"Good—day,Monsieurd'Artagnan,"saidtheminister,withmarkedaffability,"haveyouhadapleasantjourney?"
  "Yes,monsieur,"saidD'Artagnan,bowingtotheneckofhishorse。
  "Iheardthekinginviteyoutohistableforthisevening,"continuedtheminister;"youwillmeetanoldfriendthere。"
  "Anoldfriendofmine?"askedD'Artagnan,plungingpainfullyintothedarkwavesofthepast,whichhadswallowedupforhimsomanyfriendshipsandsomanyhatreds。
  "M。leDucd'Alm閐a,whoisarrivedthismorningfromSpain。"
  "TheDucd'Alm閐a?"saidD'Artagnan,reflectinginvain。
  "Here!"
  criedanoldman,whiteassnow,sittingbentinhiscarriage,whichhecausedtobethrownopentomakeroomforthemusketeer。
  "Aramis!"criedD'Artagnan,struckwithprofoundamazement。?Andhefelt,inertasitwas,thethinarmoftheoldnoblemanhangingroundhisneck。
  Colbert,afterhavingobservedtheminsilenceforafewmoments,urgedhishorseforward,andleftthetwooldfriendstogether。
  "Andso,"saidthemusketeer,takingAramis'sarm,"you,theexile,therebel,areagaininFrance?"
  "Ah!andI
  shalldinewithyouattheking'stable,"saidAramis,smiling。?"Yes,willyounotaskyourselfwhatistheuseoffidelityinthisworld??Stop!letusallowpoorLaValli鑢e'scarriagetopass。?Look,howuneasysheis!?Howhereyes,dimwithtears,followtheking,whoisridingonhorsebackyonder!"
  "Withwhom?"
  "WithMademoiselledeTonnay—Charente,nowMadamedeMontespan,"repliedAramis。
  "Sheisjealous。?Isshethendeserted?"
  "Notquiteyet,butitwillnotbelongbeforesheis。"
  Transcriber'snote:MadamedeMontespanwouldoustLouisefromtheking'saffectionsby1667。—JB
  Theychattedtogether,whilefollowingthesport,andAramis'scoachmandrovethemsocleverlythattheyarrivedattheinstantwhenthefalcon,attackingthebird,beathimdown,andfelluponhim。?Thekingalighted;MadamedeMontespanfollowedhisexample。?Theywereinfrontofanisolatedchapel,concealedbyhugetrees,alreadydespoiledoftheirleavesbythefirstcuttingwindsofautumn。?Behindthischapelwasaninclosure,closedbyalatticedgate。?Thefalconhadbeatendownhispreyintheinclosurebelongingtothislittlechapel,andthekingwasdesirousofgoingintotakethefirstfeather,accordingtocustom。?Thecort鑗eformedacircleroundthebuildingandthehedges,toosmalltoreceivesomany。?D'ArtagnanheldbackAramisbythearm,ashewasabout,liketherest,toalightfromhiscarriage,andinahoarse,brokenvoice,"Doyouknow,Aramis,"saidhe,"whitherchancehasconductedus?"
  "No,"
  repliedtheduke。
  "Herereposementhatweknewwell,"saidD'Artagnan,greatlyagitated。
  Aramis,withoutdivininganything,andwithatremblingstep,penetratedintothechapelbyalittledoorwhichD'Artagnanopenedforhim。?"Wherearetheyburied?"saidhe。
  "There,intheinclosure。?Thereisacross,yousee,beneathyonlittlecypress。?Thetreeofgriefisplantedovertheirtomb;don'tgotoit;thekingisgoingthatway;theheronhasfallenjustthere。"
  Aramisstopped,andconcealedhimselfintheshade。?Theythensaw,withoutbeingseen,thepalefaceofLaValli鑢e,who,neglectedinhercarriage,atfirstlookedon,withamelancholyheart,fromthedoor,andthen,carriedawaybyjealousy,advancedintothechapel,whence,leaningagainstapillar,shecontemplatedthekingsmilingandmakingsignstoMadamedeMontespantoapproach,astherewasnothingtobeafraidof。?MadamedeMontespancomplied;shetookthehandthekingheldouttoher,andhe,pluckingoutthefirstfeatherfromtheheron,whichthefalconerhadstrangled,placeditinhisbeautifulcompanion'shat。?She,smilinginherturn,kissedthehandtenderlywhichmadeherthispresent。?Thekinggrewscarletwithvanityandpleasure;helookedatMadamedeMontespanwithallthefireofnewlove。
  "Whatwillyougivemeinexchange?"saidhe。
  Shebrokeoffalittlebranchofcypressandofferedittotheking,wholookedintoxicatedwithhope。
  "Humph!"
