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The Man in the Iron Mask, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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CHAPTER XXXIX - How the King, Louis XIV, Played His Little Part |
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_ As Fouquet was alighting from his carriage, to enter the castle of Nantes, a man of mean appearance went up to him with marks of the greatest respect, and gave him a letter. D'Artagnan endeavored to prevent this man from speaking to Fouquet, and pushed him away, but the message had been given to the surintendant. Fouquet opened the letter and read it, and instantly a vague terror, which D'Artagnan did not fail to penetrate, was painted on the countenance of the first minister. Fouquet put the paper into the portfolio which he had under his arm, and passed on towards the king's apartments. D'Artagnan, through the small windows made at every landing of the donjon stairs, saw, as he went up behind Fouquet, the man who had delivered the note, looking round him on the place and making signs to several persons, who disappeared in the adjacent streets, after having themselves repeated the signals. Fouquet was made to wait for a moment on the terrace of which we have spoken, - a terrace which abutted on the little corridor, at the end of which the cabinet of the king was located. Here D'Artagnan passed on before the surintendant, whom, till that time, he had respectfully accompanied, and entered the royal cabinet. "Well?" asked Louis XIV., who, on perceiving him, threw on to the table "The order is executed, sire." "And Fouquet?" "Monsieur le surintendant follows me," said D'Artagnan. "In ten minutes let him be introduced," said the king, dismissing "Did he not appear astonished?" asked the king. "Who, sire?" "_Fouquet_," replied the king, without saying monsieur, a peculiarity "No, sire," replied he. "That's well!" And a second time Louis dismissed D'Artagnan. Fouquet had not quitted the terrace where he had been left by his guide. "Something is being contrived against you. Perhaps they will not dare to Fouquet recognized the writing and zeal of Gourville. Not being willing "Monsieur," said he, "the king awaits you." Fouquet walked with a deliberate step along the little corridor, where The king, without rising, nodded to him, and with interest: "Well! how "I am in a high fever," replied the surintendant; "but I am at the king's "That is well; the States assemble to-morrow; have you a speech ready?" Fouquet looked at the king with astonishment. "I have not, sire," "Certainly. Ask it." "Why did not your majesty do his first minister the honor of giving him "You were ill; I was not willing to fatigue you." "Never did a labor - never did an explanation fatigue me, sire; and since "Oh, Monsieur Fouquet! an explanation? An explanation, pray, of what?" "Of your majesty's intentions with respect to myself." The king blushed. "I have been calumniated," continued Fouquet, warmly, "You say all this to me very uselessly, Monsieur Fouquet; I know what I "Your majesty can only know the things that have been told to you; and I, "What do you wish to say?" said the king, impatient to put an end to this "I will go straight to the facts, sire; and I accuse a certain man of "Nobody has injured you, Monsieur Fouquet." "That reply proves to me, sire, that I am right." "Monsieur Fouquet, I do not like people to be accused." "Not when one is accused?" "We have already spoken too much about this affair." "Your majesty will not allow me to justify myself?" "I repeat that I do not accuse you." Fouquet, with a half-bow, made a step backward. "It is certain," thought "No, Monsieur Fouquet, but for some advice I wish to give you." "I respectfully await it, sire." "Rest yourself, Monsieur Fouquet, do not throw away your strength; the "Has the king nothing to say to me on the subject of this assembly of the "No, Monsieur Fouquet." "Not to me, the surintendant of the finances?" "Rest yourself, I beg you; that is all I have to say to you." Fouquet bit his lips and hung his head. He was evidently busy with some "Yes, sire, I am not accustomed to take rest." "But you are ill; you must take care of yourself." "Your majesty spoke just now of a speech to be pronounced to-morrow." His majesty made no reply; this unexpected stroke embarrassed him. The king, on his part, was only uneasy at the