The first moment of surprise over, D'Artagnan reperusedAthos's note. "It is strange," said he, "that the kingshould send for me."

"Why so?" said Raoul; "do you not think, monsieur, that theking must regret such a servant as you?"

"Oh, oh!" cried the officer, laughing with all his might;"you are poking fun at me, Master Raoul. If the king hadregretted me, he would not have let me leave him. No, no; Isee in it something better, or worse, if you like."

"Worse! What can that be, monsieur le chevalier?"

"You are young, you are a boy, you are admirable. Oh, how Ishould like to be as you are! To be but twenty-four, with anunfurrowed brow, under which the brain is void of everythingbut women, love, and good intentions. Oh, Raoul, as long asyou have not received the smiles of kings, the confidence ofqueens; as long as you have not had two cardinals killedunder you, the one a tiger, the other a fox, as long as youhave not - But what is the good of all this trifling? Wemust part, Raoul."

"How you say the word! What a serious face!"

"Eh! but the occasion is worthy of it. Listen to me. I havea very good recommendation to tender you."

"I am all attention, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

"You will go and inform your father of my departure."

"Your departure?"

"Pardieu! You will tell him that I am gone into England; andthat I am living in my little country-house."

"In England, you! - And the king's orders?"

"You get more and more silly: do you imagine that I am goingto the Louvre, to place myself at the disposal of thatlittle crowned wolf-cub?"

"The king a wolf-cub? Why, monsieur le chevalier, you aremad!"

"On the contrary, I never was so sane. You do not know whathe wants to do with me, this worthy son of Louis le Juste!- But, Mordioux! that is policy. He wishes to ensconce mesnugly in the Bastile - purely and simply, look you!"

"What for?" cried Raoul, terrified at what he heard.

"On account of what I told him one day at Blois. I was warm;he remembers it."

"You told him what?"

"That he was mean, cowardly, and silly."

"Good God!" cried Raoul, "is it possible that such wordsshould have issued from your mouth?"

"Perhaps I don't give the letter of my speech, but I givethe sense of it."

"But did not the king have you arrested immediately?"

"By whom? It was I who commanded the musketeers; he musthave commanded me to convey myself to prison; I would neverhave consented: I would have resisted myself. And then Iwent into England - no more D'Artagnan. Now, the cardinalis dead, or nearly so, they learn that I am in Paris, andthey lay their hands on me."

"The cardinal was your protector?"

"The cardinal knew me; he knew certain particularities ofme; I also knew some of his; we appreciated each othermutually. And then, on rendering his soul to the devil, hewould recommend Anne of Austria to make me the inhabitant ofa safe place. Go then, and find your father, relate the factto him - and adieu!"

"My dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Raoul, very muchagitated, after having looked out at the window, "you cannoteven fly!"

"Why not?"

"Because there is below an officer of the Swiss guardswaiting for you."

"Well!"

"Well, he will arrest you."

D'Artagnan broke into a Homeric laugh.

"Oh! I know very well that you will resist, that you willfight, even; I know very well that you will prove theconqueror; but that amounts to rebellion, and you are anofficer yourself, knowing what discipline is."

"Devil of a boy, how logical that is!" grumbled D'Artagnan.

"You approve of it. do you not?"

"Yes, instead of passing into the street, where that idiotis waiting for me, I will slip quietly out at the back. Ihave a horse in the stable, and a good one. I will ride himto death; my means permit me to do so, and by killing onehorse after another, I shall arrive at Boulogne in elevenhours; I know the road. Only tell your father one thing."

"What is that?"

"That is - that the thing he knows about is placed atPlanchet's house, except a fifth, and that - - "

"But, my dear M. d'Artagnan, rest assured that if you fly,two things will be said of you."

"What are they, my dear friend?"

"The first, that you have been afraid."

"Ah! and who will dare to say that?"

"The king first."

"Well! but he will tell the truth, - I am afraid."

"The second, that you knew yourself guilty."

"Guilty of what?"

"Why, of the crimes they wish to impute to you."

"That is true again. So, then, you advise me to go and getmyself made a prisoner in the Bastile?"

"M. le Comte de la Fere would advise you just as I do."