  saidAramistoD'Artagnan;"thepresentisbutasadone,forthatcypressshadesatomb。"
  "Yes,andthetombisthatofRaouldeBragelonne,"saidD'Artagnanaloud;"ofRaoul,whosleepsunderthatcrosswithhisfather。"
  Agroanresounded—theysawawomanfallfaintingtotheground。?MademoiselledelaValli鑢ehadseenall,heardall。
  "Poorwoman!"mutteredD'Artagnan,ashehelpedtheattendantstocarrybacktohercarriagethelonelyladywhoselothenceforthinlifewassuffering。
  ThateveningD'Artagnanwasseatedattheking'stable,nearM。ColbertandM。leDucd'Alm閐a。?Thekingwasverygay。?Hepaidathousandlittleattentionstothequeen,athousandkindnessestoMadame,seatedathislefthand,andverysad。?Itmighthavebeensupposedthattimeofcalmwhenthekingwaswonttowatchhismother'seyesfortheapprovalordisapprovalofwhathehadjustdone。
  Ofmistressestherewasnoquestionatthisdinner。?ThekingaddressedAramistwoorthreetimes,callinghimM。
  l'ambassadeur,whichincreasedthesurprisealreadyfeltbyD'Artagnanatseeinghisfriendtherebelsomarvelouslywellreceivedatcourt。
  Theking,onrisingfromtable,gavehishandtothequeen,andmadeasigntoColbert,whoseeyewasonhismaster'sface。?ColberttookD'ArtagnanandAramisononeside。?Thekingbegantochatwithhissister,whilstMonsieur,veryuneasy,entertainedthequeenwithapreoccupiedair,withoutceasingtowatchhiswifeandbrotherfromthecornerofhiseye。?TheconversationbetweenAramis,D'Artagnan,andColbertturneduponindifferentsubjects。?Theyspokeofprecedingministers;ColbertrelatedthesuccessfultricksofMazarin,anddesiredthoseofRichelieutoberelatedtohim。?D'Artagnancouldnotovercomehissurpriseatfindingthisman,withhisheavyeyebrowsandlowforehead,displaysomuchsoundknowledgeandcheerfulspirits。?Aramiswasastonishedatthatlightnessofcharacterwhichpermittedthisseriousmantoretardwithadvantagethemomentformoreimportantconversation,towhichnobodymadeanyallusion,althoughallthreeinterlocutorsfeltitsimminence。?Itwasveryplain,fromtheembarrassedappearanceofMonsieur,howmuchtheconversationofthekingandMadameannoyedhim。?Madame'seyeswerealmostred:wasshegoingtocomplain??Wasshegoingtoexposealittlescandalinopencourt??Thekingtookherononeside,andinatonesotenderthatitmusthaveremindedtheprincessofthetimewhenshewaslovedforherself:
  "Sister,"
  saidhe,"whydoIseetearsinthoselovelyeyes?"
  "Why—sire—"saidshe。
  "Monsieurisjealous,ishenot,sister?"
  ShelookedtowardsMonsieur,aninfalliblesignthattheyweretalkingabouthim。
  "Yes,"
  saidshe。
  "Listentome,"saidtheking;"ifyourfriendscompromiseyou,itisnotMonsieur'sfault。"
  HespokethesewordswithsomuchkindnessthatMadame,encouraged,havingbornesomanysolitarygriefssolong,wasnearlyburstingintotears,sofullwasherheart。
  "Come,come,dearlittlesister,"saidtheking,"tellmeyourgriefs;onthewordofabrother,Ipitythem;onthewordofaking,Iwillputanendtothem。"
  Sheraisedhergloriouseyesand,inamelancholytone:
  "Itisnotmyfriendswhocompromiseme,"saidshe;"theyareeitherabsentorconcealed;theyhavebeenbroughtintodisgracewithyourmajesty;they,sodevoted,sogood,soloyal!"
