He felt upon his lips the word which had so many times been repeated to the Duc de Guise: "Fly." But to pronounce that word would have been to betray his cause; to speak that word in the cabinet of the king, and before an usher, would have been to ruin himself gratuitously, and could save nobody.

D'Artagnan then, contented himself with bowing to Fouquet and entered.

At this moment the king floated between the joy the last words of Fouquet had given him, and his pleasure at the return of D'Artagnan.

Without being a courtier, D'Artagnan had a glance as sure and as rapid as if he had been one.

He read, on his entrance, devouring humiliation on the countenance of Colbert.