"Pardieu! I know he would," said D'Artagnan thoughtfully."You are right, I shall not escape. But if they cast me intothe Bastile?"

"We will get you out again," said Raoul, with a quiet, calmair.

"Mordioux! You said that after a brave fashion, Raoul," saidD'Artagnan, seizing his hand, "that savors of Athos,distinctly. Well, I will go, then. Do not forget my lastword."

"Except a fifth," said Raoul.

"Yes, you are a fine boy! and I wish you to add one thing tothat last word."

"Speak, chevalier!"

"It is that if you cannot get me out of the Bastile, and Iremain there - oh! that will be so, and I shall be adetestable prisoner; I, who have been a passable man, - inthat case, I give three-fifths to you, and the fourth toyour father."

"Chevalier!"

"Mordioux! If you will have some masses said for me, you arewelcome."

That being said, D'Artagnan took his belt from the hook,girded on his sword, took a hat the feather of which wasfresh, and held his hand out to Raoul, who threw himselfinto his arms. When in the shop, he cast a quick glance atthe shop-lads, who looked upon the scene with a pridemingled with some inquietude; then plunging his hands into achest of currants, he went straight to the officer who waswaiting for him at the door.

"Those features! Can it be you, Monsieur de Friedisch?"cried D'Artagnan, gayly. "Eh! eh! what, do we arrest ourfriends?"

"Arrest!" whispered the lads among themselves.

"Yes, it is I, Monsieur d'Artagnan! Good-day to you!" saidthe Swiss, in his mountain patois.

"Must I give you up my sword? I warn you, that it is longand heavy; you had better let me wear it to the Louvre: Ifeel quite lost in the streets without a sword, and youwould be more at a loss than I should, with two."

"The king has given no orders about it," replied the Swiss,"so keep your sword."

"Well, that is very polite on the part of the king. Let usgo, at once."

Monsieur Friedisch was not a talker, and D'Artagnan had toomany things to think about to say much. From Planchet's shopto the Louvre was not far - they arrived in ten minutes. Itwas a dark night. M. de Friedisch wanted to enter by thewicket. "No," said D'Artagnan, "you would lose time by that;take the little staircase."

The Swiss did as D'Artagnan advised, and conducted him tothe vestibule of the king's cabinet. When arrived there, hebowed to his prisoner, and, without saying anything,returned to his post. D'Artagnan had not had time to ask whyhis sword was not taken from him, when the door of thecabinet opened, and a valet de chambre called "M.D'Artagnan!" The musketeer assumed his parade carriage andentered, with his large eyes wide open, his brow calm, hismustache stiff. The king was seated at a table writing. Hedid not disturb himself when the step of the musketeerresounded on the floor; he did not even turn his head.D'Artagnan advanced as far as the middle of the room, andseeing that the king paid no attention to him, andsuspecting, besides, that this was nothing but affectation,a sort of tormenting preamble to the explanation that waspreparing, he turned his back on the prince, and began toexamine the frescoes on the cornices, and the cracks in theceiling. This maneuver was accompanied by a little tacitmonologue. "Ah! you want to humble me, do you? - you, whomI have seen so young - you, whom I have served as I wouldmy own child, - you, whom I have served as I would a God - that is to say, for nothing. Wait awhile! wait awhile! youshall see what a man can do who has snuffed the air of thefire of the Huguenots, under the beard of monsieur lecardinal - the true cardinal." At this moment Louis turnedround.

"Ah! are you there, Monsieur d'Artagnan?" said he.

D'Artagnan saw the movement and imitated it. "Yes, sire,"said he.

"Very well; have the goodness to wait till I have cast thisup."

D'Artagnan made no reply; he only bowed. "That is politeenough," thought he; "I have nothing to say."

Louis made a violent dash with his pen, and threw it angrilyaway.

"Ah! go on, work yourself up!" thought the musketeer; "youwill put me at my ease. You shall find I did not empty thebag, the other day, at Blois."

Louis rose from his seat, passed his hand over his brow,then, stopping opposite to D'Artagnan, he looked at him withan air at once imperious and kind. "What the devil does hewant with me? I wish he would begin!" thought the musketeer.

"Monsieur," said the king, "you know, without doubt, thatmonsieur le cardinal is dead?"

"I suspected so, sire."

