The Man in the Iron Mask

  Chapter XXXIX. How the King, Louis XIV., Played His Little Part.

  As Fouquet was alighting from his carriage, to enter the castle ofNantes, a man of mean appearance went up to him with marks of thegreatest respect, and gave him a letter. D'Artagnan endeavored toprevent this man from speaking to Fouquet, and pushed him away, but themessage had been given to the surintendant. Fouquet opened the letterand read it, and instantly a vague terror, which D'Artagnan did notfail to penetrate, was painted on the countenance of the first minister.Fouquet put the paper into the portfolio which he had under his arm, andpassed on towards the king's apartments. D'Artagnan, through the smallwindows made at every landing of the donjon stairs, saw, as he went upbehind Fouquet, the man who had delivered the note, looking round himon the place and making signs to several persons, who disappeared in theadjacent streets, after having themselves repeated the signals. Fouquetwas made to wait for a moment on the terrace of which we have spoken,--aterrace which abutted on the little corridor, at the end of which thecabinet of the king was located. Here D'Artagnan passed on before thesurintendant, whom, till that time, he had respectfully accompanied, andentered the royal cabinet.

  "Well?" asked Louis XIV., who, on perceiving him, threw on to the tablecovered 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, dismissingD'Artagnan again with a gesture. The latter retired; but had scarcelyreached the corridor at the extremity of which Fouquet was waiting forhim, 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 peculiaritywhich 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 tocarry it out at the castle; it will be on your return home. The houseis already surrounded by musketeers. Do not enter. A white horse is inwaiting for you behind the esplanade!"

  Fouquet recognized the writing and zeal of Gourville. Not being willingthat, if any evil happened to himself, this paper should compromise afaithful friend, the surintendant was busy tearing it into a thousandmorsels, spread about by the wind from the balustrade of the terrace.D'Artagnan found him watching the snowflake fluttering of the lastscraps in space.

  "Monsieur," said he, "the king awaits you."

  Fouquet walked with a deliberate step along the little corridor, whereMM. de Brienne and Rose were at work, whilst the Duc de Saint-Aignan,seated on a chair, likewise in the corridor, appeared to be waitingfor orders, with feverish impatience, his sword between his legs. Itappeared strange to Fouquet that MM. Brienne, Rose, and de Saint-Aignan,in general so attentive and obsequious, should scarcely take the leastnotice, as he, the surintendant, passed. But how could he expect to findit otherwise among courtiers, he whom the king no longer called anythingbut _Fouquet?_ He raised his head, determined to look every one andeverything bravely in the face, and entered the king's apartment, wherea little bell, which we already know, had already announced him to hismajesty.

  The king, without rising, nodded to him, and with interest: "Well! howare you, Monsieur Fouquet?" said he.

  "I am in a high fever," replied the surintendant; "but I am at theking's service."

  "That is well; the States assemble to-morrow; have you a speech ready?"

  Fouquet looked at the king with astonishment. "I have not, sire,"replied he; "but I will improvise one. I am too well acquainted withaffairs to feel any embarrassment. I have only one question to ask; willyour majesty permit me?"

  "Certainly. Ask it."

  "Why did not your majesty do his first minister the honor of giving himnotice of this in Paris?"

  "You were ill; I was not willing to fatigue you."

  "Never did a labor--never did an explanation fatigue me, sire; and sincethe 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 adjure the justice of the king to makeinquiries."

  "You say all this to me very uselessly, Monsieur Fouquet; I know what Iknow."

  "Your majesty can only know the things that have been told to you; andI, 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 tothis embarrassing conversation.

  "I will go straight to the facts, sire; and I accuse a certain man ofhaving 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 justify myself?"

  "I repeat that I do not accuse you."

  Fouquet, with a half-bow, made a step backward. "It is certain," thoughthe, "that he has made up his mind. He alone who cannot go back can showsuch obstinacy. Not to see the danger now would be to be blind indeed;not to shun it would be stupid." He resumed aloud, "Did your majestysend 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; thesession of the States will be short, and when my secretaries shallhave closed it, I do not wish business to be talked of in France for afortnight."

  "Has the king nothing to say to me on the subject of this assembly ofthe 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 withsome uneasy thought. This uneasiness struck the king. "Are you angry athaving 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 spoke just now of a speech to be pronounced to-morrow."

  His majesty made no reply; this unexpected stroke embarrassed him.Fouquet felt the weight of this hesitation. He thought he couldread danger in the eyes of the young prince, which fear would butprecipitate. "If I appear frightened, I am lost," thought he.

  The king, on his part, was only uneasy at the alarm of Fouquet. "Has hea suspicion of anything?" murmured he.

  "If his first word is severe," again thought Fouquet; "if he becomesangry, or feigns to be angry for the sake of a pretext, how shall Iextricate myself? Let us smooth the declivity a little. Gourville wasright."

  "Sire," said he, suddenly, "since the goodness of the king watches overmy health to the point of dispensing with my labor, may I not be allowedto be absent from the council of to-morrow? I could pass the day inbed, and will entreat the king to grant me his physician, that we mayendeavor to find a remedy against this fearful fever."

