In the meantime Fouquet was hastening to the Louvre, at thebest speed of his English horses. The king was at work withColbert. All at once the king became thoughtful. The twosentences of death he had signed on mounting his thronesometimes recurred to his memory; they were two black spotswhich he saw with his eyes open; two spots of blood which hesaw when his eyes were closed. "Monsieur," said he, rathersharply, to the intendant; "it sometimes seems to me thatthose two men you made me condemn were not very greatculprits."

"Sire, they were picked out from the herd of the farmers ofthe financiers, which wanted decimating."

"Picked out by whom?"

"By necessity, sire," replied Colbert, coldly.

"Necessity! - a great word," murmured the young king.

"A great goddess, sire."

"They were devoted friends of the superintendent, were theynot?"

"Yes, sire; friends who would have given up their lives forMonsieur Fouquet."

"They have given them, monsieur," said the king.

"That is true; - but uselessly, by good luck, - which wasnot their intention."

"How much money had these men fraudulently obtained?"

"Ten millions, perhaps; of which six have been confiscated."

"And is that money in my coffers?" said the king with acertain air of repugnance.

"It is there, sire; but this confiscation, whilstthreatening M. Fouquet, has not touched him."

"You conclude, then, M. Colbert - - "

"That if M. Fouquet has raised against your majesty a troopof factious rioters to extricate his friends frompunishment, he will raise an army when he has in turn toextricate himself from punishment."

The king darted at his confidant one of those looks whichresemble the livid fire of a flash of lightning, one ofthose looks which illuminate the darkness of the basestconsciences. "I am astonished," said he, "that, thinkingsuch things of M. Fouquet, you did not come to give me yourcounsels thereupon."

"Counsels upon what, sire?"

"Tell me, in the first place, clearly and precisely, whatyou think, M. Colbert."

"Upon what subject, sire?"

"Upon the conduct of M. Fouquet."

"I think, sire, that M. Fouquet, not satisfied withattracting all the money to himself, as M. Mazarin did, andby that means depriving your majesty of one part of yourpower, still wishes to attract to himself all the friends ofeasy life and pleasure - of what idlers call poetry, andpoliticians, corruption. I, think that, by holding thesubjects of your majesty in pay, he trespasses upon theroyal prerogative, and cannot, if this continues so, be longin placing your majesty among the weak and the obscure."

"How would you qualify all these projects, M. Colbert?"

"The projects of M. Fouquet, sire?"

"Yes."

"They are called crimes of lese majeste."

"And what is done to criminals guilty of lese majeste?"

"They are arrested, tried, and punished."

"You are quite sure that M. Fouquet has conceived the ideaof the crime you impute to him?"

"I can say more, sire, there is even a commencement of theexecution of it."

"Well, then, I return to that which I was saying, M.Colbert."

"And you were saying, sire?"

"Give me counsel."

"Pardon me, sire, but in the first place, I have somethingto add."

"Say - what?"

"An evident, palpable, material proof of treason."

"And what is that?"

"I have just learnt that M. Fouquet is fortifyingBelle-Isle."

"Ah, indeed!"

"Yes, sire."

"Are you sure?"

"Perfectly. Do you know, sire, what soldiers there 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 this place of which you showme the plan?"

"Sire, it is Belle-Isle-en-Mer," replied Fouquet withsimplicity.

At this word, at this name, Colbert made so marked amovement, that the king turned round to enforce thenecessity for reserve. Fouquet did not appear to be theleast in the world concerned by the movement of Colbert, orthe king's signal.

"Monsieur," continued Louis, "you have then fortifiedBelle-Isle?"

"Yes, sire; and I have brought the plan and the accounts toyour majesty," replied Fouquet, "I have expended sixteenhundred thousand livres in this operation."

"What to do?" replied Louis, coldly, having taken theinitiative from a malicious look of the intendant.

"For an aim very easy to seize," replied, Fouquet. "Yourmajesty was on cool terms with Great Britain."

"Yes; but since the restoration of King Charles II. I haveformed an alliance with him."

"A month since, sire, your majesty has truly said; but it ismore than six months since the fortifications of Belle-Islewere begun."

"Then they have become useless."

"Sire, fortifications are never useless. I fortifiedBelle-Isle against MM. Monk and Lambert and all those Londoncitizens who were playing at soldiers. Belle-Isle will beready fortified against the Dutch, against whom eitherEngland or your majesty cannot fail to make war."

The king was again silent, and looked askant at Colbert."Belle-Isle, I believe," added Louis, "is yours, M.Fouquet?"

"No, sire."

"Whose then?"

"Your majesty's."

Colbert was seized with as much terror as if a gulf hadopened beneath his feet. Louis started with admiration,either at the genius or the devotion of Fouquet.

"Explain yourself, monsieur," said he.

"Nothing more easy, sire; Belle-Isle is one of my estates; Ihave fortified it at my own expense. But as nothing in theworld can oppose a subject making an humble present to hisking, I offer your majesty the proprietorship of the estate,of which you will leave me the usufruct. Belle-Isle, as aplace of war, ought to be occupied by the king. Your majestywill be able, henceforth, to keep a safe garrison there."

