As Fouquet was alighting from his carriage, to enter the castle of Nantes, a man of mean appearance went up to him with marks of the greatest respect, and gave him a letter. D’Artagnan endeavored to prevent this man from speaking to Fouquet, and pushed him away, but the message had been given to the surintendant. Fouquet opened the letter and read it, and instantly a vague terror, which D’Artagnan did not fail to penetrate1, was painted on the countenance2 of the first minister. Fouquet put the paper into the portfolio3 which he had under his arm, and passed on towards the king’s apartments. D’Artagnan, through the small windows made at every landing of the donjon stairs, saw, as he went up behind Fouquet, the man who had delivered the note, looking round him on the place and making signs to several persons, who disappeared in the adjacent streets, after having themselves repeated the signals. Fouquet was made to wait for a moment on the terrace of which we have spoken — a terrace which abutted5 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 retired6; but had scarcely reached the corridor at the extremity7 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 peculiarity8 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 contrived9 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. Do not enter. A white horse is in waiting for you behind the esplanade!”
Fouquet recognized the writing and zeal10 of Gourville. Not being willing that, if any evil happened to himself, this paper should compromise a faithful friend, the surintendant was busy tearing it into a thousand morsels11, spread about by the wind from the balustrade of the terrace. D’Artagnan found him watching the snowflake fluttering of the last scraps12 in space.
“Monsieur,” said he, “the king awaits you.”
Fouquet walked with a deliberate step along the little corridor, where MM. de Brienne and Rose were at work, whilst the Duc de Saint–Aignan, seated on a chair, likewise in the corridor, appeared to be waiting for orders, with feverish13 impatience14, his sword between his legs. It appeared strange to Fouquet that MM. Brienne, Rose, and de Saint–Aignan, in general so attentive15 and obsequious16, should scarcely take the least notice, as he, the surintendant, passed. But how could he expect to find it otherwise among courtiers, he whom the king no longer called anything but Fouquet? He raised his head, determined17 to look every one and everything bravely in the face, and entered the king’s apartment, where a little bell, which we already know, had already announced him to his majesty18.
The king, without rising, nodded to him, and with interest: “Well! how are you, Monsieur Fouquet?” said he.
“I am in a high fever,” replied the surintendant; “but I am at the king’s service.”
“That is well; the States assemble tomorrow; have you a speech ready?”
Fouquet looked at the king with astonishment19. “I have not, sire,” replied he; “but I will improvise20 one. I am too well acquainted with affairs to feel any embarrassment21. I have only one question to ask; will your majesty permit me?”
“Certainly. Ask it.”
“Why did not your majesty do his first minister the honor of giving him notice of this in Paris?”
“You were ill; I was not willing to fatigue22 you.”
“Never did a labor23 — never did an explanation fatigue me, sire; and since the moment is come for me to demand an explanation of my king —”
“Oh, Monsieur Fouquet! an explanation? An explanation, pray, of what?”
“Of your majesty’s intentions with respect to myself.”
The king blushed. “I have been calumniated,” continued Fouquet, warmly, “and I feel called upon to adjure24 the justice of the king to make inquiries25.”
“You say all this to me very uselessly, Monsieur Fouquet; I know what I know.”
“Your majesty can only know the things that have been told to you; and I, on my part, have said nothing to you, whilst others have spoken many, many times —”
“What do you wish to say?” said the king, impatient to put an end to this embarrassing conversation.
“I will go straight to the facts, sire; and I accuse a certain man of having injured me in your majesty’s opinion.”
“Nobody has injured you, Monsieur Fouquet.”
“That reply proves to me, sire, that I am right.”
“Monsieur Fouquet, I do not like people to be accused.”
“Not when one is accused?”
“We have already spoken too much about this affair.”
“Your majesty will not allow me to justify26 myself?”
“I repeat that I do not accuse you.”
Fouquet, with a half-bow, made a step backward. “It is certain,” thought he, “that he has made up his mind. He alone who cannot go back can show such obstinacy27. Not to see the danger now would be to be blind indeed; not to shun28 it would be stupid.” He resumed aloud, “Did your majesty send for me on business?”
“No, Monsieur Fouquet, but for some advice I wish to give you.”
“I respectfully await it, sire.”
“Rest yourself, Monsieur Fouquet, do not throw away your strength; the session of the States will be short, and when my secretaries shall have closed it, I do not wish business to be talked of in France for a fortnight.”
“Has the king nothing to say to me on the subject of this assembly of the States?”
“No, Monsieur Fouquet.”
“Not to me, the surintendant of the finances?”
“Rest yourself, I beg you; that is all I have to say to you.”
Fouquet bit his lips and hung his head. He was evidently busy with some uneasy thought. This uneasiness struck the king. “Are you angry at having to rest yourself, M. Fouquet?” said he.
“Yes, sire, I am not accustomed to take rest.”
“But you are ill; you must take care of yourself.”
