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The Man in the Iron Mask, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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CHAPTER XIV - A Gascon, and a Gascon and a Half |
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_ D'Artagnan had determined to lose no time, and in fact he never was in the habit of doing so. After having inquired for Aramis, he had looked for him in every direction until he had succeeded in finding him. Besides, no sooner had the king entered Vaux, than Aramis had retired to his own room, meditating, doubtless, some new piece of gallant attention for his majesty's amusement. D'Artagnan desired the servants to announce him, and found on the second story (in a beautiful room called the Blue Chamber, on account of the color of its hangings) the bishop of Vannes in company with Porthos and several of the modern Epicureans. Aramis came forward to embrace his friend, and offered him the best seat. As it was after awhile generally remarked among those present that the musketeer was reserved, and wished for an opportunity for conversing secretly with Aramis, the Epicureans took their leave. Porthos, however, did not stir; for true it is that, having dined exceedingly well, he was fast asleep in his armchair; and the freedom of conversation therefore was not interrupted by a third person. Porthos had a deep, harmonious snore, and people might talk in the midst of its loud bass without fear of disturbing him. D'Artagnan felt that he was called upon to open the conversation. "Well, and so we have come to Vaux," he said. "Why, yes, D'Artagnan. And how do you like the place?" "Very much, and I like M. Fouquet, also." "Is he not a charming host?" "No one could be more so." "I am told that the king began by showing great distance of manner "You did not notice it, then, since you say you have been told so?" "No; I was engaged with the gentlemen who have just left the room about "Ah, indeed! you are the comptroller-general of the _fetes_ here, then?" "You know I am a friend of all kinds of amusement where the exercise of "Yes, I remember the verses you used to write, they were charming." "I have forgotten them, but I am delighted to read the verses of others, "Do you know what idea occurred to me this evening, Aramis?" "No; tell me what it was, for I should never be able to guess it, you "Well, the idea occurred to me, that the true king of France is not Louis "_What!_" said Aramis, involuntarily, looking the musketeer full in the "No, it is Monsieur Fouquet." Aramis breathed again, and smiled. "Ah! you are like all the rest, "He comes of a mean race, does Colbert," said Aramis. "Quite true." "When I think, too," added the bishop, "that that fellow will be your "And as you serve M. Fouquet," said D'Artagnan. "With this difference, though, that M. Fouquet is not M. Colbert." "True, true," said D'Artagnan, as he pretended to become sad and full of "Because M. Fouquet will have ceased to be so," replied Aramis. "He will be ruined, you mean?" said D'Artagnan. "Completely so." "Why does he give these _fetes_, then?" said the musketeer, in a tone so The latter part of the phrase was just a little too much, and Aramis's "By ruining himself?" "Yes, by ruining himself for the king." "A most eccentric, one might say, sinister calculation, that." "Necessity, necessity, my friend." "I don't see that, dear Aramis." "Do you not? Have you not remarked M. Colbert's daily increasing "One must be blind not to see it." "And that a cabal is already armed against M. Fouquet?" "That is well known." "What likelihood is there that the king would join a party formed against "True, true," said D'Artagnan, slowly, hardly convinced, yet curious to "What do you allude to?" "As for the banquet, the ball, the concert, the theatricals, the "You are quite right. I told M. Fouquet that myself; he replied, that if "How completely Spanish!" "I told him so, and he then added this: 'Whoever advises me to spare "It is positive madness; and that portrait, too!" "What portrait?" said Aramis. "That of the king, and the surprise as well." "What surprise?" "The surprise you seem to have in view, and on account of which you took "That is merely an act of graceful attention," replied Aramis. D'Artagnan went up to his friend, took hold of both his hands, and "What a question to ask!" "Very good. One favor, then. Why did you take some patterns of the "Come with me and ask poor Lebrun, who has been working upon them for the "Aramis, that may be truth for everybody else, but for me - " "Upon my word, D'Artagnan, you astonish me." "Be a little considerate. Tell me the exact truth; you would not like "My dear friend, you are becoming quite incomprehensible. What suspicion "Do you believe in my instinctive feelings? Formerly you used to have "I - a project?" "I am convinced of it." "What nonsense!" "I am not only sure of it, but I would even swear it." "Indeed, D'Artagnan, you cause me the greatest pain. Is it likely, if I "No, Aramis, no. There are certain projects which are never revealed "In that case, my dear fellow," returned the bishop, laughing, "the only D'Artagnan shook his head with a sorrowful expression. "Oh, friendship, "You are right," said Aramis, nobly. "And this man, who would shed every drop of blood in his veins for me, "It is not thus you should speak of _our_ friendship," replied the "Look at us, Aramis; three out of the old 'four.' You are deceiving me; "I can only tell you one thing, D'Artagnan, and I swear it on the Bible: "If I am not mistaken, Aramis, your words - at the moment you pronounce "Such a thing is very possible." "You are conspiring against M. Colbert. If that be all, _mordioux_, tell Aramis could not conceal a smile of disdain that flitted over his haughty "No, no; that would be too trifling a matter for you to take in hand, and "I am undertaking nothing," said Aramis. "Aramis, a voice within me speaks and seems to trickle forth a rill of "The king?" exclaimed the bishop, pretending to be annoyed. "Your face will not convince me; the king, I repeat." "Will you help me?" said Aramis, smiling ironically. "Aramis, I will do more than help you - I will do