"You know that, consequently, I am master in my ownkingdom?"

"That is not a thing that dates from the death of monsieurle cardinal, sire; a man is always master in his own house,when he wishes to be so."

"Yes; but do you remember all you said to me at Blois?"

"Now we come to it," thought D'Artagnan, "I was notdeceived. Well, so much the better, it is a sign that myscent is tolerably keen yet."

"You do not answer me," said Louis.

"Sire, I think I recollect."

"You only think?"

"It is so long ago."

"If you do not remember, I do. You said to me, - listenwith attention."

"Ah! I shall listen with all my ears, sire; for it is verylikely the conversation will turn in a fashion veryinteresting to me."

Louis once more looked at the musketeer, The latter smoothedthe feather of his hat, then his mustache, and waitedbravely. Louis XIV. continued: "You quitted my service,monsieur, after having told me the whole truth?"

"Yes, sire."

"That is, after having declared to me all you thought to betrue, with regard to my mode of thinking and acting. That isalways a merit. You began by telling me that you had servedmy family thirty years, and were fatigued."

"I said so; yes, sire."

"And you afterwards admitted that that fatigue was apretext, and that discontent was the real cause."

"I was discontented, in fact, but that discontent has neverbetrayed itself, that I know of, and if, like a man ofheart, I have spoken out before your majesty, I have noteven thought of the matter, before anybody else."

"Do not excuse yourself, D'Artagnan, but continue to listento me. When making me the reproach that you werediscontented, you received in reply a promise: - `Wait.' - Is not that true?"

"Yes, sire, as true as what I told you."

"You answered me, `Hereafter! No, now, immediately.' Do notexcuse yourself, I tell you. It was natural, but you had nocharity for your poor prince, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

"Sire! charity for a king, on the part of a poor soldier!"

"You understand me very well; you knew that I stood in needof it; you knew very well that I was not master; you knewvery well that my hope was in the future. Now, you answeredme when I spoke of that future, `My discharge, - and thatdirectly.'"

"That is true," murmured D'Artagnan, biting his mustache.

"You did not flatter me when I was in distress," addedLouis.

"But," said D'Artagnan, raising his head nobly, "if I didnot flatter your majesty when poor, neither did I betrayyou. I have shed my blood for nothing; I have watched like adog at a door, knowing full well that neither bread nor bonewould be thrown to me. I, although poor likewise, askednothing of your majesty but the discharge you speak of."

"I know you are a brave man, but I was a young man, and youought to have had some indulgence for me. What had you toreproach the king with? - that he left King Charles II.without assistance? - let us say further - that he did notmarry Mademoiselle de Mancini?" When saying these words, theking fixed upon the musketeer a searching look.

"Ah! ah!" thought the latter, "he is doing far more thanremembering, he divines. The devil!"

"Your sentence," continued Louis, "fell upon the king andfell upon the man. But, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that weakness,for you considered it a weakness?" - D'Artagnan made noreply - "you reproached me also with regard to monsieur,the defunct cardinal. Now, monsieur le cardinal, did he notbring me up, did he not support me? - elevating himself andsupporting himself at the same time, I admit; but thebenefit was discharged. As an ingrate or an egotist, wouldyou, then, have better loved or served me?"

"Sire!"

"We will say no more about it, monsieur; it would onlycreate in you too many regrets, and me too much pain."

D'Artagnan was not convinced. The young king, in adopting atone of hauteur with him, did not forward his purpose.

"You have since reflected?" resumed Louis.

"Upon what, sire?" asked D'Artagnan, politely.

"Why, upon all that I have said to you, monsieur."

"Yes, sire, no doubt - - "

"And you have only waited for an opportunity of retractingyour words?"

"Sire!"

"You hesitate, it seems."

"I do not understand what your majesty did me the honor tosay to me."

Louis's brow became cloudy.

"Have the goodness to excuse me, sire; my understanding isparticularly thick; things do not penetrate it withoutdifficulty; but it is true, when once they get in, theyremain there."

"Yes, yes; you appear to have a memory."

"Almost as good a one as your majesty's."

"Then give me quickly one solution. My time is valuable.What have you been doing since your discharge?"

"Making my fortune, sire."

