagain，andsankdowndeadbythesideoftheblackhorse，whichhehadjustmanagedtocomeupto。
　　"Wewillgoonfoot—destinywillsitso—thewalkwillbepleasant，"saidFouquet，passinghisarmthroughthatofD'Artagnan。
　　"Mordioux！"criedthelatter，withafixedeye，acontractedbrow，andaswellingheart—"Whatadisgracefulday！"
　　Theywalkedslowlythefourleagueswhichseparatedthemfromthelittlewoodbehindwhichthecarriageandescortwereinwaiting。？WhenFouquetperceivedthatsinistermachine，hesaidtoD'Artagnan，whocastdownhiseyes，ashamedofLouisXIV。，"Thereisanideathatdidnotemanatefromabraveman，Captaind'Artagnan;itisnotyours。？Whatarethesegratingsfor？"saidhe。
　　"Topreventyourthrowinglettersout。"
　　"Ingenious！"
　　"Butyoucanspeak，ifyoucannotwrite，"saidD'Artagnan。
　　"CanIspeaktoyou？"
　　"Why，certainly，ifyouwishtodoso。"
　　Fouquetreflectedforamoment，thenlookingthecaptainfullintheface，"Onesingleword，"saidhe;"willyourememberit？"
　　"I
　　willnotforgetit。"
　　"WillyouspeakittowhomIwish？"
　　"I
　　will。"
　　"Saint—Mand？;
　　articulatedFouquet，inalowvoice。
　　"Well！
　　andforwhom？"
　　"ForMadamedeBelli鑢eorP閘isson。"
　　"Itshallbedone。"
　　ThecarriagerolledthroughNantes，andtooktheroutetoAngers。
　　ChapterXLI:
　　InWhichtheSquirrelFalls，—theAdderFlies。
　　Itwastwoo'clockintheafternoon。？Theking，fullofimpatience，wenttohiscabinetontheterrace，andkeptopeningthedoorofthecorridor，toseewhathissecretariesweredoing。？M。Colbert，seatedinthesameplaceM。deSaint—Aignanhadsolongoccupiedinthemorning，waschattinginalowvoicewithM。deBrienne。？Thekingopenedthedoorsuddenly，andaddressedthem。？"Whatisityouaresaying？"
　　"WewerespeakingofthefirstsittingoftheStates，"saidM。deBrienne，rising。
　　"Verywell，"repliedtheking，andreturnedtohisroom。
　　Fiveminutesafter，thesummonsofthebellrecalledRose，whosehouritwas。
　　"Haveyoufinishedyourcopies？"askedtheking。
　　"Notyet，sire。"
　　"SeeifM。d'Artagnanhasreturned。"
　　"Notyet，sire。"
　　"Itisverystrange，"murmuredtheking。？"CallM。Colbert。"
　　Colbertentered;hehadbeenexpectingthisallthemorning。
　　"MonsieurColbert，"saidtheking，verysharply;"youmustascertainwhathasbecomeofM。d'Artagnan。"
　　Colbertinhiscalmvoicereplied，"Wheredoesyourmajestydesirehimtobesoughtfor？"
　　"Eh！
　　monsieur！doyounotknowonwhatIhavesenthim？"repliedLouis，acrimoniously。
　　"Yourmajestydidnotinformme。"
　　"Monsieur，therearethingsthatmustbeguessed;andyou，aboveall，areapttoguessthem。"
　　"I
　　mighthavebeenabletoimagine，sire;butIdonotpresumetobepositive。"
　　Colberthadnotfinishedthesewordswhenaroughervoicethanthatofthekinginterruptedtheinterestingconversationthusbegunbetweenthemonarchandhisclerk。
　　"D'Artagnan！"
　　criedtheking，withevidentjoy。
　　D'Artagnan，paleandinevidentlybadhumor，criedtotheking，asheentered，"Sire，isityourmajestywhohasgivenorderstomymusketeers？"
　　"Whatorders？"saidtheking。
　　"AboutM。Fouquet'shouse？"
　　"None！"
　　repliedLouis。
　　"Ha！"
　　saidD'Artagnan，bitinghismustache;"Iwasnotmistaken，then;itwasmonsieurhere;"andhepointedtoColbert。
　　"Whatorders？？Letmeknow，"saidtheking。
　　"Orderstoturnthehousetopsy—turvy，tobeatM。Fouquet'sservants，toforcethedrawers，togiveoverapeacefulhousetopillage！？Mordioux！thesearesavageorders！"
