Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/474

Rh 4G2 TEN YEARS LATER. "Do yon know I am told, Monsieur Fouquet, that you are preparing a grand fete at Vaux?" Fouquet smiled, as a sick man would do at the first shiver of a fever which has left him, but returns again. "And that you have not invited mel" continued the king, "Sire," replied Fouquet, "I have not even thought of the fete you speak of, and it was only yesterday evening that one of my friends," Fouquet laid a stress upon the word, "was kind enough to make me think of it." "Yet I saw you yesterday evening. Monsieur Fouquet^ and you said nothing to me about it." "How dared I hope that your majesty would so greatly descend from your own exalted station as to honor my dwelling with your royal presence?" "Excuse me. Monsieur Fouquet, you did not speak to me about jour fete." "I did not allude to the fete to your majesty, I repeat, in the first place, because nothing had been decided with regard to it, and, secondly, because I feared a refusal." "And something made you fear a refusal, Monsieur Fou- quet? You see, I am determined to push you hard." "The profound wish I had that your majesty should accept my invitation " "Well, Monsieur Fouquet, nothing is easier, I perceive, than our coming to an understanding. Your wish is to in- vite me to your fete; my own is to be present at it; invite me, and I will go." "Is it possible that your majesty will deign to accept?" murmured the surintendant. "Why, really, monsieur," said the king, laughing, "I think I do more than accept, I think I invite myself." "Your majesty overwhelms me with honor and delight!" exclaimed Fouquet, "but I shall be obliged to repeat what Monsieur de Vieuville said to your ancestor, Henry IV., Domine, own sum digniis." "To which I reply, Monsieur Fouquet, that if you give a fete I will go, whether I am invited or not." "I thank your majesty deeply," said Fouquet, as he raised his head beneath this favor, which he was convinced would be his ruin. "But how could your majesty have been informed of it?" "By public rumor. Monsieur Fouquet, which says such wonderful things of yourself and of the marvels of your house. Would you become proud, Monsieur Fouquet, if the king were to be jealous of you?"