  "YousaythisonaccountofDeGuiche,whomIhaveexiled,atMonsieur'sdesire?"
  "Andwho,sincethatunjustexile,hasendeavoredtogethimselfkilledonceeveryday。"
  "Unjust,sayyou,sister?"
  "Sounjust,thatifIhadnothadtherespectmixedwithfriendshipthatIhavealwaysentertainedforyourmajesty—"
  "Well!"
  "Well!?IwouldhaveaskedmybrotherCharles,uponwhomIcanalways—"
  Thekingstarted。?"What,then?"
  "IwouldhaveaskedhimtohavehaditrepresentedtoyouthatMonsieurandhisfavoriteM。leChevalierdeLorraineoughtnotwithimpunitytoconstitutethemselvestheexecutionersofmyhonorandmyhappiness。"
  "TheChevalierdeLorraine,"saidtheking;"thatdismalfellow?"
  "Ismymortalenemy。?Whilstthatmanlivesinmyhousehold,whereMonsieurretainshimanddelegateshispowertohim,I
  shallbethemostmiserablewomaninthekingdom。"
  "So,"
  saidtheking,slowly,"youcallyourbrotherofEnglandabetterfriendthanIam?"
  "Actionsspeakforthemselves,sire。"
  "Andyouwouldprefergoingtoaskassistancethere—"
  "Tomyowncountry!"saidshewithpride;"yes,sire。"
  "YouarethegrandchildofHenryIV。aswellasmyself,lady。?Cousinandbrother—in—law,doesnotthatamountprettywelltothetitleofbrother—germain?"
  "Then,"
  saidHenrietta,"act!"
  "Letusformanalliance。"
  "Begin。"
  "Ihave,yousay,unjustlyexiledDeGuiche。"
  "Oh!
  yes,"saidshe,blushing。
  "DeGuicheshallreturn。"
  Transcriber'snote:DeGuichewouldnotreturntocourtuntil1671。—JB
  "Sofar,well。"
  "AndnowyousaythatIdowronginhavinginyourhouseholdtheChevalierdeLorraine,whogivesMonsieurilladvicerespectingyou?"
  "RememberwellwhatItellyou,sire;theChevalierdeLorrainesomeday—Observe,ifeverIcometoadreadfulend,IbeforehandaccusetheChevalierdeLorraine;
  hehasaspiritthatiscapableofanycrime!"
  "TheChevalierdeLorraineshallnolongerannoyyou—Ipromiseyouthat。"
  Transcriber'snote:Madamediddieofpoisonin1670,shortlyafterreturningfromthemissiondescribedlater。?TheChevalierdeLorrainehadactuallybeenorderedoutofFrancein1662。—JB
  "Thenthatwillbeatruepreliminaryofalliance,sire,—Isign;butsinceyouhavedoneyourpart,tellmewhatshallbemine。"
  "InsteadofembroilingmewithyourbrotherCharles,youmustmakehimamoreintimatefriendthanever。"
  "Thatisveryeasy。"
  "Oh!notquitesoeasyasyoumaysuppose,forinordinaryfriendshippeopleembraceorexercisehospitality,andthatonlycostsakissorareturn,profitableexpenses;butinpoliticalfriendship—"
  "Ah!it'sapoliticalfriendship,isit?"
  "Yes,mysister;andthen,insteadofembracesandfeasts,itissoldiers—itissoldiersallaliveandwellequipped—thatwemustserveuptoourfriends;
  vesselswemustoffer,allarmedwithcannonsandstoredwithprovisions。?Ithenceresultsthatwehavenotalwayscoffersinafitconditionforsuchfriendships。"
  "Ah!youarequiteright,"saidMadame;"thecoffersofthekingofEnglandhavebeensonorousforsometime。"
  "Butyou,mysister,whohavesomuchinfluenceoveryourbrother,youcansecuremorethananambassadorcouldevergetthepromiseof。"
  "ToeffectthatImustgotoLondon,mydearbrother。"
  "Ihavethoughtso,"repliedtheking,eagerly;"andIhavesaidtomyselfthatsuchavoyagewoulddoyourhealthandspiritsgood。"
  "Only,"
  interruptedMadame,"itispossibleIshouldfail。?ThekingofEnglandhasdangerouscounselors。"
  "Counselors,doyousay?"
