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D'Artagnan opened the paper eagerly, and scanned it twice. He could scarcely believe his eyes. "And this commission is given you," continued the king, "not only on account of your journey to Belle-Isle but, moreover, for your brave intervention at the Place de Greve. There, likewise, you served me valiantly."
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.
"And who fortified Belle-Isle?" the king repeated, in a significant tone. Aramis advanced and bowed: "In order to serve the son as I served the father."
Three hours by sea to Sarzeau, three hours by road from Sarzeau to Vannes." "How convenient that is! Being so near to the bishopric; do you often go to Vannes?" "Yes; once a week. But, stop till I get my plan." Porthos picked up his plan, folded it carefully, and engulfed it in his large pocket. "Good!" said D'Artagnan aside; "I think I now know the real engineer who is fortifying Belle-Isle."
What can be done? Flee to Belle-Isle? Yes, and leave Porthos behind me, to talk and relate the whole affair to every one! Porthos, too, who will have to suffer for what he has done. I will not let poor Porthos suffer. He seems like one of the members of my own frame; and his grief or misfortune would be mine as well. Porthos shall leave with me, and shall follow my destiny. It must be so."
It never reaches its destination, however, as the servant ordered to deliver it turns out to be an agent of Colbert's. Porthos, in the meantime, has been recovering from his midnight ride from Belle-Isle at Fouquet's residence at Saint-Mande. Athos has retired, once again to La Fere.
He was staying at the Chateau of Castel-Montjoie with Doctor Potain, and when he heard that the Doctor was leaving for Belle-Isle, he could not resist the opportunity to come and ask pardon.
"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?
"Ah! which belongs to M. Fouquet!" said D'Artagnan, in a serious tone, raising his intelligent eye to Louis XIV. "I fancy you are right, monsieur, and that Bell-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."
"Say what?" "An evident, palpable, material proof of treason." "And what is that?" "I have just learnt that M. Fouquet is fortifying Belle-Isle." "Ah, indeed!" "Yes, sire." "Are you sure?" "Perfectly. Do you know, sire, what soldiers there are in Belle-Isle?" "No, ma foi! Do you?" "I am ignorant, likewise, sire; I should therefore propose to your majesty to send somebody to Belle-Isle?" "Who?"
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