Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/329

 THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE 317

"Ah!" said the king. "And what is become of Monsieur Colbert?"

"He has just left the chamber of his eminence."

"To go whither?"

"To follow me."'

"So that he is "

"There, my dear sire, waiting at your door, till it shall be your good pleasure to receive him."

Louis ran to the door, opened it himself, and perceived in the passage Colbert standing waiting. The king started at the sight of this statue, all clothed in black. Colbert bowing with profound respect, advanced two steps toward his majesty. Louis re-entered his chamber, making Colbert a sign to follow him. Colbert entered; Louis dismissed the nurse, who closed the door as she went out. Colbert remained modestly standing near that door.

"What do you come to announce to me, monsieur?" said Louis, very much troubled at being thus surprised in his private thoughts, which he could not completely conceal,

"That Monsieur le Cardinal has just expired, sir, and that I bring your majesty his last adieu."

The king remained pensive for a minute; and during that minute he looked attentively at Colbert; it was evident that the cardinal's last words were in his mind.

"Are you, then, Monsieur Colbert?" asked he.

"Yes, sire."

"The faithful servant of his eminence, as his eminence himself told me?"

"Yes, sire."

"The depositary of part of his secrets?"

"Of all of them."

"The friends and servants of his defunct eminence will be dear to me, monsieur, and I shall take care that you are placed in my offices,"

Colbert bowed.

"You are a financier, monsieur I believe?"

"Yes. sire."

"And did Monsieur le Cardinal employ you in his stewardship?"

"I had that honor, sire."

"You never did anything personally foi my household, J believe?"

"Pardon me, sire, it was I who had the honor of giving Monsieur le Cardinal the idea of an economy which puts three hundred thousand francs a year into your majesty's coffers."