54 tOniSE DE tA VALLIERE. Aramis almost lost countenance. He looked at D*Artag- nan with a proud, haughty air, as though willing to accept the defiance which the latter seemed to throw down,
- 'AhI these gentlemen are good friends, then?" said the
king. "Excellent friends, sire; the one can answer for the other. Ask Monsieur de Vannes now in what manner Belle-Isle was fortified?" Fouquet moved back a step. "Belle-Isle," said Aramis coldly, "has been fortified by that gentleman;" and he indicated Porthos with his hand, who bowed a second time. Louis could not withhold his admiration, though at the same time his suspicions were aroused. "Yes," said D'Artagnan, "but ask Monsieur le Baron whose assistance he had in carrying the works out?" "Aramis'," said Porthos frankly; and he pointed to the bishop. "What the deuce does all this mean," thought the bishop,
- and what sort of a termination are we to expect to this
comedy?" "What!" exclaimed the king, "is the cardinal's, I mean the bishop's, name Aramis?" "A norm de guerre," said D'Artagnan, "A name of friendship," said Aramis. "A truce to modesty," exclaimed D'Artagnan; "beneath the priest's robe, sire, is concealed the most brilliant officer, a gentleman of the most unparalled intrepidity, and the wisest theologian in your kingdom." Louis raised his head. "And an engineer, also, it ap- pears," he said, admiring Aramis' calm, imperturbable self- possession. "An engineer for a particular purpose, sire," said the latter. "My companion in the musketeers, sire," said D'Artag- nan, with great warmth of manner, "the man who has more than a hundred times aided your father's ministers by his advice — Monsieur d'Herblay, in a word, who, with Mon- sieur du Vallou, myself, and Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, who is known to your majesty, formed that quadrille which was a good deal talked about during the late king's reign, and during your majestys' minority." "And who has fortified Belle-Isle?" the king repeated, in a significant tone. Aramis advanced, and said: "In order to serve the son as I have served the father."
