"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "it is more than six years ago that I ought to have presented M. de Valon to your majesty; but certain men resemble stars, they move not unless their friends accompany them. The Pleiads are never disunited, and that is the reason I have selected, for the purpose of presenting him to you, the very moment when you would see M. d'Herblay by his side." Aramis almost lost countenance. He looked at D'Artagnan with a proud, haughty air, as though willing to accept the defiance which the latter seemed to throw down. "Ah! these gentlemen are good friends, then," said the king. "Excellent friends, sire, the one can answer for the other. Ask M. 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 _nom 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 unparalleled intrepidity, and the wisest theologian in your kingdom." Louis raised his head. "And an engineer, also, it appears," 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'Artagnan, with great warmth of manner, "the man who has more than a hundred times aided your father's ministers by his advice--M. d'Herblay, in a word, who with M. de Valon, myself, and M. 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 majesty's 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." D'Artagnan looked at Aramis most narrowly while he uttered these words, which displayed so much true respect, so much warm devotion, such entire frankness and sincerity, that even he, D'Artagnan, the eternal doubter, he, the almost infallible in his judgment, was deceived by it. "A man who lies cannot speak in such a tone as that," he said.