"Why should he have pardoned me, then?"
"We have not yet arrived at that part of our argument. I wish you to be quite convinced of the fact itself. Observe this well; the king knows you to be guilty of an appropriation of public funds. Oh! of course I know that you have done nothing of the kind; but at all events the king has not seen the receipts, and he cannot do otherwise than believe you criminal."
"I beg your pardon, I do not see—"
"You will see presently, though. The king, moreover, having read your love-letter to La Valliere, and the offers you there made her, cannot retain any doubt of your intentions with regard to that young lady; you will admit that, I suppose?"
"Certainly; but conclude."
"In a few words. The king is, therefore, a powerful, implacable, and eternal enemy for you."
"Agreed. But am I, then, so powerful that he has not dared to sacrifice me, notwithstanding his hatred, with all the means which my weakness, or my misfortunes, may have given him as a hold upon me?"
"It is clear, beyond all doubt," pursued Aramis, coldly, "that the king has quarreled irreconcilably with you."
"But, since he absolves me—"
"Do you believe it likely?" asked the bishop, with a searching look.