alarm of Fouquet. "Has he "If his first word is severe," again thought Fouquet; "if he becomes "Sire," said he, suddenly, "since the goodness of the king watches over "So be it, Monsieur Fouquet, it shall be as you desire; you shall have a "Thanks!" said Fouquet, bowing. Then, opening his game: "Shall I not And he looked Louis full in the face, to judge of the effect of such a "Do you know," replied he, endeavoring to smile, "that you have just "Yes, sire." "Well! do you not remember," continued the king in the same cheerful "That is true again, sire. Only, as you have not taken it, you will "I mean to do so." "That was, besides, your majesty's intention as well as mine; and I The king stammered out that he did not bring the musketeers for that "Oh, I am convinced of that," said Fouquet, warmly; "your majesty knows "_Peste!_" cried the king; "I do not wish those fine fortifications, "Whenever your majesty pleases." "Have you any means of transport? It shall be to-morrow, if you like." The surintendant felt this stroke, which was not adroit, and replied, "You have a boat of your own, nevertheless?" "I have five; but they are all in port, or at Paimboeuf; and to join "Wait a little, put an end to the fever, - wait till to-morrow." "That is true. Who knows but that by to-morrow we may not have a hundred The king started, and stretched his hand out towards his little bell, but "Sire," said he, "I have an ague - I am trembling with cold. If I remain "Indeed, you are in a shiver; it is painful to behold! Come, Monsieur "Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness. In an hour I shall be better." "I will call some one to reconduct you," said the king. "As you please, sire; I would gladly take the arm of any one." "Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried the king, ringing his little bell. "Oh, sire," interrupted Fouquet, laughing in such a manner as made the "And why, M. Fouquet? M. d'Artagnan conducts me often, and extremely "Yes, but when he conducts you, sire, it is to obey you; whilst me - " "Go on!" "If I am obliged to return home supported by the leader of the "Arrested!" replied the king, who became paler than Fouquet himself, - "And why should they not say so?" continued Fouquet, still laughing; "and "Quite unnecessary," said the latter; "sword for sword; I prefer D'Artagnan bowed, without at all comprehending what was going on. He disappeared, leaving D'Artagnan with the king. "Captain," said the king, "you will follow M. Fouquet at the distance of "Yes, sire." "He is going to his lodgings again. You will go with him." "Yes, sire." "You will arrest him in my name, and will shut him up in a carriage." "In a carriage. Well, sire?" "In such a fashion that he may not, on the road, either converse with any "That will be rather difficult, sire." "Not at all." "Pardon me, sire, I cannot stifle M. Fouquet, and if he asks for liberty "The case is provided for, Monsieur d'Artagnan; a carriage with a trellis "A carriage with an iron trellis!" cried D'Artagnan; "but a carriage with "The carriage in question is already made." "Ah! that is quite a different thing," said the captain; "if the carriage "It is ready - and the horses harnessed." "Ah!" "And the coachman, with the outriders, is waiting in the lower court of D'Artagnan bowed. "There only remains for me to ask your majesty whither "To the castle of Angers, at first." "Very well, sire." "Afterwards we will see." "Yes, sire." "Monsieur d'Artagnan, one last word: you have remarked that, for making "Your majesty does not employ your guards," said the captain, a little "That is to say, monsieur, that I have more confidence in you." "I know that very well, sire! and it is of no use to make so much of it." "It is only for the sake of arriving at this, monsieur, that if, from "Oh! very often, sire; but for others, not for me." "And why not with you?" "Because I, sire, have, for an instant, wished to save M. Fouquet." The king started. "Because," continued the captain, "I had then a right "In truth, monsieur, you do not reassure me with regard to your services." "If I had saved him then, I should have been perfectly innocent; I will "Oh! you have not got him yet, captain." "That concerns me; every one to his trade, sire; only, once more, "Yes, a thousand times, yes!" "In writing, sire, then." "Here is the order." D'Artagnan read it, bowed to the king, and left the room. From the |