“No, indeed.”
“You know I was obliged to inform M. Fouquet of what had happened, in order that he would be able to anticipate what you might have to tell the king?”
“That is rather obscure.”
“Not at all: M. Fouquet has his enemies—you will admit that, I suppose.”
“Certainly.”
“And one in particular.”
“A dangerous one?”
“A mortal enemy. Well, in order to counteract that man’s influence, it was necessary that M. Fouquet should give the king a proof of his great devotion to him, and of his readiness to make the greatest sacrifices. He surprised his majesty by offering him Belle-Isle. If you had been the first to reach Paris, the surprise would have been destroyed, it would have looked as if we had yielded to fear.”
“I understand.”
“That is the whole mystery,” said Aramis, satisfied that he had at last quite convinced the musketeer.