"I fancy you are right, monsieur, and that Belle-Isle does belong to M.Fouquet, in fact.""Then your majesty wishes me to ascertain if Belle-Isle is a strong place?""Yes."
"If the fortifications of it are new or old?""Precisely."
"And if the vassals of M.Fouquet are sufficiently numerous to form a garrison?""That is what I want to know; you have placed your finger on the question.""And if they are not fortifying, sire?"
"You will travel about Bretagne, listening and judging.""Then I am a king's spy?" said D'Artagnan, bluntly, twisting his mustache.
"No, monsieur."
"Your pardon, sire; I spy on your majesty's account.""You start on a voyage of discovery, monsieur.Would you march at the head of your musketeers, with your sword in your hand, to observe any spot whatever, or an enemy's position?"At this word D'Artagnan started.
"Do you," continued the king, "imagine yourself to be a spy?""No, no," said D'Artagnan, but pensively; "the thing changes its face when one observes an enemy; one is but a soldier.
And if they are fortifying Belle-Isle?" added he, quickly.
"You will take an exact plan of the fortifications.""Will they permit me to enter?"
"That does not concern me; that is your affair.Did you not understand that I reserved for you a supplement of twenty thousand livres per annum, if you wished it?""Yes, sire; but if they are not fortifying?""You will return quietly, without fatiguing your horse.""Sire, I am ready."
"You will begin to-morrow by going to monsieur le surintendant's to take the first quarter of the pension Igive you.Do you know M.Fouquet?"
"Very little, sire; but I beg your majesty to observe that Idon't think it immediately necessary that I should know him.""Your pardon, monsieur; for he will refuse you the money Iwish you to take; and it is that refusal I look for.""Ah!" said D'Artagnan."Then, sire?"
"The money being refused, you will go and seek it at M.
Colbert's.A propos, have you a good horse?""An excellent one, sire."
"How much did it cost you?"
"A hundred and fifty pistoles."
"I will buy it of you.Here is a note for two hundred pistoles.""But I want my horse for my journey, sire.""Well!"
"Well, and you take mine from me."
"Not at all.On the contrary, I give it you.Only as it is now mine and not yours, I am sure you will not spare it.""Your majesty is in a hurry, then?"
"A great hurry."
"Then what compels me to wait two days?"
"Reasons known to myself."
"That's a different affair.The horse may make up the two days, in the eight he has to travel; and then there is the post.""No, no, the post compromises, Monsieur d'Artagnan.Begone and do not forget you are my servant.""Sire, it is not my duty to forget it! At what hour to-morrow shall I take my leave of your majesty?""Where do you lodge?"
"I must henceforward lodge at the Louvre.""That must not be now -- keep your lodgings in the city: Iwill pay for them.As to your departure, it must take place at night; you must set out without being seen by any one, or, if you are seen, it must not be known that you belong to me.Keep your mouth shut, monsieur.""Your majesty spoils all you have said by that single word.""I asked you where you lodged, for I cannot always send to M.le Comte de la Fere to seek you.""I lodge with M.Planchet, a grocer, Rue des Lombards, at the sign of the Pilon d'Or.""Go out but little, show yourself less, and await my orders.""And yet, sire, I must go for the money.""That is true, but when going to the superintendence, where so many people are constantly going, you must mingle with the crowd.""I want the notes, sire, for the money."
"Here they are." The king signed them, and D'Artagnan looked on, to assure himself of their regularity.
"Adieu! Monsieur d'Artagnan," added the king; "I think you have perfectly understood me.""I? I understand that your majesty sends me to Belle-Isle-en-Mer, that is all.""To learn?"
"To learn how M.Fouquet's works are going on; that is all.""Very well: I admit you may be taken."
"And I do not admit it," replied the Gascon, boldly.
"I admit you may be killed," continued the king.
"That is not probable, sire."
"In the first case, you must not speak; in the second there must be no papers found upon you."D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders without ceremony, and took leave of the king, saying to himself: -- "The English shower continues -- let us remain under the spout!"
