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The Vicomte De Bragelonne 329 at Prostate Health
itcan be looked for, bought and found.""You see things on the bright side, and so much the betterfor you. It is really very unfortunate that you are not theEgeria of M. Fouquet; you might now show him the sourcewhence he could obtain the millions which the king asked himfor yesterday.""Millions!" said the marquise, in terror."Four -- an even number.""Infamous!" murmured Madame de Belliere, tortured by herfriends merciless delight."M. Fouquet, I should think, must certainly have fourmillions," she replied, courageously."If he has those which the king requires to-day," saidMarguerite, "he will not, perhaps, possess those which theking will demand in a month or so.""The king will exact money from him again, then?""No doubt; and that is my reason for saying that the ruin ofpoor M. Fouquet is inevitable. Pride will induce him tofurnish the money, and when he has no more, he will fall.""It is true," said the marquise, trembling; "the plan is abold one; but tell me, does M. Colbert hate M. Fouquet sovery much?""I think he does not like him. M. Colbert is powerful; heimproves on close acquaintance, he has gigantic ideas, astrong will, and discretion, he will rise.""He will be superintendent?""It is probable. Such is the reason, my dear marquise, why Ifelt myself impressed in favor of that poor man, who onceloved, and even adored me; and why, when I see him sounfortunate, I forgive his infidelity which I have reason tobelieve he also regrets; and why, moreover, I should nothave been disinclined to afford him some consolation, orsome good advice; he would have understood the step I hadtaken, and would have thought kindly of me for it. It isgratifying to be loved, you know. Men value love more highlywhen they are no longer blinded by its influence."The marquise, bewildered and overcome by these cruelattacks, which had been calculated with the greatest nicetyand precision, hardly knew what answer to return; she evenseemed to have lost all power of thought. Her perfidiousfriends voice had assumed the most affectionate tone; shespoke as a woman, but concealed the instincts of a wolf."Well," said Madame de Belliere, who had a vague hope thatMarguerite would cease to overwhelm a vanquished enemy, "whydo you not go and see M. Fouquet?""Decidedly, marquise, you have made me reflect. No, it wouldbe unbecoming for me to make the first advance. M. Fouquetno doubt loves me, but he is too proud. I cannot exposemyself to an affront.... besides I have my husband toconsider. You tell me nothing? Very well, I shall consult M.Colbert on the subject." Marguerite rose smilingly, asthough to take leave, but the marquise had not the strengthto imitate her. Marguerite advanced a few paces, in orderthat she might continue to enjoy the humiliating grief inwhich her rival was plunged, and then said, suddenly, --"You do not accompany me to the door, then?" The marquiserose, pale and almost lifeless, without thinking of theenvelope, which had occupied her attention so greatly at thecommencement of the conversation, and which was revealed atthe first step she took. She then opened the door of heroratory, and without even turning her head towardsMarguerite Vanel, entered it, closing the door after her.Marguerite said, or rather muttered a few words, whichMadame de Belliere did not even hear. As soon, however, asthe marquise had disappeared, her envious enemy, not beingable to resist the desire to satisfy herself that hersuspicions were well founded, advanced stealthily towards itlike a panther and seized the envelope. "Ah!" she said,gnashing her teeth, "it was indeed a letter from M. Fouquetshe was reading when I arrived," and then darted out of theroom. During this interval, the marquise, having arrivedbehind the rampart, as it were, of her door, felt that herstrength was failing her; for a moment she remained rigid,pale and motionless as a statue, and then, like a statueshaken on its base by an earthquake, tottered and fellinanimate on the carpet. The noise of the fall resounded atthe same moment as the rolling of Marguerites carriageleaving the hotel.CHAPTER 102Madame de Bellieres PlateThe blow had been the more painful on account of its beingunexpected. It was some time before the marquise recoveredherself; but once recovered, she began to reflect upon theevents so heartlessly announced to her. She thereforereturned, at the risk
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