  "So be it, Monsieur Fouquet, it shall be as you desire; you shall havea holiday to-morrow, you shall have the physician, and shall be restoredto health."

  "Thanks!" said Fouquet, bowing. Then, opening his game: "Shall Inot have the happiness of conducting your majesty to my residence ofBelle-Isle?"

  And he looked Louis full in the face, to judge of the effect of such aproposal. The king blushed a
gain.

  "Do you know," replied he, endeavoring to smile, "that you have justsaid, 'My residence of Belle-Isle'?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "Well! do you not remember," continued the king in the same cheerfultone, "that you gave me Belle-Isle?"

  "That is true again, sire. Only, as you have not taken it, you willdoubtless 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 Icannot express to your majesty how happy and proud I have been to seeall the king's regiments from Paris to help take possession."

  The king stammered out that he did not bring the musketeers for thatalone.

  "Oh, I am convinced of that," said Fouquet, warmly; "your majesty knowsvery well that you have nothing to do but to come alone with a cane inyour 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 againstthe Dutch and English. You would not guess what I want to see atBelle-Isle, Monsieur Fouquet; it is the pretty peasants and women ofthe lands on the sea-shore, who dance so well, and are so seducingwith their scarlet petticoats! I have heard great boast of your prettytenants, monsieur le surintendant; well, let me have a sight of them."

  "Whenever your majesty pleases."

  "Have you any means of transport? It shall be to-morrow, if you like."

  The surintendant felt this stroke, which was not adroit, and replied,"No, sire; I was ignorant of your majesty's wish; above all, I wasignorant of your haste to see Belle-Isle, and I am prepared withnothing."

  "You have a boat of your own, nevertheless?"

  "I have five; but they are all in port, or at Paimboeuf; and to jointhem, 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 to-morrow."

  "That is true. Who knows but that by to-morrow we may not have a hundredother ideas?" replied Fouquet, now perfectly 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 remaina moment longer, I shall most likely faint. I request your majesty'spermission to go and fling myself beneath the bedclothes."

  "Indeed, you are in a shiver; it is painful to behold! Come, MonsieurFouquet, begone! I will send to inquire after you."

  "Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness. In an hour I shall bebetter."

  "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 theprince feel cold, "would you give me the captain of your musketeers totake me to my lodgings? An equivocal honor that, sire! A simple footman,I beg."

  "And why, M. Fouquet? M. d'Artagnan conducts me often, and extremelywell!"

  "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 themusketeers, it would be everywhere said you had had me arrested."

  "Arrested!" replied the king, who became paler than Fouquethimself,--"arrested! oh!"

  "And why should they not say so?" continued Fouquet, still laughing;"and I would lay a wager there would be people found wicked enough tolaugh at it." This sally disconcerted the monarch. Fouquet was skillfulenough, or fortunate enough, to make Louis XIV. recoil before theappearance of the deed he meditated. 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 preferGourville, who is waiting for me below. But that will not prevent meenjoying 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 slownessof a man who walks with difficulty. When once out of the castle, "I amsaved!" said he. "Oh! yes, disloyal king, you shall see Belle-Isle, butit 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 ofa 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 converse withany one or throw notes to people he may meet."

  "That will be rather difficult, sire."

  "Not at all."

  "Pardon me, sire, I cannot stifle M. Fouquet, and if he asks for libertyto breathe, I cannot prevent him by closing both the windows andthe blinds. He will throw out at the doors all the cries and notespossible."

  "The case is provided for, Monsieur d'Artagnan; a carriage with atrellis will obviate both the difficulties you point out."

  "A carriage with an iron trellis!" cried D'Artagnan; "but a carriagewith an iron trellis is not made in half an hour, and your majestycommands 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 thecarriage is ready made, very well, then, we have only to set it inmotion."

  "It is ready--and the horses harnessed."

  "Ah!"

  "And the coachman, with the outriders, is waiting in the lower court ofthe castle."

  D'Artagnan bowed. "There only remains for me to ask your majesty whitherI 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 makingthis capture of M. Fouquet, I have not employed my guards, on whichaccount M. de Gesvres will be furious."

  "Your majesty does not employ your guards," said the captain, a littlehumiliated, "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 ofit."

  "It is only for the sake of arriving at this, monsieur, that if, fromthis moment, it should happen that by any chance whatever M. Fouquetshould 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 rightto do so, having guessed your majesty's plan, without you having spokento me of it, and that I took an interest in M. Fouquet. Now, was I notat liberty to show my interest in this man?"

  "In truth, monsieur, you do not reassure me with regard to yourservices."

  "If I had saved him then, I should have been perfectly innocent; I willsay more, I should have done well, for M. Fouquet is not a bad man. Buthe was not willing; his destiny prevailed; he let the hour of libertyslip 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 castleof 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, bow
ed to the king, and left the room. From theheight of the terrace he perceived Gourville, who went by with a joyousair towards the lodgings of M. Fouquet.