"The expression is crude, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

"Your majesty takes it in bad part, certainly. I entertainnothing but the profoundest respect for the king; and if Ihave been impolite, which might be excused by my longsojourn in camps and barracks, your majesty is too muchabove me to be offended at a word that innocently escapesfrom a soldier."

"In fact, I know you performed a brilliant action inEngland, monsieur. I only regret that you have broken yourpromise."

"I!" cried D'Artagnan.

"Doubtless. You engaged your word not to serve any otherprince on quitting my service. Now it was for King CharlesII. that you undertook the marvelous carrying off of M.Monk."

"Pardon me, sire, it was for myself."

"And did you succeed?"

"Like the captains of the fifteenth century, coups-de-mainand adventures."

"What do you call succeeding? - a fortune?"

"A hundred thousand crowns, sire, which I now possess - that is, in one week three times as much money as I ever hadin fifty years."

"It is a handsome sum. But you are ambitious, I perceive."

"I, sire? The quarter of that would be a treasure; and Iswear to you I have no thought of augmenting it."

"What! you contemplate remaining idle?"

"Yes, sire."

"You mean to drop the sword?"

"That I have already done."

"Impossible, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Louis, firmly.

"But, sire - - "

"Well?"

"And why, sire?"

"Because it is my wish you should not!" said the youngprince, in a voice so stern and imperious that D'Artagnanevinced surprise and even uneasiness.

"Will your majesty allow me one word of reply?" said he.

"Speak."

"I formed that resolution when I was poor and destitute."

"So be it. Go on."

"Now, when by my energy I have acquired a comfortable meansof subsistence, would your majesty despoil me of my liberty?Your majesty would condemn me to the lowest, when I havegained the highest?"

"Who gave you permission, monsieur to fathom my designs, orto reckon with me?" replied Louis, in a voice almost angry;"who told you what I shall do or what you will yourself do?"

"Sire," said the musketeer, quietly, "as far as I see,freedom is not the order of the conversation, as it was onthe day we came to an explanation at Blois."

"No, monsieur; everything is changed."

"I tender your majesty my sincere compliments upon that, but- - "

"But you don't believe it?"

"I am not a great statesman, and yet I have my eye uponaffairs; it seldom fails; now, I do not see exactly as yourmajesty does, sire. The reign of Mazarin is over, but thatof the financiers is begun. They have the money; yourmajesty will not often see much of it. To live under the pawof these hungry wolves is hard for a man who reckoned uponindependence."

At this moment some one scratched at the door of thecabinet; the king raised his head proudly. "Your pardon,Monsieur d'Artagnan," said he; "it is M. Colbert, who comesto make me a report. Come in M. Colbert."

D'Artagnan drew back. Colbert entered with papers in hishand, and went up to the king. There can be little doubtthat the Gascon did not lose the opportunity of applying hiskeen, quick glance to the new figure which presented itself.

"Is the inquiry made?"

"Yes, sire."

"And the opinion of the inquisitors?"

"Is that the accused merit confiscation and death."

"Ah! ah!" said the king, without changing countenance, andcasting an oblique look at D'Artagnan. "And your ownopinion, M. Colbert?" said he.

Colbert looked at D'Artagnan in his turn. That imposingcountenance checked the words upon his lips. Louis perceivedthis. "Do not disturb yourself," said he; "it is M.d'Artagnan, - do you not know M. d'Artagnan again?"

These two men looked at each other - D'Artagnan, with eyesopen and bright as the day - Colbert, with his half closed,and dim. The frank intrepidity of the one annoyed the other;the circumspection of the financier disgusted the soldier."Ah! ah! this is the gentleman who made that brilliantstroke in England," said Colbert. And he bowed slightly toD'Artagnan.

"Ah! ah!" said the Gascon, "this is the gentleman whoclipped off the lace from the uniform of the Swiss! Apraiseworthy piece of economy."

The financier thought to pierce the musketeer; but themusketeer ran the financier through.

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," resumed the king, who had notremarked all the shades of which Mazarin would have missednot one, "this concerns the farmers of the revenue who haverobbed me, whom I am hanging, and whose death-warrants I amabout to sign."

"Oh! oh!" said D'Artagnan, starting.

"What did you say?"