Colbert felt almost sinking down upon the floor. To keephimself from falling, he was obliged to hold by the columnsof the wainscoting.

"This is a piece of great skill in the art of war that youhave exhibited here, monsieur," said Louis.

"Sire, the initiative did not come from me," repliedFouquet: "many others have inspired me with it. The plansthemselves have been made by one of the most distinguishedengineers."

"His name?"

"M. du Vallon."

"M. du Vallon?" resumed Louis, "I do not know him. It ismuch to be lamented, M. Colbert," continued he, "that I donot know the names of the men of talent who do honor to myreign." And while saying these words he turned towardsColbert. The latter felt himself crushed, the sweat flowedfrom his brow, no word presented itself to his lips, hesuffered an inexpressible martyrdom. "You will recollectthat name," added Louis XIV.

Colbert bowed, but was paler than his ruffles of Flemishlace. Fouquet continued:

"The masonries are of Roman concrete; the architectsamalgamated it for me after the best accounts of antiquity."

"And the cannon?" asked Louis.

"Oh! sire, that concerns your majesty; it did not become meto place cannon in my own house, unless your majesty hadtold me it was yours."

Louis began to float, undetermined between the hatred whichthis so powerful man inspired him with, and the pity he feltfor the other, so cast down, who seemed to him thecounterfeit of the former. But the consciousness of hiskingly duty prevailed over the feelings of the man, and hestretched out his finger to the paper.

"It must have cost you a great deal of money to carry theseplans into execution," said he.

"I believe I had the honor of telling your majesty theamount."

"Repeat it if you please, I have forgotten it."

"Sixteen hundred thousand livres."

"Sixteen hundred thousand livres! you are enormously rich,monsieur."

"It is your majesty who is rich, since Belle-Isle is yours."

"Yes, thank you; but however rich I may be, M. Fouquet - - " The king stopped.

"Well, sire?" asked the superintendent.

"I foresee the moment when I shall want money."

"You, sire? And at what moment, then?"

"To-morrow, for example."

"Will your majesty do me the honor to explain yourself?"

"My brother is going to marry the English Princess."

"Well, sire?"

"Well, I ought to give the bride a reception worthy of thegranddaughter of Henry IV."

"That is but just, sire."

"Then I shall want money."

"No doubt."

"I shall want - - " Louis hesitated. The sum he was goingto demand was the same that he had been obliged to refuseCharles II. He turned towards Colbert, that he might givethe blow.

"I shall want, to-morrow - - " repeated he, looking atColbert.

"A million," said the latter, bluntly; delighted to take hisrevenge.

Fouquet turned his back upon the intendant to listen to theking. He did not turn round, but waited till the kingrepeated, or rather murmured, "A million."

"Oh! sire," replied Fouquet disdainfully, "a million! Whatwill your majesty do with a million?"

"It appears to me, nevertheless - - " said Louis XIV.

"That is not more than is spent at the nuptials of one ofthe most petty princes of Germany."

"Monsieur!"

"Your majesty must have two millions at least. The horsesalone would run away with five hundred thousand livres. Ishall have the honor of sending your majesty sixteen hundredthousand livres this evening."

"How," said the king, "sixteen hundred thousand livres?"

"Look, sire," replied Fouquet, without even turning towardsColbert, "I know that wants four hundred thousand livres ofthe two millions. But this monsieur of l'intendance"(pointing over his shoulder to Colbert who, if possible,became paler, behind him) "has in his coffers nine hundredthousand livres of mine."

The king turned round to look at Colbert.

"But - - " said the latter.

"Monsieur," continued Fouquet, still speaking indirectly toColbert, "monsieur has received a week ago sixteen hundredthousand livres; he has paid a hundred thousand livres tothe guards, sixty-four thousand livres to the hospitals,twenty-five thousand to the Swiss, a hundred and thirtythousand for provisions, a thousand for arms, ten thousandfor accidental expenses; I do not err, then, in reckoningupon nine hundred thousand livres that are left." Thenturning towards Colbert, like a disdainful head of officetowards his inferior, "Take care, monsieur," said he, "thatthose nine hundred thousand livres be remitted to hismajesty this evening, in gold."

"But," said the king, "that will make two millions fivehundred thousand livres."

"Sire, the five hundred thousand livres over will serve aspocket money for his Royal Highness. You understand,Monsieur Colbert, this evening before eight o'clock."

And with these words, bowing respectfully to the king, thesuperintendent made his exit backwards, without honoringwith a single look the envious man, whose head he had justhalf shaved.

Colbert tore his ruffles to pieces in his rage, and bit hislips till they bled.

Fouquet had not passed the door of the cabinet, when anusher pushing by him, exclaimed: "A courier from Bretagnefor his majesty."

"M. d'Herblay was right," murmured Fouquet, pulling out hiswatch; "an hour and fifty-five minutes. It was quite true."