I have arrived--arrived, gaining four hours upon
Porthos; but, see you, D'Artagnan does not weigh three hundred-weight,
as Porthos does; D'Artagnan has not the gout and gravel, as I have; he
is not a horseman, he is a centaur. D'Artagnan, look you, set out for
Belle-Isle when I set out for Paris; and D'Artagnan, notwithstanding my
ten hours, advance, D'Artagnan will arrive within two hours after me."

"But, then, accidents?"

"He never meets with accidents."

"Horses may fail him."

"He will run as fast as a horse."

"Good God! what a man!"

"Yes, he is a man whom I love and admire. I love him because he is good,
great, and loyal; I admire him because he represents in my eyes the
culminating point of human power; but, whilst loving and admiring him, I
fear him, and am on my guard against him. Now then, I resume, monsieur;
in two hours D'Artagnan will be here; be beforehand with him. Go to the
Louvre, and see the king, before he sees D'Artagnan."

"What shall I say to the king?"

"Nothing; give him Belle-Isle."

"Oh! Monsieur d'Herblay! Monsieur d'Herblay," cried Fouquet, "what
projects crushed all at once!"

"After one project that has failed, there is always another project that
may lead to fortune; we should never despair. Go, monsieur, and go at
once."

"But that garrison, so carefully chosen, the king will change it
directly."

"That garrison, monsieur, was the king's when it entered Belle-Isle;
it is yours now; it is the same with all garrisons after a fortnight's
occupation. Let things go on, monsieur. Do you see any inconvenience in
having an army at the end of a year, instead of two regiments? Do
you not see that your garrison of today will make you partisans at La
Rochelle, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse--in short, wherever they may be
sent to? Go to the king, monsieur; go; time flies, and D'Artagnan, while
we are losing time, is flying, like an arrow, along the high-road."

"Monsieur d'Herblay, you know that each word from you is a germ which
fructifies in my thoughts. I will go to the Louvre."

"Instantly, will you not?"

"I only ask time to change my dress."

"Remember that D'Artagnan has no need to pass through Saint-Mande; but
will go straight to the Louvre; that is cutting off an hour from the
advantage that yet remains to us."

"D'Artagnan may have everything except my English horses. I shall be
at the Louvre in twenty-five minutes." And, without losing a second,
Fouquet gave orders f