e them to us, patron, before we are too far
off."

"I thought I saw two," replied the boatman, "I can only see one now
under the tent."

"What sort of man is he?"

"He is a dark man, large shouldered, short necked."

A little cloud at that moment passed across the azure of the heavens,
and darkened the sun. Gourville, who was still looking, with one hand
over his eyes, became able to see what he sought, and all at once,
jumping from the deck into the chamber where Fouquet awaited him:

"Colbert!" said he, in a voice broken by emotion.

"Colbert!" repealed Fouquet, "Oh! how strange! but no, it is
impossible!"

"I tell you I recognized him, and he, at the same time, so plainly
recognized me, that he has just gone into the chamber on the poop.
Perhaps the king has sent him to make us come back."

"In that case he would join us, instead of lying by. What is he doing
there?"

"He is watching us, without doubt."

"I do not like uncertainty," said Fouquet; "let us go straight up to
him."

"Oh! monseigneur, do not do that, the lighter is full of armed men."

"He would arrest me, then, Gourville? Why does he not come on?"

"Monseigneur, it is not consistent with your dignity to go to meet even
your ruin."

"But to allow them to watch me like a malefactor!"

"Nothing tells us that they are watching you, monseigneur; be patient!"

"What is to be done, then?"

"Do not stop; you were only going so fast to appear to obey the king's
order with zeal. Redouble the speed. He who lives will see!"

"That's just. Come!" cried Fouquet; "since they remain stockstill
yonder, let us go on, on our part."

The patron gave the signal, and Fouquet's rowers resumed their task with
all the success that could be looked for from men who had rested.
Scarcely had the lighter made a hundred fathoms, than the other, that
with the twelve rowers, resumed its course equally. This position lasted
all the day, without any increase or diminution of distance between the
two vessels. Toward evening Fouquet wished to try the intentions of his
persecutor. He ordered his rowers to pull toward the shore, as if to
effect a landing. Colbert's lighter imitated this maneuver and steered
toward the shore in a slanting direction. By the greatest chance, at the
spot where Fouquet pretended to wish to land, a stableman, from the
chateau of Langeais, was following the flowery banks leading three
horses in halters. Without doubt the people of the twelve