“Your majesty spoke4 just now of a speech to be pronounced tomorrow.”
His majesty made no reply; this unexpected stroke embarrassed him. Fouquet felt the weight of this hesitation29. He thought he could read danger in the eyes of the young prince, which fear would but precipitate30. “If I appear frightened, I am lost,” thought he.
The king, on his part, was only uneasy at the alarm of Fouquet. “Has he a suspicion of anything?” murmured he.
“If his first word is severe,” again thought Fouquet; “if he becomes angry, or feigns31 to be angry for the sake of a pretext32, how shall I extricate33 myself? Let us smooth the declivity34 a little. Gourville was right.”
“Sire,” said he, suddenly, “since the goodness of the king watches over my health to the point of dispensing35 with my labor, may I not be allowed to be absent from the council of tomorrow? I could pass the day in bed, and will entreat36 the king to grant me his physician, that we may endeavor to find a remedy against this fearful fever.”
“So be it, Monsieur Fouquet, it shall be as you desire; you shall have a holiday tomorrow, you shall have the physician, and shall be restored to health.”
“Thanks!” said Fouquet, bowing. Then, opening his game: “Shall I not have the happiness of conducting your majesty to my residence of Belle–Isle?”
And he looked Louis full in the face, to judge of the effect of such a proposal. The king blushed again.
“Do you know,” replied he, endeavoring to smile, “that you have just said, ‘My residence of Belle–Isle’?”
“Yes, sire.”
“Well! do you not remember,” continued the king in the same cheerful tone, “that you gave me Belle–Isle?”
“That is true again, sire. Only, as you have not taken it, you will doubtless come with me and take possession of it.”
“I mean to do so.”
“That was, besides, your majesty’s intention as well as mine; and I cannot express to your majesty how happy and proud I have been to see all the king’s regiments37 from Paris to help take possession.”
The king stammered38 out that he did not bring the musketeers for that alone.
“Oh, I am convinced of that,” said Fouquet, warmly; “your majesty knows very well that you have nothing to do but to come alone with a cane39 in your hand, to bring to the ground all the fortifications of Belle–Isle.”
“Peste!” cried the king; “I do not wish those fine fortifications, which cost so much to build, to fall at all. No, let them stand against the Dutch and English. You would not guess what I want to see at Belle–Isle, Monsieur Fouquet; it is the pretty peasants and women of the lands on the sea-shore, who dance so well, and are so seducing40 with their scarlet41 petticoats! I have heard great boast of your pretty tenants42, monsieur le surintendant; well, let me have a sight of them.”
“Whenever your majesty pleases.”
“Have you any means of transport? It shall be tomorrow, if you like.”
The surintendant felt this stroke, which was not adroit43, and replied, “No, sire; I was ignorant of your majesty’s wish; above all, I was ignorant of your haste to see Belle–Isle, and I am prepared with nothing.”
“You have a boat of your own, nevertheless?”
“I have five; but they are all in port, or at Paimboeuf; and to join them, or bring them hither, would require at least twenty-four hours. Have I any occasion to send a courier? Must I do so?”
“Wait a little, put an end to the fever — wait till tomorrow.”
“That is true. Who knows but that by tomorrow we may not have a hundred other ideas?” replied Fouquet, now perfectly44 convinced and very pale.
The king started, and stretched his hand out towards his little bell, but Fouquet prevented his ringing.
“Sire,” said he, “I have an ague — I am trembling with cold. If I remain a moment longer, I shall most likely faint. I request your majesty’s permission to go and fling myself beneath the bedclothes.”
“Indeed, you are in a shiver; it is painful to behold45! Come, Monsieur Fouquet, begone! I will send to inquire after you.”
“Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness. In an hour I shall be better.”
“I will call some one to reconduct you,” said the king.
“As you please, sire; I would gladly take the arm of any one.”
“Monsieur d’Artagnan!” cried the king, ringing his little bell.
“Oh, sire,” interrupted Fouquet, laughing in such a manner as made the prince feel cold, “would you give me the captain of your musketeers to take me to my lodgings46? An equivocal honor that, sire! A simple footman, I beg.”
“And why, M. Fouquet? M. d’Artagnan conducts me often, and extremely well!”
“Yes, but when he conducts you, sire, it is to obey you; whilst me —”
“Go on!”
“If I am obliged to return home supported by the leader of the musketeers, it would be everywhere said you had had me arrested.”
“Arrested!” replied the king, who became paler than Fouquet himself — “arrested! oh!”
“And why should they not say so?” continued Fouquet, still laughing; “and I would lay a wager47 there would be people found wicked enough to laugh at it.” This sally disconcerted the monarch48. Fouquet was skillful enough, or fortunate enough, to make Louis XIV. recoil49 before the appearance of the deed he meditated50. M. d’Artagnan, when he appeared, received an order to desire a musketeer to accompany the surintendant.