　　"Monsieur！"
　　saidColbert，turningpale。
　　"Monsieur，"
　　interruptedD'Artagnan，"thekingalone，understand，—thekingalonehasarighttocommandmymusketeers;but，astoyou，Iforbidyoutodoit，andI
　　tellyousobeforehismajesty;gentlemenwhocarryswordsdonotslingpensbehindtheirears。"
　　"D'Artagnan！？D'Artagnan！"murmuredtheking。
　　"Itishumiliating，"continuedthemusketeer;"mysoldiersaredisgraced。？Idonotcommandre顃res，thankyou，norclerksoftheintendant，mordioux！"
　　"Well！
　　butwhatisallthisabout？"saidthekingwithauthority。
　　"Aboutthis，sire;monsieur—monsieur，whocouldnotguessyourmajesty'sorders，andconsequentlycouldnotknowIwasgonetoarrestM。Fouquet;monsieur，whohascausedtheironcagetobeconstructedforhispatronofyesterday—hassentM。deRoncherollestothelodgingsofM。Fouquet，and，underthepretenseofsecuringthesurintendant'spapers，theyhavetakenawaythefurniture。？Mymusketeershavebeenpostedroundthehouseallthemorning;suchweremyorders。？Whydidanyonepresumetoorderthemtoenter？？Why，byforcingthemtoassistinthispillage，havetheybeenmadeaccomplicesinit？？Mordioux！weservetheking，wedo;butwedonotserveM。Colbert！"
　　Transcriber'snote:Dumashere，andlaterinthechapter，usesthenameRoncherat。？Roncherollesistheactualnameoftheman。
　　—JB
　　"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidtheking，sternly，"takecare;itisnotinmypresencethatsuchexplanations，andmadeinsuchatone，shouldtakeplace。"
　　"I
　　haveactedforthegoodoftheking，"saidColbert，inafalteringvoice。？"Itishardtobesotreatedbyoneofyourmajesty'sofficers，andthatwithoutredress，onaccountoftherespectIowetheking。"
　　"Therespectyouowetheking，"criedD'Artagnan，hiseyesflashingfire，"consists，inthefirstplace，inmakinghisauthorityrespected，andhispersonbeloved。？Everyagentofapowerwithoutcontrolrepresentsthatpower，andwhenpeoplecursethehandwhichstrikesthem，itistheroyalhandthatGodreproaches，doyouhear？？Mustasoldier，hardenedbyfortyyearsofwoundsandblood，giveyouthislesson，monsieur？？Mustmercybeonmyside，andferocityonyours？？Youhavecausedtheinnocenttobearrested，bound，andimprisoned！"
　　"Accomplices，perhaps，ofM。Fouquet，"saidColbert。
　　"WhotoldyouM。Fouquethadaccomplices，oreventhathewasguilty？？Thekingaloneknowsthat;hisjusticeisnotblind！？Whenhesays，'Arrestandimprison'suchandsuchaman，heisobeyed。？Donottalktome，then，anymoreoftherespectyouowetheking，andbecarefulofyourwords，thattheymaynotchancetoconveytheslightestmenace;forthekingwillnotallowthosetobethreatenedwhodohimservicebyotherswhodohimdisservice;andifincaseIshouldhave，whichGodforbid！amastersoungrateful，Iwouldmakemyselfrespected。"
　　Thussaying，D'Artagnantookhisstationhaughtilyintheking'scabinet，hiseyesflashing，hishandonhissword，hislipstrembling，affectingmuchmoreangerthanhereallyfelt。？Colbert，humiliatedanddevouredwithrage，bowedtothekingasiftoaskhispermissiontoleavetheroom。？Theking，thwartedalikeinprideandincuriosity，knewnotwhichparttotake。？D'Artagnansawhimhesitate。？Toremainlongerwouldhavebeenamistake:
