Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/505

Rh THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE. 493 resembled Fouquet in many points. The same penetration, the same knowledge of men. Moreover, that great power of contraction which gives to hypocrites time to reflect, and gather themselves up to take a spring. He guessed that Fouquet was going to meet the blow he was about to deal him. His eyes sparkled. "What news?" asked the king. Fouquet placed a roll of papers on the table. "Let your majesty have the goodness to cast your eyes over this 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 tactics and strategies then, Monsieur Fouquet?" "I occupy myself with everything that may be useful to the reign of your majesty," replied Fouquet. "Beautiful descriptions!" said the king, looking at the design. "Your majesty comprehends, without doubt," said Fou- quet, 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, this place of which you show me the plans?" "Sire, it is Belle-Isle-en-Mer," replied Fouquet, with simplicity. At this word, at this name, Colbert made so marked a movement that the king turned round to enforce the neces- sity for reserve. Fouquet did not appear to be the least in the world concerned by the movement of Colbert or the king's signal. "Monsieur," continued Louis, "you have then fortified Belle-Isle?" "Yes, sire; and I have brought the plan and the accounts to 3'our majesty," replied Fouquet; "I have expended six- teen hundred thousand livres in this operation." "What to do?" replied Louis coldly, having taken the initiative from a malicious look of the intendant.