e?" said he.

"Oh! nothing but insignificant orders; such as guarding the castle,
guarding every lodging, allowing none of M. de Gesvres's guards to
occupy a single post."

"And as to myself," cried Fouquet, "what orders had you?"

"As to you, monseigneur?--not the smallest word."

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, my safety, my honor, perhaps my life are at stake.
You would not deceive me?"

"I?--to what end? Are you threatened? Only there really is an order with
respect to carriages and boats--"

"An order?"

"Yes; but it cannot concern you--a simple measure of police."

"What is it, captain?--what is it?"

"To forbid all horses or boats to leave Nantes, without a pass, signed
by the king."

"Great God! but--"

D'Artagnan began to laugh. "All that is not to be put into execution
before the arrival of the king at Nantes. So that you see plainly,
monseigneur, the order in nowise concerns you."

Fouquet became thoughtful, and D'Artagnan feigned not to observe his
preoccupation. "It is evident, by my thus confiding to you the orders
which have been given to me, that I am friendly towards you, and that I
am trying to prove to you that none of them are directed against you."

"Without doubt!--without doubt!" said Fouquet, still absent.

"Let us recapitulate," said the captain, his glance beaming with
earnestness. "A special guard about the castle, in which your lodging is
to be, is it not?"

"Do you know the castle?"

"Ah! monseigneur, a regular prison! The absence of M. de Gesvres, who
has the honor of being one of your friends. The closing of the gates of
the city, and of the river without a pass; but, only when the king shall
have arrived. Please to observe, Monsieur Fouquet, that if, instead of
speaking to man like you, who are one of the first in the kingdom, I
were speaking to a troubled, uneasy conscience--I should compromise
myself forever. What a fine opportunity for any one who wished to be
free! No police, no guards, no orders; the water free, the roads free,
Monsieur d'Artagnan obliged to lend his horses, if required. All this
ought to reassure you, Monsieur Fouquet, for the king would not have
left me thus independent, if he had any sinister designs. In truth,
Monsieur Fouquet, ask me whatever you like, I am at your service; and,
in return, if you will consent to do it, do me a service, that of giving
my compliments to Aramis and Porthos, in case you embark for Belle-Isle,
as you have a right to do wit