　　itwasnecessarytoscoreatriumphoverColbert，andtheonlymethodwastotouchthekingsonearthequick，thathismajestywouldhavenoothermeansofextricationbutchoosingbetweenthetwoantagonists。？D'ArtagnanbowedasColberthaddone;buttheking，who，inpreferencetoeverythingelse，wasanxioustohavealltheexactdetailsofthearrestofthesurintendantofthefinancesfromhimwhohadmadehimtrembleforamoment，—theking，perceivingthattheill—humorofD'Artagnanwouldputoffforhalfanhouratleastthedetailshewasburningtobeacquaintedwith，—Louis，wesay，forgotColbert，whohadnothingnewtotellhim，andrecalledhiscaptainofthemusketeers。
　　"Inthefirstplace，"saidhe，"letmeseetheresultofyourcommission，monsieur;youmayrestyourselfhereafter。"
　　D'Artagnan，whowasjustpassingthroughthedoorway，stoppedatthevoiceoftheking，retracedhissteps，andColbertwasforcedtoleavethecloset。？Hiscountenanceassumedalmostapurplehue，hisblackandthreateningeyesshonewithadarkfirebeneaththeirthickbrows;hesteppedout，bowedbeforetheking，halfdrewhimselfupinpassingD'Artagnan，andwentawaywithdeathinhisheart。？D'Artagnan，onbeingleftalonewiththeking，softenedimmediately，andcomposinghiscountenance:"Sire，"saidhe，"youareayoungking。？Itisbythedawnthatpeoplejudgewhetherthedaywillbefineordull。？How，sire，willthepeople，whomthehandofGodhasplacedunderyourlaw，argueofyourreign，ifbetweenthemandyou，youallowangryandviolentministerstointerposetheirmischief？？Butletusspeakofmyself，sire，letusleaveadiscussionthatmayappearidle，andperhapsinconvenienttoyou。？Letusspeakofmyself。？IhavearrestedM。Fouquet。"
　　"Youtookplentyoftimeaboutit，"saidtheking，sharply。
　　D'Artagnanlookedattheking。？"IperceivethatIhaveexpressedmyselfbadly。？I
　　announcedtoyourmajestythatIhadarrestedMonsieurFouquet。"
　　"Youdid;andwhatthen？"
　　"Well！？IoughttohavetoldyourmajestythatM。
　　Fouquethadarrestedme;thatwouldhavebeenmorejust。？Ire—establishthetruth，then;IhavebeenarrestedbyM。Fouquet。"
　　ItwasnowtheturnofLouisXIV。tobesurprised。？Hismajestywasastonishedinhisturn。
　　D'Artagnan，withhisquickglance，appreciatedwhatwaspassingintheheartofhismaster。？Hedidnotallowhimtimetoputanyquestions。？Herelated，withthatpoetry，thatpicturesqueness，whichperhapshealonepossessedatthatperiod，theescapeofFouquet，thepursuit，thefuriousrace，and，lastly，theinimitablegenerosityofthesurintendant，whomighthavefledtentimesover，whomighthavekilledtheadversaryinthepursuit，butwhohadpreferredimprisonment，perhapsworse，tothehumiliationofonewhowishedtorobhimofhisliberty。？Inproportionasthetaleadvanced，thekingbecameagitated，devouringthenarrator'swords，anddrummingwithhisfinger—nailsuponthetable。
　　"Itresultsfromallthis，sire，inmyeyes，atleast，thatthemanwhoconductshimselfthusisagallantman，andcannotbeanenemytotheking。？Thatismyopinion，andIrepeatittoyourmajesty。？Iknowwhatthekingwillsaytome，andIbowtoit，—reasonsofstate。？Sobeit！？Tomyearsthatsoundshighlyrespectable。？ButIamasoldier，andIhavereceivedmyorders，myordersareexecuted—veryunwillinglyonmypart，itistrue，buttheyareexecuted。？Isaynomore。"
　　"WhereisM。Fouquetatthismoment？"askedLouis，afterashortsilence。
　　"M。
　　Fouquet，sire，"repliedD'Artagnan，"isintheironcagethatM。
　　Colberthadpreparedforhim，andisgallopingasfastasfourstronghorsescandraghim，towardsAngers。"
