Part 44 (1/2)

”M d'Herblay; let et hiood a prophet It ritten that the day would pass away and realize all the predictions that had been ly knocked, as we have seen, at the king's door The door opened The captain thought that it was the king who had just opened it hiether inaditation in which he had left Louis XIV the previous evening; but instead of his royal reatest respect, he perceived the long, calm features of Aramis So extre a loud exclanan,” replied the prelate, coldly

”You here!” stammered out the musketeer

”His , after having been greatly fatigued during the whole night”

”Ah!” said D'Artagnan, who could not understand how the bishop of Vannes, who had been so indifferent a favorite the previous evening, had beconificent n's bedroo even to the mere threshold of that monarch's room, to serve as an interle order in his name at a couple paces from him, he must have beconan's expressive eye, half-opened lips, his curling e to the chief favorite, who remained calm and perfectly unood enough, monsieur le capitaine des 's roo who have special permission His majesty does not wish to be disturbed just yet”

”But,” objected D'Artagnan, al to obey this order, and particularly of giving unrestrained passage to the suspicions which the king's silence had aroused--”but, ave ”

”Later, later,” said the king's voice, from the bottom of the alcove; a voice which h the musketeer's veins He bowed, amazed, confused, and stupefied by the smile hich Aramis seemed to overwhelm him, as soon as these words had been pronounced

”And then,” continued the bishop, ”as an answer to what you were conan, here is an order of his h to attend to forthwith, for it concerns M

Fouquet”

D'Artagnan took the order which was held out to him ”To be set at liberty!” he murmured ”Ah!” and he uttered a second ”ah!” still ence than the for, and that Aramis, in order to have obtained Fouquet's pardon, ress in the royal favor, and that this favor explained, in its tenor, the hardly conceivable assurance hich M d'Herblay issued the order in the king's nanan it was quite sufficient to have understood so of the matter in hand to order to understand the rest He bowed and withdrew a couple of paces, as though he were about to leave

”I a with you,” said the bishop

”Where to?”

”To M Fouquet; I wish to be a witness of his delight”

”Ah! Araain

”But you understand _now_, I suppose?”

”Of course I understand,” he said aloud; but added in a low tone to hi the words between his teeth, ”No, no, I do not understand yet But it is all the same, for here is the order for it”

And then he added, ”I will lead the way, neur,” and he conducted Ara's Friend

Fouquet aiting with anxiety; he had already sent awaythe usual hour of his ordinary receptions, had called at his door to inquire after hier which hung suspended by a hair above his head, he only asked them, as he did every one, indeed, who canan return, and when he perceived the bishop of Vannes behind hiht; it was fully equal to his previous uneasiness The ht of Aramis was a complete compensation to the surintendant for the unhappiness he had undergone in his arrest The prelate was silent and grave; D'Artagnan completely bewildered by such an accuht M d'Herblay to neur”

”What is that?”

”Liberty”