  "Precisely。?If,bychance,yourmajestyhadanyintention—Iamonlysupposingso—ofaskingCharlesII。hisallianceinawar—"
  "A
  war?"
  "Yes;well!
  thentheking'scounselors,whoareinnumberseven—MademoiselleStewart,MademoiselleWells,MademoiselleGwyn,MissOrchay,MademoiselleZunga,MissDavies,andtheproudCountessofCastlemaine—willrepresenttothekingthatwarcostsagreatdealofmoney;thatitisbettertogiveballsandsuppersatHamptonCourtthantoequipshipsofthelineatPortsmouthandGreenwich。"
  "Andthenyournegotiationswillfail?"
  "Oh!thoseladiescauseallnegotiationstofallthroughwhichtheydon'tmakethemselves。"
  "Doyouknowtheideathathasstruckme,sister?"
  "No;informmewhatitis。"
  "Itisthat,searchingwellaroundyou,youmightperhapsfindafemalecounselortotakewithyoutoyourbrother,whoseeloquencemightparalyzetheill—willofthesevenothers。"
  "Thatisreallyanidea,sire,andIwillsearch。"
  "Youwillfindwhatyouwant。"
  "Ihopeso。"
  "Aprettyambassadressisnecessary;anagreeablefaceisbetterthananuglyone,isitnot?"
  "Mostassuredly。"
  "Ananimated,lively,audaciouscharacter。"
  "Certainly。"
  "Nobility;
  thatis,enoughtoenablehertoapproachthekingwithoutawkwardness—nottoolofty,soasnottotroubleherselfaboutthedignityofherrace。"
  "Verytrue。"
  "AndwhoknowsalittleEnglish。"
  "MonDieu!why,someone,"criedMadame,"likeMademoiselledeK閞oualle,forinstance!"
  "Oh!why,yes!"saidLouisXIV。;"youhavehitthemark,—itisyouwhohavefound,mysister。"
  "Iwilltakeher;shewillhavenocausetocomplain,Isuppose。"
  "Oh!no,I
  willnamehers閐uctricepl閚ipotentiaireatonce,andwilladdadowrytothetitle。"
  "Thatiswell。"
  "Ifancyyoualreadyonyourroad,mydearlittlesister,consoledforallyourgriefs。"
  "Iwillgo,ontwoconditions。?Thefirstis,thatI
  shallknowwhatIamnegotiatingabout。"
  "Thatisit。?TheDutch,youknow,insultmedailyintheirgazettes,andbytheirrepublicanattitude。?Idonotlikerepublics。"
  "Thatmayeasilybeimagined,sire。"
  "Iseewithpainthatthesekingsofthesea—theycallthemselvesso—keeptradefromFranceintheIndies,andthattheirvesselswillsoonoccupyalltheportsofEurope。?Suchapoweristoonearme,sister。"
  "Theyareyourallies,nevertheless。"
  "Thatiswhytheywerewronginhavingthemedalyouhaveheardofstruck;amedalwhichrepresentsHollandstoppingthesun,asJoshuadid,withthislegend:Thesunhadstoppedbeforeme。?Thereisnotmuchfraternityinthat,isthere?"
  "Ithoughtyouhadforgottenthatmiserableepisode?"
  "Ineverforgetanything,sister。?Andifmytruefriends,suchasyourbrotherCharles,arewillingtosecondme—"?Theprincessremainedpensivelysilent。
  "Listentome;thereistheempireof?theseastobeshared,"saidLouisXIV。?"Forthispartition,whichEnglandsubmitsto,couldInotrepresentthesecondpartyaswellastheDutch?"