　　"Whydidyouleavehimontheroad？"
　　"BecauseyourmajestydidnottellmetogotoAngers。？Theproof，thebestproofofwhatIadvance，isthatthekingdesiredmetobesoughtforbutthisminute。？AndthenIhadanotherreason。"
　　"Whatisthat？"
　　"WhilstIwaswithhim，poorM。Fouquetwouldneverattempttoescape。"
　　"Well！"
　　criedtheking，astonished。
　　"Yourmajestyoughttounderstand，anddoesunderstand，certainly，thatmywarmestwishistoknowthatM。Fouquetisatliberty。？Ihavegivenhimoneofmybrigadiers，themoststupidIcouldfindamongmymusketeers，inorderthattheprisonermighthaveachanceofescaping。"
　　"Areyoumad，Monsieurd'Artagnan？"criedtheking，crossinghisarmsonhisbreast。？"Dopeopleuttersuchenormities，evenwhentheyhavethemisfortunetothinkthem？"
　　"Ah！
　　sire，youcannotexpectthatIshouldbeanenemytoM。Fouquet，afterwhathehasjustdoneforyouandme。？No，no;
　　ifyoudesirethatheshouldremainunderyourlockandbolt，nevergivehiminchargetome;howevercloselywiredmightbethecage，thebirdwould，intheend，takewing。"
　　"I
　　amsurprised，"saidtheking，inhissternesttone，"youdidnotfollowthefortunesofthemanM。Fouquetwishedtoplaceuponmythrone。？Youhadinhimallyouwant—affection，gratitude。？Inmyservice，monsieur，youwillonlyfindamaster。"
　　"IfM。FouquethadnotgonetoseekyouintheBastile，sire，"repliedD'Artagnan，withadeeplyimpressivemanner，"onesinglemanwouldhavegonethere，andIshouldhavebeenthatman—youknowthatrightwell，sire。"
　　Thekingwasbroughttoapause。？Beforethatspeechofhiscaptainofthemusketeers，sofranklyspokenandsotrue，thekinghadnothingtooffer。？OnhearingD'Artagnan，LouisrememberedtheD'Artagnanofformertimes;himwho，atthePalaisRoyal，heldhimselfconcealedbehindthecurtainsofhisbed，whenthepeopleofParis，ledbyCardinaldeRetz，cametoassurethemselvesofthepresenceoftheking;theD'Artagnanwhomhesalutedwithhishandatthedoorofhiscarriage，whenrepairingtoNotreDameonhisreturntoParis;thesoldierwhohadquittedhisserviceatBlois;thelieutenanthehadrecalledtobebesidehispersonwhenthedeathofMazarinrestoredhispower;themanhehadalwaysfoundloyal，courageous，devoted。？LouisadvancedtowardsthedoorandcalledColbert。？Colberthadnotleftthecorridorwherethesecretarieswereatwork。？Hereappeared。
　　"Colbert，didyoumakeaperquisitiononthehouseofM。Fouquet？"
　　"Yes，sire。"
　　"Whathasitproduced？"
　　"M。
　　deRoncherolles，whowassentwithyourmajesty'smusketeers，hasremittedmesomepapers，"repliedColbert。
　　"I
　　willlookatthem。？Givemeyourhand。"
　　"Myhand，sire！"
　　"Yes，thatImayplaceitinthatofM。d'Artagnan。？Infact，M。d'Artagnan，"addedhe，withasmile，turningtowardsthesoldier，who，atsightoftheclerk，hadresumedhishaughtyattitude，"youdonotknowthisman;makehisacquaintance。"？AndhepointedtoColbert。？"Hehasbeenmadebutamoderatelyvaluableservantinsubalternpositions，buthewillbeagreatmanifIraisehimtotheforemostrank。"
　　"Sire！"
　　stammeredColbert，confusedwithpleasureandfear。
　　"I
　　alwaysunderstoodwhy，"murmuredD'Artagnanintheking'sear;"hewasjealous。"
　　"Precisely，andhisjealousyconfinedhiswings。"
　　"Hewillhenceforwardbeawinged—serpent，"grumbledthemusketeer，witharemnantofhatredagainsthisrecentadversary。
