The advice to spare M.d'Herblay comes from Colbert himself." "Oh, sire!" said D'Artagnan, extremely surprised.
"As for you," continued the king, with a kindness very uncommon to him, "I have several pieces of good news to announce to you; but you shall know them, my dear captain, the moment I have made my accounts all straight.

I have said that I wish to make, and would make, your fortune; that promise will soon become reality." "A thousand times thanks, sire! I can wait.

But I implore you, whilst I go and practice patience, that your majesty will deign to notice those poor people who have for so long a time besieged your ante-chamber, and come humbly to lay a petition at your feet." "Who are they ?" "Enemies of your majesty." The king raised his head.
"Friends of M.Fouquet," added D'Artagnan.
"Their names ?" "M.

Gourville, M.Pelisson, and a poet, M.Jean de la Fontaine." The king took a moment to reflect.

"What do they want ?" "I do not know." "How do they appear ?" "In great affliction." "What do they say ?" "Nothing." "What do they do ?" "They weep." "Let them come in," said the king, with a serious brow.
D'Artagnan turned rapidly on his heel, raised the tapestry which closed the entrance to the royal chamber, and directing his voice to the adjoining room, cried, "Enter." The three men D'Artagnan had named immediately appeared at the door of the cabinet in which were the king and his captain.