In the morning, the news of the death of the cardinal wasspread through the castle, and thence speedily reached thecity. The ministers Fouquet, Lyonne, and Letellier enteredla salle des seances, to hold a council. The king sent forthem immediately. "Messieurs," said he, "as long as monsieurle cardinal lived, I allowed him to govern my affairs; butnow I mean to govern them myself. You will give me youradvice when I ask it. You may go."

The ministers looked at each other with surprise. If theyconcealed a smile it was with a great effort, for they knewthat the prince, brought up in absolute ignorance ofbusiness, by this took upon himself a burden much too heavyfor his strength. Fouquet took leave of his colleagues uponthe stairs, saying: - "Messieurs! there will be so muchless labor for us."

And he climbed gayly into his carriage. The others, a littleuneasy at the turn things had taken, went back to Paristogether. Towards ten o'clock the king repaired to theapartment of his mother, with whom he had a long and privateconversation. After dinner, he got into his carriage, andwent straight to the Louvre. There he received much company,and took a degree of pleasure in remarking the hesitation ofeach, and the curiosity of all. Towards evening he orderedthe doors of the Louvre to be closed, with the exception ofone only, which opened on the quay. He placed on duty atthis point two hundred Swiss, who did not speak a word ofFrench, with orders to admit all who carried packages, butno others; and by no means to allow any one to go out. Ateleven o'clock precisely, he heard the rolling of a heavycarriage under the arch, then of another, then of a third;after which the gate grated upon its hinges to be closed.Soon after, somebody scratched with his nail at the door ofthe cabinet. The king opened it himself, and beheld Colbert,whose first word was this: - "The money is in yourmajesty's cellar."

The king then descended and went himself to see the barrelsof specie, in gold and silver, which, under the direction ofColbert, four men had just rolled into a cellar of which theking had given Colbert the key in the morning. This reviewcompleted, Louis returned to his apartments, followed byColbert, who had not apparently warmed with one ray ofpersonal satisfaction.

"Monsieur," said the king, "what do you wish that I shouldgive you, as a recompense for this devotedness and probity?"

"Absolutely nothing, sire."

"How nothing? Not even an opportunity of serving me?"

"If your majesty were not to furnish me with thatopportunity, I should not the less serve you. It isimpossible for me not to be the best servant of the king."

"You shall be intendant of the finances, M. Colbert."

"But there is already a superintendent, sire."

"I know that."

"Sire, the superintendent of the finances is the mostpowerful man in the kingdom."

"Ah!" cried Louis, coloring, "do you think so?"

"He will crush me in a week, sire. Your majesty gives me acontrole for which strength is indispensable. An intendantunder a superintendent, - that is inferiority."

"You want support - you do not reckon upon me?"

"I had the honor of telling your majesty that during thelifetime of M. de Mazarin, M. Fouquet was the second man inthe kingdom; now M. de Mazarin is dead, M. Fouquet is becomethe first."

"Monsieur, I agree to what you told me of all things up toto-day; but to-morrow, please to remember, I shall no longersuffer it."

"Then I shall be of no use to your majesty?"

"You are already, since you fear to compromise yourself inserving me."

"I only fear to be placed so that I cannot serve yourmajesty."

"What do you wish, then?"

"I wish your majesty to allow me assistance in the labors ofthe office of intendant."

"The post would lose its value."

"It would gain in security."

"Choose your colleagues."

"Messieurs Breteuil, Marin, Harvard."

"To-morrow the ordonnance shall appear.

"Sire, I thank you."

"Is that all you ask?

"No, sire, one thing more."

"What is that?"

"Allow me to compose a chamber of justice."

"What would this chamber of justice do?"

"Try the farmers-general and contractors, who, during tenyears, have been robbing the state."

"Well, but what would you do with them?"

"Hang two or three, and that would make the rest disgorge."

"I cannot commence my reign with executions, MonsieurColbert."

"On the contrary, sire, you had better, in order not to haveto end with them."

The king made no reply. "Does your majesty consent?" saidColbert.

"I will reflect upon it, monsieur."

"It will be too late when reflection may be made."

"Why?"

"Because you have to deal with people stronger thanourselves, if they are warned."

"Compose that chamber of justice, monsieur."

"I will, sire."

"Is that all?"

"No, sire; there is still another important affair. Whatrights does your majesty attach to this office ofintendant?"

"Well - I do not know - the customary ones."

"Sire, I desire that this office be invested with the rightof reading the correspondence with England."

"Impossible, monsieur, for that correspondence is kept fromthe council; monsieur le cardinal himself carried it on."

"I thought your majesty had this morning declared that thereshould no longer be a council?"

"Yes, I said so."

"Let your majesty then have the goodness to read all theletters yourself, particularly those from England; I holdstrongly to this article."

"Monsieur, you shall have that correspondence, and render mean account of it."

"Now, sire, what shall I do with respect to the finances?"

"Everything M. Fouquet has not done."

"That is all I ask of your majesty. Thanks, sire, I departin peace;" and at these words he took his leave. Louiswatched his departure. Colbert was not yet a hundred pacesfrom the Louvre when the king received a courier fromEngland. After having looked at and examined the envelope,the king broke the seal precipitately, and found a letterfrom Charles II. The following is what the English princewrote to his royal brother: -

"Your majesty must be rendered very uneasy by the illness ofM. le Cardinal Mazarin; but the excess of danger can onlyprove of service to you. The cardinal is given over by hisphysician. I thank you for the gracious reply you have madeto my communication touching the Princess Henrietta, mysister, and, in a week, the princess and her court will setout for Paris. It is gratifying to me to acknowledge thefraternal friendship you have evinced towards me, and tocall you, more justly than ever, my brother. It isgratifying to me, above everything, to prove to your majestyhow much I am interested in all that may please you. You arehaving Belle-Isle-en-Mer secretly fortified. That is wrong.We shall never be at war against each other. That measuredoes not make me uneasy, it makes me sad. You are spendinguseless millions, tell your ministers so; and rest assuredthat I am well informed; render me the same service, mybrother, if occasion offers."

The king rang his bell violently, and his valet de chambreappeared. "Monsieur Colbert is just gone; he cannot be faroff. Let him be called back!" exclaimed he.

The valet was about to execute the order, when the kingstopped him.

"No," said he, "no, I see the whole scheme of that man.Belle-Isle belongs to M. Fouquet; Belle-Isle is beingfortified: that is a conspiracy on the part of M. Fouquet.The discovery of that conspiracy is the ruin of thesuperintendent, and that discovery is the result of thecorrespondence with England: this is why Colbert wished tohave that correspondence. Oh! but I cannot place all mydependence upon that man; he has a good head, but I musthave an arm!" Louis, all at once, uttered a joyful cry. "Ihad," said he, "a lieutenant of musketeers!"

"Yes, sire - Monsieur d'Artagnan."

"He quitted the service for a time."

"Yes, sire."

"Let him be found, and be here to-morrow the first thing inthe morning."

The valet de chambre bowed and went out.

"Thirteen millions in my cellar," said the king; "Colbertcarrying my purse and D'Artagnan my sword - I am king."