　　ButColbert，approachinghim，offeredtohiseyesaphysiognomysodifferentfromthatwhichhehadbeenaccustomedtoseehimwear;heappearedsogood，somild，soeasy;hiseyestooktheexpressionofanintelligencesonoble，thatD'Artagnan，aconnoisseurinphysiognomies，wasmoved，andalmostchangedinhisconvictions。？Colbertpressedhishand。
　　"Thatwhichthekinghasjusttoldyou，monsieur，proveshowwellhismajestyisacquaintedwithmen。？TheinveterateoppositionIhavedisplayed，uptothisday，againstabusesandnotagainstmen，provesthatIhaditinviewtoprepareformykingagloriousreign，formycountryagreatblessing。？Ihavemanyideas，M。d'Artagnan。？Youwillseethemexpandinthesunofpublicpeace;andifIhavenotthegoodfortunetoconquerthefriendshipofhonestmen，Iamatleastcertain，monsieur，thatI
　　shallobtaintheiresteem。？Fortheiradmiration，monsieur，Iwouldgivemylife。"
　　Thischange，thissuddenelevation，thismuteapprobationoftheking，gavethemusketeermatterforprofoundreflection。？HebowedcivillytoColbert，whodidnottakehiseyesoffhim。？Theking，whenhesawtheywerereconciled，dismissedthem。？Theylefttheroomtogether。？Assoonastheywereoutofthecabinet，thenewminister，stoppingthecaptain，said:
　　"Isitpossible，M。d'Artagnan，thatwithsuchaneyeasyours，youdidnot，atthefirstglance，atthefirstimpression，discoverwhatsortofmanIam？"
　　"MonsieurColbert，"repliedthemusketeer，"arayofthesuninoureyespreventsusfromseeingthemostvividflame。？Themaninpowerradiates，youknow;andsinceyouarethere，whyshouldyoucontinuetopersecutehimwhohadjustfallenintodisgrace，andfallenfromsuchaheight？"
　　"I，monsieur！"saidColbert;"oh，monsieur！？Iwouldneverpersecutehim。？Iwishedtoadministerthefinancesandtoadministerthemalone，becauseIamambitious，and，aboveall，becauseIhavethemostentireconfidenceinmyownmerit;becauseIknowthatallthegoldofthiscountrywillebbandflowbeneathmyeyes，andIlovetolookattheking'sgold;
　　because，ifIlivethirtyyears，inthirtyyearsnotad閚irofitwillremaininmyhands;because，withthatgold，Iwillbuildgranaries，castles，cities，andharbors;becauseIwillcreateamarine，IwillequipnaviesthatshallwaftthenameofFrancetothemostdistantpeople;becauseIwillcreatelibrariesandacademies;becauseIwillmakeFrancethefirstcountryintheworld，andthewealthiest。？ThesearethemotivesformyanimosityagainstM。Fouquet，whopreventedmyacting。？Andthen，whenIshallbegreatandstrong，whenFranceisgreatandstrong，inmyturn，then，willIcry，'Mercy'！"
　　"Mercy，didyousay？thenaskhislibertyoftheking。？Thekingisonlycrushinghimonyouraccount。"
　　Colbertagainraisedhishead。？"Monsieur，"saidhe，"youknowthatisnotso，andthatthekinghashisownpersonalanimosityagainstM。Fouquet;itisnotformetoteachyouthat。"
　　"Butthekingwillgrowtired;hewillforget。"
　　"Thekingneverforgets，M。d'Artagnan。？Hark！thekingcalls。？Heisgoingtoissueanorder。？Ihavenotinfluencedhim，haveI？？Listen。"
　　Theking，infact，wascallinghissecretaries。？"Monsieurd'Artagnan，"saidhe。
　　"I
　　amhere，sire。"
　　"GivetwentyofyourmusketeerstoM。deSaint—Aignan，toformaguardforM。
　　Fouquet。"
　　D'ArtagnanandColbertexchangedlooks。？"AndfromAngers，"continuedtheking，"theywillconducttheprisonertotheBastile，inParis。"
　　"Youwereright，"saidthecaptaintotheminister。