I shall remain unto the very end a trooper; and when my turn comes, I shall fall perfectly straight, all in a heap, still alive, after having selected my place beforehand.

Do as I do, Monsieur Fouquet, you will not find yourself the worse for it; a fall happens only once in a lifetime to men like yourself, and the chief thing is, to take it gracefully when the chance presents itself.

There is a Latin proverb--the words have escaped me, but I remember the sense of it very well, for I have thought over it more than once--which says, 'The end crowns the work!'" Fouquet rose from his seat, passed his arm round D'Artagnan's neck, and clasped him in a close embrace, whilst with the other hand he pressed his hand.

"An excellent homily," he said, after a moment's pause.
"A soldier's, monseigneur." "You have a regard for me, in telling me all that." "Perhaps." Fouquet resumed his pensive attitude once more, and then, a moment after, he said: "Where can M.d'Herblay be?
I dare not ask you to send for him." "You would not ask me, because I would not do it, Monsieur Fouquet.
People would learn it, and Aramis, who is not mixed up with the affair, might possibly be compromised and included in your disgrace." "I will wait here till daylight," said Fouquet.
"Yes; that is best." "What shall we do when daylight comes ?" "I know nothing at all about it, monseigneur." "Monsieur d'Artagnan, will you do me a favor ?" "Most willingly." "You guard me, I remain; you are acting in the full discharge of your duty, I suppose ?" "Certainly." "Very good, then; remain as close to me as my shadow if you like; and I infinitely prefer such a shadow to any one else." D'Artagnan bowed to the compliment.
"But, forget that you are Monsieur d'Artagnan, captain of the musketeers; forget that I am Monsieur Fouquet, surintendant of the finances; and let us talk about my affairs." "That is rather a delicate subject." "Indeed ?" "Yes; but, for your sake, Monsieur Fouquet, I will do what may almost be regarded as an impossibility." "Thank you.

What did the king say to you ?" "Nothing." "Ah! is that the way you talk ?" "The deuce!" "What do you think of my situation ?" "I do not know." "However, unless you have some ill feeling against me--" "Your position is a difficult one." "In what respect ?" "Because you are under your own roof." "However difficult it may be, I understand it very well." "Do you suppose that, with any one else but yourself, I should have shown so much frankness ?" "What! so much frankness, do you say?
you, who refuse to tell me the slightest thing ?" "At all events, then, so much ceremony and consideration." "Ah! I have nothing to say in that respect." "One moment, monseigneur: let me tell you how I should have behaved towards any one but yourself.