Part 64 (2/2)
”Yes”
”How did he see could have passed off better, or worse; according as he be sincere or hypocritical”
”And the fete?”
”Will take place in a month”
”He invited himself, you say?”
”With a pertinacity in which I detected Colbert's influence But has not last night removed your illusions?”
”What illusions?”
”With respect to the assistance you ive me under these circu, and all iven”
”Do not conceal it from yourself, D'Herblay, but the fete will cost soet two or three”
”You are a wonderful man, my dear D'Herblay”
Ara uneasiness, ”how is it that while you are now squandering o you did not pay the fifty thousand francs to Baiseo I was as poor as Job”
”And to-day?”
”To-day I a himself”
”Very well,” said Fouquet; ”I understandyour word; I do not wish to wrest your secret from you, and so let us talk nowas heard, which suddenly developed into a violent clap of thunder
”Oh, oh!” said Fouquet, ”I was quite right in what I said”
”Coes”
”We shall not have time,” said Fouquet, ”for here comes the rain”
In fact, as he spoke, and as if the heavens were opened, a shower of large drops of rain was suddenly heard pattering on the leaves about them
”We shall have tie becomes saturated”
”It will be better,” said Fouquet, ”to take shelter sorotto, for instance”
”Yes, but where are we to find a grotto?” inquired Ara, ”not ten paces fro round hiht”
”You are very fortunate to have so good ain his turn, ”but are you not afraid that your coach we do not return, will suppose we have taken another road back, and that he will not follow the carriages belonging to the court?”
”Oh, there is no fear of that,” said Fouquet; ”whenever I placebut an express order fro could stir them; and more than that, too, it seems that we are not the only ones who have come so far, for I hear footsteps and the sound of voices”
As he spoke, Fouquet turned round, and opened with his cane a lance as well as his own plunged at the sah the aperture he had made
”A woman,” said Aramis
”And a ,” they both exclaiether
”Oh, oh!” said Aramis, ”is his majesty aware of your cavern as well? I should not be astonished if he were, for he seeood terms with the dryads of Fontainebleau”
”Never et there If he is not aware of it, we shall see what he will do if he should know it, as it has two entrances, so that whilst he enters by one, we can leave by the other”
”Is it far?” asked Ara to penetrate”
”We are there now,” said Fouquet, as he pushed aside a few branches, and an excavation in the solid rock could be observed, hitherto concealed by heaths, ivy, and a thick covert of small shrubs
Fouquet led the way, followed by Ararotto, he turned round, saying: ”Yes, they are entering the wood; and, see, they are bending their steps this way”
”Very well; let usArarotto”
”Yes,” said Ara about them, but it is only for a thicker tree”
Ara's looks were directed upward, and not around him He held La Valliere's arm within his own, and held her hand in his La Valliere's feet began to sleep on the dareater attention than before, and perceiving an enor branches, he hurriedly drew La Valliere beneath its protecting shelter The poor girl looked round her on all sides, and see ainst the trunk of the tree, whose vast circue, was as dry as if at thatin torrents He hi before her with his head uncovered After a few h the branches of the tree and fell on the king's forehead, who did not pay any attention to the the king's hat towards hi simply bowed, and determinedly refused to cover his head
”Now or never is the time to offer your place,” said Fouquet in Aramis's ear
”Now or never is the time to listen, and not lose a syllable of what they may have to say to each other,” replied Aramis in Fouquet's ear
In fact they both re's voice reached the, ”I perceive, or rather I can i isolated you froht you, also, to a spot where you will be inconvenienced by the rain You are wet already, and perhaps cold too?”
”No, sire”
”And yet you tremble?”