Ten Years Later

by Alexandre Dumas

  The king rang his bell violently, and his valet de chambre appeared."Monsieur Colbert is just gone; he cannot be far off. Let him be calledback!" exclaimed he.

  The valet was about to execute the order, when the king stopped him.

  "No," said he, "no, I see the whole scheme of that man. Belle-Islebelongs to M. Fouquet; Belle-Isle is being fortified: that is aconspiracy on the part of M. Fouquet. The discovery of that conspiracyis the ruin of the superintendent, and that discovery is the result ofthe correspondence with England: this is why Colbert wished to have thatcorrespondence. Oh! but I cannot place all my dependence upon that man;he has a good head, but I must have an arm!" Louis, all at once, uttereda joyful cry. "I had," said he, "a lieutenant of musketeers!"

  "Yes, sire--Monsieur d'Artagnan."

  "He quitted the service for a time."

  "Yes, sire."

  "Let him be found, and be here to-morrow the first thing in themorning."

  The valet de chambre bowed and went out.

  "Thirteen millions in my cellar," said the king; "Colbert carrying mypurse and D'Artagnan my sword--I am king."

  CHAPTER 51. A Passion