The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15


to come on, Louis. seing that resistance
was useless, silently and haightily conf
piled with the order of his captors and
soon found himself out of the passage
and thrust into a carriage. which had
been waiting concealed in the shrubbery
"a carriage thickly padded and upon the
box of which mounted as driver the
giant who had told him to forget that ne
was King. The driver was Porthos, the
guardsman, induced by Aranis to aid in
this royal kidnap piping. BY the side of, the
King in the carriage sat another man
with cooked pistol silent as the King
himself. That man was Aramis.
The governor of the Bastile was aston
shed at the appearance of the Bishop
of vannes at that hour. What is the
matter now?" he asked. do you know,
you were quite right the other night when
you said the order of release was for Sell
don and not for Marchial'' replied Ara
mis- The mistake has been discovered
at the ministry-and I have brought
Marchiali back to you" The bewildered
governor said Are you quite certain
this timer "Oh, yes, quite certain.
Here is the order''-and he handed Baise-
menux the real order, which he had Sc
GREETED on the night he had liberated tie
Prince SO poor Seldom. the Irish poet, was
released at last and in the cell formerly
OCCUPIED by Philippe was lodged Louis
XIV King of France and Navarro.
Then Aramis hurried back to Vaux. BY
a secret door he introduced Philippe into
the Chamber of Morpheus and left him to
take the bed of Louis and, play the part
OF king. Then he sought the chamber oil
M. Fouquet. DArtagnan, in his chair.
pretended to be asleep; Fouquet, upon
his bed. did not even pretend. Good
morning." cried Aramis. IN. Fouauet, |
bring you good tidings. Here Is the
Kings order for your release. You are
taken into favor again. And you, my
good d'Artagnan, my companion oil
former days, the King desires that you
Will attend him, and, as he has been
greatly fatigued by the fete of YESTERDAY
allow to pass into his bedroom at the
morning levee no one who has not been
specially designated In this list
Both Fouquet and the Captain were as
founded. How was it that the Bishop OF
VaInes, who had been on Indifferent
terms with the King, had overnight be-
come the channel of his orders, the con-
fIdant of his early morning hours! But
Aramis exhibited written orders signed
with the royal name and sealed with the
royal seal, and both Fouquet and DAT
tagnan thought new Richelieu mao
arisen overnight. When D'Artagnan hac
left the apartment Aramis sat down and
frankly told to Fouquet all the eventful
happenings of the past night for night
had passed and the early dawn had Gomez
as well as the story of the great state
secret possession Of which had enabled
hirn to make this substitution of kings
II pointed out to Fouquet that his OIL
flee. even his life, probably, had beer
saved. and that under the new King he
would be all powerful. His rival. Col
bert. he might do with as he pleased-the
game was in his own hands now7-power
glory, long years of prosperity and riches
instead of a dungeon and probable death
at the hands of the executioner.
Fouquet listened. stupefed at first
with the magnitude of the news which
Aramis conveyed to him. Then ne
aroused himself and said: M. d'Herb-
lay, it was under my roof, then, that
you committed this crime?" What
crime?" asked the astonished and
startled Aramis. You hive dishonored
me by what you have done to my guest
You have man &c honor to deal with,
and one who will prevent you from
concentrating your crime" The aston
ished Aramis felt as If the heavens had
fallen upon him. Here was a phase OF
Bouquets character upon which he hao
not counted sufficiently. The few and
simple words of the gentleman who
resented an injury done to his guest
although that guest sought his very
life, were sufficient to sweep away all
the plots of the astute conspirators like
g. breath of fresh wind blowing int {
a murky atmosphere.
Fouquet seized his sword and ,cloah
end sprang toward the door. Mon
sieur said the minister, Il woull
| rather die here as stand than to sur
vive this disgrace. If you have any pity
for me l beseech you to take my life
Aramis remained silent and motionless
"Then, monsieur said Fouquet. II e.
to rescue the King, to undo what yol
have done. You have acted in my be-
half. hut I reject your services. Yet
do net desire your ruin. You will please
to leave my house. Belle Isle in Me,
is my fortress, and will afford you safe
retreat-at least temporarily. Here IL
my warrant for your occupying it. ano
you shall have sufficient start"
AS soon as Fouquet had disappeared
Aramis reused himself from the stupoi
into which this unexpected turn OF at
fairs had thrown him, and. summonina
set ont at once on a special mission IN
the Kings service. he ordered two OF
the fieetest horses In the minister.
stables and fled along the road to Brit.
tany
Fouquet, after allowing a reasonable
start to Aramis. drove to the BastilS
and demanded to see the governor
Baisemeaux was at his wits end ano
thoroughly frigh tened when the super
Ifxxfx 49,, -. IL
have made yourself a party to crime
for which you may be quartered alive
What crime?" All. you pretend ig-
norance. 1t is well. Conduct me al
once to the prisoner" "Wnat prisoner
l-Marchiali?" lie had All Instructive
feeling that the visit of the ministe,
had something to do with that trouble
some and mysterious person. who is
Marchiali?" 1.-THE prisoner M. d'Herblay
brought back this morning LET me
see him." GIVE an order in the Kings
name and you shall see him.. The
governor then told all he knew of the
prisoner and Of Aramis' connection WITT
him. Fouquet was convinced that
baisemeaux was Ignorant OF what had
| really taken place. Il give you nv
word of honor" said he, that II YOU
viii conduct me to the prisoner YOU
shall have an order signed by the Kings
name" AS they approached the cell
where Philippe had been confined, and
where was now confined Louis XIV.
they heard the King raving in a fur.
and beating against the door with ali
his might, crying QUE that he was the
King and demanding his freedom. HE
has raved like this ever since NJ AIiar-
blay brought him back" said the gov
ernor
Ordering the governor to keep out Of
hearing, Fouquet approached the door
ano as he turned the key the prisoner
shouted: "FOuquet brought me here