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The queen remained silent。
〃Sire；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃will your majesty permit me to ask you a question？〃
Louis XIV。 turned around； astonished that any one should dare to address him。 But the queen pressed the child's hand。
〃Yes； sir。〃 he said。
〃Does your majesty remember； when playing in the park of Fontainebleau； or in the palace courts at Versailles； ever to have seen the sky grow suddenly dark and heard the sound of thunder？〃
〃Yes； certainly。〃
〃Well； then； this noise of thunder； however much your majesty may have wished to continue playing； has said； ‘go in； sire。 You must do so。'〃
〃Certainly； sir； but they tell me that the noise of thunder is the voice of God。〃
〃Well then； sire；〃 continued D'Artagnan； 〃listen to the noise of the people； you will perceive that it resembles that of thunder。〃
In truth at that moment a terrible murmur was wafted to them by the night breeze； then all at once it ceased。
〃Hold； sire；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃they have just told the people that you are asleep； you see； you still are king。〃
The queen looked with surprise at this strange man； whose brilliant courage made him the equal of the bravest； and who was； by his fine and quick intelligence； the equal of the most astute。
Laporte entered。
〃Well； Laporte？〃 asked the queen。
〃Madame；〃 he replied； 〃Monsieur d'Artagnan's prediction has been acplished； they are calm； as if by enchantment。 The doors are about to be opened and in five minutes they will be here。〃
〃Laporte；〃 said the queen； 〃suppose you put one of your sons in the king's place； we might be off during the time。〃
〃If your majesty desires it；〃 said Laporte； 〃my sons； like myself； are at the queen's service。〃
〃Not at all；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃should one of them know his majesty and discover but a substitute； all would be lost。〃
〃You are right； sir； always right；〃 said Anne of Austria。 〃Laporte； place the king in bed。〃
Laporte placed the king； dressed as he was； in the bed and then covered him as far as the shoulders with the sheet。 The queen bent over him and kissed his brow。
〃Pretend to sleep； Louis；〃 said she。
〃Yes；〃 said the king； 〃but I do not wish to be touched by any of those men。〃
〃Sire； I am here；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and I give you my word； that if a single man has the audacity； his life shall pay for it。〃
〃And now what is to be done？〃 asked the queen； 〃for I hear them。〃
〃Monsieur Laporte； go to them and again remend silence。 Madame； wait at the door； whilst I shall be at the head of the king's bed； ready to die for him。〃
Laporte went out； the queen remained standing near the hangings； whilst D'Artagnan glided behind the curtains。
Then the heavy and collected steps of a multitude of men were heard； and the queen herself raised the tapestry hangings and put her finger on her lips。
On seeing the queen； the men stopped short； respectfully。
〃Enter； gentlemen； enter；〃 said the queen。
There was then amongst that crowd a moment's hesitation； which looked like shame。 They had expected resistance； they had expected to be thwarted； to have to force the gates； to overturn the guards。 The gates had opened of themselves； and the king； ostensibly at least； had no other guard at his bed…head but his mother。 The foremost of them stammered and attempted to fall back。
〃Enter； gentlemen；〃 said Laporte； 〃since the queen desires you so to do。〃
Then one more bold than the rest ventured to pass the door and to advance on tiptoe。 This example was imitated by the rest； until the room filled silently； as if these men had been the humblest； most devoted courtiers。 Far beyond the door the heads of those who were not able to enter could be seen； all craning to their utmost height to try and see。
D'Artagnan saw it all through an opening he had made in the curtain； and in the very first man who entered he recognized Planchet。
〃Sir；〃 said the queen to him； thinking he was the leader of the band； 〃you wished to see the king and therefore I determined to show him to you myself。 Approach and look at him and say if we have the appearance of people who wish to run away。〃
〃No； certainly；〃 replied Planchet； rather astonished at the unexpected honor conferred upon him。
〃You will say； then； to my good and faithful Parisians；〃 continued Anne； with a smile； the expression of which did not deceive D'Artagnan； 〃that you have seen the king in bed； asleep； and the queen also ready to retire。〃
〃I shall tell them； madame； and those who acpany me will say the same thing； but 〃
〃But what？〃 asked Anne of Austria。
〃Will your majesty pardon me；〃 said Planchet； 〃but is it really the king who is lying there？〃
Anne of Austria started。 〃If；〃 she said； 〃there is one among you who knows the king； let him approach and say whether it is really his majesty lying there。〃
A man wrapped in a cloak； in the folds of which his face was hidden； approached and leaned over the bed and looked。
For one second； D'Artagnan thought the man had some evil design and he put his hand to his sword； but in the movement made by the man in stooping a portion of his face was uncovered and D'Artagnan recognized the coadjutor。
〃It is certainly the king；〃 said the man； rising again。 〃God bless his majesty！〃
〃Yes；〃 repeated the leader in a whisper； 〃God bless his majesty！〃 and all these men； who had entered enraged； passed from anger to pity and blessed the royal infant in their turn。
〃Now；'； said Planchet； 〃let us thank the queen。 My friends； retire。〃
They all bowed； and retired by degrees as noiselessly as they had entered。 Planchet； who had been the first to enter； was the last to leave。 The queen stopped him。
〃What is your name； my friend？〃 she said。
Planchet； much surprised at the inquiry； turned back。
〃Yes；〃 continued the queen； 〃I think myself as much honored to have received you this evening as if you had been a prince； and I wish to know your name。〃
〃Yes；〃 thought Planchet； 〃to treat me as a prince。 No； thank you。〃
D'Artagnan trembled lest Planchet； seduced； like the crow in the fable； should tell his name； and that the