Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/375

Rh Colbert is industrious, scarcely was the new intendant left alone before he took a pencil from his pocket, and, as there was paper on the table, began to make pencil notes."

"Notes concerning D'Eymeris and Lyodot?"

"Exactly."

"I should like to know what those notes were about '

"And that is just what I have brought you."

"Madame Vanel has taken Colbert's notes and sent them to me?"

"No; but by a chance which resembles a miracle she has a duplicate of those notes."

"How could she get that?"

"Listen; I told you that Colbert found some paper on the table."

"Yes."

"That he had taken a pencil from his pocket."

"Yes."

"And had written upon that paper."

"Yes."

"Well, this pencil was a lead-pencil, consequently hard; so it marked in black upon the first sheet, and in white upon the second."

"Go on."

"Colbert, when tearing off the first sheet, took no notice of the second."

"Well?"

"Well, on the second was to be read what had been written on the first; Madame Vanel read it, and sent for me."

"Ay, ay."

"Then, when she was assured I was your devoted friend, she gave me the paper, and told me the secret of that house."

"And this paper?" said Fouquet, in some degree of agitation.

"Here it is, monsieur—read it," said the marquise.

Fouquet read:

"Names of the farmers of the revenue to be condemned by the Chamber of Justice: D'Eymeris, friend of M. F.; Lyodot, friend of M. F.; De Vanin, indif."

"D'Eymeris and Lyodot!" cried Fouquet, reading the paper eagerly again.

"Friends of M. F.," pointed the marquise with her finger.