"Oh! nothing, sire. This is no business of mine."

The king had already taken up the pen, and was applying itto the paper. "Sire," said Colbert in a subdued voice, "Ibeg to warn your majesty, that if an example be necessary,there will be difficulty in the execution of your orders."

"What do you say?" said Louis.

"You must not conceal from yourself," continued Colbertquietly, "that attacking the farmers-general is attackingthe superintendence. The two unfortunate guilty men inquestion are the particular friends of a powerful personage,and the punishment, which otherwise might be comfortablyconfined to the Chatelet will doubtless be a signal fordisturbances!"

Louis colored and turned towards D'Artagnan, who took aslight bite at his mustache, not without a smile of pity forthe financier, and for the king who had to listen to him solong. But Louis seized the pen, and with a movement sorapid, that his hand shook, he affixed his signature at thebottom of the two papers presented by Colbert, - thenlooking the latter in the face, - "Monsieur Colbert'" saidhe, "when you speak to me on business, exclude morefrequently the word difficulty from your reasonings andopinions; as to the word impossibility, never pronounce it."

Colbert bowed, much humiliated at having to undergo such alesson before the musketeer; he was about to go out, but,jealous to repair his check: "I forgot to announce to yourmajesty," said he, "that the confiscations amount to the sumof five millions of livres."

"That's pretty well!" thought D'Artagnan.

"Which makes in my coffers?" said the king.

"Eighteen millions of livres, sire," replied Colbert,bowing.

"Mordioux!" growled D'Artagnan, "that's glorious!"

"Monsieur Colbert," added the king, "you will, if youplease, go through the gallery where M. Lyonne is waiting,and will tell him to bring hither what he has drawn up - bymy order."

"Directly, sire; if your majesty wants me no more thisevening?"

"No, monsieur: good-night!" And Colbert went out.

"Now, let us return to our affair, M. d'Artagnan," said theking, as if nothing had happened. "You see that, withrespect to money, there is already a notable change."

"Something to the tune of from zero to eighteen millions,"replied the musketeer, gayly. "Ah! that was what yourmajesty wanted the day King Charles II. came to Blois. Thetwo states would not have been embroiled to-day; for I mustsay, that there also I see another stumbling-block."

"Well, in the first place," replied Louis, "you are unjust,monsieur; for, if Providence had made me able to give mybrother the million that day, you would not have quitted myservice, and, consequently, you would not have made yourfortune, as you told me just now you have done. But, inaddition to this, I have had another piece of good fortune;and my difference with Great Britain need not alarm you."

A valet de chambre interrupted the king by announcing M.Lyonne. "Come in, monsieur," said the king; "you arepunctual; that is like a good servant. Let us see yourletter to my brother Charles II."

D'Artagnan pricked up his ears. "A moment, monsieur," saidLouis, carelessly to the Gascon, "I must expedite to Londonmy consent to the marriage of my brother, M. le Duc d'Anjou,with the Princess Henrietta Stuart."

"He is knocking me about, it seems," murmured D'Artagnan,whilst the king signed the letter, and dismissed M. deLyonne, "but, ma foi! the more he knocks me about in thismanner, the better I like it."

The king followed M. de Lyonne with his eyes, till the doorwas closed behind him; he even made three steps, as if hewould follow the minister, but, after these three steps,stopping, pausing, and coming back to the musketeer, - "Now, monsieur," said he, "let us hasten to terminate ouraffair. You told me the other day, at Blois, that you werenot rich?"

"But I am now, sire."

"Yes, but that does not concern me; you have your own money,not mine; that does not enter into my account."

"I do not well understand what your majesty means."

"Then, instead of leaving you to draw out words, speak,spontaneously. Should you be satisfied with twenty thousandlivres a year as a fixed income?"

"But, sire," said D'Artagnan, opening his eyes to theutmost.

"Would you be satisfied with four horses furnished and kept,and with a supplement of funds such as you might require,according to occasions and needs, or would you prefer afixed sum which would be, for example, forty thousandlivres? Answer."

"Sire, your majesty - - "

"Yes, you are surprised; that is natural, and I expected it.Answer me, come! or I shall think you have no longer thatrapidity of judgment I have so much admired in you."

