Chapter 39

Chapter XXXIX
How the King, Louis XIV, Played His Little Part
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 superintendent. Fouquet opened the letter and read it, and instantly a vague terror, which d’Artagnan did not fail to penetrate, was expressed by the countenance of the first minister. He put the paper into the portfolio which he had under his arm, and passed on towards the King’s apartments. D’Artagnan, as he went up behind Fouquet, through the small windows made at every landing of the donjon stairs, saw the man who had delivered the note look around him on the place, and make signs to several persons, who disappeared into the adjacent streets, after having themselves repeated the signals made by the person we have named. Fouquet was made to wait for a moment upon the terrace of which we have spoken,- a terrace which abutted on the little corridor, at the end of which the cabinet of the King was located. Here d’Artagnan passed on before the superintendent, whom till that time he had respectfully accompanied, and entered the royal cabinet.

“Well?” asked Louis XIV, who, on perceiving him, threw on the table covered with papers a large green cloth.

“The order is executed, Sire.”

“And Fouquet?”

“Monsieur the Superintendent follows me,” replied d’Artagnan.

“In ten minutes let him be introduced,” said the King, dismissing d’Artagnan with a gesture. The latter retired, but had scarcely reached the corridor at the extremity 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,” repeated the King, without saying “Monsieur,” a trifle 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 contrived 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 the zeal of Gourville. Not being willing that if any evil happened to himself this paper should compromise a faithful friend, the superintendent was busy