  "WehaveMademoiselledeK閞oualletotreatthatquestion,"repliedMadame。
  "Yoursecondconditionforgoing,ifyouplease,sister?"
  "TheconsentofMonsieur,myhusband。"
  "Youshallhaveit。"
  "Thenconsidermealreadygone,brother。"
  Onhearingthesewords,LouisXIV。turnedroundtowardsthecorneroftheroominwhichD'Artagnan,Colbert,andAramisstood,andmadeanaffirmativesigntohisminister。?Colbertthenbrokeinontheconversationsuddenly,andsaidtoAramis:
  "Monsieurl'ambassadeur,shallwetalkaboutbusiness?"
  D'Artagnanimmediatelywithdrew,frompoliteness。?Hedirectedhisstepstowardsthefireplace,withinhearingofwhatthekingwasabouttosaytoMonsieur,who,evidentlyuneasy,hadgonetohim。?Thefaceofthekingwasanimated。?Uponhisbrowwasstampedastrengthofwill,theexpressionofwhichalreadymetnofurthercontradictioninFrance,andwassoontomeetnomoreinEurope。
  "Monsieur,"
  saidthekingtohisbrother,"IamnotpleasedwithM。leChevalierdeLorraine。?You,whodohimthehonortoprotecthim,mustadvisehimtotravelforafewmonths。"
  ThesewordsfellwiththecrushofanavalancheuponMonsieur,whoadoredhisfavorite,andconcentratedallhisaffectionsinhim。
  "Inwhathasthechevalierbeeninconsiderateenoughtodispleaseyourmajesty?"
  criedhe,dartingafuriouslookatMadame。
  "Iwilltellyouthatwhenheisgone,"saidtheking,suavely。?"AndalsowhenMadame,here,shallhavecrossedoverintoEngland。"
  "Madame!inEngland!"murmuredMonsieur,inamazement。
  "Inaweek,brother,"continuedtheking,"whilstwewillgowhitherIwillshortlytellyou。"?Andthekingturnedonhisheel,smilinginhisbrother'sface,tosweeten,asitwere,thebitterdraughthehadgivenhim。
  DuringthistimeColbertwastalkingwiththeDucd'Alm閐a。
  "Monsieur,"
  saidColberttoAramis,"thisisthemomentforustocometoanunderstanding。?Ihavemadeyourpeacewiththeking,andIowedthatclearlytoamanofsomuchmerit;butasyouhaveoftenexpressedfriendshipforme,anopportunitypresentsitselfforgivingmeaproofofit。?Youare,besides,moreaFrenchmanthanaSpaniard。?Shallwesecure—answermefrankly—theneutralityofSpain,ifweundertakeanythingagainsttheUnitedProvinces?"
  "Monsieur,"
  repliedAramis,"theinterestofSpainisclear。?ToembroilEuropewiththeProvinceswoulddoubtlessbeourpolicy,butthekingofFranceisanallyoftheUnitedProvinces。?Youarenotignorant,besides,thatitwouldinferamaritimewar,andthatFranceisinnostatetoundertakethiswithadvantage。"
  Colbert,turningroundatthismoment,sawD'Artagnanwhowasseekingsomeinterlocutor,duringthis"aside"ofthekingandMonsieur。?Hecalledhim,atthesametimesayinginalowvoicetoAramis,"WemaytalkopenlywithD'Artagnan,Isuppose?"
  "Oh!
  certainly,"repliedtheambassador。
  "Weweresaying,M。d'Alm閐aandI,"saidColbert,"thataconflictwiththeUnitedProvinceswouldmeanamaritimewar。"
  "That'sevidentenough,"repliedthemusketeer。
  "Andwhatdoyouthinkofit,Monsieurd'Artagnan?"
