When D'Artagnan returned, he found Fouquet in the same position; the worthy musketeer had not the slightest doubt that Fouquet, having given his word, would not even think of failing to keep it, but he had thought it most likely that Fouquet would turn his (D'Artagnan's) absence to the best advantage in getting rid of all the papers, memorandums, and contracts, which might possibly render his position, which was even now serious enough, more dangerous than ever.

And so, lifting up his head like a dog who has regained the scent, he perceived an odor resembling smoke he had relied on finding in the atmosphere, and having found it, made a movement of his head in token of satisfaction.

As D'Artagnan entered, Fouquet, on his side, raised his head, and not one of D'Artagnan's movements escaped him.

And then the looks of the two men met, and they both saw that they had understood each other without exchanging a syllable.
"Well!" asked Fouquet, the first to speak, "and M.d'Herblay ?" "Upon my word, monseigneur," replied D'Artagnan, "M.

d'Herblay must be desperately fond of walking out at night, and composing verses by moonlight in the park of Vaux, with some of your poets, in all probability, for he is not in his own room." "What! not in his own room ?" cried Fouquet, whose last hope thus escaped him; for unless he could ascertain in what way the bishop of Vannes could assist him, he perfectly well knew that he could expect assistance from no other quarter.
"Or, indeed," continued D'Artagnan, "if he is in his own room, he has very good reasons for not answering." "But surely you did not call him in such a manner that he could have heard you ?" "You can hardly suppose, monseigneur, that having already exceeded my orders, which forbade me leaving you a single moment--you can hardly suppose, I say, that I should have been mad enough to rouse the whole house and allow myself to be seen in the corridor of the bishop of Vannes, in order that M.Colbert might state with positive certainty that I gave you time to burn your papers." "My papers ?" "Of course; at least that is what I should have done in your place.