Ah! come in, then, D'Artagnan." "What does your majesty wish ?" said D'Artagnan, appearing.
"Where is monsieur the bishop of Vannes, your friend ?" "Why, sire--" "I am waiting for him, and he does not come.

Let him be sought for." D'Artagnan remained for an instant stupefied; but soon, reflecting that Aramis had left Vaux privately on a mission from the king, he concluded that the king wished to preserve the secret.

"Sire," replied he, "does your majesty absolutely require M.d'Herblay to be brought to you ?" "Absolutely is not the word," said Philippe; "I do not want him so particularly as that; but if he can be found--" "I thought so," said D'Artagnan to himself.
"Is this M.d'Herblay the bishop of Vannes ?" "Yes, madame." "A friend of M.Fouquet ?" "Yes, madame; an old musketeer." Anne of Austria blushed.
"One of the four braves who formerly performed such prodigies." The old queen repented of having wished to bite; she broke off the conversation, in order to preserve the rest of her teeth.

"Whatever may be your choice, sire," said she, "I have no doubt it will be excellent." All bowed in support of that sentiment.
"You will find in him," continued Philippe, "the depth and penetration of M.de Richelieu, without the avarice of M.de Mazarin!" "A prime minister, sire ?" said Monsieur, in a fright.
"I will tell you all about that, brother; but it is strange that M.
d'Herblay is not here!" He called out: "Let M.Fouquet be informed that I wish to speak to him--oh! before you, before you; do not retire!" M.de Saint-Aignan returned, bringing satisfactory news of the queen, who only kept her bed from precaution, and to have strength to carry out the king's wishes.

Whilst everybody was seeking M.Fouquet and Aramis, the new king quietly continued his experiments, and everybody, family, officers, servants, had not the least suspicion of his identity, his air, his voice, and manners were so like the king's.