Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/335

 THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONffE. 323

means to allow any one to go out. At eleven o clock pre- cisely he heard the rolling of a heavy carriage under the arch, then of another, then of a third; after which the gate grated upon its hinges to he closed. Soon after, somebody scratched with their nail at the door of the cabinet. The king opened it himself, and beheld Colbert, whose first word was this:

"The money is in your majesty's cellar."

The king then descended and went himself to see the barrels of specie, in gold and silver, which, under the direc- tion of Colbert, four men had just rolled into a cellar of which the king had given Colbert the key in the morning. This review completed, Lonis returnd to his apartments, followed by Colbert, who had not warmed his immovable coldness with one ray of personal satisfaction.

"Monsieur," said the king, "what do you wish that I should give 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 that oppor- tunity, I should not the less serve you. It is impossible for me not to be the best servant of the king."

"You shall be intendant of the finances, Monsieur Col- bert."

"But there is already a surintendant, sire."

"I know that."

"Sire, the surintendant of the finances is the most power- ful man in the kingdom."

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

"He will crush me in a week, sire. "Your majesty gives me a controle for which strength is indispensable. And intendant under a surintendant — that is inferiority."

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

"I had the honor of telling your majesty that during the lifetime of Monsieur de Mazarin, Monsieur Fouquet was the second man in the kingdom; now Monsieur de Mazarin is dead, Monsieur Fouquet is become the first."

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

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

"'You are already, since you fea. to compromise yourself in seiving me."