I have myself been able to do as much as that, on former occasion." "I have already provided for every chance.

In a few days, sooner if necessary, we will take the captive out of his prison, and will send him out of the country, to a place of exile so remote--" "People can return from their exile, Monsieur d'Herblay." "To a place of exile so distant, I was going to say, that human strength and the duration of human life would not be enough for his return." Once more a cold look of intelligence passed between Aramis and the young king.
"And M.du Vallon ?" asked Philippe in order to change the conversation.
"He will be presented to you to-day, and confidentially will congratulate you on the danger which that conspirator has made you run." "What is to be done with him ?" "With M.du Vallon ?" "Yes; confer a dukedom on him, I suppose." "A dukedom," replied Aramis, smiling in a significant manner.
"Why do you laugh, Monsieur d'Herblay ?" "I laugh at the extreme caution of your idea." "Cautious, why so ?" "Your majesty is doubtless afraid that poor Porthos may possible become a troublesome witness, and you wish to get rid of him." "What! in making him a duke ?" "Certainly; you would assuredly kill him, for he would die from joy, and the secret would die with him." "Good heavens!" "Yes," said Aramis, phlegmatically; "I should lose a very good friend." At this moment, and in the middle of this idle conversation, under the light tone of which the two conspirators concealed their joy and pride at their mutual success, Aramis heard something which made him prick up his ears.
"What is that ?" said Philippe.
"The dawn, sire." "Well ?" "Well, before you retired to bed last night, you probably decided to do something this morning at break of day." "Yes, I told my captain of the musketeers," replied the young man hurriedly, "that I should expect him." "If you told him that, he will certainly be here, for he is a most punctual man." "I hear a step in the vestibule." "It must be he." "Come, let us begin the attack," said the young king resolutely.
"Be cautious for Heaven's sake.

To begin the attack, and with D'Artagnan, would be madness.

D'Artagnan knows nothing, he has seen nothing; he is a hundred miles from suspecting our mystery in the slightest degree, but if he comes into this room the first this morning, he will be sure to detect something of what has taken place, and which he would imagine it his business to occupy himself about.

Before we allow D'Artagnan to penetrate into this room, we must air the room thoroughly, or introduce so many people into it, that the keenest scent in the whole kingdom may be deceived by the traces of twenty different persons." "But how can I send him away, since I have given him a rendezvous ?" observed the prince, impatient to measure swords with so redoubtable an antagonist.
"I will take care of that," replied the bishop, "and in order to begin, I am going to strike a blow which will completely stupefy our man." "He, too, is striking a blow, for I hear him at the door," added the prince, hurriedly.
And, in fact, a knock at the door was heard at that moment.