  "Ithinkthattocarryonsuchawarsuccessfully,youmusthaveverylargelandforces。"
  "Whatdidyousay?"saidColbert,thinkinghehadillunderstoodhim。
  "Whysuchalargelandarmy?"saidAramis。
  "BecausethekingwillbebeatenbyseaifhehasnottheEnglishwithhim,andthatwhenbeatenbysea,hewillsoonbeinvaded,eitherbytheDutchinhisports,orbytheSpaniardsbyland。"
  "AndSpainneutral?"askedAramis。
  "Neutralaslongasthekingshallprovestronger,"rejoinedD'Artagnan。
  Colbertadmiredthatsagacitywhichnevertouchedaquestionwithoutenlighteningitthoroughly。?Aramissmiled,ashehadlongknownthatindiplomacyD'Artagnanacknowledgednosuperior。?Colbert,who,likeallproudmen,dweltuponhisfantasywithacertaintyofsuccess,resumedthesubject,"Whotoldyou,M。d'Artagnan,thatthekinghadnonavy?"
  "Oh!?Itakenoheedofthesedetails,"
  repliedthecaptain。?"Iambutanindifferentsailor。?Likeallnervouspeople,Ihatethesea;andyetIhaveanideathat,withships,Francebeingaseaportwithtwohundredexits,wemighthavesailors。"
  Colbertdrewfromhispocketalittleoblongbookdividedintotwocolumns。?Onthefirstwerethenamesofvessels,ontheotherthefiguresrecapitulatingthenumberofcannonandmenrequisitetoequiptheseships。?"Ihavehadthesameideaasyou,"saidhetoD'Artagnan,"andIhavehadanaccountdrawnupofthevesselswehavealtogether—thirty—fiveships。"
  "Thirty—fiveships!impossible!"criedD'Artagnan。
  "Somethingliketwothousandpiecesofcannon,"saidColbert。?"Thatiswhatthekingpossessesatthismoment。?Offiveandthirtyvesselswecanmakethreesquadrons,butImusthavefive。"
  "Five!"
  criedAramis。
  "Theywillbeafloatbeforetheendoftheyear,gentlemen;thekingwillhavefiftyshipoftheline。?Wemayventureonacontestwiththem,maywenot?"
  "Tobuildvessels,"saidD'Artagnan,"isdifficult,butpossible。?Astoarmingthem,howisthattobedone??InFrancethereareneitherfoundriesnormilitarydocks。"
  "Bah!"
  repliedColbert,inabanteringtone,"Ihaveplannedallthatthisyearandahalfpast,didyounotknowit??DoyouknowM。d'Imfreville?"
  "D'Imfreville?"
  repliedD'Artagnan;"no。"
  "HeisamanIhavediscovered;hehasaspecialty;heisamanofgenius—heknowshowtosetmentowork。?ItishewhohascastcannonandcutthewoodsofBourgogne。?Andthen,monsieurl'ambassadeur,youmaynotbelievewhatIamgoingtotellyou,butIhaveastillfurtheridea。"
  "Oh,monsieur!"saidAramis,civilly,"Ialwaysbelieveyou。"
  "CalculatinguponthecharacteroftheDutch,ourallies,Isaidtomyself,'Theyaremerchants,theyarefriendlywiththeking;theywillbehappytoselltothekingwhattheyfabricateforthemselves;thenthemorewebuy'—Ah!?Imustaddthis:IhaveForant—doyouknowForant,D'Artagnan?"
  Colbert,inhiswarmth,forgothimself;hecalledthecaptainsimplyD'Artagnan,asthekingdid。?Butthecaptainonlysmiledatit。
  "No,"
  repliedhe,"Idonotknowhim。"
  "ThatisanothermanIhavediscovered,withageniusforbuying。?ThisForanthaspurchasedforme350,000
  poundsofironinballs,200,000poundsofpowder,twelvecargoesofNortherntimber,matches,grenades,pitch,tar—Iknownotwhat!witha?savingofsevenpercentuponwhatallthosearticleswouldcostmefabricatedinFrance。"
  "Thatisacapitalandquaintidea,"repliedD'Artagnan,"tohaveDutchcannon—ballscastwhichwillreturntotheDutch。"
  "Isitnot,withloss,too?"?AndColbertlaughedaloud。?Hewasdelightedwithhisownjoke。
  "Stillfurther,"addedhe,"thesesameDutcharebuildingfortheking,atthismoment,sixvesselsafterthemodelofthebestoftheirname。?Destouches—Ah!perhapsyoudon'tknowDestouches?"
  "No,monsieur。"