"It is certain, sire, that twenty thousand livres a yearmake a handsome sum; but - - "

"No buts! Yes or no, is it an honorable indemnity?"

"Oh! very certainly."

"You will be satisfied with it? That is well. It will bebetter to reckon the extra expenses separately; you canarrange that with Colbert. Now let us pass to something moreimportant."

"But, sire, I told your majesty - - "

"That you wanted rest, I know you did: only I replied that Iwould not allow it - I am master, I suppose?"

"Yes, sire."

"That is well. You were formerly in the way of becomingcaptain of the musketeers?"

"Yes, sire."

"Well, here is your commission signed. I place it in thisdrawer. The day on which you shall return from a certainexpedition which I have to confide to you, on that day youmay yourself take the commission from the drawer."D'Artagnan still hesitated, and hung down his head. "Come,monsieur," said the king, "one would believe, to look atyou, that you did not know that at the court of the mostChristian king, the captain-general of the musketeers takesprecedence of the marechals of France."

"Sire, I know he does.

"Then, am I to think you do put no faith in my word?"

"Oh! sire, never - never dream of such a thing."

"I have wished to prove to you, that you, so good a servant,had lost a good master; am I anything like the master thatwill suit you?"

"I begin to think you are, sire."

"Then, monsieur, you will resume your functions. Yourcompany is quite disorganized since your departure and themen go about drinking and rioting in the cabarets where theyfight, in spite of my edicts, and those of my father. Youwill reorganize the service as soon as possible."

"Yes, sire."

"You will not again quit my person."

"Very well, sire,"

"You will march with me to the army, you will encamp roundmy tent."

"Then, sire," said D'Artagnan, "if it is only to impose uponme a service like that, your majesty need not give me twentythousand livres a year. I shall not earn them."

"I desire that you shall keep open house; I desire that youshould keep a liberal table; I desire that my captain ofmusketeers should be a personage."

"And I," said D'Artagnan, bluntly; "I do not like easilyfound money; I like money won! Your majesty gives me an idletrade, which the first comer would perform for four thousandlivres."

Louis XIV. began to laugh. "You are a true Gascon, Monsieurd'Artagnan; you will draw my heart's secret from me."

"Bah! has your majesty a secret, then?"

"Yes, monsieur."

"Well! then I accept the twenty thousand livres, for I willkeep that secret, and discretion is above all price, inthese times. Will your majesty speak now?"

"Boot yourself, Monsieur d'Artagnan, and to horse!"

"Directly, sire."

"Within two days."

"That is well, sire: for I have my affairs to settle beforeI set out; particularly if it is likely there should be anyblows stirring."

"That may happen."

"We can receive them! But, sire, you have addressed yourselfto avarice, to ambition; you have addressed yourself to theheart of M. d'Artagnan, but you have forgotten one thing."

"What is that?"

"You have said nothing to his vanity, when shall I be aknight of the king's orders?"

"Does that interest you?"

"Why, yes, sire. My friend Athos is quite covered withorders, and that dazzles me."

"You shall be a knight of my order a month after you havetaken your commission of captain."

"Ah! ah!" said the officer, thoughtfully, "after theexpedition."

"Precisely."

"Where is your majesty going to send me?"

"Are you"acquainted with Bretagne?"

"Have you any friends there?"

"In Bretagne? No, ma foi!"

"So much the better. Do you know anything aboutfortifications?"

"I believe I do, sire," said D'Artagnan, smiling.

"That is to say you can readily distinguish a fortress froma simple fortification, such as is allowed to chatelains orvassals?"

"I distinguish a fort from a rampart as I distinguish acuirass from a raised pie-crust, sire. Is that sufficient?"

"Yes, monsieur. You will set out then."

"For Bretagne?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

"Absolutely alone. That is to say, you must not even take alackey with you."

"May I ask your majesty for what reason?"

"Because, monsieur, it will be necessary to disguiseyourself sometimes, as the servant of a good family. Yourface is very well known in France, M. d'Artagnan."

"And then, sire?"

"And then you will travel slowly through Bretagne, and willexamine carefully the fortifications of that country."

"The coasts?"

"Yes, and the isles, commencing by Belle-Isle-en-Mer."

