Fouquet was made to wait for a moment on the terrace of which we have spoken,--a terrace which abutted on the little corridor, at the end of which the cabinet of the king was located.

Here D'Artagnan passed on before the surintendant, whom, till that time, he had respectfully accompanied, and entered the royal cabinet.
"Well ?" asked Louis XIV., who, on perceiving him, threw on to the table covered with papers a large green cloth.
"The order is executed, sire." "And Fouquet ?" "Monsieur le surintendant follows me," said D'Artagnan.
"In ten minutes let him be introduced," said the king, dismissing D'Artagnan again with a gesture.

The latter retired; but had scarcely reached the corridor at the extremity of which Fouquet was waiting for him, when he was recalled by the king's bell.
"Did he not appear astonished ?" asked the king.
"Who, sire ?" "_Fouquet_," replied the king, without saying monsieur, a peculiarity which confirmed the captain of the musketeers in his suspicions.
"No, sire," replied he.
"That's well!" And a second time Louis dismissed D'Artagnan.
Fouquet had not quitted the terrace where he had been left by his guide.
He reperused his note, conceived thus: "Something is being contrived against you.

Perhaps they will not dare to carry it out at the castle; it will be on your return home.

The house is already surrounded by musketeers.