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The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 239 at Prostate Health
are inBelle-Isle?""No, ma foi! Do you?""I am ignorant, likewise, sire; I should therefore proposeto your majesty to send somebody to Belle-Isle?""Who?""Me, for instance.""And what would you do at Belle-Isle?""Inform myself whether, after the example of the ancientfeudal lords, M. Fouquet was battlementing his walls.""And with what purpose could he do that?""With the purpose of defending himself some day against hisking.""But, if it be thus, M. Colbert," said Louis, "we mustimmediately do as you say; M. Fouquet must be arrested.""That is impossible.""I thought I had already told you, monsieur, that Isuppressed that word in my service.""The service of your majesty cannot prevent M. Fouquet frombeing surintendant-general.""Well?""That, in consequence of holding that post, he has for himall the parliament, as he has all the army by his largesses,literature by his favors, and the noblesse by his presents.""That is to say, then, that I can do nothing against M.Fouquet?""Absolutely nothing, -- at least at present, sire.""You are a sterile counselor, M. Colbert.""Oh, no, sire; for I will not confine myself to pointing outthe peril to your majesty.""Come, then, where shall we begin to undermine thisColossus; let us see;" and his majesty began to laughbitterly."He has grown great by money; kill him by money, sire.""If I were to deprive him of his charge?""A bad means, sire.""The good -- the good, then?""Ruin him, sire, that is the way."But how?""Occasions will not be wanting, take advantage of alloccasions.""Point them out to me.""Here is one at once. His royal highness Monsieur is aboutto be married; his nuptials must be magnificent. That is agood occasion for your majesty to demand a million of M.Fouquet. M. Fouquet, who pays twenty thousand livres downwhen he need not pay more than five thousand, will easilyfind that million when your majesty demands it.""That is all very well; I will demand it," said Louis."If your majesty will sign the ordonnance I will have themoney got together myself." And Colbert pushed a paperbefore the king, and presented a pen to him.At that moment the usher opened the door and announcedmonsieur le surintendant. Louis turned pale. Colbert let thepen fall, and drew back from the king, over whom he extendedhis black wings like an evil spirit. The superintendent madehis entrance like a man of the court, to whom a singleglance was sufficient to make him appreciate the situation.That situation was not very encouraging for Fouquet,whatever might be his consciousness of strength. The smallblack eye of Colbert, dilated by envy, and the limpid eye ofLouis XIV., inflamed by anger, signalled some pressingdanger. Courtiers are, with regard to court rumors, like oldsoldiers, who distinguish through the blasts of wind andbluster of leaves the sound of the distant steps of an armedtroop. They can, after having listened, tell pretty nearlyhow many men are marching, how many arms resound, how manycannons roll. Fouquet had then only to interrogate thesilence which his arrival had produced; he found it big withmenacing revelations. The king allowed him time enough toadvance as far as the middle of the chamber. His adolescentmodesty commanded this forbearance of the moment. Fouquetboldly seized the opportunity."Sire," said he, "I was impatient to see your majesty.""What for?" asked Louis."To announce some good news to you."Colbert, minus grandeur of person, less largeness of heart,resembled Fouquet in many points. He had the samepenetration, the same knowledge of men; moreover, that greatpower of self-compression which gives to hypocrites time toreflect, and gather themselves up to take a spring. Heguessed that Fouquet was going to meet the blow he was aboutto deal him. His eyes glittered ominously."What news?" asked the king. Fouquet placed a roll of paperson the table."Let your majesty have the goodness to cast your eyes overthis work," said he. The king slowly unfolded the paper."Plans?" said he."Yes, sire.""And what are these plans?""A new fortification, sire.""Ah, ah!" said the king, "you amuse yourself with tacticsand strategies, then, M. Fouquet?""I occupy myself with everything that may be useful to thereign of your majesty," replied Fouquet."Beautiful descriptions!" said the king, looking at thedesign."Your majesty comprehends, without doubt," said Fouquet,bending over the paper; "here is the circle of the walls,here are the forts, there the advanced works.""And what do I see here, monsieur?""The sea.""The sea all round?""Yes, sire.""And what is, then, the name of
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