"Ah! which belongs to M. Fouquet!" said D'Artagnan, in aserious tone, raising his intelligent eye to Louis XIV.

"I fancy you are right, monsieur, and that Belle-Isle doesbelong to M. Fouquet, in fact."

"Then your majesty wishes me to ascertain if Belle-Isle is astrong place?"

"Yes."

"If the fortifications of it are new or old?"

"Precisely."

"And if the vassals of M. Fouquet are sufficiently numerousto form a garrison?"

"That is what I want to know; you have placed your finger onthe question."

"And if they are not fortifying, sire?"

"You will travel about Bretagne, listening and judging."

"Then I am a king's spy?" said D'Artagnan, bluntly, twistinghis mustache.

"No, monsieur."

"Your pardon, sire; I spy on your majesty's account."

"You start on a voyage of discovery, monsieur. Would youmarch at the head of your musketeers, with your sword inyour hand, to observe any spot whatever, or an enemy'sposition?"

At this word D'Artagnan started.

"Do you," continued the king, "imagine yourself to be aspy?"

"No, no," said D'Artagnan, but pensively; "the thing changesits face when one observes an enemy; one is but a soldier.And if they are fortifying Belle-Isle?" added he, quickly.

"You will take an exact plan of the fortifications."

"Will they permit me to enter?"

"That does not concern me; that is your affair. Did you notunderstand that I reserved for you a supplement of twentythousand livres per annum, if you wished it?"

"Yes, sire; but if they are not fortifying?"

"You will return quietly, without fatiguing your horse."

"Sire, I am ready."

"You will begin to-morrow by going to monsieur lesurintendant's to take the first quarter of the pension Igive you. Do you know M. Fouquet?"

"Very little, sire; but I beg your majesty to observe that Idon't think it immediately necessary that I should knowhim."

"Your pardon, monsieur; for he will refuse you the money Iwish you to take; and it is that refusal I look for."

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan. "Then, sire?"

"The money being refused, you will go and seek it at M.Colbert's. A propos, have you a good horse?"

"An excellent one, sire."

"How much did it cost you?"

"A hundred and fifty pistoles."

"I will buy it of you. Here is a note for two hundredpistoles."

"But I want my horse for my journey, sire."

"Well!"

"Well, and you take mine from me."

"Not at all. On the contrary, I give it you. Only as it isnow mine and not yours, I am sure you will not spare it."

"Your majesty is in a hurry, then?"

"A great hurry."

"Then what compels me to wait two days?"

"Reasons known to myself."

"That's a different affair. The horse may make up the twodays, in the eight he has to travel; and then there is thepost."

"No, no, the post compromises, Monsieur d'Artagnan. Begoneand do not forget you are my servant."

"Sire, it is not my duty to forget it! At what hourto-morrow shall I take my leave of your majesty?"

"Where do you lodge?"

"I must henceforward lodge at the Louvre."

"That must not be now - keep your lodgings in the city: Iwill pay for them. As to your departure, it must take placeat night; you must set out without being seen by any one,or, if you are seen, it must not be known that you belong tome. Keep your mouth shut, monsieur."

"Your majesty spoils all you have said by that single word."

"I asked you where you lodged, for I cannot always send toM. le Comte de la Fere to seek you."

"I lodge with M. Planchet, a grocer, Rue des Lombards, atthe sign of the Pilon d'Or."

"Go out but little, show yourself less, and await myorders."

"And yet, sire, I must go for the money."

"That is true, but when going to the superintendence, whereso many people are constantly going, you must mingle withthe crowd."

"I want the notes, sire, for the money."

"Here they are." The king signed them, and D'Artagnan lookedon, to assure himself of their regularity.

"Adieu! Monsieur d'Artagnan," added the king; "I think youhave perfectly understood me."

"I? I understand that your majesty sends me toBelle-Isle-en-Mer, that is all."

"To learn?"

"To learn how M. Fouquet's works are going on; that is all."

"Very well: I admit you may be taken."

"And I do not admit it," replied the Gascon, boldly.

"I admit you may be killed," continued the king.

"That is not probable, sire."

"In the first case, you must not speak; in the second theremust be no papers found upon you."

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders without ceremony, and tookleave of the king, saying to himself: - "The English showercontinues - let us remain under the spout!"