Chapter 21, The King's Friend, Chapter 22, Showing how orders were respected at the Bastille, and Chapter 23, The King's Gratitude Summary

Fouquet is embarrassed to learn that Aramis intervened with King Louis XIV to prevent his arrest. D'Artagnan asks Aramis how he became such good friends with the king so quickly. However, Aramis says he has met with the king secretly many times before. D'Artagnan believes him, and is embarrassed he has never known this. Aramis gets D'Artagnan to leave, and tells Fouquet that the king wanted to arrest him for stealing money from the treasury and his love for Louise de Valliere, the king's mistress. Aramis reveals the entire plot to Fouquet. However, Fouquet is horrified at his actions, and that Aramis had to audacity to make the switch...