"The king, moreover, commanded me to take a brigade of musketeers, which is apparently superfluous, as the country is quite quiet." "A brigade!" said Fouquet, raising himself upon his elbow.
"Ninety-six horsemen, yes, monseigneur.

The same number as were employed in arresting MM.

de Chalais, de Cinq-Mars, and Montmorency." Fouquet pricked up his ears at these words, pronounced without apparent value.

"And what else ?" said he.
"Oh! nothing but insignificant orders; such as guarding the castle, guarding every lodging, allowing none of M.de Gesvres's guards to occupy a single post." "And as to myself," cried Fouquet, "what orders had you ?" "As to you, monseigneur ?--not the smallest word." "Monsieur d'Artagnan, my safety, my honor, perhaps my life are at stake.
You would not deceive me ?" "I ?--to what end?
Are you threatened?
Only there really is an order with respect to carriages and boats--" "An order ?" "Yes; but it cannot concern you--a simple measure of police." "What is it, captain ?--what is it ?" "To forbid all horses or boats to leave Nantes, without a pass, signed by the king." "Great God! but--" D'Artagnan began to laugh.

"All that is not to be put into execution before the arrival of the king at Nantes.