more than remain neuter "You are mad, D'Artagnan." "I am the wiser of the two, in this matter." "You to suspect me of wishing to assassinate the king!" "Who spoke of such a thing?" smiled the musketeer. "Well, let us understand one another. I do not see what any one can do "True." "You are not in M. Fouquet's house, but in your own." "True; but in spite of that, Aramis, grant me, for pity's sake, one "A true friend's word is ever truth itself. If I think of touching, even "Yes. Duty summons me. I have to get the watch-word. It seems I am to "Take him away with you, if you like, for he rumbles through his sleepy "Ah! he does not stay with you, then?" said D'Artagnan. "Not the least in the world. He has a chamber to himself, but I don't "Very good!" said the musketeer; from whom this separation of the two "What, D'Artagnan, my dear fellow, is that you? What a lucky chance! "Yes; and your beautiful dress, too." "Yes, it was very attentive on the part of Monsieur Coquelin de Voliere, "Hush!" said Aramis. "You are walking so heavily you will make the "True," said the musketeer; "this room is above the dome, I think." "And I did not choose it for a fencing-room, I assure you," added the "M. d'Artagnan entertains a great many suspicions, it seems," he said. "Ah! - you recognized M. d'Artagnan, then?" "Before you called him by his name, even." "He is your captain of musketeers." "He is very devoted to _me_," replied Philippe, laying a stress upon the "As faithful as a dog; but he bites sometimes. If D'Artagnan does not "I thought so. What are we to do, now?" "Sit in this folding-chair. I am going to push aside a portion of the "Yes," said Philippe, starting as at the sight of an enemy; "I see the "What is he doing?" "He seems to wish some man to sit down close to him." "M. Fouquet?" "No, no; wait a moment - " "Look at the notes and the portraits, my prince." "The man whom the king wishes to sit down in his presence is M. Colbert." "Colbert sit down in the king's presence!" exclaimed Aramis. "It is "Look." Aramis looked through the opening in the flooring. "Yes," he said. "Nothing good for M. Fouquet, at all events." The prince did not deceive himself. We have seen that Louis XIV. had sent for Colbert, and Colbert had The intendant, overcome with delight, for he feared he was about to be "Does he accept?" said Aramis. "No, he remains standing." "Let us listen, then." And the future king and the future pope listened "Colbert," said the king, "you have annoyed me exceedingly to-day." "I know it, sire." "Very good; I like that answer. Yes, you knew it, and there was courage "I ran the risk of displeasing your majesty, but I risked, also, the "What! you were afraid of something on _my_ account?" "I was, sire, even if it were nothing more than an indigestion," said "The truth is," he said, "that M. Fouquet has given me too good a meal. "Yes, I do know, sire." "Will you be able to prove it with tolerable certainty?" "Easily; and to the utmost farthing." "I know you are very exact." "Exactitude is the principal qualification required in an intendant of "But all are not so." "I thank you majesty for so flattering a compliment from your own lips." "M. Fouquet, therefore, is rich - very rich, and I suppose every man "Every one, sire; the living as well as the dead." "What does that mean, Monsieur Colbert?" "The living are witnesses of M. Fouquet's wealth, - they admire and "So that M. Fouquet owes his wealth to some cause or other." "The occupation of an intendant very often favors those who practice it." "You have something to say to me more confidentially, I perceive; do not "I am never afraid of anything under the shelter of my own conscience, "If the dead, therefore, were to speak - " "They do speak sometimes, sire, - read." "Ah!" murmured Aramis, in the prince's ear, who, close beside him, The prince redoubled his attention, and saw Louis XIV. take from "The late cardinal's handwriting," said the king. "Your majesty has an excellent memory," replied Colbert, bowing; "it is The king read Mazarin's letter, and, as its contents are already known to "I do not quite understand," said the king, greatly interested. "Your majesty has not acquired the utilitarian habit of checking the "I see that it refers to money that had been given to M. Fouquet." "Thirteen millions. A tolerably good sum." "Yes. Well, these thirteen millions are wanting to balance the total of "Possible I do not say; but there is no doubt about fact that it is "You say that these thirteen millions are found to be wanting in the "I do not say so, but the registry does." "And this letter of M. Mazarin indicates the employment of that sum and "As your majesty can judge for yourself." "Yes; and the result is, then, that M. Fouquet has not yet restored the "That results from the accounts, certainly, sire." "Well, and, consequently - " "Well, sire, in that case, inasmuch as M. Fouquet has not yet given back For a blunderer, the _souvenir_ he had evoked was a rather skillfully "Are you aware what is the usual and natural consequence of all this, "No, sire, I do not know." "Well, then, the fact of the appropriation of the thirteen millions, if "But it is so already." "I mean if it were to be declared and certified, M. Colbert." "I think it will be to-morrow, if your majesty - " "Were we not under M. Fouquet's roof, you were going to say, perhaps," "The king is in his own palace wherever he may be - especially in houses "I think," said Philippe in a low tone to Aramis, "that the architect who "I think so too," replied Aramis; "but M. Colbert is so very _near the "That is true, and that would open the succession." "Of which your younger brother would reap all the advantage, "We shall not have long to listen," said the young prince. "Why not, monseigneur?" "Because, if I were king, I should make no further reply." "And what would you do?" "I should wait until to-morrow morning to give myself time for Louis XIV. at last raised his eyes, and finding Colbert attentively "Very good, sire," returned Colbert, greatly incensed, although he The king made a gesture of adieu, and Colbert withdrew with a respectful "A moment longer," said Aramis to him, with his accustomed gentleness of |