He will throw out at the doors all the cries and notes possible." "The case is provided for, Monsieur d'Artagnan; a carriage with a trellis will obviate both the difficulties you point out." "A carriage with an iron trellis!" cried D'Artagnan; "but a carriage with an iron trellis is not made in half an hour, and your majesty commands me to go immediately to M.Fouquet's lodgings." "The carriage in question is already made." "Ah! that is quite a different thing," said the captain; "if the carriage is ready made, very well, then, we have only to set it in motion." "It is ready--and the horses harnessed." "Ah!" "And the coachman, with the outriders, is waiting in the lower court of the castle." D'Artagnan bowed.

"There only remains for me to ask your majesty whither I shall conduct M.Fouquet." "To the castle of Angers, at first." "Very well, sire." "Afterwards we will see." "Yes, sire." "Monsieur d'Artagnan, one last word: you have remarked that, for making this capture of M.Fouquet, I have not employed my guards, on which account M.de Gesvres will be furious." "Your majesty does not employ your guards," said the captain, a little humiliated, "because you mistrust M.de Gesvres, that is all." "That is to say, monsieur, that I have more confidence in you." "I know that very well, sire! and it is of no use to make so much of it." "It is only for the sake of arriving at this, monsieur, that if, from this moment, it should happen that by any chance whatever M.Fouquet should escape--such chances have been, monsieur--" "Oh! very often, sire; but for others, not for me." "And why not with you ?" "Because I, sire, have, for an instant, wished to save M.Fouquet." The king started.

"Because," continued the captain, "I had then a right to do so, having guessed your majesty's plan, without you having spoken to me of it, and that I took an interest in M.Fouquet.Now, was I not at liberty to show my interest in this man ?" "In truth, monsieur, you do not reassure me with regard to your services." "If I had saved him then, I should have been perfectly innocent; I will say more, I should have done well, for M.Fouquet is not a bad man.

But he was not willing; his destiny prevailed; he let the hour of liberty slip by.

So much the worse! Now I have orders, I will obey those orders, and M.Fouquet you may consider as a man arrested.