At the moment the captain of the musketeers was about to leave the room with his prisoner, Colbert appeared, and, after remitting an order from the king to D'Artagnan, retired. D'Artagnan read the paper, and then crushed it in his hand with rage.
"What is it?" asked the prince.
"Read, monseigneur," replied the musketeer.
Philippe read the following words, hastily traced by the hand of the king:—"M. d'Artagnan will conduct the prisoner to the Iles Sainte-Marguerite. He will cover his face with an iron vizor, which the prisoner cannot raise without peril of his life."
"That is just," said Philippe, with resignation, "I am ready."
"Aramis was right," said Fouquet, in a low voice to the musketeer, "this one is quite as much of a king as the other."
"More," replied D'Artagnan. "He only wants you and me."