“Quite unnecessary,” said the latter; “sword for sword; I prefer Gourville, who is waiting for me below. But that will not prevent me enjoying the society of M. d’Artagnan. I am glad he will see Belle–Isle, he is so good a judge of fortifications.”
D’Artagnan bowed, without at all comprehending what was going on. Fouquet bowed again and left the apartment, affecting all the slowness of a man who walks with difficulty. When once out of the castle, “I am saved!” said he. “Oh! yes, disloyal king, you shall see Belle–Isle, but it shall be when I am no longer there.”
He disappeared, leaving D’Artagnan with the king.
“Captain,” said the king, “you will follow M. Fouquet at the distance of a hundred paces.”
“Yes, sire.”
“He is going to his lodgings again. You will go with him.”
“Yes, sire.”
“You will arrest him in my name, and will shut him up in a carriage.”
“In a carriage. Well, sire?”
“In such a fashion that he may not, on the road, either converse51 with any one or throw notes to people he may meet.”
“That will be rather difficult, sire.”
“Not at all.”
“Pardon me, sire, I cannot stifle52 M. Fouquet, and if he asks for liberty to breathe, I cannot prevent him by closing both the windows and the blinds. He will throw out at the doors all the cries and notes possible.”
“The case is provided for, Monsieur d’Artagnan; a carriage with a trellis will obviate53 both the difficulties you point out.”
“A carriage with an iron trellis!” cried D’Artagnan; “but a carriage with an iron trellis is not made in half an hour, and your majesty commands me to go immediately to M. Fouquet’s lodgings.”
“The carriage in question is already made.”
“Ah! that is quite a different thing,” said the captain; “if the carriage is ready made, very well, then, we have only to set it in motion.”
“It is ready — and the horses harnessed.”
“Ah!”
“And the coachman, with the outriders, is waiting in the lower court of the castle.”
D’Artagnan bowed. “There only remains54 for me to ask your majesty whither I shall conduct M. Fouquet.”
“To the castle of Angers, at first.”
“Very well, sire.”
“Afterwards we will see.”
“Yes, sire.”
“Monsieur d’Artagnan, one last word: you have remarked that, for making this capture of M. Fouquet, I have not employed my guards, on which account M. de Gesvres will be furious.”
“Your majesty does not employ your guards,” said the captain, a little humiliated55, “because you mistrust M. de Gesvres, that is all.”
“That is to say, monsieur, that I have more confidence in you.”
“I know that very well, sire! and it is of no use to make so much of it.”
“It is only for the sake of arriving at this, monsieur, that if, from this moment, it should happen that by any chance whatever M. Fouquet should escape — such chances have been, monsieur —”
“Oh! very often, sire; but for others, not for me.”
“And why not with you?”
“Because I, sire, have, for an instant, wished to save M. Fouquet.”
The king started. “Because,” continued the captain, “I had then a right to do so, having guessed your majesty’s plan, without you having spoken to me of it, and that I took an interest in M. Fouquet. Now, was I not at liberty to show my interest in this man?”
“In truth, monsieur, you do not reassure56 me with regard to your services.”
“If I had saved him then, I should have been perfectly innocent; I will say more, I should have done well, for M. Fouquet is not a bad man. But he was not willing; his destiny prevailed; he let the hour of liberty slip by. So much the worse! Now I have orders, I will obey those orders, and M. Fouquet you may consider as a man arrested. He is at the castle of Angers, this very M. Fouquet.”
“Oh! you have not got him yet, captain.”
“That concerns me; every one to his trade, sire; only, once more, reflect! Do you seriously give me orders to arrest M. Fouquet, sire?”
“Yes, a thousand times, yes!”
“In writing, sire, then.”
“Here is the order.”
D’Artagnan read it, bowed to the king, and left the room. From the height of the terrace he perceived Gourville, who went by with a joyous57 air towards the lodgings of M. Fouquet.
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1
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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2
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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3
portfolio
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| n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位 | |
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4
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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5
abutted
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| v.（与…）邻接( abut的过去式和过去分词 )；（与…）毗连；接触；倚靠 | |
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6
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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7
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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8
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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9
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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10
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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11
morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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12
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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13
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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14
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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15
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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16
obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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17
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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18
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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19
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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20
improvise
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| v.即兴创作；临时准备，临时凑成 | |
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21
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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22
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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23
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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24
adjure
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| v.郑重敦促(恳请) | |
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25
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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26
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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27
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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28
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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29
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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30
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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31
feigns
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| 假装，伪装( feign的第三人称单数 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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32
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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33
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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34
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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35
dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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36
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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37
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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38
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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40
seducing
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| 诱奸( seduce的现在分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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41
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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42
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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43
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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44
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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45
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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47
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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48
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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49
recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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50
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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51
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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52
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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53
obviate
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| v.除去，排除，避免，预防 | |
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54
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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55
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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56
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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57
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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