The night was already far advanced when the Abbe Fouquetjoined his brother. Gourville had accompanied him. Thesethree men, pale with dread of future events, resembled lessthree powers of the day than three conspirators, united byone single thought of violence. Fouquet walked for a longtime, with his eyes fixed upon the floor, striking his handsone against the other. At length, taking courage, in themidst of a deep sigh: "Abbe," said he, "you were speaking tome only to-day of certain people you maintain."

"Yes, monsieur," replied the abbe.

"Tell me precisely who are these people." The abbehesitated.

"Come! no fear, I am not threatening; no romancing, for I amnot joking."

"Since you demand the truth, monseigneur, here it is: - Ihave a hundred and twenty friends or companions of pleasure,who are sworn to me as the thief is to the gallows."

"And you think you can depend upon them?"

"Entirely."

"And you will not compromise yourself?"

"I will not even make my appearance."

"And are they men of resolution?"

"They would burn Paris, if I promised them they should notbe burnt in turn."

"The thing I ask of you, abbe," said Fouquet, wiping thesweat which fell from his brow, "is to throw your hundredand twenty men upon the people I will point out to you, at acertain moment given - is it possible?"

"It will not be the first time such a thing has happened tothem, monseigneur."

"That is well: but would these bandits attack an armedforce?"

"They are used to that."

"Then get your hundred and twenty men together, abbe."

"Directly. But where?"

"On the road to Vincennes, to-morrow, at two o'clockprecisely."

"To carry off Lyodot and D'Eymeris? There will be blows tobe got!"

"A number, no doubt; are you afraid?"

"Not for myself, but for you."

"Your men will know, then, what they have to do?"

"They are too intelligent not to guess it. Now, a ministerwho gets up a riot against his king - exposes himself - - "

"Of what importance is that to you, I pray? Besides, if Ifall, you fall with me."

"It would then be more prudent, monsieur, not to stir in theaffair, and leave the king to take this littlesatisfaction."

"Think well of this, abbe, Lyodot and D'Eymeris at Vincennesare a prelude of ruin for my house. I repeat it - Iarrested, you will be imprisoned - I imprisoned, you willbe exiled."

"Monsieur, I am at your orders; have you any to give me?"

"What I told you - I wish that, to-morrow, the twofinanciers of whom they mean to make victims, whilst thereremain so many criminals unpunished, should be snatched fromthe fury of my enemies. Take your measures accordingly. Isit possible?"

"It is possible."

"Describe your plan."

"It is of rich simplicity. The ordinary guard at executionsconsists of twelve archers."

"There will be a hundred to-morrow."

"I reckon so. I even say more - there will be two hundred."

"Then your hundred and twenty men will not be enough."

"Pardon me. In every crowd composed of a hundred thousandspectators, there are ten thousand bandits or cut-purses - only they dare not take the initiative."

"Well?"

"There will then be, to-morrow, on the Place de Greve, whichI choose as my battle-field, ten thousand auxiliaries to myhundred and twenty men. The attack commenced by the latter,the others will finish it."

"That all appears feasible. But what will be done withregard to the prisoners upon the Place de Greve?"

"This: they must be thrust into some house - that will makea siege necessary to get them out again. And stop! here isanother idea, more sublime still: certain houses have twoissues - one upon the Place, and the other into the Rue dela Mortellerie, or la Vennerie, or la Texeranderie. Theprisoners entering by one door will go out at another."

"Yes, but fix upon something positive."

"I am seeking to do so."

"And I," cried Fouquet, "I have found it. Listen to what hasoccurred to me at this moment."

"I am listening."

Fouquet made a sign to Gourville, who appeared tounderstand. "One of my friends lends me sometimes the keysof a house which he rents, Rue Baudoyer, the spaciousgardens of which extend behind a certain house on the Placede Greve."

"That is the place for us," said the abbe. "What house?"

"A cabaret, pretty well frequented, whose sign representsthe image of Notre Dame."

"I know it," said the abbe.

"This cabaret has windows opening upon the Place, a place ofexit into the court, which must abut upon the gardens of myfriend by a door of communication."

"Good!" said the abbe.

"Enter by the cabaret, take the prisoners in; defend thedoor while you enable them to fly by the garden and thePlace Baudoyer."

"That is all plain. Monsieur, you would make an excellentgeneral, like monsieur le prince."

"Have you understood me?"

"Perfectly well."

"How much will it amount to, to make your bandits all drunkwith wine, and to satisfy them with gold?"

"Oh, monsieur, what an expression! Oh! monsieur, if theyheard you: some of them are very susceptible."

"I mean to say they must be brought no longer to know theheavens from the earth; for I shall to-morrow contend withthe king; and when I fight I mean to conquer - please tounderstand."

"It shall be done, monsieur. Give me your other ideas."

"That is your business."

"Then give me your purse."

"Gourville, count a hundred thousand livres for the abbe."

"Good! and spare nothing, did you not say?"

"Nothing."

"That is well."

"Monseigneur," objected Gourville, "if this should be known,we should lose our heads."

"Eh! Gourville," replied Fouquet, purple with anger, "youexcite my pity. Speak for yourself, if you please. My headdoes not shake in that manner upon my shoulders. Now, abbe,is everything arranged?"

"Everything."

"At two o'clock to-morrow."

"At twelve, because it will be necessary to prepare ourauxiliaries in a secret manner."

"That is true; do not spare the wine of the cabaretier."

"I will spare neither his wine nor his house," replied theabbe, with a sneering laugh. "I have my plan, I tell you;leave me to set it in operation, and you shall see."

"Where shall you be yourself?"

"Everywhere; nowhere."

"And how shall I receive information?"

"By a courier whose horse shall be kept in the very gardenof your friend. A propos, the name of your friend?"

Fouquet looked again at Gourville. The latter came to thesuccor of his master, saying, "Accompanying monsieur l'abbefor several reasons, only the house is easily to be known,the `Image-de-Notre-Dame' in the front, a garden, the onlyone in the quarter, behind."

"Good, good! I will go and give notice to my soldiers."

"Accompany him, Gourville," said Fouquet, "and count himdown the money. One moment, abbe - one moment, Gourville - what name will be given to this carrying off?"

"A very natural one, monsieur - the Riot."

"The riot on account of what? For, if ever the people ofParis are disposed to pay their court to the king, it iswhen he hangs financiers."

"I will manage that," said the abbe.

"Yes; but you may manage it badly, and people will guess."

"Not at all, - not at all. I have another idea."

"What is that?"

"My men shall cry out, `Colbert, vive Colbert!' and shallthrow themselves upon the prisoners as if they would tearthem in pieces, and shall force them from the gibbets, astoo mild a punishment."

"Ah! that is an idea," said Gourville. "Peste! monsieurl'abbe, what an imagination you have!"

"Monsieur, we are worthy of our family," replied the abbe,proudly.

"Strange fellow," murmured Fouquet. Then he added, "That isingenious. Carry it out, but shed no blood."

Gourville and the abbe set off together, with their headsfull of the meditated riot. The superintendent laid himselfdown upon some cushions, half valiant with respect to thesinister projects of the morrow, half dreaming of love.