Part 111 (1/2)
This news appeared rather to reassure Gourville than to sadden him
”Yes, certainly to burn theranted,” said theinto the eyes and the faces of the two interlocutors, to ascertain what there was profitable or disadvantageous to hi the truth
”Now, proceed,” said Gourville
”The prisoners,” cried Danicaht to the Greve, and the people, in a fury, insisted upon their being burnt instead of being hung”
”And the people were right,” said the abbe ”Go on”
”But,” resumed the man, ”at the moment the archers were broken, at the moment the fire was set to one of the houses of the Place destined to serve as a funeral-pile for the guilty, this fury, this deiant of whom I told you, and e had been informed, was the proprietor of the house in question, aided by a young man who accompanied him, threw out of thethose who kept the fire, called to his assistance the musketeers ere in the crowd, leaped himself from theof the first story into the Place, and plied his sword so desperately that the victory was restored to the archers, the prisoners were retaken, and Menneville killed When once recaptured, the condemned were executed in three minutes” Fouquet, in spite of his self-co him
”And this man, the proprietor of the house, what is his na even been able to get sight of hiarden, and I remained at my post: only the affair was related to me as I repeat it I was ordered, when once the affair was at an end, to come at best speed and announce to you theto this order, I set out, full gallop, and here I a else to ask of you,” said the abbe, more and more dejected, in proportion as thehimself alone with his brother
”Have you been paid?” asked Gourville
”Partly, monsieur,” replied Danicaone, et to defend, as this ti”
”Yes,the money After which he went out Scarcely had the door closed after him when Fouquet, who had remained motionless, advanced with a rapid step and stood between the abbe and Gourville Both of them at the same time opened their mouths to speak to hiainst anybody If I had not been a false friend I should not have confided to any one the care of delivering Lyodot and D'Eyuilty; to me alone are reproaches and remorse due Leave me, abbe”
”And yet, monsieur, you will not preventto find out the e of M Colbert in this so well-arranged affair; for, if it is good policy to love our friends dearly, I do not believe that is bad which consists in obstinately pursuing our ene of you, and do not let me hear any more of you till I send for you; e most need is circumspection and silence You have a terrible exaentlemen: no reprisals, I forbid theru a fauilty person”
”And I,” cried Fouquet, in that i to reply, ”if you entertain one thought, one single thought, which is not the absolute expression of my will, I will have you cast into the Bastile two hours after that thought has ly, abbe”
The abbe colored and bowed Fouquet n to Gourville to follow hi his steps towards his cabinet, when the usher announced with a loud voice: ”Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan”
”Who is he?” said Fouquet, negligently, to Gourville
”An ex-lieutenant of his majesty's musketeers,” replied Gourville, in the same tone Fouquet did not even take the trouble to reflect, and resuneur!” said Gourville, ”but I have re's service, and probably comes to receive an installment of some pension or other”
”Devil take him!” said Fouquet, ”why does he choose his opportunity so ill?”
”Perneur, to announce your refusal to him; for he is one of my acquaintance, and is a man whom, in our present circumstances, it would be better to have as a friend than an enemy”
”Answer hiood Lord!” said the abbe, still full of otistical man; ”tell him there is no money, particularly for musketeers”
But scarcely had the abbe uttered this imprudent speech, when the partly open door was thrown back, and D'Artagnan appeared
”Eh! Monsieur Fouquet,” said he, ”I ell aware there was no money for musketeers here Therefore I did not co done, receive o and seek it at M Colbert's” And he went out,an easy bow
”Gourville,” said Fouquet, ”run after thathinan on the stairs